Scenic Sri Lanka

Head out for a fascinating walking tour of Galle Fort. Originally established by the island’s Portuguese colonists in 1588, the fort was heavily fortified by Dutch settlers during the 17th century. More than 400 years old, Galle Fort remains in remarkably preserved condition, and its sturdiness was proven when it withstood the catastrophic effects of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which devastated much of Sri Lanka’s southern and eastern coastline.

Within the fort, you’ll find beautifully preserved Dutch architecture including churches, monuments, ramparts and warehouses used by the Dutch East India Company to store spices. Perhaps its most famous landmark though is the Galle Fort Lighthouse: the current lighthouse was constructed by the British in 1939 some hundred metres away from the site of the original lighthouse, destroyed by a fire in 1936, which had been erected by the British in 1848.

Galle Fort is also known for its charming antique stores, jewellery boutiques and art galleries, making it an excellent place to pick up a souvenir of your Sri Lankan adventure.


Accommodation: Jetwing Lighthouse.

After an early breakfast, you will embark on an enthralling game drive experience - commencing at 06:00 - through Yala National Park, which stretches for some 97,800 hectares. Yala National Park is famous for its Sri Lankan leopard population, boasting the highest density of leopards anywhere in the world. Throughout the park’s rich grassland, shrub jungle and both saltwater and freshwater lagoons, you might also spot species such as Sri Lankan elephant, sloth bear, wild boar, crocodile and a plethora of both resident and migratory bird species.

After your exhilarating safari experience, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.


Accommodation: Jetwing Yala.

Today you’ll drive to Lipton’s Seat, a breathtaking panoramic viewpoint that offers astonishing vistas of the verdant tea plantations which lie draped across the rolling slopes and undulating landscape that characterises the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country.

A must-visit viewpoint for tea enthusiasts and nature-lovers alike, Lipton’s Seat offers an unforgettable window into the raw beauty of Sri Lanka’s natural landscapes, where mists drift across the billowing peaks and blanket the lush green valleys.


Accommodation: Jetwing Kaduruketha.

Begin the day with a tour of Kandy followed by a drive around the serene Kandy Lake. Kandy is a great place to get an insight into the daily life of Sri Lankan locals, and the city centre is dotted with beautiful gardens and British colonial architecture including the elegant Queen’s Hotel, a former Governor’s residence with a history of more than 160 years.

Following this, you’ll visit the Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, which are home to more than 4,000 species of plant including orchids, palm trees, medicinal plants and a plethora of spices. First established in 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne, this royal park later became a botanical garden under British rule in 1821 and is the largest of Sri Lanka’s three primary botanical gardens.

You will then visit the most sacred site in Buddhism: The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Located in the Royal Palace Complex, nucleus of the former Kingdom of Kandy, this ornate temple houses a relic of the tooth of Buddha, which was smuggled onto the island from the eastern coastal region of India in the 4th century A.D. Renowned for its intricate carvings and beautiful artworks, visitors can visit this exquisite temple and line up to see the dazzling gold arrangement which contains the sacred tooth relic.


Accommodation: Earl’s Regency Hotel.

At a prearranged time, your driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, where you will arrive in perfect time for your onward flight.