DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: UK to Colombo
Fly overnight from the UK to Colombo.

Day 2: Colombo to Negombo 
On arrival into Colombo Airport you will be met by your driver/guide and transferred approx. 40 mins to Negombo to spend 3 nights at Villa Hundira. Overlooking a picturesque lagoon, Villa Hundira is the perfect first stop on your arrival to this wonderful country. Spend the rest of your evening relaxing and settling in – welcome to Sri Lanka!

Day 3: Negombo 
This morning you will be collected for your private boat trip to explore Negombo Lagoon and the canal. The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers and surrounded by rice paddies, coconut plantations and grassland. Look out for birdlife – the lagoon attracts a wide variety! 

Later today you will be transferred into Colombo for a private street food tour! The city has been influenced by multiple cultures, faiths and traditions over the years – dive into the city’s food culture and taste some incredibly delicious treats! Your tour will end with desert at one of Colombo’s oldest and most popular dessert spots. 

Day 4: Negombo 
Today you will head out on your private coastal bike tour to explore the culture of the local fishing towns. The cycle ride starts from Nainamaduwa – the biggest fishing city in Sri Lanka. Pedal along the largest coconut plantation of Sri Lanka, then stop at a “Wadiya”, a temporary hut made by locals to witness the fascinating process of traditional toddy tapping, and watch tappers move along ropes from tree to tree. After a short ride, stop to see the fishermen pulling their nets – watch as they begin their daily process of selling and buying their catches of the day! Then, continue the ride to Mahawewa a fascinating village to end the tour. This route involves cycling along busy main roads – let us know if you want us to arrange a different tour if you have younger children. 

Day 5: Negombo to the Cultural Triangle 
Today you will be met by your driver and transferred approx. 3 hrs into the Cultural Triangle where you will first head to the UNESCO Dambulla Cave Temples. Offering a brilliant insight into Buddhism, the Caves are cut out of an enormous granite outcrop that rises more than 160m above the surrounding countryside, offering majestic views across the plains – even as far as Sigiriya. 

After your visit to the Caves, you will continue on your way to your next accommodation with your driver – you could pick up some supplies to enjoy a picnic on the banks of Kandalama Lake along the way if you wish! You will then be taken to Jim’s Farm Villas where you will be staying for the next 7 nights – Jim’s Farm Villas is an idyllic organic farm stay with a boutique hotel twist & stunning mountain views. 

Day 6: Cultural Triangle 
After breakfast you will be collected and driven approx. 1 1/4 hrs into the heart of the Cultural Triangle to enjoy a day exploring the main sights. Firstly, head to the iconic Rock Fortress of Sigiriya for a guided tour of this fascinating UNESCO complex and a hike to the top to marvel at the stunning scenery. You will then be collected and taken on a private safari in Minneriya National Park – the Park is home to a huge range of wildlife, including monkeys, spotted deer and macaques, but it is most famous for elephants! Keen to head out on more safaris? Call us on 01273 923100 to talk through different safari options.

Day 7: Cultural Triangle
Enjoy a full day at Jim’s Farm and exploring the local area. You could book a morning cookery demonstration, borrow some bikes from Jim’s Farm, or ask them to arrange a tuk-tuk tour of the local village for an authentic insight into village life. Or, you are in the spice capital of Sri Lanka, so you could head to a local Spice Garden! 

Day 8: Cultural Triangle 
Today you will get the chance to see what local life looks like in Sri Lanka as you explore the rural village of Hiriwaduna. Head to a reservoir that lies near the villages outskirts – look out for birds, butterflies and maybe a crocodile along the water’s edge! Enjoy a traditional cart ride through the area’s rice paddies and vegetable plantations and head to a local’s home to be served a traditional Sri Lankan style lunch. 

Day 9: Cultural Triangle 
Your driver will collect you this morning and take you to Kandy for your visit to the UNESCO Temple of the Tooth and Royal Palace. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. 

Following your visit, you will head to Udawattakele Sanctuary. Used as a pleasure garden by the Kandyan kings, the forest was reserved for the Royal family. The reserve contains a surprising number of mammal species despite being completely surrounded by Kandy town. In addition to wildlife, Udawattekelle Sanctuary also boasts three Buddhist forest monasteries and three cave dwellings for Buddhist monks. Get away from the heat of the day by taking a relaxing stroll along the various paths through the forest, all whilst listening to the birds chorus.

Day 10: Cultural Triangle
After a busy few days exploring the Cultural Triangle, today you can sit back and relax at Jim’s Villas. You could head out on some of the trips mentioned above, or even just take this time as a family to lounge and play around the pool. Fancy less time in the Cultural Triangle? Talk to us about adding in another stop before you head to the beach. 

Day 11: Cultural Triangle to the beach
This morning you will hit the road and head approx. 4 hrs to Villa Bentota for 5 nights relaxing on the beach. Spend your last days relaxing on deep verandas and terraces, lounging beside the pool, slipping into the warm Indian Ocean, or enjoying sundowners on the beach. Paradise! 

Days 12-16: Bentota 
You will have four days at your leisure to explore and enjoy some time by the beach! If you want to see some more sights, you could arrange a tropical garden tour through the hotel, or for the foodies of the family, you can join in on a cookery demonstration – learn how to cook your favourite Sri Lankan dish so you can recreate it at home. Bentota is a water sports hub in Sri Lanka, and there are various activities to join in on. Go jet skiing, water skiing, or for a fun activity that you can all enjoy at the same time, hop on to a banana boat ride! 

If you fancy exploring more of Galle, then you could take a visit to Galle Fort, head out on a cycling tour of the city, visit a local market for more first hand experience of local life, or take a trip out to the Habaraduwa Turtle Hatchery to see some turtles and learn about turtle conservation. 

Day 17: Bentota to the UK
Early this morning you will be transferred approx. 2 hrs to Colombo International Airport to check in for your flight back to the UK. Welcome Home!