Welcome to Sri Lanka, a “Stunning Pearl ” of the Indian Ocean.The local representative from our company will be waiting for you at Bandaranaike International Airport. You will then be transferred to your hotel in the delightful beach town of Negombo, where you may relax for the remainder of the evening and prepare for your 12-Day Sri Lanka adventure tour.

Today, you’re heading to Anuradhapura. This city in Sri Lanka is a major Buddhist sacred site with a rich history, filled with ancient monuments and a thousand-year-old Bodhi tree that stands as a testament to the grandeur of ancient civilization and the deep-rooted Buddhist cultural heritage. In 1982, the Sacred City of Anuradhapura was recognized as a cultural heritage site and added to the UNESCO World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee.

First, make your way to Mihintale, a city renowned for its religious diversity, royal history, warfare, and military past. Mihintale is just 12 kilometers away from Anuradhapura. This place has been designated as a wildlife sanctuary for over 2,200 years, earning it the title of the oldest wildlife sanctuary on the planet. Sri Lankans hold this landmark in high esteem because it’s where the Buddhist monk Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa, an encounter that officially established Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

After that, you’ll visit the Atamasthana, also known as the “Eight Sacred Places,” which the Buddha himself visited during his three trips around Sri Lanka. These sacred sites include Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa, and Lankarama. All of these are located in Anuradhapura, the former capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom.

After breakfast, you will continue your journey of exploration to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa is the second-oldest kingdom in Sri Lanka. After Anuradhapura was destroyed in 993, Polonnaruwa became the second capital of Sri Lanka. Here, you can not only witness the magnificent ruins of the exquisite garden city crafted by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century but also find Brahmanic monuments built by the Chola Dynasty. This city is brimming with archaeological treasures, including temples, shrines, castles, and ruins. You can visit the royal palace of King Parakramabahu I (reigned from 1153 to 1186). This once-massive edifice with 50 rooms still retains its sturdy walls. The second-oldest Hindu temple in Polonnaruwa, Shiva Devale No. 2, is constructed of stone and nestled in a small grove.

After exploring the historically rich Polonnaruwa, we will head to Minneriya National Park. Many visitors come to this wildlife sanctuary solely to catch a glimpse of Sri Lankan elephants. During the dry season, you may see 150 to 300 wild elephants gathering near the Minneriya Reservoir. The 888.4-hectare Minneriya National Park is also home to wildlife such as the Sri Lankan leopard, sloth bear, Sri Lankan sambar deer, buffalo, and endemic monkeys.

Afterward, you will be transported to Sigiriya for an overnight stay.

Today, you will head to Sigiriya, renowned for its rock fortress, where you’ll have the chance to engage in some rock-climbing activities. King Kashyapa once used Sigiriya as his capital and fortress. According to the legend behind the name Sigiriya, King Kashyapa constructed a colossal lion-shaped gateway halfway up the 180-meter-high cliff. Due to its shape, it came to be known as the “Lion Rock”. Nowadays, the ruins of this fortress still stand tall and have been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Afterward, you will proceed to Kandy. The first stop on the journey is our ultimate destination, a UNESCO World Heritage Site—Dambulla Golden Temple. This architectural complex, composed of five caves, is the largest and best-preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka. The entire temple boasts 157 sculptures. The temple’s ceiling is a massive rock reaching a height of 150 meters, which is in itself a natural wonder. Continue on to the Spice Garden, a unique place brimming with fragrances and greenery. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the various uses of spices in food and medicine. The next stop is the Matale Muthumariamman Temple. It is a shrine dedicated to Mariamman, the Hindu deity of rain and fertility. Every March, the temple’s main religious celebration is the Chariot Festival, a joyous event. After that, you will head straight to Kandy for an overnight stay.

Today, you will spend a full day time to explore the gorgeous Kandy city and the surrounding places. The first stop is the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), a famous World Cultural Heritage site, which is a very important and highly hallowed place for every Buddhist on earth. The temple is the place where the left canine tooth of the Buddha is honored.

The next stop is the Bahirawakanda Temple. Situated on Bahirawakanda Hill, this temple is a popular tourist attraction renowned for its magnificent Buddha sculptures. After that, you’ll head to the Kandy Viewpoint, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city of Kandy. Your next destination is a nearby market, where you can shop for a wide variety of goods, including organic products and unique souvenirs. Subsequently, visit the National Gems and Gemmological Museum, where you can gain an in-depth understanding of Sri Lanka’s gem culture. Following that, you’ll attend the Kandy Cultural Dance Show. In this breathtaking performance, the dance artistry, expressive nuances, and cultural heritage of Sri Lanka will be showcased to the fullest. This show has been performed by dancers from the Kandy Lake Club since around 1982, and it’s an absolute must-see.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Nuwara Eliya, a dreamy city nestled in the highlands of the Central Province, renowned as the “City of Light”. The journey through the highlands is truly magnificent, with rolling mountains, cascading waterfalls, and vibrant vegetation all along the way.

On the route, you’ll make stops at several scenic spots, such as the 109-meter-high (358 feet) Ramboda Falls. Next, you’ll visit Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden, the oldest tea establishment in Sri Lanka, where a complimentary factory tour and tea-tasting experience await you. Upon arriving in the charming town of Nuwara Eliya, you’ll explore some well-known attractions, like Gregory Lake, where you can enjoy a peaceful lunch and a delightful pony ride. Afterwards, you’ll proceed to the Nuwara Eliya Post Office, one of the oldest in Sri Lanka, boasting a unique architectural style. After the tour, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for a pleasant evening.

Today, you will continue your journey to the breathtaking town of Ella. In the morning, you will visit Horton Plains National Park, which was officially established in Sri Lanka’s central highlands in 1988. The park encompasses cloud forests and montane grasslands, boasting a rich diversity of flora and fauna, with many species unique to the area. Located 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Nuwara Eliya, it is a highly popular tourist attraction. Three major rivers in Sri Lanka—the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawe—all originate from Horton Plains.

The vegetation on the plains is primarily composed of grasslands and montane forests, harboring an abundance of endemic woody species. The Sri Lankan sambar deer is the primary mammal found in the park. It is also an important bird habitat, supporting a variety of bird species that are endemic to Sri Lanka and unique to Horton Plains.

After the tour, we will drive you to Ella and spend the night there.

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you’ll go on an expedition to the wonderful city of Ella. First, you will visit Ravana Falls, also called Ravana Ella and named after the legendary king Ravana. According to the story, King Ravana kidnapped Princess Sita and held her captive in a cave beneath the waterfall. This is the widest waterfall in the country. During the raining months, the waterfall looks like an Areca blossom. The next stop will be the Nine Arch Bridge. You’ve already caught a glimpse of it from the train, but it’s definitely worth visiting for its amazing views and architecture. The Nine Arch Bridge is also nicknamed The Bridge in the Sky. It’s a Colonial-era structure with a viaduct bridge design. After that, you’ll make your way to Little Adam’s Peak. Little Adam’s Peak, also referred to as Mini Adam’s Peak, earned the prestigious Adams Peak name because of how similar the peaks are (Sri Pada). After a short climb up Little Adam’s Peak, you’ll reach a stunning mountain blanketed in tea plantations, where you can watch workers picking tea. The view amid the thick greenery is breathtaking.

Afterward, we will drive you to the hotel in Yala.

This morning, you will be transferred directly to Mirissa. When you arrive in Mirissa, you’ll make your way to Coconut Tree Hill. It’s likely to be the most renowned attraction in Mirissa. Near Mirissa, there lies a mineral – rich headland that juts right up against the Indian Ocean. You can walk there from the street along the beach, and it takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. When you reach the mountaintop, you’ll be greeted with a magnificent panorama of the beach and Mirissa Bay. You absolutely must take a photo within this stunning “frame”. Before checking into your hotel, you could take a leisurely stroll around the town.

Today, you’re going to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe whales, as we’ve arranged a whale-watching cruise for you in the morning. You might even get to be up close and personal with these adorable creatures. Whale and dolphin watching is one of the most thrilling water activities in Sri Lanka, and you can experience it right here in Mirissa. In the warm waters of Sri Lanka, you have the chance to spot blue whales, Bryde’s whales, sperm whales, fin whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and occasionally, killer whales. Additionally, striped dolphins, spinner dolphins, and Risso’s dolphins also make appearances from time to time. When the sea is warm and calm, the whale-watching season kicks off in November and comes to an end in April of the following year.

After the whale-watching tour, you will spend the rest of the day on the beach.

Today marks the 11th day of your itinerary, and you’re heading to Bentota. On the way to Bentota, you’ll pass through Galle and make a stop to visit the renowned Galle Fort, which is situated on the Galle coast. This fortress was constructed by the Portuguese in 1588, and starting from 1649, the Dutch expanded and reinforced it. Despite being over 432 years old, it still retains an exquisite appearance and is now widely recognized as an architectural and historical landmark.

Your next destination is the See Turtle Hatchery Farm in Galle, which is dedicated to enhancing the survival rate of young turtles. A local guide will lead you through the entire facility. After that, you’ll proceed to Balapitiya village for a magnificent boat ride on the stunning Madu River. The creeks flowing through this area have formed several islands, and the ecosystem here creates a spectacular wetland. That concludes today’s itinerary, and you’ll be escorted to your hotel and stay there tonight.

Today is your final day of your amazing Sri Lanka 12 days tour. Our guide will pick you up at the hotel and send you to Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure flight. End your exploration tour in Sri Lanka.