DAY 1 – COLOMBO
On arrival private transfer to your hotel in Negombo.
Begin your Sri Lankan journey at Riva, a heritage-style manor in Negombo, just 30 minutes from Colombo Airport. With 180 years of history, its elegant verandas, arches, and courtyard evoke a bygone era, while modern comforts and a serene pool offer a refined escape to start your adventure.
Accommodation: Uga Riva: Deluxe Room
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 2 – NEGOMBO – DAMBULLA – ANURADHAPURA
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Anuradhapura and visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple en route.
Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the “Golden Temple,” rises more than 160 meters above the surrounding land and spans 1.5 km around its base. Established in the 3rd century BC, it is Sri Lanka’s largest and best-preserved cave temple complex. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, the temple houses numerous remarkable religious and cultural paintings and sculptures, offering a unique glimpse into ancient history and artistry.
After your visit, return to your hotel for a special dinner at “Kamatha,” an authentic rice paddy dining experience by Uga Ulagalla’s award-winning team. Set in the heart of a working rice field, Kamatha revives revered royal recipes from a forgotten kingdom.
This unique meal lets you savor traditional dishes, learn about ancient cooking methods using handmade clay pots and wood fires, and discover the fragrant spices and utensils still used after 2000 years. It’s an epicurean journey blending history, culture, and local flavors.
An Anuradhapura hotel with a touch of traditional elegance and aristocracy, offers you a unique experience of luxury amidst a natural, remote, and uninhabited environment.
A gem amongst the boutique hotels, it is nestled in a sprawling 58-acre lush green garden with a 150-year-old mansion at its center, rich with cultural heritage and historical significance. Interposed within this natural habitat, there are 25 villas with private pools, cautiously designed and built to maintain the ecological balance of the surroundings.
Accommodation: Uga Ulagalla : Ulagalla Pool Villa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3 – ANURADHAPURA – POLONNARUWA – MINNERIYA – ANURADHAPURA
Approx. 1.5 hours one way
Visit the UNESCO Sigiriya Rock Fortress early this morning!
Visit the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress early this morning. This “Fortress in the Sky” offers breathtaking views and fascinating highlights, including water gardens, frescoes, the mirror wall, lion gate, and magnificent views from the rock summit.
In the afternoon, enjoy a safari at Minneriya National Park, guided by an elephant expert. Located in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, Minneriya, Eco, and Kaudulla National Parks host large herds of elephants migrating seasonally. These parks feature mixed forests, home to elephants, deer, and other wildlife.
The park you visit depends on seasonal elephant sightings, with decisions made on the day for the best experience. From a safe jeep, a naturalist will guide you to the best viewing spots. It’s a bumpy but thrilling adventure, with unforgettable moments watching wild elephants just meters away.
Accommodation: Uga Ulagalla : Ulagalla Pool Villa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4 – ANURADHAPURA – MATALE – KANDY
Approx. 4 hours
After breakfast, travel to Kandy with a visit to a Sri Lankan spice garden en route. With a specialist host, explore Matale’s hand-reared plantations and learn how spices are used in local cuisine and ayurvedic remedies. Engage your senses—see, touch, and smell tropical spices as you stroll through the fragrant gardens.
In Kandy, visit the UNESCO-listed Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a site of deep religious and political significance. Walk along Kandy Lake to the Royal Palace Complex, where your guide will explain the temple’s rich history and cultural importance. Inside, observe locals making puja (offerings) and discover the traditions tied to Sri Lanka’s last kingdom.
This evening, enjoy a private cultural show at your hotel. Featuring traditional Kandyan dance, the performance includes graceful movements inspired by animals and birds, and high-energy acrobatics rooted in ancient rituals—a vibrant celebration of Sri Lankan heritage.
Perfectly placed in the cosy confines of the misty mountains and verdant forestlands, Kings Pavilion Kandy, transports you back to an era of bliss; a time when great kings ruled the central highlands of Sri Lanka! Bringing you a profound sense of peace with its luxurious offerings, our luxury hotel in Kandy lets you slip into a sense of serenity and lets you enjoy the retreat that you have been longing for all along.
Accommodation: Kings Pavilion : Deluxe room
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 5 – KANDY – HATTON
Approx. 2.5 – 3-hour train ride
After breakfast, you will be taken to board the train from Kandy to Hatton.
A ride in the scenic carriage gives you an unparalleled view and penetrating glimpse both of the scenic beauty and culture of the hill country as you travel along.
You will be met by your chauffer at the station upon arrival and be taken to your Uga Halloowella to be checked in for overnight stay.
Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Tucked away in the cool climes and quiet hills of Hatton, overlooking the stunning Castlereagh Reservoir, discover the exquisite Uga Halloowella. Steeped in history and heritage, the estate itself was established in 1880 and was once owned by Major Elton Lane, a World War I fighter pilot for the British Royal Air Force.
Accommodation: Uga Halloowella : Planters Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 – UGA HALLOOWELLA
Enjoy your shared Tea experience at Uga Halloowella this morning.
Your adventure begins with an interactive tea plucking experience, where you’ll try your hand at selecting the finest leaves and connect with local tea pickers. Watch the fresh harvest being weighed and sorted at a mobile station—a fascinating insight into the early stages of tea production. A short, scenic drive through lush hills leads to the tea factory, where a guided tour unveils the full process: drying, fermenting, sorting, and packaging. The experience concludes with a tasting of freshly brewed Ceylon teas, allowing you to savour the distinctive flavours that have made Sri Lankan tea famous around the world.
Later in the afternoon, enjoy a classic cup of Sri Lankan tea with some well-deserved down time in your bungalow.
Accommodation: Uga Halloowella : Planters Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 – HATTON – YALA
Approx. 5.5 hours
After breakfast, proceed to Yala.
Enjoy an afternoon Safari at the Yala National Park on arrival.
Yala National Park, the largest in Sri Lanka, lies about 24 km northeast of Tissamaharama. Renowned as the best place to spot and photograph the elusive leopard, Yala also offers sightings of wild elephants, sloth bears, buffalo, deer, crocodiles, and a wide variety of birdlife. The park’s landscape ranges from open plains to dense jungle, creating diverse habitats. An abundance of water sources—lagoons, lakes, streams, and waterholes—support its rich wildlife, making Yala a premier destination for nature lovers and photographers alike.
A Bonfire dinner will be organized for you this evening.
Set amongst the golden dunes and the lush greenery in Yala Sri Lanka, Uga Chena Huts blends Sri Lanka’s most celebrated features – its tropical beaches and its exotic wildlife
It has been designed with its surrounding tropical jungles and saline lake in mind.
Accommodation: Uga Chena Huts: Cabin with Pool
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 – YALA – GALLE
Approx. 3 hours
Wake up early for your second Safari at the Yala National Park.
Upon completion, proceed to Galle and check-in to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Located inside the UNESCO World Heritage Galle Fort, the historic Galle Fort Hotel is housed in a Dutch mansion that dates back 300 years. Through heritage restoration, the building’s Dutch walls and facade were conserved as authentically as possible.
The hotel houses Ropewalk, the world’s first arrack-specialty bar, with its ‘arrack wall’ and menu featuring modern Sri Lankan inspiration.
Accommodation: Galle Fort Hotel: Loft Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 9 – GALLE
After breakfast, explore the Galle Dutch Fort with a Local resident host of the Galle Fort itself!
Begin your walk at the newer, now main entrance to the fort. After a short climb up stone steps, take in sweeping views of the fort’s interior, the Indian Ocean, and the iconic cricket ground as your host shares stories of its construction and the many threats it has faced. Stroll past some of the fort’s most famous landmarks, while also discovering hidden corners and lesser-known gems. Spanning 150 acres, this guided walk offers a thoughtfully curated route, rich with insights into the region’s religion, history, architecture, daily life, and the lasting impact of the 2004 tsunami.
Accommodation: Galle Fort Hotel: Loft Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 10 – GALLE – COLOMBO
After breakfast, proceed to Colombo.
Explore the hidden history of Colombo with Mark Forbes or with one of his passionate team members.
Learn about the colonial powers and Arab traders who helped put this lesser-known city on the map from the 14th century. Colombo’s architecture reflects its layered history—from hidden mosques and Dutch bell towers along bustling streets to restored colonial buildings. As you reach the Dutch Hospital precinct, catch a glimpse of the city’s future, surrounded by modern high-rises, sleek hotels, and a growing café culture.
Stay in Colombo’s most desirable private home, in the heart of Sri Lanka’s capital city. Designed by Channa Daswatta, a protégé of the late architect Geoffrey Bawa, this exquisite four-suite, fully staffed villa for up to ten is a sanctuary of intrepid style, indulgence and contemporary sophistication. Tucked into a quiet, leafy neighbourhood, Ishq Colombo provides a tranquil and very exclusive base for experiencing Colombo’s attractions, spas, contemporary art galleries, varied dining scene and independent boutiques.
Accommodation: Ishq Colombo : Corner Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 11 – COLOMBO – AIRPORT
Approx. 45 minutes
Proceed to the airport this morning after breakfast in time to meet your departure flight.
We advise you to always check-in online to save time at the airport. You are advised to be at the airport at minimum 3 hours prior to your departure flight time.