Exclusive Tea Tour, Private Tour

Enjoy a cultural feast packed into ten memorable days and see the best of Sri Lanka. Discover a world of lush landscapes, picturesque lakeside cities, historic temples, and ancient citadels. Breathe in the fragrances of Sri Lanka at herb and spice gardens. Meet some of the friendliest and gentlest creatures in the animal kingdom and enjoy the lush green tea plantations spread through the hill county. Explore the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, where you'll learn about turtle conservation efforts, and witness the unique tradition of stilt fishing in Koggala.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

Kandy: this mesmerising city is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and its associated palaces and gardens.

Negombo: a historic coastal city that enjoys a substantial colonial heritage.

Silver Temple: tucked away in beautiful rolling countryside, in a small village called Ridigama (Silver village) 15 km west of the Kandy - Dambulla highway, roughly equidistant between Matale and Kurunagala, hidden away behind is a small monastery cave temple of Ridi Vihara.

Sigiriya: the 5th-century rock citadel of King Kasyapa and World Heritage Site doesn't only boast of ancient Sri Lankan engineering & urban planning supremacy but also acclaims to be one of the finest monuments of art & culture.

Matale: an agricultural zone in the Central Province, Matale seldom drops off the maps due to its remarkable contribution through flagship crops of the island extending from tea, rubber & vegetables to spices.

Kandy Temple of Tooth Relic: last ruled by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors across the globe.

Nuwara Eliya: augmented by an English countryside atmosphere, the city of light is still studded with colonial bungalows, hedgerows & one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in the world.

Yala National Park: spreading into a vast 1259 Km2 Yala, with its glory spinning around vast grasslands, shrubs, tanks and dunes, rightfully is the heartland of wildlife in Sri Lanka.

Day 1: ARRIVAL COLOMBO – NEGOMBO (8 km – 30 min)

Your Sri Lankan adventure begins on arrival at Colombo Airport. Here a representative awaits to greet you and assist on arrival before you hop on your transfer to Negombo, for your first night in Sri Lanka. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure, be that by making the most of a relaxing beach experience or by going out to explore the colourful fish market on your own. Dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight in Negombo.

Day 2: NEGOMBO – SILVER TEMPLE – HABARANA (150km – 3.5hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Later, hop on the transfer to join the Negombo City Tour. Enjoy a tour of the city, which has several buildings that date back to the period of political and cultural domination of the Dutch and Portuguese. Negombo has a Christian majority and there are so many churches that it is known as 'Little Rome'. The city is built around a lagoon into which the Hamilton Canal empties, which was built by the Dutch to transport cinnamon and other spices. The golden sands of the beach are one of the most emblematic places in Negombo since it is on them that many of the neighbours congregate to browse and buy the catches of lobsters, crabs, prawns and fish. We will also visit the Dutch Fort and the beautiful Catholic Church of Santa María. Then we continue to the Silver Temple. The huge boulder that looms over the whole temple complex is home to the local wild bee population. Their nests bulge below the overhang. Then arrive in Habarana for check-in. Dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight in Habarana.

Day 3: HABARANA – SIGIRIYA – MATALE – KANDY (107km – 3hrs)

Start the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Then, you will be picked up and taken to Climb Sigirya Rock Fortress. Step through the gigantic 'Lion Paws', overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens below, to comprehend the absolute splendour that once dominated this rock fortress. Surrounded by ramparts & moats the Lion Rock, resembling the mythological 'City of Gods', is coated by frescoes that relate to Gupta-style paintings found in Ajanta caves of India. Walk in the shade of an eminent 'mirror wall' embracing the Western face of Sigiriya representing an artistic hundred meters laminated with graffiti. Wander into the well-fabricated museum downstairs for an epic journey of yesteryears to realize how the citadel floated above citizens with the castle, ponds and irrigation systems that pumped water right onto its summit with an ingenious hydraulic system describing a colossal masterpiece of the great king, which remained a wonder in Asia for centuries. Afterwards, visit a Spice Garden in Matale. Spearheading the Rebellion back in 1848, Matale today takes immense pride in its story woven around spices. Stop by the side of a spice garden and observe the therapeutic values of spices & processes over a refreshing cup of herbal tea! Later in the evening, be amazed by the Kandy Temple of Tooth Relic. Experience an ancient Kandyan legacy engraved around its crown jewel, the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. A stroll across this small lakeside town will feature the Kandy City Centre, bundled with the latest and world-class brands, a bazaar, an arts & crafts centre, as well as a gem museum & lapidary. Walk-in colour as you glide through fresh fruits and vegetables in the Kandy market. Fine tube your evening by stepping to the beat of traditional music & drumming amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka. End the day in the evening with a return back to the hotel. Dinner included. 

Overnight in Kandy.

Day 4: KANDY – PERADENIYA – KANDY (12km – 30min)

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a visit to Peradeniya Botanical Garden. First developed as a pleasure garden under royalty and later harmonized by the British, the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya is a flourishing national asset in the Wonder of Asia. Walk into this 147-acre bliss of an experience, passing well-tended lawns, pavilions & an octagon conservatory to be greeted by the vast expanse of a magnificently landscaped lush green turf, which will encourage you for an exhilarating break. Towards the north of the entrance rests a cafeteria that one might come across before stepping into some of the highlights, such as the orchid house & giant Javan fig tree, of this place which overflow in grace. Once the tour is over, transportation is provided back to your hotel. Dinner included. 

Overnight in Kandy.

Day 5: KANDY – TEA PLANTATION – NUWARA ELIYA (81km – 2.50hrs)

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and on your way to Nuwara Eliya, you will stop to visit a Tea Plantation. Sri Lanka, Tea and Tourism are words which cannot be separated. Take a tour to the cold & misty hills that take pride in an ultimate tea tour, covering lush green blankets of tea plantations. Or just step into a tea factory processing the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea, to observe a rich tradition kept alive up to date. As you observe the hissing and swishing of machines, inhaling the heavenly scent arising from these facilities, make sure to end your day in style over a perfectly blended cup of pure Ceylon Tea before checking in to your new hotel. 

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 6: NUWARA ELIYA

Charge your batteries with breakfast at the hotel before setting off on a tour through misty steep roads, twisting through lush green blankets of tea bushes in a cool climate, and remind visitors that they are within the range of the renowned British colonial retreat, Nuwara Eliya. A hike through the green grass and redbrick walls should present breathtaking views of a buzzing countryside hamlet. Drive through green valleys of the hill country pierced by endless waterfalls & dotted by tea pluckers draped in bright-coloured saris. 

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 7: NUWARAELIYA – YALA (140km – 3hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a transfer to Yala National Park. As your jeep rumbles through the giant gates of Yala, you are not only stepping into the most visited national park in the country but also the lands of a civilization which thrived during the reign of Sri Lankan kings. You name it, and Yala has it! Its usual inmates cover herds of elephant, sloth bear, spotted dear, jackal, extensively populated birdlife as well as the highest density of leopards in the world that garnish the park to be one of the finest destinations in the country. Feel the rough track as your jeep thunders over rocks and swishes passing narrow bends for an exhilarating experience blended with the cries of wilderness under the tropical sun. End the day by checking in at your hotel. Dinner included. 

Overnight in Yala.

Day 8: YALA – KOGGALA – GALLE – HIKKADUWA (180km – 3.5hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Experience Stilt Fishing in Koggala. Koggala is an unexplored piece of haven with so much has the benefit of both the ocean and the lake (Stilt Fishing tips are not included). Next, visit the Martin Wickremasinghe Museum before continuing to Galle. Galle, the epic Southern capital, is the intersection where classic Dutch architecture meets a tropical setting creating a vivid atmosphere of beauty. Walk the Dutch-haunted streets listening to the creaks of wooden saloon doors and observe how European architecture mingles with South Asian traditions today flooding cultural enthusiasts on a global scale. Its original ramparts and bastions preserved up to date showcase evidence of a heritage preserved for more than 3 1/2 centuries. Drive to your hotel in Hikkaduwa and check in. Dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight in Hikkaduwa.

Day 9: HIKKADUWA – BALAPITIYA – KOSGODA – HIKKADUWA (60km – 1.5hr)

Breakfast at the hotel followed by Balapitiya Boat Ride. Balapitiya is where one could just sit back and observe how ecology and culture combine under the sun! Cut through the clear water of Madu River - a lifeline of Balapitiya - and head towards Kotu Duwa, the small island housing a temple that dates back to ancient Sinhalese kings. Or, sail through tunnels of shady mangroves swaying alongside Madu River - hiding an ecological treasure - to witness the tranquillity of this bio-diversity hot spot which boasts reptiles, molluscs and over 70 species of freshwater fish. Today the region - which is strong in observing rural folklife on the island does not only boast of cinnamon plantations in abundance but also has a fine 'fish pedicure centre' -one of the most potent & latest rejuvenation techniques. Apart from these amenities, Balapitiya has also become a household name in the minds of bird watchers ensuring a thrilling offshore experience. Visit a Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda. Both locals and international volunteers battling it out for ''Sea Turtles' Sake'' is a common sight at Kosgoda. The Wildlife Protection Society which studded the region with a Sea Turtle Conservation Project, operates on a formidable scale today and later recognized this vibrant tourist destination sitting calm along the Southern coast of Sri Lanka - apart from its traditional industries of fisheries and cinnamon cultivation. Indirectly, this has become a watering hole for flipper & shell enthusiasts! Dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight in Hikkaduwa.

Day 10: HIKKADUWA – DEPARTURE COLOMBO (140km – 2hrs)

Begin your last day in spectacular Sri Lanka with a delicious breakfast followed by a transfer to Colombo. Depending on your travel arrangements, head along Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards 'Arcade' facing a historic waypost, the Independence Square. Every designer boutique, top-notch cuisine outlet and even the 'walk-over fish tank', have revamped this colonial masterpiece into one of the trendiest shopping and hangout zones in Sri Lanka. Have a chilled beer at the Dutch Hospital while gazing through fancy windows displaying the best fashion, jewellery & handicraft brands (own expense). Smell the scent of incense while listening to the chiming bells of Gangarama temple. Then, at the appropriate time, transfer from Colombo Airport to catch your flight back home or on to your next destination. Clients must reach to airport 3 hours before the departure flight time.

Visitors of both genders have to wear decent clothing to cover the body appropriately when visiting religious places and shorts and sleeveless tops are not acceptable. This rule is strictly adhered to at all religious sites especially the Sacred Bo Tree and Stupas in Anuradhapura and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. Visitors should remove hats, caps, shoes and slippers when entering buildings and sites with religious monuments. Most of these places have a secure facility at the entrance for visitors to leave behind shoes and slippers for a very small fee.