12-Day History and Culture in Sri Lanka

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Begin your Sri Lankan adventure with a journey to the ancient city of Sigiriya. Home to the famous Lion's Rock, Sigiriya was a thriving capital in 5 BC and was later abandoned as the kingdoms moved towards the southern parts of Sri Lanka. Proceed on a late afternoon safari to spot Asia's largest elephant gathering. The Minneriya national park has 24 species of mammals and over 170 species of birds.

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After breakfast drive to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. This splendid 11th Century medieval capital was once a thriving commercial and religious centre and has many archaeological treasures that still give a good idea of how the city looked in its heyday. Proceed to climb the Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress later in the afternoon. The climb to the summit takes approximately 60-90 minutes and the terraced top has breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views of the vicinity.

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En route to Kandy visit a Spice Garden for an introduction to indigenous Ayurveda plants and spices. Go on a city tour of Kandy which include visits to the gem museum, a wood carving factory and Kandy Lake. In the evening, you will experience an entertaining Kandyan cultural dance show. These traditional dances are often performed as offerings or rituals to the gods.

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After breakfast, you will visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy and witness the daily morning veneration ceremony as well as the amazing paintings and ancient architecture. Enroute to Nuwara Eliya, stop to see the breathtaking waterfalls such as Ramboda Falls and Lover's Leap Falls before your hotel check-in. Later get to know the full process of tea production at a tea factory, walk through a lush strawberry farm and take a scenic afternoon walk at the famous Gregory Lake.

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The train journey to Ella is known as one of the most scenic train rides in the world. You will be sweeping through lush green meadows, beautiful tea plantations and picturesque misty mountains. Visit the magnificent Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, built under the British rule, built using only stone bricks and cement due to lack of steel resources. Take a hike to Ella Rock late afternoon. The panoramic views it provides with mist and cloud covering the area is a mesmerizing experience.

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Take a morning hike to Little Adam's Peak. From the summit, you will be treated to panoramic views of the surrounding countryside below. Then, experience zip-lining on Sri Lanka's first-ever zip-line, located amidst the luscious green estates of Ella. You'll be transferred to Yala later in the day. Lying in the deep down south of the Island, combining a strict nature reserve with a national park, Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species.

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Visit Yala National Park early in the morning with a packed breakfast, home to the highest density of leopards in the world and the second-largest National Park in Sri Lanka. You will go on a jeep safari at the Yala National Park and get close to exotic birds and different species of beasts including leopards, wild elephants, deer, snakes and crocodiles. Head to Bentota later in the day and experience a river excursion on the Madu River and visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery.

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Explore the beauty of historic Galle. Built by the Dutch, beginning in 1663, Galle's core is the Fort, a walled enclave surrounded on three sides by the ocean. A Unesco World Heritage Site, this historic city is a delight to explore on foot, an endlessly exotic old trading port blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Wandering its rambling lanes you'll pass stylish cafes, quirky boutiques and impeccably restored hotels.

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After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Colombo, which is the capital and the main business hub of Sri Lanka. Here you can visit historical sites and many other places of interest such as Gangaramaya Temple, the picturesque Viharamahadevi Park and the stunning Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque. You could also try different mouth-watering street food on offer in Colombo and experience typical life in the capital.

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Proceed to Negombo after breakfast at your hotel. Visit the busy Negombo fish market called 'Lellama' and watch the boats returning with their catch of fresh fish, crab, lobster, prawns, and squid. Later in the afternoon, you will set off on a boat ride to the Muthurajawela wetlands where you will journey through mangroves and spot many flora and fauna species that are also indigenous to the region.