Sri Lanka Highlights in Winter – 14 Days – November to April (Private Tour)

Welcome to Sri Lanka! This is a private tour to enjoy at your own pace. On your arrival you will be picked up by your chauffeur who will be with you throughout the tour. The drive to Negombo will take about 25 minutes. On arrival you can either spend the day at the hotel or go for a walk on the beach. If you choose to venture out for dinner.

Your chauffeur will take you to visit the colourful authentic fish market and meet the fisher folk early in the morning. Then you will head to Sigiriya after breakfast. Excursion to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress is set for late afternoon. At the Fortress, you can take your time leisurely exploring the vast boulder gardens and water gardens before heading up. The climb up the rock is quite easy, as it is made up of walkways and steps with guide rails. Halfway up the rock, you will encounter the famous Sigiriya frescoes and you will reach the summit just in time to catch a gorgeous sunset highlighting the panoramic view all around you.

Morning visit the UNESCO World Heritage City of Polonnaruwa, with its ruins in a resplendent state of preservation, was the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th to 13th century. The ancient city defended by enclosing walls, is dotted with palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes. The Gal Vihara temple complex, cut from a single granite wall, consists of statues of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddha and ranks among the masterpieces of Sri Lankan Art.
In the evening, you will really be struck by witnessing the world’s most significant elephant phenomena at Minneriya National Park.

Today is a short drive to Peradeniya, to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens. A sprawling garden of about 60 hectares, hemmed in by the Mahaweli River, it also has a suspension bridge to cross to the other side of the river! In the evening you can go see a cultural dance show. Sri Lanka has dance styles from three different regions: Kandyan or Uda-rata (up country), Pahatha-rata (low country) and Sabaragamu (Ratnapura district). These cultural performances usually consist of a variety of Kandyan and low country dances. One of the highlights of the shows will be the devil dance which derives from the South-west coast and is performed wearing masks.

After breakfast at the hotel you will carry on driving to lush green tea plantations of the tea capital: Nuwara Eliya, sightseeing this quaint town will be peaked by your visit to a tea factory. With incredible dexterity and speed, versatile women pluck tea leaves filling up their tea sacks every day. At the tea factory, you will see the entire process of how tea is made from scratch, from tea bush to teapot. After that you will visit Gregory Lake and Victoria Park which is located in the town.

After breakfast, you will be dropped off at the railway station. The train will take you all the way to Ella and the ride is wonderfully scenic. The ride will give you the opportunity to chat and connect with locals. Your vehicle will be waiting to pick you up at Ella railway station and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is left free for you to explore your surroundings. Ella has some great hiking trails and all of them have amazing views. In the night you can check out the vibrant nightlife and enjoy the varied cuisines and local cocktails.

Today you will proceed to the Belihuloya to experience a truly village setup with a local and village trail. Go canoeing at Samanalawewa in the evening. Kinchigune campsite offers a tranquil and picturesque setting, surrounded by lush greenery, rolling hills and the cascading waters of the Belihuloya river. Village life in Belihuloya reflects a slower pace, close community ties and a strong connection to nature.

It’s time to head off to the land of the leopards, Yala National Park! Although it is most famous for Leopard sightings, Yala has a fantastically diverse population of animals. During your Private half day safari in the park you will encounter Elephants, Crocodiles, Sambar, Wild Buffalo, Eagles, Cobras, Peacocks and more. With rocky coasts, mountains, vast lakes and plains, the landscape of Yala is a treat for the eyes and is the perfect backdrop for exciting sightings! Your comfortable glamping accommodation will also offer up some great sightings, as it is situated right on the border of the Park.

Today you’ll be going on a full day safari, and it is also the best when it comes to getting the most sightings in, as it allows you to be inside the park for an extended period of time. Yala is also culturally significant and you will come across the ancient temples and monasteries of Situlpawwa, Magul Vihara and Akasa Chaitiya during your time there. A significant part of Yala borders the Indian Ocean and your picnic-style lunch on this day will be served in a safe location by the beach, where Park visitors are permitted to disembark from their vehicles.

Today you will be travelling to Galle. Galle is a picture book UNESCO heritage city that will mesmerize you with its many charms. Depending on what time you reach your hotel, you can relax here with the sea breeze, or venture on a walk into the city. Galle Fort itself spans 90 acres overlooking the ocean. Your guide will be happy to accompany you and show you the Meeran Mosque, the Fort Lighthouse, the Dutch Reformed Church, restaurants, live music bars and quaint houses on cobblestone streets. Galle boasts of a museum you may like to visit, that offers an interesting historical insight of its past. There is also the Dutch Market and numerous spice shops to see.

Rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own or if you would like to see whales, remember, November to April is the best time and means spending about half a day out in the ocean. You will leave early by 6-6:30am to go whale watching from the Mirissa harbour. This is an exciting adventure when you may sight Blue whales and Bottle-nosed dolphins.

The South Coast is well known for its fantastic beaches, inviting waters, surfing, diving, multicultural cuisines, historical sites,. Galle is probably the best place for travellers to base themselves as they explore all that the South Coast has to offer. It is a destination in itself, with plenty to experience and has a wonderful variety of hotels that cater to everyone.

After breakfast and checking out, it is time for us to safely transfer you to the airport, well in time for an unhassled check in and safe journey back home or your onward destination. The drive to the Bandaranaike International Airport will be under 3 hours.
Sri Lanka bids farewell…wishing to see you again.