DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: UK to Colombo
Fly overnight from the UK to Colombo.

Day 2: Colombo
On arrival into Colombo airport, you will be met and transferred approx. 1 1/2 hrs into the country side, where you will head to the beautiful Horathapola Estate for 3 nights. Enjoy staying in a room with touches of modern luxury and colonial architecture as you settle in to your new surroundings – welcome to Sri Lanka! 

Days 3&4: Kandanagedara 
You will have two full days at leisure – you could relax by the pool, or there are activities available if you want to get out and explore! Head out on bikes for the active members of the family to burn off some energy and enjoy a walk around the local village. Or, Sri Lankan cuisine is fantastic, so you could join in with a traditional cooking experience. Learn how to make a famous Sri Lankan dish so that you can cook it at home! 

Day 5: Kandanagedara to Sigiryia
This morning you will be collected to head to the UNESCO Dambulla Cave Temples. Offering a brilliant insight into Buddhism, the Caves are cut out of an enormous granite outcrop that rises more than 160m above the surrounding countryside – offering majestic views across the plains as far as Sigiriya. After your visit, you will then head to the Cultural Triangle for 3 nights. You will stay at the beautiful Water Garden Sigiriya where luxury meets nature, surrounded by lakes and water streams. Enjoy spending the rest of the day at this stunning new location! 

Day 6: Sigiriya 
Enjoy breakfast this morning before your driver will collect you for a guided hike of the iconic UNESCO Rock Fortress of Sigiriya. A hike of this fascinating ‘Fortress in the Sky’ awaits – enjoy the stunning scenery once you reach the top! After your hike, head back to the hotel for an afternoon at your leisure. There are games the kids can play, such as croquet and a variety of board games, or you could even have a go at Archery! Want some more time in Sigiriya? Contact us to extend your stay here.

Day 7: Sigiriya 
Today you will have a free morning to enjoy more time by the pool or some family game time. You will then be collected this afternoon and taken on a private safari in Minneriya National Park – the Park is home to a huge range of wildlife, including monkeys, spotted deer and macaques, but it is most famous for elephants! Watch the elephants play and drink – a real sundowner moment and a once-in-a-lifetime experience! 

Day 8: Sigiriya to Kalkudah (via Polonnaruwa) 
After breakfast, your driver will collect you for your guided Polonnaruwa tour. Although nearly 1,000 years old, the hundreds of ancient monuments, tombs, temples and stupas are arranged in a reasonably compact area. You will then continue on approx. 1 1/2 hrs to the east coast where you will head to Karpaha Sands for 5 nights by one of Sri Lanka’s most stunning beaches. 

Days 9-12: Kalkudah – Beach Time!
You will have 4 full days to relax and enjoy this beautiful area! With endless fine sand, a beautifully curved bay and turquoise waters, you can unwind under an ocean of swaying palm trees. Enjoy dipping in the pool, tasting locally-caught fresh seafood, treating yourself to a treatment in the spa and having a Sundowner listening to the sounds of the ocean! You could spend a morning or a late afternoon out on the water on kayaks or SUP paddle boards (available through your hotel), enjoy riding a horse on the beach, or grab some bicycles and head out exploring as a family. For a truly unique experience, Karapaha Sands offers a private beach cinema, so that you can enjoy a film screening under the stars with your feet buried in the sand. 

Or if you fancy heading out and exploring but not sure how far you’d get on two wheels, your driver is available to you – Pasikuda Bay isn’t far away if you want a different beach. Family time spent together in true paradise! Thinking of cutting your time on the beach to add in a stop? Talk to us about adding in another location.

Day 13: Kalkudah to Kandy
You will be collected early this morning and transferred approx. 6 hours (stopping for lunch and sightseeing en-route) to Camellia Hills where you will spend your next 3 nights. Settle in this afternoon – perhaps you could enjoy a sundowner as you take in the surrounding views of the spectacular tea-wrapped hills, or grab your towel and head to the pool. 

Days 14&15: Kandy 
Two full days to enjoy this stunning area. You could ask your driver to take you to the UNESCO Temple of the Tooth, or head to the Kandy Royal Botanical Gardens for a peaceful walk through an avenue of palms and a fine collection of orchids. Enjoy a street food tour to sample some more of this amazing cuisine, or a guided tea factory tour to learn more about how tea is made and to taste some of the tea varieties. For the adrenaline seekers in the family, there is the chance to go white water rafting, or hike up Adam’s Peak. You could even enjoy a late night wilderness walk for a chance to spot some of the local wildlife, such as porcupines, fishing cats or possibly a leopard! 

Day 16: Kandy to Negombo
Today you will be collected by your driver and driven approx. 3 1/2 hours to Negombo. On arrival, you will enjoy your last night in Sri Lanka at the Wallawwa – set in 200-year old gardens, this is the perfect spot to relax before you make the journey home. If you want to see some more of Sri Lanka on your last night, then you could head out to explore Negombo and soak up the local life, or you could enjoy a last swim or spa treatment at the hotel. 

Day 17: Negombo to the UK
Early this morning you will be transferred approx. 2 hrs to Colombo International Airport to check in for your flight back to the UK. Welcome Home!