2N Kandy, 2N Bentota, 2N Colombo

Upon arrival at the Colombo International Airport, our representatives will be waiting to greet and transfer you to Kandy, about 90kms from Colombo. Check in to the Kandy hotel for overnight stay

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before we go out. Today, we’re visiting Nuwara Eliya, a beautiful city that means the “city of light.” It’s known for the tea produce and the Hakgala Botanical Gardens. Nuwara Eliya earned the title as the “Little England” of Sri Lanka after tea was first brought in here from China. As one of British most iconic drinks, it quickly became the dream city that has been heavily influenced by English architecture. Enjoy a stunning experience as you take in the view of the valleys, waterfalls, and hills, as if you’ve been teleported to England on a beautiful spring day. There are cottages and mansions mimicking Queen Anne features, such as the wide porches and steep roof with huge dormers. You can take home some memorable post cards from the post office. The ride will take about 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, our first destination is Hakgala Gardens. The Hakgala Gardens is actually five Botanical Gardens as one, and they’re the Royal Botanical Garden, Hakgala Botanical Garden, Henarathgoda Botanical Garden, Mirijjawila Botanical Garden, and Seetawaka Botanical Garden. It is the largest garden of Sri Lanka where you can find many tropical and sub-tropical plants when it was previously used for tea cultivations and Cinchona. The Hakgala Gardens also have a history and legend as it is believed that it was gifted by Ravana to Sita as an Ashok Vatika. Hence while the area is called Sita Eliya and you can find a Temple of the Goddess Sita. Right in the center of Nuwara Eliya is Gregory Lake, which was artificially built in 1873 when British Governor William Gregory was ruling. Now it’s a lake park that’s favored by both tourists and locals to enjoy picnics or maybe take a ride in the swan boats and jet skis. We don’t want to miss out on Victoria Park, it’s a public park located next to Nuwara Eliya which was originally the research field for the Hakgala Botanical Garden. It is a beautiful garden that cares for many varieties of flowers and was renamed to Victoria Park in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. There are lakes naturally created by the River Nanu Oya that truly made this place beautiful. The Tea Factory and Tea Plantations are the next destinations we’re visiting to look around the plantations and observe how they process and brew the Ceylon Tea. We will head back to your hotel in Kandy in the evening for overnight stay.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel in Kandy before your check-out. We’ll change city today to Bentota and make the best of the trip with an excursion to Madu River. The Boat Safari at Madu River is a major attraction that will show you the view of the wide Madu Ganga. It’s a healing journey through the mangrove forest and observe the biodiversity of Madu River that includes 19 endemic species. There are 64 islands and is such an attractive destination for nature lovers and bird watchers. Catch sights of the rare bird species and reptiles that made their home here. There are also traditional fishermen here who make a living through Stilt Fishing. It is a method that uses a crossbar with a vertical pole attached to the sea floor and they wait by the crossbar for the fish to bite. Then visit the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project for turtle hatching. Since 1981, the area has become one of the best locations to find turtles laying their eggs and it was established by the Wildlife Protection Society. The project will take in newborn turtles and raise them in big tanks with nutritional food and clean environment for just a few days. They’ll then be released into the wild at night from the safest area to ensure survivability. The Conservation generally has five species they take care of and visitors will learn all about these gorgeous turtles that are now endangered. They are also allowed to interact with the turtles and hold them in their palms and check out the babies in their tanks. Continue to Bentota for hotel check-in and rest for the night

This gorgeous island in the town of Bentota, which is about 65 kilometres from Columbo, is a place where you can witness the making of the favourite cinnamon spice. It is famous for its spice heritage and the engaging water sports offered by the island. You can experience the process of harvesting, peeling, oiling, and rolling of cinnamon on this island that is known to be run by a single family. It offers a change of scenery and a way to get familiar with this aromatic spice in its purest form. The island has cinnamon trees sprawling over acres of land, and the plantations date back to the 1900s. Breathtaking architecture and villas make the island a must visit location for tourists. Head Back to Bentota Hotel for an overnight stay.

Enjoy your breakfast the check-out from the hotel in Bentota and hop on your ride for Colombo. We’ll immediately head for the hotel for your check-in before you can rest in your room. You’ll have the rest of the day at leisure and we suggest you indulge in Colombian shopping experience at the Odel & Mondy. Or perhaps give the famous Casinos of Colombo a visit! Spend the night at the hotel in Colombo.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel today. We are going to have an exciting day here with a city tour of Colombo! This tour will introduce us to the traditional gateway to the Orient. Colombo is the largest city on the island and has historically been an essential port city connecting east-west trades since the 5th century. As we continue to go around this country, we’ll be able to see remnants of Dutch, British, and many other nations who often rely on this country for trading in the city. The Galle Face Green is an ocean-side park and known as Colombo’s biggest seaside promenade. The park becomes popular among visitors because you can enjoy the gorgeous sunset view. It was first planned out in 1850 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward when it was still a golf course that doubles as a horse racing track. There were a few hearsays throughout the years as some believe it was meant for the “fair ladies” to spend a pleasant afternoon at. Others said that it was where the Dutch planned to line up their cannons while defending against Portuguese. The view and greenery are worth it, but as usual make sure the car itineraries include an extended stop to the promenade. We’ll also get to visit the Colombo National Museum, the largest in Sri Lanka and a truly historic building as it was established in 1877. It provides a lot knowledge on the history of Sri Lanka while showcasing the impeccable neo-Baroque architecture interior and exterior design. There are over 100,000 exhibits and many pertaining to the long-standing Sri Lankan history. Out of the museum and into another historical building, which is the Galle Face Hotel where the British Ceylon governor, Sir Henry Ward, learned golf. It was built in 1864 and as the interest for golf as nobility’s favorite sport grew, Galle Face Hotel became the first place where the Colombo Golf Club was inaugurated. This is where we’ll have a truly delightful lunch as we enjoy the view of the sea. Afterward, we’ll make our way to the Colombo Fort, yet another mesmerizing structure that has remained as one of the most iconic section in Colombo. Today it’s the financial hub with many main offices set up here, including the Stock Exchange and the World Trade Centre. The Colombo Fort used to be a Dutch hospital. Drive back to the hotel after the tour to spend an overnight in Colombo.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before we check-out. You’ll have the rest of the day on your own before the time of departure. Our team will drive you to the airport per schedule for your flight back home.