Meet on arrival at Colombo International Airport with private transfer to your hotel in Colombo. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Colombo including a visit to Gangaramaya Temple, a Hindu temple, the Wolvendaal Dutch Church, Hultsdorf Law Courts and Independence Square. You will be driven through the bazaar district of Pettah, the commercial 'Fort' area and the wealthy residential area of Cinnamon Gardens. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Trans Asia Hotel (Standard) or Colombo Hilton (Deluxe).

After breakfast, leave for Dambulla. En route visit the ever popular elephant orphanage in Pinnawela. Check in at the hotel in Dambulla and in the afternoon visit the very impressive 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress. This world heritage site, consists of the remains of a palace on the top of the rock, a mid level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens', the lower palace on the slopes below the rock, and the moats, walls and water gardens that extend for some hundreds of metres out from the base. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Amaya Lake (Standard) or Kandalama Hotel (Deluxe).

After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura, a World Heritage Site. Founded in 437 B.C., this ancient capital became one of the 10 largest cities on the subcontinent with vast monastery complexes and great stupas. During the tour you will visit the sacred bo tree (Sri Maha Bodhi) grown from a cutting of the original fig tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Planted in 288 B.C. it is the oldest documented tree in the world. Other places of interest include the Brazen Palace, Isurumuniya rock temple, the Twin Ponds, used by Buddhist monks as a bathing pool and Thuparama Dagoba, the oldest Dagoba on the island. Return to hotel in Dambulla for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, Polonnaruwa is another World Heritage Site. It comprises the Brahmanic
monuments built by the South Indian Cholas, and the ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by Parakramabahu I during the golden age of Polonnaruwa in the 12th century. Irrigation systems far superior to those of the Anuradhapura age were
constructed, systems which to this day supply the water necessary for paddy
cultivation during the dry season. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya (4 huge statues of Buddha carved out of rock), the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, King Parakramabahu's statue, and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast leave for Kandy. En route visit Dambulla Rock Temple. Dating from the 1st century B.C., this World Heritage Site has been a place of pilgrimage for 22 centuries. The cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest and best
preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. Also on the way, visit a spice garden in Matale to see the different spices which Sri Lanka is famous for. Check in at the hotel in Kandy. A World Heritage Site and once capital of the Sinhalese Kandyan kingdom, Kandy is the religious capital of Sri Lanka and a place of pilgrimage. The Temple of the Tooth houses Sri Lanka's most important religious relic, the sacred tooth of Buddha. Visit Kandy town; the market, the arts & crafts centre and a gem museum and lapidary. In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and see a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Amaya Hills (Standard) or Mahaveli Reach Hotel (Deluxe).

After breakfast leave for the palm fringed beach resort of Negombo. Check in at the hotel and spend the remainder of the day relaxing on the beach. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Blue Oceanic Hotel (Standard) or The Beach (Deluxe).

Breakfast at hotel - Transfer to airport or to your selected beach property.

STANDARD : from £ per person sharing a double room on half board basis (flights not included)

DELUXE : from £739 per person sharing a double room on half board basis (flights not included)


Supplements: Kandy Perehara; during the Kandy Festival Season a supplement will be applied. Christmas/New Year; a mandatory gala dinner supplement will be applied.