Join Her on a Hill on this special trip to explore the magic of Sri Lanka. Enjoy golden beaches, wildlife, sacred places, mountains, valleys, tea plantations, paddy fields and a warm welcome. This really is a trip to remember and we are excited to add this new destination to the programme.

Itinerary (subject to change)

Day 1: Leave UK on overnight flight to Colombo

Day 2: Arrive in Colombo and take the private transfer to the hotel at Negombo (30 minutes) where the rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the long sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean. Or perhaps a leisurely afternoon by the hotel pool.
There will be a welcome briefing followed by dinner.

Day 3: Sigiriya/Habarana and Dambulla Cave Temple Today, we begin our journey by heading inland through beautiful countryside, lovely villages, areas of rainforest and paddy fields. We stop off at the sacred Dambulla Cave Temple (2.5 hours by road) to take in the fascinating wall paintings and statues. From here, we walk down to see the Golden Buddha via a pretty forest trail. After our visit, we head to our hotel in Sigiriya/Habarana (30 minutes) where we can take a refreshing dip in the pool. In the late afternoon, there is the opportunity to head down to a nearby lake by tuk tuk to watch the sun set over the water.

Day 4: Ritigala Monastery and Elephant Safari We head out to the ancient monastery at Ritigala today (1 hour) to enjoy a guided tour of the many ruins that cover the slopes of the local rainforest. The site covers centuries of history and is a fascinating insight into the lives of the monks.
In the afternoon, we take a guided wildlife safari through the forest, grasslands and lakes of one of the nearby National Parks. Although the focus is on the majestic elephants, we may also spot deer, birds and perhaps a jackal.

Day 5 Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Kandy An optional early start today to visit the imposing Sigiriya Lion Rock and Palace before breakfast. Built by King Kashyapa in the years 477 to 495 A.D., it is a spectacular site offering magnificent views from the top.
After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we head to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s last royal capital(2.5 hours) On the way, we visit a spice garden in Matale to learn about the importance of spices in Sri Lankan recipes and remedies. We then continue on to Kandy, set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and biodiverse rainforest. In the late afternoon, we watch a cultural show at the beautiful Lake Round before heading to Sri Dalada Maligawa. This temple, which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, is one of the holiest shrines in the entire Buddhist world.

Day 6 Kandy Enjoy a day at leisure in Kandy, the former capital of Sri Lanka or join in some optional activities if you prefer a more structured day. These may include tea tasting, a visit to the local gem museum or to the White Buddha set high above the city.

Day 7: Ella by Train  This morning we drive to Nanu Oya Railway to take one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. The train ride to Ella passes through lush tea plantations, misty mountains, small villages and dense forests. Ella is a colourful mountain town surrounded by peaks and pekoe tea production. In the early evening, we take a short sunset hike to Little Adams Peak which offers panoramic views.

Day 8: Nine Arch Bridge, Haputale and Nuwara Eliya : Today, a morning walk takes us to the impresive Nine Arch Bridge and then back into Ella. On our way to our next hotel in Nuwara Eliya, we stop to take a tuk tuk ride to Lipton’s Seat, a famous viewpoint overlooking the Lipton tea plantation below. Once we arrive in Nuwara Eliya there is an optional orientation walk around this high mountain city before dinner.

Day 9: Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains Cloud Forest An early start sees us heading to the spectacular Horton Plains Cloud Forest, a National Park in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Here we explore our surroundings on foot taking in an area rich in flora and fauna. We return to the hotel with time to relax before an optional pre-dinner walk.

Day 10: Ramboda Falls and Glenloch Estate Today, we head back to Kandy via one of Sri Lanka’s largest waterfalls and the Glenoch Estate tea plantation. At Ramboda Falls, we walk up to a viewpoint overlooking this impressive natural phenomenon. Next stop is Glenloch Estate, one of the oldest estates and factories in Sri Lanka, and still producing tea. We can enjoy a cup of high quality tea here before continuing our journey to Kandy. In the early evening, we visit the beautiful Nelligala temple to enjoy the magical view around sunset.

Day 11: Ayurvedic Wellness Retreat And today, we take time to relax and enjoy a variety of treatments at the Ayurvedic Retreat Centre. The retreat consists of a head and face massage, full body massage, shirodara oil treatment and steam bath. Light yoga and a mindfulness class are also possible. You can opt in or out of any of the above and simply enjoy relaxing in this tranquil environment. The afternoon can be spent at leisure in Kandy before meeting up for dinner.

Day 12: Indian Ocean After breakfast, we set off for the west coast to stay by the ocean, near Negombo. Time to relax and enjoy the sandy beaches before meeting for a farewell dinner.

Day 13: Departure Day Today, we transfer to the airport in Colombo for our return flight arriving into the UK on the same day .