Buddha and the Butterfly Mountain

1. 1–2

   Days 1–2

   Depart the UK, Arrive in Sri Lanka

   Meals included: lunch and dinner

   We arrive at Bandaranayake International airport and are met before being transferred to Negombo. We will enjoy an evening city tour followed by dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

2. 3

   Day 3

   Negombo to Sigiriya

   All meals included

   After breakfast, we transfer inland to the ancient city of Sigiriya; a premier ecotourism destination in Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the evening, we will take the dramatic footpath climb to the summit of the rock fortress. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Sigiriya.

3. 4

   Day 4

   Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa

   All meals included

   Visit Polonnaruwa, one of Sri Lanka’s ancient capital cities, by bike. The city itself is divided into a new and old town with the impressively preserved ruins split into five main areas in a compact layout, making for easy exploration. We have a village lunch in the local paddy fields and enjoy a tour of this area in the evening.

4. 5

   Day 5

   To Kandy & the Temple of the Tooth Relic

   All meals included

   Depart Sigiriya after breakfast to journey to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s famous hill station and another UNESCO World Heritage site. En route, we visit Dambulla Rock Temple, known for its beautiful ancient cave temples and a huge modern statue of Buddha. Check in to our accommodation in Kandy and then set out on an evening tour of the city including a visit to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.

5. 6

   Day 6

   Cooking lesson in Digana

   All meals included

   After an early morning breakfast, we travel to the Tamarind Gardens for a cooking session with the local staff, followed by lunch. We’ll be eating what we cook, so make sure you pay attention to the instructions! We head off on a village trail in the afternoon to experience local life before returning to our hotel later in the day.

6. 7

   Day 7

   White water rafting

   All meals included

   Today we travel to Kitulgala to enjoy a thrilling adventure on the white water sections of the Kelani River. As the river widens, we pass the scenic location used for the film “Bridge over the river Kwai”, which is also a great place for a refreshing swim. The journey ends close to Kitulgala town for a local lunch. Enjoy a nature walk in the rainforest in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at Kitulgala Rest House, or a late transfer to start our Adam’s peak climb.

7. 8

   Day 8

   Climb Adams Peak

   All meals included

   With a packed breakfast, we start early and travel to Adams Peak to begin our morning climb. It usually takes three to four hours to reach the 2,240 metre high peak, but during the pilgrim season, which begins in December and lasts till May, the throng is sometimes so great, it can take over 30 minutes to move from one step to the other. The majority of climbers begin their ascent at night in order to arrive at the top in time for a magical sunrise when the mystical shadow of the peak is perfectly cast across the clouds. This is, however, only possible from Full Moon day of December to Full Moon Day of May. After descent, we check in to a guest house in Nallathanniya, where we lunch before visiting the surrounding area.

8. 9

   Day 9

   Nallathanniya to Udawalawa

   All meals included

   After breakfast, we proceed to Udawalawa and check in to our camp site. Udawalawe National Park is in the southern dry-zone of Sri Lanka, and spans approximately 31,000 hectares. Famed for its numerous resident elephants, it is not unusual to see herds gather to feed and bathe at the waterholes in the Park. We enjoy an evening safari - undoubtedly a highlight of the trip - before dinner and overnight stay at the camp site.

9. 10

   Day 10

   Udawalawa to Ahangama via Galle

   All meals included

   On our last full day in country we travel to Galle, an ancient port (said to be the legendary Tarshish of the Bible), and the country’s first international commerce and trade centre. Today, Galle is the bustling provincial capital and administrative centre of the south. We visit Galle fort and enjoy a tour of the city before transferring to Ahangama ready for our departure tomorrow. We have one final night at a beach hotel.

10. 11

    Day 11

    Return to UK

    Meal included: breakfast

    We bid farewell to Sri Lanka as we head to the airport for our return flight home.

Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.