Special Educational Tour for USA Agents - Sri Lanka Extension to the Maldives (optional)

Tour Itinerary

ARRIVE TO COLOMBO! (Flight TBA)

You will be met by our Representative at the Colombo airport and will be escorted to your vehicle for the transfer to the bustling city of Colombo for your overnight hotel (Approx. 45mins drive).

Colombo is the hub of commerce and administration of Sri Lanka located on the west coast. Being the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern as well as colonial impressions. Colombo has an array of architecture that spans centuries and depicts various styles. The colonial buildings influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and British exist alongside structures built in Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Indian and Contemporary architectural styles. This is strongly evident in the Fort area, which is in the heart of the city.

Arrive at Colombo and check-in at the hotel.  (Dinner is included)

Your stay:  Located in the centre of Colombo’s Business District, Hilton Colombo hotel features ten speciality restaurants and bars. Nestled within an expansive 6 1/2-acre complex spanning 19 floors, our iconic property features 345 well-appointed guest rooms and suites as well.

PROCEED TO CULTURAL TRAINGLE

Enjoy a scrumptious Breakfast at the hotel and today we will proceed to the cultural city of Habarana. (Approx. 3.5hrs drive). Visit to Dambulla Cave Temple (Approx. 30mins drive).

Dambulla Cave Temple: The beautiful Royal Rock Temple complex sits about 160m above the road in the southern part of Dambulla. Five separate caves contain about 150 stunning Buddha statues and paintings, some of Sri Lanka’s most important and evocative religious art. Buddha images were first created here over 2000 years ago, and over the centuries subsequent kings added to and embellished the cave art.  Check in to the hotel and relax.

Your stay:  Would you like to travel back to a classier era, where polished architecture was still earthy, food was ‘organic’ without calling it that, trees and birds lived around humans because they trusted them? Well, if you like the sound of it, you’re most welcome to experience Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, surrounded by over 2000 trees, that are home to serpent eagles, kingfishers and monkeys alike.

SIGIRIYA FORTRESS & ELEPHANTS

Wake up early this morning as we will head towards Sigiriya (Approx. 40mins drive).

Ascend the Sigiriya Rock: Prince Kasyapa’s coup against King Dhatusena imprisons him and exiles his half-brother, Mogallana. Kasyapa establishes Sigiriya, a rock fortress adorned with lush surroundings, moats, and ramparts, renamed Lion Mountain, boasting intricate architecture, frescoes, and hydraulic systems.

We will have hotel inspection afterwards followed up with lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a half day safari at Minneriya National Park (1hr drive).

Safari at Minneriya National Park: Take a jeep safari to Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks. You’ll hear elephants before seeing them cross the road, protectively sheltering their calves. It’s endearing to watch these overprotective and slightly aggressive giants guard their babies. If lucky, you’ll witness the herd at its best, with each member extending its trunk to another.

In completion of the safari, check-in at the hotel and rest.

OVERNIGHT IN HABARANA

ROYAL CITY OF KANDY

A delicious breakfast is ready for another active day. Proceed to the last kingdom the royal city of Kandy and check-in at the hotel (Approx. 2.5hrs drive).

Some days Kandy’s skies seem perpetually bruised, with stubborn mist clinging to the hills surrounding the city’s beautiful centrepiece lake.

In the evening, pay homage to the sacred Temple of The Tooth Relic to obtain blessings (Approx. 35mins drive). The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. During puja (offerings or prayers), the heavily guarded room housing the tooth is open to devotees and tourists. However, you do not actually see the tooth. It’s kept in a gold casket shaped like a dagoba (stupa), which contains a series of six dagoba caskets of diminishing size.

Check-in at the hotel and rest.

Your stay:  Earl’s Regency is one of the finest hotels in Kandy; feel like royalty from the moment you step through the doors. There are not many options for bars in Kandy as there are in Colombo, but the hotel has two signature bars for you.

OVERNIGHT IN KANDY  

HIGH ALTITUDES & TEA

Breakfast at the hotel. From Kandy we will proceed to the hill country of Nuwara Eliya also known as “Little England”.

Nuwara Eliya: Surrounded by hills and tea plantations, the town of Nuwara Eliya enjoys spring-like weather throughout the year. A favourite retreat of the British during colonial times, the town is dotted with English country style houses and half-timbered bungalows, with names like Sun hill Cottage or Windsor Hotel. No surprise it’s earned the name “Little England”.

Tea Experience at Heritance: At Heritance Tea Factory, guests are dressed in traditional attire and given baskets to collect tea leaves under the guidance of professional tea pluckers. The harvested leaves are inspected by chief tea taster Jayanthi, who explains the tea-making process at the Mini Tea Factory, highlighting key stages from withering to sorting

Your stay:  Nestled amidst Sri Lanka’s lush highlands, once a bustling tea factory from the 19th Century, this iconic Nuwara Eliya hotel with the highest star rated elevation of rooms at 2000m above sea level is surrounded by stunning tea plantations and blends historical charm with comfort.

OVERNIGHT IN NUWARA ELIYA  

MISTY MOUNTAINS & WATERFALLS

Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast along with a hot cup of Ceylon Tea. In the morning proceed to the hipster’s paradise of Ella (Approx. 2 hours’ drive).

Ella: Ella is a little village paradise in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This sleepy mountain village, with a view, is the perfect base for relaxing, whilst also offering lots of fantastic walks through tea plantations to temples and waterfalls. Ella with its perfect climate soothes your mind and makes your day-to-day anxieties feel a world away.

Take a stroll in Ella, visit the Ravana falls and continue on a small hike to Little Adam’s Peak

Little Adams Peak: Little Adams Peak “Punchi Sri Pada” is another name for this peak. It is 1141 m in height. Little Adam’s Peak attracts many travelers who come to Sri Lanka. Gradually with an easy hike up to the mountain of Little Adams Peak you can consummation a worth panoramic view. You have to walk through lush green tea plantations, waterfalls and paddy fields while enjoying the sceneries.

Your stay:  EKHO Ella is located in close proximity to popular tourist attractions, hiking trails and many more. In addition to that, EKHO Ella claims to possess the best view of the “Ella Gap”. The destination enjoys 23C – 30C weather conditions all year round. 

OVERNIGHT IN ELLA    

ONE & ONLY YALA   

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards in the morning head towards the southern corner where one of the most famous national parks are located – Yala. (Approx. 2 hours’ drive) Check in to your hotel.

Enjoy an afternoon safari in Yala National Park.

Yala National Park: Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is situated in the southeast region of the country; the Park covers 979 square kilometers (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometers (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and as a National Park in 1938, along with Wilpattu, it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka. The park, apart from being imperative for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds, is best known for its variety of wild animals – ranging from Leopards to Elephants to Peacocks.

Your stay:  Discover a picturesque retreat nestled on the banks of Weerawila Lake, close to Weerawila Tissa Sanctuary and Bundala National Park. Kirinda Vihara Maha Devi Temple and Yala National Park are within an hour’s drive.

TIMELESS GALLE FORT

Breakfast at the hotel. Check and head to the next destination.  

Proceed to the timeless Galle Fort in the morning.

Galle: Galle is a jewel. A Unesco World Heritage Site, this historic city is a delight to explore on foot, an endlessly exotic old trading port blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Wandering its rambling lanes, you’ll pass stylish cafes, quirky boutiques and impeccably restored hotels owned by local and foreign artists, writers, photographers and designers.

Your stay: Enjoy the stunning seaside location at Radisson Blu Resort, Galle. Appreciate the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and sip your favorite drink at our pool bar. Relax in thoughtfully curated rooms that spell luxury, with each room commanding stunning ocean views from your private balcony or terrace.

OVERNIGHT IN GALLE  

ON TIME TRANSFER

ON TIME TRANSFER TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (APPROX. 2 HOURS) FOR YOUR DEPARTURE TO THE MALDIVES 0R YOUR FLIGHT HOME TO THE USA.