Day 1, 2, 3 & 4Upon arriving in Sri Lanka, transfer directly to Heritance Kandalama located in the Cultural Triangle in the North Central province. Once here, relax and unwind amidst tropical wilderness and the vast Kandalama reservoir.

Next morning visit Polonnaruwa which became Sri Lanka’s royal medieval capital till the late 13th century. Today, the ancient city’s ruins remain in remarkably good nick, and are a fascinating site to visit. The most impressive are the ancient sculptures of Lord Buddha at the Gal Vihara cut into Granite stone dating back to the middle of the 12th century. The entire sculpture consists of four colossal statues of Buddha - a samadhi image in meditation posture, a seated Buddha image inside a cave, a standing Buddha image which is 23 ft in height, and recumbent Buddha image measuring 46 ft, depicting the passing away.

(Riding Day): After breakfast, ride from Kandalama through paddy fields, bush jungle and orchards. Picnic en route, watch the horses bathe in the lake and eat under the shade of an orchard grove. In the evening ride around an area where elephants are common. Return to the hotel. (Riding: 4 hrs, 25-30kms)

(Riding Day): In the morning, ride in the elephant corridor area over plains, paddy fields, villages and ancient temples towards the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Sigiriya Rock fortress is one of the most dramatic, inspiring and beautiful historical locations in the world. A mythical past of feuding dynasties suits Sigiriya’s striking setting- it was built in 5th century AD by king, Kasyapa, as a fortress-palace. Worthy of being called the “8th wonder of the world”, Sigiriya is Sri Lanka’s answer to the Taj Mahal and will astonish anyone with its outstandingly beautiful views, staggering engineering and peerless design. Picnic lunch en route, beside a gushing stream before mounting to continue the trek. Return to Kandalama. (Riding: 4 hrs, 30kms)

Day 8 & 9Today you travel to the central highlands - a stirring land of lush tea plantations, majestic peaks and gushing waterfalls. Check into St. Andrews Hotel in Nuwara Eliya for a two nights stay. Nuwara Eliya was made into a summer retreat by the British in the early 1800s and much of its colonial character still remains. The town sprawls over the fertile valley flanked by Mount Pidurutalagala and Single Tree Mountain and is scattered with Victorian-style 19th century homes, bungalows, guesthouses and hotels complete with gabled roofs, large open fireplaces, gardens with neatly-clipped lawns and colourful flower beds.

(Riding Day): Next morning, arrive at the Nuwara Eliya race track – the only one of its kind in the island, and mount the horses before embarking on a ride through the town, tea plantations and villages, teaming with friendly villagers and, of course, spectacular scenery. Break for picnic lunch and rest. Evening mount and ride over hills and plantations treks before returning to hotel.

Day 10(Riding Day): After an early breakfast, take the inspiring two-hour journey to Ella riding through spectacular mountain scenery. The ride will pass through welcoming hamlets and soothing green paddy fields. Splash across the streamlets and trot through jungle trails in another untouched area of the island. Picnic lunch will be alongside a lake, under the shade of tents, while the horses bathe. The evening ride will include a similar scene: trekking over untamed lands and small villages to arrive at the Ella Adventure Park before nightfall. A hike of 2km is required to the Ella Adventure Jungle Camp. (Riding: 4 hrs, 30kms)

Day 11 & 12After breakfast engage in your choice of adventure activities ranging from abseiling, rock climbing, bathing in the fresh water stream running through the hotel or even in the private waterfall available to each cabin. Or else, just soak in the peaceful natural atmosphere in the cup-shaped valley housing the jungle camp. After a traditional Sri Lankan lunch, travel to Tissamaharama (or `Tissa' as it is most frequently referred to), which was the capital of the ancient Ruhunu Kingdom in the 2nd century B.C. Tissa is dominated by lakes and gigantic Buddhist Dagobas (temples), lush green paddy fields and lotus-filled lakes.

(Riding day): Next morning, after breakfast, ride passed Tissa’s lush green paddy fields, gigantic Buddhist Dagobas, lotus filled lakes, streams, banana plantations, and the occasional town trek. The picnic lunch will be in the shade of the tents, in the bush jungle with a few hours of rest before embarking on a late-afternoon ride. (Riding 4-6 hrs, 35-40kms).

Day 13 & 14(Riding Day): Today you ride from Tissa to Yala National Park, the most popular national wildlife reserve in the island. Trek through bush jungle, alongside lakes and across paddy fields. Arrive in time for lunch at Yala Village Hotel. The afternoon ride through sand dunes on the edge of Yala completes a spectacular day and allows the rider an aspect of the island not seen on traditional tours. (Riding: 4-6 hrs, 40kms)

To gain the full benefit of Yala National Park, we recommend you rouse yourself for a departure by jeep around 5.45am. Yala, with a total protected area of 126,768 hectares, consists of scrub plains, lagoons and rocky sections and offers the broadest cross-section of the country’s flora and fauna. In terms of game-viewing this is probably the best place to see all of the ‘big three’ - elephant, leopard & water buffalo as well as sloth bear, crocodiles, wild boar, and varieties of deer.

From Yala, we recommend a visit to the jungle shrine of Kataragama located nearby. This holy shrine was built by the warrior King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century B.C. to pay homage to God Kataragama. This shrine is worshipped by people of many faiths. Each day at specific times, the shrines come alive when poojas (devotions) are presented to the Gods. The baskets filled with fruit and flowers, the aromas from burning incense and oil lamps, the sounds of dashing coconuts, clanging bells and continuous chanting all combine to provide a mesmerizing experience.

Day 15 & 16Travel along the beautiful southern coast to the coastal town of Bentota where you will relax and enjoy the sandy beaches and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. En route, we recommend a visit to Galle’s 17th century Dutch Fort – a UNESCO World Heritage site and a melting pot of cultural influences. Several hours can be spent wandering along the narrow streets, well preserved ramparts, the lighthouse, and the Dutch Reform Church. The thick, high ramparts that protect and distinguish the Fort are today used for romantic evening strolls and convenient viewpoints to catch the sweaty action of local 'village' cricket games and the international games held in the adjacent Galle cricket stadium. Once in Bentota, check into Bentota Beach hotel for a two nights stay.

Bentota Beach offers a range of watersports including snorkeling, surfing, diving, banana-boating, water-skiing, and jet-skiing. Go out to sea in a catamaran with the fisherman or take a boat ride along the tranquil Madu River past quaint rural villages, en route, visit the local markets, temples & craft and antique shops. Visit the nearby Lunuganga – a garden retreat that was created by Sri Lanka’s iconic architect, Geoffrey Bawa. The Lunuganga gardens were a life long project cherished by Bawa and designed with numerous varieties of foliage, many pavilions, and statues. Visit Kosgoda’s Marine Turtle hatchery – a valuable conservation project that protects the endangered Marine Turtles of Sri Lanka.