Day 1 & 2Upon arriving in Sri Lanka, transfer directly to the south west coastal town of Bentota. Relax and unwind after a long journey and enjoy the sandy beaches and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. 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.

Day 3 & 4Travel along the beautiful south passing through by some of Sri Lanka’s most picturesque sandy bays. Check into Mandara Rosen in Tissamaharama where you will stay.

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.

(Riding Day): Next morning, after breakfast, ride through one of the most prominent ancient capitals of the island – Tissamaharama. (or `Tissa' as it is most frequently referred to) was the capital of the ancient Ruhunu Kingdom in the 2nd century B.C. Ride passed 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 5(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 8After a traditional Sri Lankan lunch, head to Colombo for your final nights stay at Galle Face Hotel – a masterpiece of Victorian architecture located at the edge of the beach. Enjoy a final night’s dinner at the Seaspray restaurant by the beach.