Day 1 & 2Upon arriving in Sri Lanka, transfer to the Wallawwa in Kotugoda. The Wallawwa offers that rare thing: a splendid boutique hotel close to the international airport. Visit the coastal town of Negombo with its sun-kissed beaches, watersports, catamarans and fishing villages. Experience Negombo’s ancient Portuguese-period Catholic churches or take a boat ride along its ancient Dutch Canals. Explore the Muthurajawella wetlands situated just 10 minutes from the Wallawwa. The daily high tide brings in seawater from the ocean into the wetland. Continuous mixing of these two waters over thousands of years, has led to a brackish, integrated coastal ecosystem that is biologically diverse and teeming with life. Numerous species of birds, butterflies and fish, some of which are endemic, are found in this habitat.

Day 3, 4 & 5Travel to The Cultural Triangle village of Sigiriya where you will stay three nights at Vil Uyana, a brand new boutique hotel situated just minutes away from the magnificent Sigiriya rock fortress. Explore Sri Lanka's ancient kingdoms – the lion rock of Sigiriya and Dambulla’s Buddhist Cave Temples – all UNESCO protected World Heritage Sites. We also recommend a visit to the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa, a royal medieval capital. After visiting Polannaruwa museum, which will provide an overview of this ancient city and its heritage, walk round the ruins themselves. Visit the Minneriya National Park, where elephants gather around the lake.

Day 6 & 7The journey from the cultural triangle to Sri Lanka's hill capital, the small lakeside city of Kandy, will occupy most of the morning. Check into the Kandy House, the finest property in the area, a beautiful and stylishly renovated old colonial 'Walauwa' (ancestral mansion), set in magnificent tropical gardens. Experience the ancient Kandyan heritage. Visit the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined since 4th Century A.D. The temple has decorative walls, a golden roof and fine woodwork. Religious services (pooja) with traditional music and drumming are held daily at dawn, midday and in the evening where guests can participate.

Day 8, 9 & 10Today you begin your journey to the central highlands with its tea covered hills, gushing waterfalls, and scenic beauty. Travel into Sri Lanka’s tea-growing highlands and a four-night stay at Ceylon Tea Trails, a wonderful collection of refurbished tea planters’ bungalows in the southwest corner of the hills, an area renowned for its fine tea and beautiful countryside. The following morning you might like to enjoy the “Tea experience”, which involves a visit a plantation to observe first hand the process, starting from the plucking field where it all begins with the picking of “two leaves and a bud” to the factory where the processing begins. The Tea Trails also provides an excellent base for a variety of adventure activities. There are a number of mountain bike trails that loop through the surrounding tea estates and guides are available on-demand. The reservoirs of Castlereagh and Maskeliya offer a pristine lake environment for kayaking – stable one or two-man kayaks are available for hire. Maps, guides and safety gear are all provided. A number of treks and scenic walks are also available, including the famous pilgrimage site, Sri Pada, known as Adam’s Peak, which is a conical mountain 7,360 feet above sea level. This mountain is a pilgrimage site to thousands of devotees from many faiths. The climb is best attempted at night where you reach the mountaintop to see the sunrise and the awe-inspiring view from the top. It can be one of the most moving experiences in Sri Lanka.

Day 11, 12, 13 & 14Time to leave the cool highlands and twist your way down to the south to the fishing village of Thalpe just 8 km. from the historic city of Galle. Relax and enjoy the sun and surf at Era Beach, a luxurious boutique hotel perched at the edge of the sea. There is much to see nearby including the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum in Koggala located just minutes from the hotel. The exhibits here bring back to life the age old crafts, rituals and lifestyle of the rural south. Galle's 17th century Dutch Fort, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage site and a melting pot of cultural influences is an interesting morning's excursion. Several hours can be spent wandering along the narrow streets, well preserved ramparts, the lighthouse, the Dutch Reform Church, and several houses with the typical manor house style architecture with columns, courtyards, and verandas. 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. High on the headland of Unawatuna Bay is Rhumassala Temple. With beautiful views stretching out over the Indian Ocean a walk around the headland near the temple is very special. Famed for the natural medicinal herbs nearby you will walk through hidden villages and verdant jungle valleys eventually finding yourself on "Jungle Beach"- a little known and secluded beach. Scuba diving is immensely rewarding in Sri Lanka and around Galle there are some of the country's best dive spots. Run by PADI centers, based in Unawatuna diving is suitable for beginners to advanced. Spotting bright corals and exotic fish is easy and there is the opportunity to go both cave diving and wreck diving. Based at Mirissa Harbour, Mirissa Water Sports also offers exciting water sports activities such as sailing, fishing, coastal cruises, river trips, sea kayaking, snorkeling and boating activities for visitors to the South coast.

Day 15you head back to The Wallawwa, ideally situated for a relaxed final night’s stay, with no fears of travel difficulties before your flight.