Day 1 & 2Red Dot will meet you at the airport, probably slightly bleary eyed and in need for some rest. For your first two nights, we recommend staying at Java Moon located in the suburbs of Colombo, by the side of the picturesque Bolgoda Lake. Here you will rest amongst the tranquil surroundings that guests have aptly described as a `little piece of paradise’. For those wanting more action, there is much to do here including fishing, canoeing, or even riding a traditional catamaran on the Lake. Explore the suburbs of Colombo with its many wayside boutiques and temples and the beach resort of Mt. Lavinia with its beautiful sunsets and quaint beachside restaurants. A half an hour’s drive into Colombo’s city centre provides ample choices for shopping, entertainment and fine dining at such celebrated places as Gallery Café, one of the most evocative restaurants in South Asia.

Day 3 - 6Today 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 planter’s 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 7 - 12You now travel out of the hills and head to the southeast costal town of Tangalle for six days of beach relaxation. We recommend staying at Lansiya, a quaint villa with much character, owned by the same family that created Java Moon. Lansiya serves as an excellent base for exploring the deep south, its wildlife parks and cultural heritage. En route, visit the Elephant Transit Camp at Udawalawe run by Sri Lanka’s wildlife department. Here about 22 young elephants mostly babies, who have been orphaned or recovering from injuries, are being kept before release into the wild. Based at Mirissa Harbour, Mirissa Water Sports offers exciting water sports activities such as sailing, fishing, coastal cruises, river trips, sea kayaking, snorkelling and boating activities for visitors to the South coast. During the season from December to April, Mirissa Water Sports organises Dolphin and Whale watching excursions. Seas surrounding Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the best areas in the world to spot the giant Blue Whale. For those interested in snorkelling and scuba diving, the seas off the southern coastal belt are fascinating with several ship wrecks and an array of exotic marine life. Visit the Marine Turtle conservation project at Rekuwa, a small coastal village located 10 km east of Tangalle. This is an interesting project that aims at preserving this endangered species without interfering with its natural breeding habits. Several boutique hotels within the Gall Fort offer fine dining. For the more adventurous, a jeep safari to the Yala National Park with 400 sq. miles of jungle with herds of elephants, sloth bear, deer, wild boar, monkeys, crocodiles and a variety of bird species, is an interesting day’s excursion.

Day 13Travel along the beautiful southern coast to the historic city of Galle where you will stay your final night at the Galle Fort Hotel which began life as a 17th Century Dutch villa, now a fully restored boutique hotel offering magnificent accommodation in the heart of the Galle Fort – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is an ideal base from which to explore its heritage and see life unfolds each morning within the Fort. This small walled city with about 300 homes and an old-world feel, still remain with its well preserved bastions, public buildings, churches, and lighthouse. Hours can be spent exploring the maze of narrow streets lined with quaint houses, Dutch and British period buildings still in use, the growing collection of art galleries, antique shops and restaurants. There are some fine beaches just outside of the Fort including Wijeya, Unawatuna, and Hikkaduwa.