Day 1Upon arrival in Sri Lanka transfer to Browns Beach Hotel, located less than half an hour from the airport on the sandy beach of Negombo, an ideal place for acclimatising to Sri Lanka’s tropical climate and rejuvenating after the long flight. Explore Negombo’s quaint fishing villages or join a fisherman on his catamaran as it sets sail into the sunset. You may like to take a boat ride along the old Dutch canals that wind through Negombo's quaint town, or visit the ruins of the Dutch Fort.

Day 2 & 3Travel to Habarana, gateway to the Cultural Triangle, where you will stay two nights at Chaaya Village. Explore Dambulla’s cave temple which has a rock ceiling with a sweep of colorful frescoes, some of which dates back to over 2,000 years. This cave temple has the largest number of Buddha statues all housed in one place, including a 14-metre recumbent Buddha carved out of the rock. Nearby is the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, built in the 5th century by King Kasyapa. The walk to the summit brings history alive in an adventurous fashion which appeals to people of all ages. The ruins of the fortress upon the huge rock, the wall frescoes, and the symmetrical royal gardens surrounding the rock are amazing feats of this period. We also recommend a visit to the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa, which was Sri Lanka’s royal medieval capital between the late 11th and 13th century. After visiting Polannaruwa museum, which will provide an overview of this ancient city and its heritage, move onto exploring the ruins themselves. Visit Kalaweva, one of the massive reservoirs built by King Dhatusena and lunch at the Polonnaruwa Rest House.

Day 4 &5Journey to Sri Lanka's hill capital – the lakeside town of Kandy. Visit the Temple of the Tooth where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined. The temple has decorative walls, a golden roof and fine woodwork. Religious services (pooja) with traditional music and drumming are held daily at dawn, mid-day and in the evening where guests can participate. Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya with over 60 hectares of tranquil, immaculately-designed lawns, flowering hedges, pavilions and plant houses. We suggest that you stay for two nights at Chaaya Citadel.

Day 6 & 7Today you begin your journey to the central highlands with its tea-covered hills, gushing waterfalls, and uplifting scenery. Stay two nights at The Tea Factory, which is situated on a tea plantation close to Nuwara Eliya. Explore the surrounding Heathersett tea estate and pluck your own tea which can be processed at the hotel's mini-tea factory. The hotel also organizes bird watching and nature treks. Spend a morning in Nuwara Eliya which was made into a summer retreat by the British in the early 1800s. Much of its colonial character still remains. Take a walk along the leafy byroads lined with tall pine trees and Victorian-style houses complete with gabled roofs, and large gardens with neatly-clipped lawns and colourful flower beds. Play golf at the century-old Nuwara Eliya Golf Club with its tight fairways and testing greens. Horton Plains, an undulating 2000m high plateau 28km south of Nuwara Eliya, is also a popular day's excursion. The grassy plains, which are interspersed with small patches of forest, are home to leopards, sambur, deer, bear, monkeys and a rich array of birds.

Day 8 - 13Head to the south coast fishing village of Ahungalla where you will spend six relaxing days at Heritance Ahungalla. The nearby town of Ambalangoda is famous for its traditional crafts such as mask carving, batiks, antique Dutch period furniture and other antique ornaments, and handloom textiles. Fine tune your bargaining skills and venture out shopping in the quaint wayside shops and boutiques. This area is also well known for its traditional low country dance forms including masked dances. We recommend a day’s excursion to the city of Galle, an hour’s drive from Ahungalla. Explore Portuguese and Dutch period architecture within the 17C Galle Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site. Several hours can be spent wandering along narrow streets, exploring boutique shops, cafes, museums and renovated villas and hotels.