Day 1 & 2Upon arriving in Sri Lanka, transfer to Horathapola Estate, a tranquil Colonial-style planter’s mansion that offers an ideal haven for a relaxing holiday. Hidden within a vast green coconut belt of the Western province, Horathapola is an idyllic rural hideaway located one and half hour’s drive north of the airport. Here you will experience the area’s traditional local cuisine, including Black Pork Curry, a special favourite amongst the largely Christian communities around this area. All the vegetables and fruits will be freshly picked from their own Horathapola garden. Relax by the poolside in a tropical garden teeming with birdlife and explore the estate, which grows a variety of fruits and spices.

Day 3 & 4Today you journey to the central hill capital of Kandy where you will stay for two nights at 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 including traditional Kandyan cuisine. Kandyan sweet meats including Kavum, Kokis, and Pani Walalu are delicious treats not to be missed. In the villages, lunch is taken to the paddy field in a Kuruni picnic basket with rice and curries wrapped in banana leaf – you can also take a picnic as you explore the ancient sites of Kandy including the Degaldoruwa Cave Temple in Gunnepana, just a walking distance from the Kandy House. The Temple of the Tooth, where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined, is the most famous temples in the area but there are several off-the-beaten track.

Day 5, 6 & 7This morning you will drive to Dickoya, 4,000 ft above sea level, through the dramatic landscape of the southern highlands, a land of lush tea plantations, majestic peaks and rushing waterfalls. Here you will stay the next three nights at Norwood bungalow, one of four bungalows in the acclaimed Ceylon Tea Trails collection. Savour the 'Tea experience' amidst the rolling tea covered hills of Bogawantalawa Estate. Learn about Sri Lanka’s famous crop - starting from the tea field where it all begins with the picking of “two leaves and a bud” to the factory where the processing begins. You can also taste and purchase teas from different regions which vary greatly. Ceylon Tea Trails also offers plenty of attractions for active-minded travelers including: guided trekking in the surrounding estates or a visit to Horton Plains, and mountain biking. The food is undoubtedly the best in the hill-country.

Day 8Time to leave the cool highlands and twist your way down to the foothills of the central hills where you will spend over night at the Rainforest Edge, a eco-themed hotel located just minutes away from the Sinharaja tropical rain forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an international Biosphere Reserve. Here you have the chance to enjoy the hospitality of Sinharaja villagers in a beautiful natural setting. Traditional Sri Lankan cuisine is served made with organically grown fruit and vegetables straight from their own gardens. Here villagers are invited to share their knowledge of traditional Sri Lankan cookery with guests. Visit the Sinharaja Rainforest, a biological treasure trove which provides diverse habitats for numerous species of endemic fauna and flora not found anywhere else in the world.

Day 9, 10 & 11This morning you will travel down to the south coast village of Tangalle. Secluded and less-developed than the other coastal areas, the south coast is famous for its cove-like beaches, turquoise seas, rural fishing villages, untouched wilderness and a deep rooted cultural heritage dating back to the ancient Ruhuna Kingdom. Spend three relaxing nights by the waters of the Indian Ocean at The Last House, designed by Sri Lanka’s iconic architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa. Here fresh sea food including prawns, crab and lobster is brought to the doorstep by fisherman. The seafood will be prepared into delicious dishes by the in-house chef. Visit the Tangalle harbour early in the morning to catch the buzz of the fish auction as the fishing boats come in with their catch. Stop by a wayside stall to taste a famous southern treat, buffalo curd & treacle. Visit Rekuwa, a small fishing village near Tangalle where a fascinating Marine Turtle Conservation project is helping to save this endangered species.

Day 14 & 15Today you head to the capital city Colombo for your last two nights where you will be staying at Tintagel, a newly opened luxurious boutique hotel housed in one of Sri Lanka’s most famous ancestral residences belonging to the family of Sri Lanka’s former President. Tintagel Colombo was created by Shanth Fernando, Sri Lanka’s leading restauranteur and lifestyle designer. Shanth is also the owner of The Gallery Café, the most popular restaurant in Colombo during the past decade, famous for its unique ambience and atmosphere. If you would like a cooking demonstration then we will organise one with Chef Pubilis from Mt Lavinia Hotel, the island’s widely-acclaimed master chef. Aside from Colombo’s restaurants, the capital offers plenty of shopping: from the vibrantly-coloured hand-spun fabrics from Barefoot, to the unique homewear of Paradise Road and designer clothes at Odels. A morning at the Pettah Market, the trading epicenter of Colombo, is fascinating and exhilarating.