Day 01
Arrive in Sri Lanka
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, You will be greeted by your Sri Lanka Prestige representative who will introduce you to your English-speaking chauffeur guide. Thereafter we drive to our beautiful hotel near Airport, The Wallawwa, located approximately 30 minutes away.
Hotel: The Wallawwa
Meal: Optional
Day 02
Explore treasures of Galle
After breakfast, we drive to the Cultural Triangle with a stop at Dambulla en route.
Lunch on route at Lake Lodge, which boasts spectacular views over Kandalama Lake.
After lunch, we visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple. Located in the north-central province this UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 01st century BC, is an amazing complex of 05 caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further improvements and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is a colossal figure spanning 15 meters. Cave inscriptions from the 2nd Century BC are found and on the walls are many paintings most of which belong to the Kandy period (early 19th century). This temple is a perfect location to view evolution of ancient Sri Lankan art and is an important historical site due to the amalgamation of the material from many eras..
We proceed to Ulagalla Resort, in the town of Thiriappane.
Hotel: Ulagalla Resort
Meal: Optional
Day 03
Archaeological wonders
Morning guided visit UNESCO Sigiriya Rock Fortress. We depart our hotel early this morning to climb one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya’s glory.
Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), the “Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70-hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens. The world-renowned frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway are painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for meditation, audience platforms and baths complete the unique site.
Lunch on route at the Sigiriya Village Hotel.
Afternoon we visit Polonnaruwa. This medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rose to fame as the capital (10th – 12th century AD) after the decline of Anuradhapura. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbor.
The monuments are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka’s past. Highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite – a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. Some of the best examples of the Hindu influence – the Temples of Shiva, intricate statues of Hindu Gods, fascinating Buddhist temples, the Lankatileka and Watadage, the Galpotha, the Lotus Bath, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth are other impressive sights.
We return to Ulagalla in the late afternoon where we can relax before dinner. Those interested might like to go on a nature walk with a naturalist from the resort.
Hotel: Ulagalla Resort
Meal: Optional
Day 04
The spice road to Kandy
After breakfast, we travel towards Kandy. On route, we stop at a spice garden and we stop for lunch at Ena de Silva’s private residence in Matale. Ena De Silva is a pioneer artist from an elite Kandyan family and a well-loved cultural icon, who introduced the art of batik to Sri Lanka in the early 1960s. She remains the undisputed master of batik and Kandyan embroidery, and of Sri Lankan traditional design. Her unsurpassable batik designs are inspired by ancient Sinhalese flags and traditional motifs but are instilled with originality. Her finest work is carried out on a monumental scale. Her exquisite appliqué and embroidered patchwork quilts and wall hangings are a dizzying confusion of colour and stitching that only de Silva can carry off with aplomb.
Afternoon (late): Check into the Kandy House.
Late afternoon if interested we could arrange a visit to a renowned artist living in the hills of Kandy. You could join him for tea and discuss art, yoga, meditation and music, each of which he’s fluent in.
Hotel: The Kandy House
Meal: Optional
Day 06
Explore through rolling hills
After an early breakfast we depart for Peradeniya Train station to board the train leaving to Hatton at 0830hrs. It is recommended that you reach the Peradeniya Station by at least 0800hrs to ensure you don’t miss this picturesque train journey as you journey across beautiful hills of tea.
Lunch: At Tea Trails – in your bungalow.. Afternoon at leisure…
We stop in Hatton where your driver will await at the station to take you to one of the four classic colonial bungalows managed by Tea Trails. Tea planter’s bungalows were built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. On arrival at Tea Trails you will be greeted by your personal butler who will attend to your every need and discuss the dinner options. Enjoy the evening at Tea Trails. Watch the sun go down over the mountains and the lakes from the splendid veranda and gardens at Tea Trails.
Hotel: Ceylon Tea Trails
Meal: Optional
Day 07
The story of tea
After breakfast we visit the Dunkeld Tea Factory & Plantation for the essential tea experience. A Resident Tea Planter will demonstrate the age-old tea making process. First, follow the trail of the planters of old Ceylon, as they trekked through the dense jungle looking for the best slopes on which to plant tea. Then on to watch the tea pluckers pick two leaves and a bud with deft hands.
Then to the factory where the all-important conversion to “made” black tea happens. The machinery used is of very traditional British design, some as old as 100 years. The process is a very artisanal one, unchanged for a century. The daily complimentary group tour ends with a tasting of different grades of this great brew.
Together with the tea-infused cuisine, tea-based spa treatments and trekking trails that traverse tea-blanketed hills, you can literally lose yourself in tea. You will leave Tea Trails with a newly found appreciation of this wonder herb “Camellia Sinensis” & the terroir of Ceylon Tea.
Note – Please note that plucking of Tea leaves is not done on public holidays & Sundays. As such the Tea production process does not take place, however a tour of the factory will be arranged where the process is explained.
Lunch is served on the veranda at Tea Trails.
Afternoon at leisure with the option of partaking in the various activities available at Tea Trails
Hotel: Ceylon Tea Trails
Meal: Optional
Day 08
Historical fort – Galle
Morning: Late start travel to Galle… light lunch on route at the site of the filming of “Bridge Over River Kwai” This morning we set off early, winding our way through the tea plantations which gradually give way to tropical jungle, and eventually to the sparkling palm-fringed coastline of the Indian Ocean.
By late afternoon we arrive at the beautiful Fort Bazaar hotel located within the 17th-century Dutch fort of Galle. Afternoon at leisure. Later in the afternoon, you could take a casual stroll around the Galle Fort visiting its vibrant restaurants and shops.
Hotel: Fort Bazaar
Meal: Optional
Day 09
Departure
Depending on your departure flight we leave for Airport.
Hotel: Fort Bazaar
Meal: Optional
