Discover the “Highlights of Sri Lanka” on a 14-day journey filled with cultural treasures and natural wonders. Start in Negombo, unwind at the beach, and explore bustling streets.
Continue to Sigiriya for a visit to the iconic rock fortress, followed by Polonnaruwa’s ancient ruins and a thrilling elephant safari in Minneriya. Explore Kandy’s serene beauty, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and immerse in Nuwara Eliya’s tea country. Don’t miss a trip to Horton Plains and a scenic train ride to Ella. Experience Yala’s wildlife, relax in Galle, and soak up the sun on pristine beaches. A memorable Sri Lankan adventure awaits.
As you reach the hotel, rest and relax! Your hotel is cuddled up amongst the palm trees on the peaceful Alankuda Beach and the seas are inviting you for a good splash or stretch back in a hammock with a drink in your hand to shake off the jetlag and adjust to the new time zone. The best therapy is to marvel at its rich pinks and ambers in the evening sky or a soft massage at the spa!
You should definitely try kite surfing here. Skim on pleasant waves and embrace the breezes as you ride on the most ideal waves for kite surfing! Kalpitiya has two distinct kite seasons. One is the summer season from May to October and other one is the winter season from mid-December to mid-March. These two seasons are warm, dry and windy; of course make the perfect condition. But remember that the wind direction can change making every surf session a new adventure! You will be accompanied by seasoned and certified instructors so there will be nothing to worry about.
Snorkeling and diving are also available for you to try out. Kalpitiya bar reef is one of the largest coral beds in the country. If you love to float around and explore the pristine blue ocean this is the place to see for yourself. Beautiful coral formations are bursting with vibrant marine life unique to the tropical ocean waters of Sri Lanka will leave you relaxed and in amazement.
You can be guaranteed to spot a myriad species of fish and other beautiful interesting tropical inhabitants. Molluscs, Manta Rays, Sea Turtles and Reef Sharks are few of the tropical marine friends you could have a close glance at.The untouched and still undiscovered underwater world of Kalpitiya is exceptional to the coastal belt of the Northern Peninsula of Sri Lanka.
En route make a stop at one of the unique places. It is Arankele Forest Monastery in its ruins still remains an ideal place for architecture, trekking and archaeology enthusiasts. There is a small hike shaded with huge trees. Enjoy the songs of a wide variety of constantly chirping birds. These pathways were used by the monks for their meditation slope gently punctuated with small flights of steps, made of dressed stone, to accommodate the natural terrain.
You can find ancient stone slabs of inscriptions in Brahmi script, ruins of meditation halls, stone-faced double platform grinding stones which had been used to prepare herbal medicines in the past. You will see encounter the largest hot water pond in Sri Lanka. All these ruins testify to the existence of a large ancient Ayurvedic hospital which was present in the monastery. Few minutes can be spent in an old hermitage of isolation and then continue your journey towards Sigiriya.
In the later afternoon, we would recommend you to take a small hike to Pidurangala rock. Even though Sigiriya Fortress is the highly spoken rock formation in the area, a hike to Pidurangala, especially for the sun set, can be a more memorable (and unpaved) experience. Pidurangala Rock has a much more earthly natural feel. A climb of twenty minutes will be well rewarded with the majestic view of Sigiriya Lion’s rock, picturesque lakes, greenery and land vistas. The cool breeze will take away all your tiredness when you on the top. You can explore more regarding the connections king Rawana claimed to have had with aliens and spaceships believed to have landed on this flat rock base of Pidurangala!
Start your ballooning trip early in the day as it will be amazing to see the sunrise over mountains, monkeys in the trees, wild peacocks, farms, elephants roaming freely, water buffaloes standing in the paddy fields, lakes and people waving up with a smile at you everywhere!
After an exciting flight over the jungle, you will be landing on the village and the villagers will warmly welcome you. Why not toast a glass of champagne to make this experience more memorable.
Tip-Safety First is key and pilots do not take off the ground if they feel the weather is not stable.
You experienced the “Magic in the Air”, and then you will venture to Knuckles range. Knuckles Range is the “The Misty Valley” with a lot of adventures. Today’s accommodation will be a camping night and you will surely love a night in a camp and the barbeque dinner.
As you reach Maiyanganaya, make a visit to the Dambana Vedda Village. With ancient roots dating back to the 6th century B.C, the ‘’forest people’’, most famously known as the ‘’Veddas’’, are the last indigenous tribe still in existence in the country. Explore the enthralling lifestyle of a forest dweller and the ways in which they have adopted through the centuries.
Take a picturesque, hour-long boat ride across Sorabora Lake. Observe the local fishermen use a traditional form of fishing. After the boat tour, head towards the local fish market at the edge of the lake and witness how the locals work to bring you the most finely prepared fish to your tables. Afterward, try your hand milking a cow; learn about the technique from a local villager. Dust off this experience by playing on the swing by the edge of the lake.
Make your way to the top of Sorobora Rock, where you can have a perfect lunch in a serene ambience, the ultimate experience of a meal with a view. Join in on with the chef who would take you through some of the finer recipes of our cuisine, opening up brand new sensory worlds, the embodiment of pure indulgence!
In the late evening, you can join the local villagers in witnessing the ancient Sri Lankan art of clay pottery making.
On arrival in Ella, make a trip to Ella village if you wish. Ella has waterfalls, caves , misty hills, lovely cafes and a lot of geographically significant places.
And why not trying Zip Lining? The ride offers a magnificent bird’s eye view of the beautiful hills and the green estates of the surrounding area. As you zip down, you will see the people who are plucking and collecting tea leaves, working in their estates. Staff is well trained and they ensure all safety measures are implemented prior to the ride making it safe to those who are brave enough.
You can also visit Nine Arch Bridge; hike Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock.
Next adventure destination would be Kithulgala!
Kitulgala is a rainforest patch and is famous as the base for white-water rafting but there are a myriad of adventure activities that you can enjoy during your stay. White water rafting, jungle trekking, mountain biking, River bathing, visiting pre historic Belilena caving and waterfall abseiling are some of the adrenaline-filled activities in the list.
You can also take it easy with a bird watching tour. A nature lover will find this extremely interesting since you get to see many of country’s endemic bird species such as Sri Lanka Orange-billed babbler and chestnut-backed owlet, further some of the reptiles such as green pit viper and earless lizard and a many species of butterflies.
After all the adventures, it would be a great idea to end your holiday by the blue ocean. Check in for a 2 night stay at a beautiful beach resort and spend the days on sandy beaches and by sea.
You can also indulge in banana boat rides, ringo float rides, water-skiing, jet-skiing and many other water sports carried out in the river. Enjoy!