Flight: QR664 Doha - Colombo 02.15 - 09.35

Meet & Greet: On arrival in Colombo, you will be welcomed to Sri Lanka by your private driver and transferred to Galle. This is a journey of approximately 3 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Fort Printers (Suite)

Walking tour of Galle Fort: Today you will be taken on an entertaining walking tour of Galle Fort. Expect the unexpected with a charismatic local as your guide. Take in the maze of hidden back streets, meet local characters, reveal secret spots and explore extravagant 18th century merchant houses. The walks last around an hour and can take in a number of themes, depending on your particular interests. The tours are very much designed to get you underneath the skin of this atmospheric fort city.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Fort Printers (Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Kandy: After breakfast, head north by road to the bustling hill capital of Kandy and check into your hotel. This is a long journey of around 5 hours with various stops possible en-route for refreshments and sightseeing. On arrival, check-in to your hotel in the hills outside Kandy and relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ellerton Bungalow (Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning visit to the Orange Field Tea Factory: This morning you will be taken to visit the Orange Field Tea Factory near Gampola. This is one of the most famous tea factories in the region and produces black tea from leaves grown at hundreds of small local plantations. Your guide will show you around the factory and you will learn more about the tea production process, before sitting down for a cup at the end of your tour. Return to your hotel in the middle of the day for some time at leisure before setting off on a tour of Kandy.

Afternoon city tour of Kandy: In the afternoon, you will set off on your guided tour of Kandy. Start with a drive up the hill to the south of the lake to a special vista point, where you can get a bird's eye view of this remarkable city. The famous Kandy Lake was built in 1807 and forms an attractive centre-piece for the town. Return to the city centre, where your guide will take you on a walking tour around the famous shopping streets and to points of interest such as the central market and the historic railway station. Later in the afternoon you will be taken on a stroll along the lakeside to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the most important places in all of Sri Lanka, housing the country's most sacred religious relic, the tooth of the Buddha. Depending on the time of your visit, you may catch the evening ‘Puja' or ceremony which lasts for around one hour and involves lots of noisy drumming and excitement. Most of the ceremony actually takes place behind closed doors, but at the end, the tooth relic is opened to the public gaze. Return to your hotel afterwards for an evening at leisure or head out to explore the Kandy nightlife.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ellerton Bungalow (Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning visit to the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens: After breakfast visit the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, where a rare collection of tropical exotic and indigenous flora including the famous Orchid House could be viewed. The Gardens are renowned for the collection of a variety of orchids and include more than 4000 species of plants, including of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to the gardens is the National Herbarium. Your guide will leave you to have some time at leisure to potter around the area and explore independently before being taken back to your hotel.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon is at leisure to relax back at your hotel or do some walking in the surrounding countryside.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ellerton Bungalow (Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Road journey to Habarana, via the Dambulla Cave Temples: After breakfast, your driver will meet you at your hotel and you will set off for Dambulla, in the cultural triangle region, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Upon arrival in Dambulla, you will be taken on a tour to the famous Golden Rock Cave Temple complex. The caves are located at the top of a hill and the only access is on a pathway and stairs carved into the hillside, it is possible to drive up to a point about half way up for those who don't fancy walking all the way from the bottom. At the top you are rewarded with 5 magical and dimly lit caves crammed with Buddhist statues and murals. The caves date back over 2000 years and are of huge significance to Sri Lanka's Buddhists. After exploring the caves and taking in the impressive views from the top (on a clear day you will get a very good view of Sigiriya Rock), descend the hill, back to the comfort of your air-conditioned car. Continue by road to your hotel in the nearby town of Habarana, about 30 minutes' drive from Dambulla.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Cinnamon Lodge (Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning tour of Polonnaruwa: This morning you will be taken on a tour of the ruined ancient city of Polonnaruwa. A well-planned city defended by enclosing walls (around 5 km of which still remain), graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes. Polonnaruwa is strewn with ruins in a resplendent state of preservation and is a delightful place to explore.

Afternoon Safari in Minneriya National Park or Hurulu Eco-Park: This afternoon, you will set off on a private jeep safari. Depending on the season and conditions on the ground, the safari will either be in the Minneriya National Park or the Hurulu Eco-Park, both famed for their elephant populations. This area is known locally as the ‘elephant corridor' due to the large number of elephants that pass through at certain times of year when the water dries up in different parts of the country. As well as elephants you are also likely to see deer, monkeys and many rare species of bird.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Cinnamon Lodge (Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning climb of Sigiriya Rock: Early this morning you will be driven to the bottom of the Sigiriya rock, one of Sri Lanka's most famous and striking attractions. The rock is best climbed early in the morning and depending on your time of departure, you may wish to arrange for a packed breakfast to be taken with you, this can be arranged at your hotel the night before. On arrival at the rock you will commence the climb with an expert local guide who will explain the ancient history of this unique rock fortress. Walk through the extensive gardens, ringed by an intimidating moat, and up the steep steps, passing through the famous Lion's Paw to the summit where you will enjoy the jaw-dropping views out over the Sri Lankan countryside. After some time to rest, descend the rock and meet up with your driver who will take you for lunch at a local restaurant (payable locally). Visitors should be aware that sections of the climb are steep and the upmost care should be taken when ascending and descending the rock. The last section up to the summit is on a narrow metal staircase and to reach the summit requires a good level of fitness. Many people decide to stop by the Lion's Paw, about two-thirds of the way up and enjoy the view from there.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon is at leisure to relax back at your hotel or explore the area around Habarana and the nearby lakes independently. Bicycles can be rented locally and are a good way to explore.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Cinnamon Lodge (Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Road journey to Colombo Airport: After breakfast, you will be met by your driver and transferred to the airport in Colombo. This is a journey of approximately 4 hours.

Flight: UL115 Colombo - The Maldives 13.45 - 14.40

Shared transfer to your island resort: Upon arrival in Malé airport, you will be transferred by shared shuttle bus and speedboat to your island resort, an easy 50 minute journey.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on Makunudu Island (Beachfront Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Days at leisure: These days are at leisure to do as much or as little as you choose. A wide range of water sports and other activities can be arranged through the resort. Meals are all included, but it is possible to upgrade to the all-inclusive package including all drinks and actvities - please ask your consultant to quote the supplement for this.

Accommodation: Stay these nights on Makunudu Island (Beachfront Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner