Sri Lanka Nature & Beach Holiday 10 Days

Arrive at Colombo International Airport, where you will be met by your representative and transferred to the west coast. Continue to Bentota or Beruwala, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. After your flight, this is a chance to settle into the Sri Lankan pace of life, relax by the coast and enjoy your first evening in the country.

After breakfast, travel south towards Galle, one of Sri Lanka's most atmospheric historic cities. Explore the famous Galle Fort, a fortified old town shaped by centuries of Portuguese, Dutch and British influence. The historic fort area combines colonial architecture, old ramparts, narrow streets, churches, cafés and views across the Indian Ocean. Continue towards Yala National Park. In the afternoon, enjoy a jeep safari in Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka's best-known wildlife destinations. Keep an eye out for elephants, deer, crocodiles and a wide variety of birdlife, with the possibility of seeing other wildlife depending on seasonal and local conditions. The original programme notes that Yala National Park normally closes during September and October; when this applies, the tour uses Lunugamvehera National Park as an alternative.

After breakfast, leave Yala and travel north into the central highlands. The landscape changes dramatically as the road climbs through the mountains and tea-growing areas around Nuwara Eliya. Rolling tea plantations and cooler temperatures make this one of the most scenic parts of the journey. Continue towards Kandy, Sri Lanka's historic hill capital. Arrive at your hotel, enjoy dinner and relax after the day's journey.

After breakfast, travel to Pinnawala for a visit to the elephant facility included in the original programme. Return to Kandy and explore this historic city, once the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the island's most important Buddhist sites. The temple houses the relic traditionally believed to be a tooth of the Buddha and remains an important pilgrimage destination. Take time to appreciate Kandy's distinctive atmosphere, surrounded by hills and centred around its lake and historic buildings.

After breakfast, leave Kandy and travel towards Habarana. Stop in Matale to visit a traditional spice garden and discover some of the spices that play an important role in Sri Lankan cuisine and traditional practices. Continue to Dambulla, where you will visit the famous Dambulla Cave Temple. Carved into the rock, the cave complex is filled with Buddha images, sculptures and colourful murals. Among its most striking features is the large reclining Buddha carved directly into the rock. Continue to Habarana and check in to your hotel.

Today brings one of the major highlights of the tour: Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Climb the famous Lion Rock and explore the remains of the ancient royal complex. Along the way, discover the celebrated frescoes, Mirror Wall, landscaped gardens and the monumental Lion's Paw at the entrance to the final ascent. In the afternoon, head to Minneriya National Park for a wildlife safari. The park is particularly known for its elephant population, although wildlife sightings depend on the season and daily conditions. Return to Habarana after the safari.

After breakfast, leave Habarana and travel to Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Explore the ancient ruins, temples and monuments that remain from one of the island's great historic kingdoms. The surrounding reservoirs and ancient irrigation works are an important part of the landscape and demonstrate the sophistication of Sri Lanka's historic civilisation. Continue towards Passikudah on the east coast. On arrival, check in to your beach resort and enjoy a relaxing evening beside the Indian Ocean.

Today is deliberately unhurried. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and spend the day at leisure in Passikudah. Relax on the beach, enjoy the resort facilities or take a swim in the calm coastal waters, depending on local sea conditions. After several days of sightseeing, this is your opportunity to simply slow down and enjoy Sri Lanka's east coast.

Enjoy another relaxed day in Passikudah. With no scheduled sightseeing, you can choose how to spend your final full day — whether that means reading beside the pool, walking along the beach or simply enjoying the tropical surroundings.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Colombo International Airport for your onward flight. Meals: Breakfast.