Forests, tea plantations & culture

Your Sri Lankan adventure begins with a private flight to Colombo, where you'll be warmly welcomed to Sri Lanka the following morning! Upon arrival, you'll be met at Bandaranaike International Airport by a member of staff and transferred to your hotel, where you can relax after your journey before exploring one of Sri Lanka's most important temples, the Gangaramaya Temple, in the evening. A stroll through the Pettah floating market, offering a vibrant array of traditional and local products and handicrafts, is a wonderful way to end your first day in Sri Lanka.

On your way to Kandy, visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage – here, abandoned, orphaned, and injured elephants find a new home and are lovingly nursed back to health. Once the last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, Kandy has retained an aura of grandeur and exudes an exotic beauty. Nestled amidst verdant hills, Kandy and its surrounding villages are a cultural hub where many legends, traditions, and ways of life are kept alive.

The atmospheric heart of Kandy is the Temple of the Tooth, nestled among green hills by the lake, which houses a tooth of the Buddha. A visit to an inspiring dance and music show will further immerse you in Sri Lanka's cultural heritage.

Sri Lanka is one of the world's largest tea exporters, with tea production primarily concentrated in the central highlands. A visit to a tea factory and a walk among the lush green tea plants will immerse you in the world of tea production, and conversations with the tea pickers will provide you with a wealth of firsthand information.

Not far from Nuwara Eliya, at an altitude of between 2,000 and 2,300 meters, lies the high plateau of Horton Plains National Park, with its vast grasslands, bushland, and wooded vegetation. A hike through the grassy plains, cloud forests, swamps, and rocky terrain, culminating in the panoramic view from Kirigalpotha, Sri Lanka's highest accessible peak, is a wonderful reward for the effort! With a bit of luck, you might even spot one of the elusive leopards in its natural habitat, as well as sambar deer and numerous species of birds and amphibians.

The tea plantations, mountains, and wonderful hiking trails make Ella one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful natural paradises and a must-see for every adventure traveler! Sir Thomas Lipton himself loved the place, especially the view from his favorite spot, which is still known today as "Lipton's Seat." From here, he could oversee his ever-expanding plantations, and it is said that one can see up to seven different provinces across the lush green hills.

The Nine Arches Bridge in Ella is arguably the most beautiful bridge in Sri Lanka. Standing 25 meters tall and constructed entirely of brick, it rises unexpectedly from the lush, green forest and is a popular subject for photographs. It also serves as a great starting point for your hike to Little Adam's Peak. After the easy climb, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Ella Rock, Ravana Falls, and the surrounding rolling green hills, as well as a panoramic vista of the town below. The afternoon is free for relaxation or independent exploration.

Tropical rainforest and the nearby Adam's Peak characterize the area around Dalhousie, which lies within Sri Pada Peak, Sri Lanka's third-largest nature reserve. While Adam's Peak may not be the highest mountain, it is certainly the most famous. A legend claiming that a footprint of Buddha – or, depending on the religion, Shiva, Adam, or Saint Thomas – can be found on the summit makes it a destination for numerous Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian pilgrims every year. Use your time after arrival to rest and relax, because tomorrow you'll be setting off early!

The climb to Adam's Peak is an extraordinary and spiritual experience. Even from afar, the lights are visible, winding around the sacred mountain like an enormous string of lights, guiding the way to the top. Together with countless pilgrims, you'll set off in the early morning and follow the more than 5,000 steps, some steep and worn, to the summit at 2,243 meters – an elevation gain of 1,000 meters! The first orange streaks of light against the black night sky, gradually spreading like glowing lava flows and slowly changing to pink and purple hues, reward you for the strenuous ascent. The chants of Buddhist monks enhance the magical atmosphere and provide strength for the descent. After returning to your hotel, you can reflect on the day's experiences in peace and quiet.

The Sinharaja Rainforest is the last remaining continuous forest area in Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Everything you could imagine a wild jungle to be can be found here: a tropical climate with high humidity, frequent rainfall, towering canopies and dense undergrowth, enchanting waterfalls, and fascinating wildlife including poisonous insects and amphibians, monkeys, and a diverse array of birds. Few tourists visit this area, allowing you to enjoy an undisturbed walking safari.

Early in the morning, you'll embark on an exciting hike through the Sinharaja Rainforest. Accompanied by a unique soundscape of birdsong, monkey calls, and insect chirping, you'll discover the stunning natural landscape and its inhabitants on foot. Your ranger will point out the masters of camouflage and knows every animal, tree, and plant – he'll also gladly explain the subtle but important differences between jungle and rainforest. After this adventure, you've earned some relaxation – in the afternoon, you'll head to one of Sri Lanka's beautiful beaches, where you can unwind with sun, sand, and sea, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Enjoy more days on the paradisiacal beaches of Sri Lanka and design your stay entirely according to your own wishes.

Depending on your departure time, you will be transferred to Bandaranaike International Airport today, from where you will begin your journey home. We wish you a pleasant flight home and hope to welcome you back as our guests soon. (Please note that you should arrive at the airport three hours before departure.)