18 Day Ultimate Sri Lanka & The Historical North Premium Small Group Tour

Welcome to Sri Lanka! On arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), you will be met by your transfer and driven to your accommodation in Colombo. Special Information: Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport by a representative who will escort you through immigration, and be transferred to your hotel. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed. Please note: if you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel. Check-in: if arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary.

This morning after breakfast, meet your tour leader and the rest of your group for a welcome meeting and brief of the day's activities. We then head south towards Galle, with a Colombo sightseeing tour on the way. Colombo offers a blend of modern western and Sri Lankan elements, and you will drive past some of the commercial capital's sites including Old Parliament, President's House, Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park and Independence Square. We will also visit the Colombo National Museum. This museum takes visitors through Sri Lankan history, housed in a neo-Baroque building constructed by William Henry Gregory, Governor of Ceylon, in 1877. Exhibits are dedicated to each of Sri Lanka's historical kingdoms, with informational display boards providing insights such as the meaning behind the mudras (gestures and poses) depicted in Sri Lanka's Buddha statues. Then, in Balapitiya, we take a boat trip on the Madu River to visit 64 scattered islands, including Cinnamon Island, where we learn about cinnamon production. Sri Lanka is the world's largest producer of pure cinnamon. Arrive at your hotel in the evening for dinner. Inspiring Highlights Colombo National Museum Madu River Cinnamon Island Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.Please note that the Colombo National Museum will be closed every Monday for maintenance starting September 1, 2025. As an alternative, Polonnaruwa Museum will be visited instead.

Enjoy a leisurely morning at your hotel, with lunch served at the hotel. This afternoon, set out on a tour of Galle Fort and its fortifications. This is a city that blends past and present. Declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1988, the presence of Portuguese, Dutch and English is evident in the architectural styles of Galle Fort. Return to the hotel this evening for dinner. Inspiring Highlights Galle Fort

In the morning after breakfast, we leave for Yala National Park. On arrival, spend your afternoon on a guided game drive exploring the dynamic wildlife and the most luxuriant plant life in Yala National Park. Being one of the largest parks in Sri Lanka, it is the ideal place to sight the rare leopard! Enjoy dinner at the hotel in the evening. Special Information Yala National Park closes for a period between the months of September and October. The exact closure dates are made clear closer to the time. The closure is due to the prevailing dry weather prior to this time and taking into consideration the well-being of the wildlife in the reserve. For departure dates that fall over this period, as defined in the departure dates listed below, Yala National Park will be replaced with a visit to Udawalawe National Park, while still being able to visit Block 4 or 5 of Yala National Park. Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

You will have an early start today for another safari in Yala National Park by jeep, to spot the diverse wildlife that calls the park home. Return to the hotel for breakfast, then we leave Yala and make a stop in Ella to witness the sceneries of the hill country. Transfer to Ella Railway Station and board the scenic train to Haputale. The journey takes you through tea country with views of rolling hills, waterfalls and plantations along the way. On arrival in Haputale, continue by road to Nuwara Eliya. Often referred to as 'Little England', this genteel highland community has a vaguely British-country-village feel to it, with its colonial-era bungalows. Check in to your Inspiring Stay for the next two nights, the Grand Hotel. Built in 1891, this was the palatial residence of the former Governor of Sri Lanka, Sir Edward Barnes. The Grand Hotel is an enduring icon of Nuwara Eliya, perched on a mountain ridge overlooking green countryside in tea country. It retains a romantic, old-world ambience alongside modern comforts, with well-appointed rooms, magnificent gardens and an array of amenities and activities including music therapy, yoga and more. The Grand Hotel is also renowned for its traditional afternoon tea, a quintessential British tradition which you will experience on this tour. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Yala National Park Scenic Train Journey Nuwara Eliya & The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. It is not possible to confirm the train ticket reservation in advance, as Sri Lanka Railway has a manual system for reservations. Tickets can only be booked 30 days prior to departure. The 1st and 2nd class is basic but has air-conditioning. The non-air conditioned 3rd class sometimes is the only option based on availability. On the rare occasion the train is fully booked we will conduct the route by road. A smart casual dress code applies for dinner at all restaurants and bars. Guests in short trousers and sleeveless shirts and rubber slippers will not be permitted to enter the restaurants.

Today you will have a leisurely morning at your hotel. This afternoon, enjoy an Inspiring Taste at probably the most talked of outlet in Nuwara Eliya, the Grand Tea Lounge. Here we enjoy an iconic High Tea at the Grand Hotel. Dinner this evening will be enjoyed at your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Grand Tea Lounge

After breakfast, depart Nuwara Eliya for Kandy. En route, take in the scenery of the tea country with views of rolling hills and waterfalls along the way. Stop to visit a tea plantation and factory. Here you will enjoy the absolute tea experience, from the moment the young tea leaves are plucked to being processed in the factory to make a cup of tea. If you are interested, the tea factory is a good place to purchase quality tea. Continue on to Kandy, with lunch at a local restaurant en route. On arrival in Kandy, check in to your hotel before dinner at a local restaurant with the rest of your group. Inspiring Highlights Tea Plantation and Factory Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

After breakfast, explore the beautiful city of Kandy with an included Tuk Tuk and Bazaar tour, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Kandy, once known as Senkadagala, was the Hill Capital from 1514 to 1815 AD and was named a UNESCO heritage site in 1988. Take in the city's lake, historic temples and well-preserved royal palace ruins. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan cultural performance before returning to the hotel for dinner. Inspiring Highlights Kandy Lake

After breakfast, depart Kandy for Sigiriya, stopping en route at Dambulla Cave Temple. This UNESCO heritage site dates back to the 3rd Century BC and boasts 157 statues and extraordinary paintings covering a vast 2100 m² area, making it the most impressive cave complex in Sri Lanka. Continue to Sigiriya, arriving in time for lunch and hotel check-in. This afternoon, enjoy a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park. Located in the districts of Matale and Polonnaruwa and bordered by the Mahaweli and Amban rivers, this park stretches across 36,948 hectares. It was declared a National Park in 1984 and is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to observe elephants. This evening, enjoy an Inspiring Taste with a sundowner pre-dinner Arrack (a local cocktail) or something else to suit your taste, along with canapés, followed by dinner at your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Minneriya National Park Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Since elephants are migratory animals, we may visit Kaudualla or Eco Park on this day instead, based on the elephant locations.

This morning will be an early start, where we'll climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress (also known as Lion's Rock) - an extraordinary artistic complex dating back to 477-498 AD. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has become a global attraction due to its unique architecture. For lunch, participate in an Inspiring Taste cooking demonstration where you'll learn to prepare Sri Lankan rice and curry (5-6 curries). Savour your meal while overlooking the beautiful gardens. In the afternoon, we'll take a sightseeing tour of Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital city of Sri Lanka (1017-1235 AD). Polonnaruwa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 after the fall of Anuradhapura. In the evening enjoy a cocktail and dinner at your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Sigiriya Rock Fortress Polonnaruwa

Spend the day at leisure to enjoy the hotel and its surrounds. Lunch and dinner are served at your hotel.

This morning after breakfast we will begin our drive to Trincomalee, a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. On the way, we will visit Fort Frederick & Koneswaram Temple. Fort Frederick was built by Portuguese settlers in 1623. It was captured by the Dutch in 1639 and later on by British troops in 1795. Koneswaram Temple is located inside the fort and on top of Swam rock and it is a highly venerated Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva. Upon arrival we will check-in and enjoy an evening at leisure to start exploring Trincomalee - one of Sri Lanka's coastal gems. Inspiring Highlights Fort Frederick Koneswaram Temple Trincomalee Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. On your departure from Sigiriya you will say goodbye to your tour leader, and some of your group who will not be continuing onwards to the North with you. You will be met by a new tour leader, or depending on group size, you may change from your tour leader to a local guide. Local guides are frequently native to the area, offering a deeper understanding of the local history, art, or way of life.Please note that options for 4-star and 5-star hotels in Trincomalee are limited. For certain departure dates, Nilaveli Beach Hotel—a 3-star property—serves as an excellent alternative, located on the popular Nilaveli Beach and known for its high overall standards.

This morning is free for you to sleep in or enjoy your resort's coastal setting & its facilities. Later in the afternoon, follow your local guide on a city tour of Trincomalee. Inspiring Highlights Trincomalee Special Information Alternatively in the morning, you may want to take an optional boat tour to Pigeon Island (can be booked on tour, approximately a 15 minute boat ride), renowned for its peaceful beach and idyllic snorkelling.

Today after breakfast, we will be departing Trincomaleeand transferring to the city of Anuradhapura. Upon arrival we'll check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

After breakfast, enjoy a guided city tour of Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka and is known for its well-preserved ruins. The highlight of today will be a visit to the magnificent Anuradhapura ruins. Among the ruins you'll see the sacred old Bo Tree, a spiritual reminder of the beginnings of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the inspiration for Anuradhapura's great buildings. The ruins themselves are spread over quite a large area, some in woodland settings and others appearing park-like with columns and ponds dotted about. Later on, continue to Mihintale, a mountain peak near Anuradhapura. Locals believe this site of a meeting point between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa, who instigated Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Spend the evening at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Anuradhapura ruins Sacred Old Bo Tree Mihintale

After breakfast, we drive 170 km south to our next destination: Negombo. We arrive in the early afternoon and check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure—take a stroll along the beach or relax by the pool and make the most of the hotel's facilities.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Sri Lanka. At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the Colombo airport to board your flight home.You will have access to your hotel room until 8 pm. Special InformationDeparture airport transfers are included as part of your package.If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.

Arrive home today.