Highlights of Sri Lanka

Unearth history and glance into what life in a 16th century port city would have been like as you experience the legends and myths of Galle Fort as you amble around. There are many archaeological artefacts on display at the Maritime Museum, including 800 year old items salvaged from shipwrecks. Witness how today’s locals live within this colossal Dutch fortress and UNESCO World Heritage site. There is an abundance of chic and boutique shops, where you can purchase gems, handmade lace and antiques. Unwind in pretty garden and terrace cafés, and admire the coastal beds of pure blue ocean and coral reefs. (TOTAL DURATION: 2 hrs; TRAVEL TIME TO ACTIVITY: Walking; Private Activity; NOTES: Activity in walkable distance. Avoid afternoon since this is the walking tour and afternoon it gets hot. )

Safari in style with an unforgettable adventure on a morning or evening jeep safari through the forests of Yala National Park. You can enjoy a close encounter with the abundance of wildlife who live here. There are about 44 species of mammals, including elephants and deer, and many reptiles and lagoon fauna. If you enjoy birdwatching then there are 125 bird species to be spotted, particularly around the wetlands where waterbirds and waders have made a home. The park is home to the endangered subspecies of the Panthera Pardus Kotiya, which is only found in Sri Lanka. Kindly note that Yala sometimes closes during the months of September and October for maintenance. (Duration: 5 hrs; Travel Time to Activity: 3 or 4 hrs only for the Safari. Consider the time taken to reach the safari shot from the hotel; Private Activity; Time of the Day: Morning or Evening; CLOSED: Mid Sep - Mid Oct Park will be closed due to rainy season; NOTES: Only 1 Safari per day)

Uncover an ancient world with your tour of what was once a sacred capital city over one thousand years ago. Observe some of the largest bell-shaped dagobas (Buddhist stupas) in the country, made of small sundried bricks. There are also ancient drinking water reservoirs, various sculptures, palaces and temples to explore. Witness the sacred Bo (Bodhi) tree, that was grown from a sapling of the very tree that Lord Buddha sat under when he attained enlightenment 2,5000 years ago. Today it’s recorded as the oldest tree in history! Visit Isurumuniya Vihara, a temple and monastery, where you can admire fascinating stone carvings of lovers, elephants and a royal family. There’s also a reclining Buddha that has been cut from the rock. This culturally-rich is generously surrounded by lakes, paddy fields and undulating rocks. (DURATION: 4 hrs: DISTANCES: 205 kms North of Colombo; ACTIVITY TYPE: Must do / Private; IDEAL FOR: Culture + History Traveler; TRAVEL TIME TO ACTIVITY: 20 mins; TIMINGS: 08:00 - 16:00)