Temples, Treasures & Spiritual Retreats

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the morning at your leisure, sightseeing in the city or relaxing at your own pace. We recommend an optional excursion to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, one of Sri Lanka's most breathtaking archaeological sites.* In the afternoon, we recomend an optional excursion to Minneriya National Park. ** Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Dambulla.

* Optional Excursion to the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa: Drive for approx. 1.5 hours to the ancient medieval capital of Polonnaruwa, filled with timeless archaeological sites. Situated on the Parakrama Samudraya Lake, explore the fascinating ancient ruins, surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. 

** Optional Excursion to the Minneriya National Park: enjoy an exciting jeep safari at Minneriya National Park, famous for its large population of elephants. Experience excellent game viewing as you travel through the fertile plains of Minneriya, watching for herds of elephants, water buffalo, monkeys and birdlife. 

$40 to be paid in destination in concept of entrance fee and jeep for the safari at Minneriya National Park.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off for Dambulla to visit the Golden Temple, a sacred 2,000-year-old pilgrimage site carved into the rocks. The walls and ceilings are covered with Buddhist murals and there are more than 130 Buddha statues in its interior. Next, en route to Kandy, enjoy a tour of the Spice Gardens and an authentic Batik Factory. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the afternoon before arriving in Kandy, set on a plateau surrounded by breathtaking mountains. Transfer to the hotel. In the evening enjoy an entertaining cultural performance for a taste of Sri Lankan folklore. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave for Nuwara Eliya for an afternoon of sightseeing. Nuwara Eliya is known as the 'Little England' of Sri Lanka and is a beautiful region, filled with lush-tea plantation and typical farmlands. Visit a traditional tea plantation to learn about the production process and savour the flavour of authentic Sri Lankan tea, which makes up for around 25% of global tea exports! Enjoy sightseeing in Nuwara Eliya to admire its typical colonial architecture and cool climate before heading to the train station to take a scenic train ride back to Kandy. One of the most popular experiences in Sri Lanka, take in the amazing countryside views as the train weaves its way through plantations and mountains. Arrive in Kandy and spend the evening exploring this charming city at leisure. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave the highlands behind for the idyllic shores of Beruwala, a famous resort town with a large number of hotels, providing first-class facilities and stunning beaches. Beruwala is also famous for water sports such as sailing, water-skiing, para-sailing and water scooters. The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax on the beautiful beaches and soak up the tropical landscapes. Overnight stay in Beruwala.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying the facilities of your hotel or relaxing on the beach. We recommend an optional excursion to Galle Fort and a Turtle Hatchery.* Overnight stay in Beruwala.

* Optional Excursion to Galle Fort & Turtle Hatchery: Head to Galle, a major city of Sri Lanka's south coast, to explore the huge Galle Fort, dating back to the 17th-century. With elements of Dutch and Portuguese architectural influences, learn about this period in the island's history. Afterwards, head to the Ahungalla Turtle Hatchery, where visitors have the unique opportunity to watch newborn turtles preparing to be released into the wild. 

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to Colombo International Airport for your return flight back to Canada. Night on board.

* If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.