Kandy & Bentota Sri Lanka

Your Travel Right representative greets you at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport and begins the transfer to Kandy. En route, stop at the beloved Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage — one of Sri Lanka's most iconic attractions, home to 65 rescued elephants. Some were orphaned as babies, others are elderly matriarchs no longer able to survive in the wild, and others were rescued from captivity. Watch, interact and be captivated by these gentle giants in their natural setting. After the visit (~90km from Colombo), continue to Kandy and check in to Earl's Regency for an overnight rest.

After hotel breakfast, drive 1.5 hours to Nuwara Eliya — the "City of Light," perched in Sri Lanka's misty highlands. Once a favourite British hill station, the town's Queen Anne-style cottages, steep-roofed mansions, golf courses and post offices still evoke an enchanting English spring. First stop: Hakgala Botanical Gardens — a collection of five botanical gardens spanning tropical to sub-tropical plants, steeped in Ramayana mythology as the site of Ravana's Ashok Vatika gifted to Sita. Visit Gregory Lake, built in 1873 by British Governor William Gregory — now a scenic lake park for swan boat rides. Explore Victoria Park, renamed in 1897 for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, with its flower gardens and natural Nanu Oya River lakes. Tour a working Tea Factory and walk through tea plantations to witness the making of world-famous Ceylon Tea. Return to Kandy in the evening.

Check out from Earl's Regency after breakfast and begin the scenic journey south to Bentota. En route, enjoy a Madu River Boat Safari — gliding through the wide Madu Ganga along 64 mangrove-forested islands, spotting 19 endemic species, rare birds and reptiles. Watch traditional stilt fishermen balanced above the water — a uniquely Sri Lankan sight. Then visit the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project (est. 1981), home to five endangered species of sea turtles. See newborn hatchlings in clean tanks, learn about their conservation, and watch baby turtles released into the sea at nightfall. Arrive at Avani Bentota Resort and check in for two nights.

An early morning start for Galle — one of Sri Lanka's most remarkable historic destinations on the south-western tip of the island. Begin with the Galle Fort, completed by the Dutch in 1663 and earning UNESCO World Heritage status in 1988 for its unique blend of European and South Asian colonial architecture. Visit the Galle National Museum — filled with extraordinary artefacts of ebony, tortoiseshell and antique wood. Continue to the vibrant coastal town of Hikkaduwa — famous for its turquoise reef-lined waters, beach shacks and local delicacies. Snorkel among colourful coral gardens, try windsurfing, or simply stroll along the shore and explore by bicycle. Return to Bentota for the evening.

Check out from Avani Bentota after breakfast and drive to Colombo for a packed final city tour. Visit the historic Fort — the British administrative centre, now Colombo's financial district, home to the Stock Exchange, World Trade Centre and charming colonial-era buildings. Explore Sea Street (Goldsmith's Quarter of Pettah) with hundreds of jewellery shops and the ornate Hindu Temple. See the Kayman's Gate / Dutch Bell Tower and the 1740s Dutch Church of Wolfendaal — one of Sri Lanka's oldest Protestant churches. Visit the deeply revered Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, consecrated over 2,600 years ago. See the Dewatagaha Mosque and the BMICH Convention Hall, built in the 1970s as a gift from China. Conclude with a souvenir shopping trip before your private transfer to Colombo Airport for your flight home.