Overview :
Sri Lanka packs an extraordinary variety of places to visit within its modest physical dimensions, and few islands of comparable size can boast a natural environment of such beauty and diversity. Lapped by the Indian Ocean, the coast is fringed with idyllic – and often refreshingly undeveloped – beaches, while the interior boasts a compelling variety of landscapes ranging from wildlife-rich lowland jungles, home to extensive populations of elephants, leopards and rare endemic bird species, to the misty heights of the hill country, swathed in immaculately manicured tea plantations. Sri Lanka also boasts more than two thousand years of recorded history, and the remarkable achievements of the early Sinhalese civilization can still be seen in the sequence of ruined cities and great religious monuments that litter the northern plains.
I'm keeping the group size small and intimate for this tour and sufficent time for each destination without rushing , to give space to unwind and soak in the atmosphere yet having enough activities to fully occupy us during the trip.
Highlights : Cultural Sites - Kandy & Galle , Hill Country Hiking at Horton's Plains National Park , Little Adam's Peak & Ella Rock , Tea Plantations , Scenic Mountain and Hill Views , Train Ride , Waterfalls , Gardens & Parks , Elephants , Safari at Udawalawe National Park , Blue Whales & Dolphin Watching , Turtle watching & hatcheries , Beaches , Beach Activities - Snorkelling , Surfing , Swimming , Stilt Fishing , Spice Gardens , Aryuvedic Spa/Massage , Wonderful Sri Lankan Food !!
Places : Kandy ( 2 nights ) - Nuwara Eiliya ( 2 nights ) - Ella ( 2 nights ) - Udawalawe National Park ( 1 night ) - Mirissa ( 1 night ) - Beaches along the South Coast - Galle ( 1 night ) - Beaches long the Southwest coast : Hikkaduwa - Kosgoda - Bentota - Colombo - Negombo .
Total no of Days in the Trip : 11 Days including Departure and Arrival back into Singapore .
Itinerary :
Day 1 - 24 Mar : Singapore - Colombo - Kandy.
Depart from Singapore via SQ/Silkair 0850 hrs . . Arrive at Colombo international airport 1020 hrs . 4 hour drive to Kandy .Kandy - the World Heritage Site & last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings . Visit Kandy City Centre - bundled with latest and world class brands, bazaar, an arts & crafts centre, gem museum & lapidary walk in color as you glide through fresh fruits and vegetables in the Kandy market hall , and local markets . Enjoy and evening walk along Kandy Lake , viewing the sunset , perhaps getting a chance to view snake charmers performing by the lake . Enjoy traditional kandyan dancing , music & drumming at a cultural show in the evening , a must do on the bucket list . Overnight in Kandy.
Day 2 - 25 Mar : Kandy .
Today we experience an ancient Kandyan legacy engraved around its crown jewel, with a visit to the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha., which houses the tooth relic of the Buddha . Visit to Peradeniya Botanical gardens . Option of visiting a Spice Garden in Matale or Loolecondera Tea Estate , the first tea plantation in Sri Lanka started by Scotsman James Taylor if time permits . Back to Kandy for more sightseeing and shopping . Check out the local food scene in the evening . Overnight in Kandy.
Temple of the Tooth , Kandy
Kandyan Dance and Music , cultural show 
Spice Herbs , Photocredit : Amila Tennakoon https://www.flickr.com/photos/lakpura/15873957835
Day 3 - 26 Mar : Kandy - Nuwara Eliya .
This am , we drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya which is a 3 hour ride . Misty steep roads, twisting through lush green blankets of tea bushes in a cool climate, remind visitors that they are within the range of the renowned British colonial retreat - Nuwara Eliya. We shall visit Pedro Tea Esate , Strawberry farms , Gregory Lake , Lover's Leap Falls , Ramboda Falls , Victoria Park . Go for high tea at The Grand Hotel between 3.30pm and 6pm as recommended in Lonely Planet as a not to miss for only 7 Singapore dollars. At 3.30pm sharp , waiters in white livery unveil a bulging buffet of perfectly groomed triangular sandwiches and dainty cakes . These are washed down with a vast selction of different teas . Overnight in Nuwara Eliya .
Pedro Tea Estate , Nuwara Eliya . 
Tea Pickers , Nuwara Eliya . Photo Credits : Miltos Gikas https://www.flickr.com/photos/aries_tottle/6629471809
Day 4 - 27 Mar : Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains National Park Hike ( 9 km trek - 3 to 4 hours ) - Nuwara Eliya .
Early morning rise at 5am followed by a one hour drive to Horton Plains National Park , UNESCO World Heritage Site, trekking paradise & Eco-tourism hideout in the heart of the isle, painted with unending stretches of green pastures marks one of the healthiest wet montane evergreen forests in Sri Lanka. With an altitude above 7000ft, the plateau sweeps to a robust 3169 hectares sheltering flora and fauna varieties that may be found no where else on earth. Encouter Bakers Falls and gaze down at World's End, a 3700ft drop towards the Southern end .
Horton Plains National Park : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQanLIte3ZQ
Return to Nuwara Eliya and spend the rest of the day exploring the region on our own . Option of driving east to visit Lovely St Clair's Waterall and Devon's Fall and further on to the romantic landscapes of the Ceylon Tea Trails region in Hatton if time permits . Other activites in and around Nuwara Eliya : Bomburu Ella Waterfalls , HeritanceTea factory / Blue Field's Tea factory / Labookellie Tea Factory / Colonial Style buildings and hotels in town / Galway's Land National Park / Moon Plains National Park , Hakgala Gardens , hiking up Single Tree Hill for a nice viewpoint for of the town . Overnight in Nuwara Eliya .
World's End , Horton Plains National Park
Castlereigh Lake , Ceylon Tea Trails . Photocredit : Ceylon Tea Trails https://www.flickr.com/photos/teatrails/7609256420
Day 5 - 28 Mar : Nuwara Eliya - Nanu Oya - Ella via Scenic Train Ride ( 4 hours ) . Overnight Rowinrich Cottages , Ella .
Today , we drive to Nanu Oya , 20 mins away , for the 4 hour train ride from Nanuoya to Ella , dubbed one of the most incredible train journeys in the world , with amazing views across the southern Sri Lankan hill country as the train passes in and out of numerous mountain tunnels through tea plantations, eucalyptus forests and nearby villages. The low lying clouds add to the beautiful scenery. Arriving at Ella . Hike Little Adam's Peak ( 2-3 hours hike ) , 98 Acres Resort and explore Ella Town . Overnight in Ella . 
Train Journey over the Nine Arches Bridge , Ella .
Hike to Little Adam's Peak . Photo Credits : Ankur P https://www.flickr.com/photos/ankurp/23001955499
Day 6 - 29 Mar - Full day Tour of Ella . Overnight at Ella .
Ella - A quaint hill side village offering the most amazing view in all of Sri Lanka, Ella is ideal for leisurely treks. Trudge through tea plantations, temple sites and waterfalls through the day.Welcome the night with clear skies, twinkling stars and the distant glow of light houses in the Southern Coast. Ella Rock Hike ( 3-4 Hours ) Ravena Falls, , Ella Gap , 9 Arches Bridge , 3 Arches Bridge . Option of Indulging in an Aryuvedic Massage/Spa in Ella . Overnight in Ella . 
Ella Gap View towards the South Coast
Day 7 - 30 Mar : Ella - Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home - Udawalawe National Park Evening Safari .
This am , we journey from Ella to Udawalawe National Park .Witness cute baby elephants being fed at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home at noon time , which caters to all injured elephants found in the area before releasing them into their natural habitat. We shall do an evening Safari at Udawalawe National Park .Framed by soaring highlands on its northern boundary, the Uda Walawe National Park is one of the world's best places to see wild elephants. About a herd of 250 elephants inhabit the park . Elusive leopards, lethargic water buffalos, spotted deer, sambur , barking deers , jackals , crocodiles can all be observed at the park. Flocks of birds that belong to a large number of varying species, including species of eagles, parrots, and herons can all be observed easily. Overnight in Udawalawe .
Elephants , Udawalawe National Park
Buffaloes , Udawalawe National Park
Day 8 - 31 Mar : Udawalawe National Park Morning Safari - Drive to Mirissa.
This morning , depending on our experiene of our evening safari the day before , we have the option of doing a morning safari or driving on to Mirissa .Mirissa is located close to the southern-most part of the island and consists of beautiful beaches that promise an absolutely tranquil holiday. swim at the beach , or snorkelling amongst the turtles and fishes in the ocean at nearby Polhena Beach, take up Surfing classes or explore the other beaches nearby such as Unawatuna , Tangalle Beach or visit the turtle conservation project at Rekawa beach and watch turtles come up to shore to lay eggs in the evening . Sri Lanka has the extraordinary privilege of welcoming five of the world’s seven species of sea turtle to its shores - the Green Turtle, the Leatherback, the Hawksbill, the Loggerhead and the Olive Ridley. Overnight in Mirissa .
Mirissa BeachDay 9 - 1 Apr : Mirrisa - Galle
Mirissa Whale and Dolphin watching tour am. Mirissa is renowned as a prime location for whale and dolphin watching. The waters off Mirissa hosts some of the world's largest population of blue whales . Besides the Blues, its common to spot their smaller cousins' sperm whales and various dolphins . In the afternoon Drive to Galle and visit Galle. Galle - a town with its wonderful collection of Dutch - colonial buildings , bursting with the scent of spices and salty winds . Galle is a city of trade and increasingly art . Today the historic Fort area is creammed full of little boutique shops , cafes and hotels owned by local and foreign artists, writers ,photographers , designers and poets. Nearby Galle , the dying tradition of Sri Lankan Stilt Fishing can still be observed . Stroll along the beach in the evening and view turtles coming up to the beach to lay eggs . Overnight in Galle .
Historic Lighthouse and Fort , Galle
Stilt Fishing , Galle .
Day 10 - 2 Apr : Galle - Hikkaduwa - Kosgoda - Colombo - Negombo - Flight Back to Singapore .
Continue exploring Galle in the morning . Thereafter we drive from Galle to visit Hikkaduwa . Spend the late morning and afternoon exploring , swimming and snorkelling in Hikkaduwa . The coral sanctuary found on the coast of Hikkaduwa is a large shallow body of water enclosed by a reef, decorated with layers of multi colored corals, witch is home to countless number of colorful fish and turtles. - Option to visit a Turtle hatchery in Kosgoda thereafter . - Onward to Bentota , a resort town with its long stretch of lovely beaches and lastly for a quick city tour of Colombo , then to Negombo and Flight back to Singapore .
Sea Turtle , Hikkaduwa Beach . Photo Credit : Amila Tennakoon https://www.flickr.com/photos/lakpura/15951026455
Coral Reefs , Hikkaduwa . Photo Credits : Amila Tennakoon https://www.flickr.com/photos/lakpura/15079398553
Colombo City
