After breakfast leave your hotel and transfer to Kandy.

Driving into Kandy, you’ll ascend the hills, noticing the transition from dry to wet climate with denser vegetation. Nestled amidst lush hills in central Sri Lanka, Kandy captivates visitors with its venerated grounds as the last royal capital. In the heart of the town lies the Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa), the most important shrine in the country, housing a relic of a tooth of Lord Buddha. Expect bustling streets, marking Kandy as the capital of Sri Lanka’s hill country. Mountains surrounding Kandy are adorned with buildings and houses nestled among lush greenery, with upper slopes boasting pine forests and grasslands, forming a picturesque backdrop.

Check into your mountain top retreat 

Perched on a ridge with commanding views of the country’s longest river, the Mahaweli River.This beautifully designed hotel is a visual delight, equipped with all the essentials for a comfortable stay, and features an infinity pool where you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets over the hills. It’s a haven for bird watchers. Keep an eye out for white-bellied sea eagles and serpent eagles gracefully soaring overhead.

Temple of the Tooth & Cultural dance – approx. 2 hours

5 to 10 minutes from your hotel is the Temple of the Tooth or Dalada Maligawa, a UNESCO world heritage listed temple located within the royal palace complex that houses sacred relic of a tooth of Lord Buddha.Each evening, the day’s worship culminates when the casket containing the tooth relic is put on display to devotees who have travelled from all over the world.

*In the evening you can choose to visit this site or simply relax and enjoy the sunset by the hotel pool.

Pekoe Trail Stage 1 – approx. 4 -5 hours

Lace-up your hiking boots for the very first stage of The Pekoe Trail taking you from Hanthana to Galaha.

Have a early breakfast and take 15 min drive to Hanthana where you will meet your guide. Begin your trek at the Ceylon tea museum and continue to walk in the shade of the tall trees that line the roads of the Hanthana Tea Estate, one of the oldest and largest tea plantations in Sri Lanka.

You will walk alongside the rocky ridge of ‘Katusu Konda’ (meaning Lizard’s back in Sinhala) with sweeping views of the seven peaks of the Hanthana range, as well as the nearby peaks of the Knuckles and Hunnas mountain ranges. On a clear day, you might even expect to see parts of the Victoria reservoir. Keep an eye out for eagles gliding across the mountainous ridges at some of the higher elevation points.

Stop for a picnic lunch.

As you approach Galaha, you will pass a dramatic mountain facade that was featured in the movie ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. In 1983 award-winning director, Steven Spielberg filmed scenes for his movie here in Kandy and the surrounding areas of Hanthana.

Towards the end of the trail, you will encounter smaller villages like the community of Kithul Mulla, which takes you to the end of Stage 1, near the post office in Galaha.

Your chauffeur will meet you at the end to drive you back to the hotel.

After breakfast, proceed to Ohiya, a picturesque region nestled 1700m above sea level in Sri Lanka’s central highlands. This secluded area boasts diverse ecosystems, including primary cloud forests, eucalyptus and pine forests, grasslands, and bamboo groves. It’s nestled within the Ohiya forest reserve, a buffer zone of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Horton Plains National Park, renowned for biodiversity. We’re here to hike and explore the landscape, discovering it’s forests, operational and abandoned tea estates, alongside remote villages where life revolves around vegetable cultivation.

Spend a leisurely evening immersed in the scenery, embracing the tranquil beauty of the surroundings.

Pekoe Trail 12 – Udaweriya to Haputale

This stage begins in the remote Udaweriya Valley that looks over the south of Sri Lanka with some of the best views in the tea country. On a clear day you may just make out the ocean in the South of the island.

Walk past a derelict tea factory and along tea trails home to resident goats and friendly villagers through a valley seemingly lost in time. You will come across abandoned villages that saddle the lowlands to your right and the Uva bowl to your left whilst you hike along tea trails used by local villagers to travel from Udaweriya down towards Haputale and Ella.

Highlights of the trail include walking through tropical and pine forests, which lead to the Idalgashinna train station, one of the most picturesque railway stations in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This colonial-era station also holds the record for the highest number of tunnels between two railway stations.

Walk along train tracks past the Thangamale Sanctuary, a lesser-known forest popularly known as the Thangamale bird sanctuary where you are likely to sight some endemic highland birds. This stage also meanders past the famous Adisham Bungalow (now a Franciscan monastery). Your hike ends at the Haputale train station.

Dinner at the hotel. 

Pekoe Trail 13 – St.Catherine to Haputale

Take a hike through one of The Pekoe Trail’s most scenic routes.
This stage is a very scenic route that takes you from Haputale, one of the major towns in the tea country to one of the tea country’s better-known landmarks where Sir Thomas Lipton would survey his favorite tea estates.
Walk through a cool and humid forest reserve towards a mountain that takes you to the Thotalagala – Dambatenne Valley. Climb uphill on beautiful tea trails, past an organic bio-tea producing estate and onto walking paths with views across the valley to Lipton’s Seat.
Continue along steep climbs to the peak of a mountain, which is a kind of plateau home to lots of green tea fields and a few small villages. The stage ends at St. Catherine, the first picturesque tea plantation worker’s village on the upper divisions of the Nayabedda Tea Estate, at an altitude of 1,875 meters where Sir Thomas Lipton liked to survey his tea empire.

After breakfast leave your hotel and transfer to Thanamalwila.

You’ll descend from the cool, lush mountains into the warm, tropical dry zone. Forests here are home to elephants, leopards, sloth bears, gray langurs, toque macaques, various deer species, crocodiles, and a multitude of bird species.

Thanamalwila also borders the Lunugamvehera National Park and lies within the path of an elephant corridor connecting Yala and Udawalawe National Parks. It’s an ideal destination for safaris to observe these species and immerse in the rural life of dry zone villages.

In the evening enjoy a boat tour.

Situated right in front of the hotel and bordered by a quaint village, lush paddy fields, and serene forests, the Ranawaranawa Lake epitomizes the tranquility of nature. Taking a boat ride at sunset around the lake is an experience that perfectly matches its serene name. Marvel at the golden hues of the evening light, observe the diverse birdlife, witness water buffalos leisurely swimming, and admire the flooded trees partially submerged in the water, creating a mesmerizing sight.

Cook Lunch with Chef

Learn from the chef about local produce and cooking methods, then prepare your lunch. Discover grains, vegetables, spices, and herbs grown locally and how they’re prepared. Cooking with a Sri Lankan chef and village lady will immerse you in the island’s vibrant flavors and techniques, telling the story of the culture, people, and place.

Evening Safari – In the evening enjoy a safari Lunugamvehera National Park.

The Lunugamvehera National Park serves as a vital catchment area for the Lunugamvehera Reservoir and a sanctuary for local wildlife. Its landscape comprises a mosaic of shrubland and grassland forests. Acting as an elephant corridor between Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, it provides a habitat for elephants migrating from nearby Uva and Southern regions, making it an ideal spot for elephant sightings.

After breakfast, transfer to Ranna.

Ranna is a secluded beach along the southern coast, retaining a charm reminiscent of bygone days. It spans almost six kilometers and is adorned with coconut trees, fisherman’s huts, and beach hotels. Bordered by two lagoons to the west and east, with paddy fields to the north and the ocean to the south, Ranna offers a picturesque setting. Kalametiya Lagoon nearby is ideal for birdwatching. Adjacent Rekawa Beach is frequented by four of the world’s six turtle species, particularly from January to April and on full moon “poya” days, offering a remarkable sight of these ancient sea creatures nesting under the moonlight.

Spend the day at leisure.

Mulkirigala Rock Temple – 2 hour approx

After breakfast, drive to Mulkirigala.
Sitting atop a massive boulder which is more than 200 metres tall, this ancient temple dates back to more than 2000 years ago and holds great cultural and historical importance. Mulkirigala is made up of a string of caves and is referred to as Punchi Sigiriya by locals. There are paintings and sculptures from the Kandyan Era in these caves.

In the evening visit Rekawa beach for turtle watching. 2 hour approx

The southern golden beaches of Rekawa are known to attract several endangered species of sea turtles; which include loggerhead, hawksbill, olive ridley, green and leatherback turtles. These five species make their way to the stretch of beach in Rekawa to lay their eggs before heading back to the ocean.
The best season for turtle watching in Rekawa is between the months of April to July. Keep in mind that this is not always a guarantee and the numbers may dwindle based on various factors that include, but are not limited to, excessive noise or light pollution on the beach.

After breakfast, transfer to Kalametiya Lagoon for bird watching.

Scour the hidden wetlands of the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary with a naturalist and spot over 150 species of bucket list birds. It is a fascinating activity for those who love nature in general and bird watching in a wondrous environment, at an impressive frequency and at times, unbelievable proximity. Kalametiya is a coastal wetland area that is situated on the picturesque southeastern coast of Sri Lanka with a very rich biodiversity of avifauna. Avail yourself the opportunity to interact with the local community who are engaged in traditional fishing and witness their way of life.

After breakfast leave your hotel and transfer to Negombo. Check into your room at Lagoon front Hotel.

Massage at Ayurveda Spa

Sink into the warmth and care of the trained therapists and in-house Ayurveda doctor at the hotel, who will recommend personalized treatments that uplift your overall well-being. Inspired by the ancient science practiced on our land for centuries, the Ayurveda Spa is a tranquil haven designed to share the healing energies of our traditional art with you, in the form of herbal massages and holistic packages among various other therapeutic experiences.

We Say Goodbye