Location: Katunayaka North
Day 1 - 1 Jan 2022
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) (බණ්ඩාරනායක ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපොල)
Content: Arrived in Colombo and met with our driver. We arranged our car and driver through Sigiritrip Tours. I had a great experience with them, communication was seamless and all services were excellent.
Location: Colombo
Day 1 - 1 Jan 2022
Jetwing Colombo Seven
Content: Overnight at the Jetwing Colombo Seven. A nice hotel with a great rooftop pool. We had room service which was ok but nothing memorable.
Location: Colombo
Day 2 - 2 Jan 2022
Jetwing Colombo Seven
Content: After breakfast we took a dip on the pool. Our driver picked us up at noon and we started the trip to Dambulla.
Location: Dambulla
Day 2 - 2 Jan 2022
Tropical Life Resort & Spa Dambulla
Content: The Tropical Life Resort and Spa was our home for the first three nights. It is a nice resort surrounded by nature. Rooms are lovely and clean and have balconies. Breakfast was good. We also had dinner at the hotel every night.
Location: Dambulla
Day 3 - 3 Jan 2022
Dambulla Cave Temple
Content: After breakfast we visited the Dambulla Cave Temple. There are many steps leading up to the temple. A beautiful historical and spiritual place.
Location: Habarana
Day 3 - 3 Jan 2022
Hurulu Eco Park
Content: Next stop was a cultural village where we did an ox cart ride, a boat trip on a lake and then watched a cultural demonstration and had lunch.
Hiriwadunna Lake
Content:
Hurulu Eco Park
Content: The highlight of our day was a private keep safari at Huluru Eco Park to view wild elephants. It was fantastic.
Location: Sigiriya
Day 4 - 4 Jan 2022
Sigiriya Rock (සීගිරිය)
Content: Climbed Sigiriya Rock in the morning. It’s a fantastic place.
Elephant Rock
Content: The climb is not long but very steep. Sure footedness is required.
Lion Staircase
Content: People climbing up to the top of the rock.
Sigiryia Rock Fresco
Content: There are amazing views from the top.
Location: Polonnaruwa
Day 4 - 4 Jan 2022
Thidas Arana
Content: Had lunch at this restaurant on our way to Polonnaruwa. Very good food.
Galpota (Stone Book)
Content: We hired a private guide at Polonnaruwa because the area is very large. We drive in between the sights.
Atadage (Original Temple of the Tooth)
Content:
Location: Palapathwela
Day 5 - 5 Jan 2022
Old Village Spice & Herbal Garden
Content: We stopped at this spice plantation and learnt a lot of interesting facts about different spices grown in Sri Lanka.
Location: Kandy
Day 5 - 5 Jan 2022
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (ශ්රී දළදා මාළිගාව)
Content: In Kandy we visited the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Location: Peradeniya
Day 5 - 5 Jan 2022
Royal Botanic Gardens
Content: After lunch we walked around the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Location: Kandy
Day 5 - 5 Jan 2022
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Content:
Swp Eco Lodge
Content: Our hotel was the SWP Eco Lodge. Beautiful views of Kandy. Dinner was excellent, and breakfast the next morning also.
Location: Ramboda
Day 6 - 6 Jan 2022
Ramboda Falls
Content: In the morning we hiked to Ramboda Falls. The hike was very nice and not long.
Location: Unknown
Day 6 - 6 Jan 2022
Mackwood Tea Factory
Content: We then visited a tea factory and learnt about growing and processing tea leaves.
Location: Nuwara Eliya
Day 6 - 6 Jan 2022
Victoria Park
Content: After a scenic drive to Nuwara Eliya we mad a stop at Victoria Park.
Gregory Lake
Content: In the evening we strolled along Gregory Lake.
Location: Nuwara Eliya
Day 7 - 7 Jan 2022
Grand Hotel
Content: The Grand Hotel is definitely the place to stay in Nuwara Eliya. Queen Elizabeth II also stayed here.
Location: Nanu Oya
Day 7 - 7 Jan 2022
Tea Train
Content: We took the train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. It is one of the most beautiful train rides in the world.
Location: Ella
Day 7 - 7 Jan 2022
Ella Railway Station
Content: Ella is a little gem of a town with many restaurants and little shops. The area offers excellent hiking. I wish we could have stayed her a couple extra days.
Location: Unknown
Day 8 - 8 Jan 2022
Ella Heritage
Content: The Ella Heritage is a lovely boutique hotel with beautiful views. Breakfast was so sumptuous we couldn’t finish it all. We had dinner the night before and that was excellent too.
Location: Demodara
Day 8 - 8 Jan 2022
9 Arch Bridge - Demodara
Content: Scenic bridge in the jungle. Best to time visit with arrival of the train.
Location: Ella
Day 8 - 8 Jan 2022
Little Adam's Peak
Content: This was a great hike. Maybe 1.5-2 hours long, some steeper areas but not difficult overall. Stunning views of the surrounding hills.
Rawana Falls
Content: These falls are located by the road and because of the convenient location they are very touristy. The falls themselves are very nice but the area is quite busy. It’s still worth a stop.
Location: Wellawaya Division
Day 8 - 8 Jan 2022
Buduruwagala Temple
Content: This is a little known place of some huge stone Buddha statues. Very nice and quiet spot.
Location: Unknown
Day 8 - 8 Jan 2022
Shangri Lanka Village
Content: We loved this tiny hotel with three spacious bungalows and a nice pool. We had dinner at the lodge which was something out of a storybook setting. Food was ok but the ambience was amazing.
Location: Yala
Day 9 - 9 Jan 2022
Yala National Park
Content: This safari was very crowded with lots of trucks driving up and down the dirt roads. We still managed to see a lot of wildlife but overall did not compare to the excellent elephant safari a few days before.
Location: Unknown
Day 9 - 9 Jan 2022
Yala National Park
Content:
Location: Udawalawe
Day 9 - 9 Jan 2022
Elephant Transit Home and Information Centre
Content: This place is a gem! They take in and raise orphaned baby elephants and when they are grown release them in the wild. We came to watch a feeding - such a special experience.
Location: Galle
Day 9 - 9 Jan 2022
The Bartizan
Content: We stayed at the Bartizan for two nights. This is an excellent small boutique hotel with wonderful breakfast. There are no other meals served at the hotel. It is located in Galle Fort and in easy walking distance of many restaurants. Make sure to book one of the large upstairs rooms.
Galle Fort
Content: Nice though touristy area of old colonial buildings. Lots of places to eat and shop.
Location: Galle
Day 10 - 10 Jan 2022
Stick Fishermen
Content: We had so much fun here taking photos with the stilt fishermen. They let us climb up on the poles and try fishing.
Location: Unawatuna
Day 10 - 10 Jan 2022
The Palm Rope Swing
Content: Beautiful beach. We visited a couple of beaches in Galle and swam in the Indian Ocean.
Location: Galle Fort
Day 10 - 10 Jan 2022
The Bartizan Galle Fort
Content: Our room at the Bartizan. I especially liked the toiletries, made by a local company named Spa Ceylon.
Location: Galle
Day 10 - 10 Jan 2022
a minute by TUK TUK
Content: We had dinner at this restaurant. Great food, great service, beautiful setting. Highly recommended.
Galle Lighthouse
Content: Walking around the ramparts of Galle fort.
Location: Galle
Day 11 - 11 Jan 2022
The Merchant
Content: Walked around the fort again and bought some souvenirs.
Turtle Hatchery
Content: This was a fun and educational stop. The is place rehabilitates injured sea turtles and also is a hatchery for eggs.
Location: Colombo
Day 11 - 11 Jan 2022
Gangaramaya
Content: This was a Buddhist Temple complex.
Independence Square
Content: A historic site in Colombo.
Location: Katunayake
Day 11 - 11 Jan 2022
GREEN OLIVE VILLA
Content: Excellent value bed and breakfast. Nice clean rooms. We had an early morning flight and they dropped us off at the airport.
Location: කටුනායක
Day 12 - 12 Jan 2022
Bandaranaike International Airport
Content: Left Colombo to fly home to Zurich.