Welcome to Sri Lanka! On arrival into Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), you will be met by our local representative and your group will be transferred to your hotel. Check in and relax, ready to start touring in the morning. Special Information: Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport by a representative who will escort you through immigration, and be transferred to your hotel. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed. Please note: if you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel.

This morning after breakfast, meet your tour leader and the rest of your group for a welcome meeting and brief of the day's activities. We then head south towards Galle, with a Colombo sightseeing tour on the way. Colombo offers a blend of modern western and Sri Lankan elements, and you will drive past some of the commercial capital's sites including Old Parliament, President's House, Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park and Independence Square. We will also visit the Colombo National Museum. This museum takes visitors through Sri Lankan history, housed in a neo-Baroque building constructed by William Henry Gregory, Governor of Ceylon, in 1877. Exhibits are dedicated to each of Sri Lanka's historical kingdoms, with informational display boards providing insights such as the meaning behind the mudras (gestures and poses) depicted in Sri Lanka's Buddha statues. Then, in Balapitiya, we take a boat trip on the Madu River to visit 64 scattered islands, including Cinnamon Island, where we learn about cinnamon production. Sri Lanka is the world's largest producer of pure cinnamon. Arrive at your hotel in the evening for dinner. Inspiring Highlights Colombo National Museum Madu River Cinnamon Island Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.Please note that the Colombo National Museum will be closed every Monday for maintenance starting September 1, 2025. As an alternative, Polonnaruwa Museum will be visited instead.

Enjoy a leisurely morning at your hotel, with lunch served at the hotel. This afternoon, set out on a tour of Galle Fort and its fortifications. This is a city that blends past and present. Declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1988, the presence of Portuguese, Dutch and English is evident in the architectural styles of Galle Fort. Return to the hotel this evening for dinner. Inspiring Highlights Galle Fort

In the morning after breakfast, we leave for Yala National Park. On arrival, spend your afternoon on a guided game drive exploring the dynamic wildlife and the most luxuriant plant life in Yala National Park. Being one of the largest parks in Sri Lanka, it is the ideal place to sight the rare leopard! Enjoy dinner at the hotel in the evening. Special Information Yala National Park closes for a period between the months of September and October. The exact closure dates are made clear closer to the time. The closure is due to the prevailing dry weather prior to this time and taking into consideration the well-being of the wildlife in the reserve. For departure dates that fall over this period, as defined in the departure dates listed below, Yala National Park will be replaced with a visit to Udawalawe National Park, while still being able to visit Block 4 or 5 of Yala National Park. Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

You will have an early start today for another safari in Yala National Park by jeep, to spot the diverse wildlife that calls the park home. Return to the hotel for breakfast, then we leave Yala and make a stop in Ella to witness the sceneries of the hill country. Transfer to Ella Railway Station and board the scenic train to Haputale. The journey takes you through tea country with views of rolling hills, waterfalls and plantations along the way. On arrival in Haputale, continue by road to Nuwara Eliya. Often referred to as 'Little England', this genteel highland community has a vaguely British-country-village feel to it, with its colonial-era bungalows. Check in to your Inspiring Stay for the next two nights, the Grand Hotel. Built in 1891, this was the palatial residence of the former Governor of Sri Lanka, Sir Edward Barnes. The Grand Hotel is an enduring icon of Nuwara Eliya, perched on a mountain ridge overlooking green countryside in tea country. It retains a romantic, old-world ambience alongside modern comforts, with well-appointed rooms, magnificent gardens and an array of amenities and activities including music therapy, yoga and more. The Grand Hotel is also renowned for its traditional afternoon tea, a quintessential British tradition which you will experience on this tour. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Yala National Park Scenic Train Journey Nuwara Eliya & The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. It is not possible to confirm the train ticket reservation in advance, as Sri Lanka Railway has a manual system for reservations. Tickets can only be booked 30 days prior to departure. The 1st and 2nd class is basic but has air-conditioning. The non-air conditioned 3rd class sometimes is the only option based on availability. On the rare occasion the train is fully booked we will conduct the route by road. A smart casual dress code applies for dinner at all restaurants and bars. Guests in short trousers and sleeveless shirts and rubber slippers will not be permitted to enter the restaurants.

Today you will have a leisurely morning at your hotel. This afternoon, enjoy an Inspiring Taste at probably the most talked of outlet in Nuwara Eliya, the Grand Tea Lounge. Here we enjoy an iconic High Tea at the Grand Hotel. Dinner this evening will be enjoyed at your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Grand Tea Lounge

After breakfast, depart Nuwara Eliya for Kandy. En route, take in the scenery of the tea country with views of rolling hills and waterfalls along the way. Stop to visit a tea plantation and factory. Here you will enjoy the absolute tea experience, from the moment the young tea leaves are plucked to being processed in the factory to make a cup of tea. If you are interested, the tea factory is a good place to purchase quality tea. Continue on to Kandy, with lunch at a local restaurant en route. On arrival in Kandy, check in to your hotel before dinner at a local restaurant with the rest of your group. Inspiring Highlights Tea Plantation and Factory Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

After breakfast, explore the beautiful city of Kandy with an included Tuk Tuk and Bazaar tour, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Kandy, once known as Senkadagala, was the Hill Capital from 1514 to 1815 AD and was named a UNESCO heritage site in 1988. Take in the city's lake, historic temples and well-preserved royal palace ruins. This afternoon, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most revered Buddhist site. Set within the old royal palace complex on the edge of Kandy Lake, the temple houses a tooth relic of the Buddha brought to the island in the 4th century. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan cultural performance before returning to the hotel for dinner. Inspiring Highlights Kandy Lake Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Traditional Sri Lankan cultural performance

After breakfast, depart Kandy for a scenic drive through the central highlands to Sigiriya. On arrival, check in to your hotel and settle in at leisure. This afternoon, enjoy a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park. Located in the districts of Matale and Polonnaruwa and bordered by the Mahaweli and Amban rivers, this park stretches across 36,948 hectares. It was declared a National Park in 1984 and is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to observe elephants. This evening, enjoy an Inspiring Taste with a sundowner pre-dinner Arrack (a local cocktail) or something else to suit your taste, along with canapés, followed by dinner at your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Minneriya National Park Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Since elephants are migratory animals, we may visit Kaudualla or Eco Park on this day instead, based on the elephant locations.

This morning will be an early start, where we'll climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress (also known as Lion's Rock) - an extraordinary artistic complex dating back to 477-498 AD. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has become a global attraction due to its unique architecture. For lunch, participate in an Inspiring Taste cooking demonstration where you'll learn to prepare Sri Lankan rice and curry (5-6 curries). Savour your meal while overlooking the beautiful gardens. In the afternoon, we'll take a sightseeing tour of Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital city of Sri Lanka (1017-1235 AD). Polonnaruwa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 after the fall of Anuradhapura. In the evening enjoy a cocktail and dinner at your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Sigiriya Rock Fortress Polonnaruwa

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, continue to the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by King Walagambahu in the 1st century BC. Perched over 100 metres above the surrounding plains, this is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples, housing some 150 statues of the Buddha alongside images of Hindu deities. The walls and ceilings are adorned with vivid frescoes depicting the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Return to your hotel for lunch.Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.Inspiring Highlights Dambulla Cave Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.

Today, after breakfast, depart the beauty of Sigiriya as we make the drive back to Negombo. On arrival, enjoy the afternoon free at leisure to explore the coast and the local activity or simply relax by the pool. Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. PLEASE NOTE: Groups departing from 13/02/26 to 18/02/2026 included ; 25/02/26 to 20/03/2026 included.; 15/05/26 ; 29/06/26 will travel to Marawila and stay at Club Palm Bay on Days 12 and 13.

Spend the day relaxing at the beach or by the pool. Dinner this evening at your hotel.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Sri Lanka. At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the Colombo airport to board your flight home. You will have access to your hotel room until 8 pm.Special Information: Departure airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed. If you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel. Please note: as outlined in the itinerary, some departure dates include an overnight stay in Negombo, or Marawila from Day 12. Guests who have booked post-tour accommodation will remain at the hotel in the respective location.