When you arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport, our friendly driver will welcome you. You will start your journey by driving south to Balapitiya. Here you will take a relaxing boat ride on the Madu River. You will see small islands, mangrove forests, and maybe even some monitor lizards. It is a peaceful start to your holiday.

Next, you will visit the historic city of Galle. You will walk through the famous Galle Fort, a big fort built by the Dutch people about 400 years ago. Inside the fort, you will see old churches, a lighthouse, and cute little shops. You can walk on the fort walls and watch the waves crash against the rocks.

After exploring Galle, you will continue to Udawalawa. You will check in to your hotel near the national park and rest for the night.

Wake up early today for a jeep safari in Udawalawa National Park. You will go inside the park in a open jeep to look for wild animals. You will see many elephants, water buffalo, deer, and many kinds of birds. If you are lucky, you might even see a leopard.

After the safari, you will drive to one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka, Diyaluma Falls. This is the second highest waterfall in the country. You can climb up a little to see the natural pools at the top. Many people take a bath in the cool water here. It is a magical place.

Later, you will continue to the hill country town of Ella. Ella is small but very beautiful, with green hills and cool weather. You will check in to your hotel and relax. Overnight stay in Ella.

Today is a very special day. After breakfast, you will go to the Ella railway station to take the famous train ride to Nuwara Eliya. This train journey is known as one of the most beautiful in the world. You will pass through green mountains, cloud forests, and tea plantations. You will see waterfalls right next to the train tracks. The cool breeze and beautiful views will make you fall in love with Sri Lanka.

In Nuwara Eliya, you will get off the train. Your driver will meet you there. Nuwara Eliya is called "Little England" because of its cool weather and old British buildings. You can visit a tea factory to see how Ceylon tea is made and taste a fresh cup. You can also walk around the pretty Gregory Lake.

After enjoying Nuwara Eliya, you will drive down to the cultural city of Kandy. You will check in to your hotel and rest for the night.

After breakfast, you will visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. This is the most important Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. It is a peaceful and holy place.

Next, you will drive to Matale to visit a Spice Garden. You will see how cinnamon, cardamom, and other spices grow. You can smell and touch them. You can also buy pure spices to take home.

Then you will continue to the Pidurangala area. Here you will climb Pidurangala Rock. This climb is a bit rocky but fun. At the top, you will get a beautiful view of the famous Sigiriya Lion Rock right in front of you. It is a perfect spot for photos.

After coming down, you will check in to your hotel in Dambulla for the night.

After breakfast, you will visit the mighty Sigiriya Lion Rock. You can climb to the top. Along the way, you will see ancient paintings and the giant lion paws carved into the rock. At the top, you will see the remains of a royal palace and enjoy a beautiful view of the green jungle below.

Later, you will drive to Polonnaruwa, an ancient city of Sri Lanka. Here you will see the ruins of palaces, temples, and statues from a thousand years ago. You will see the famous Gal Vihara, a group of large Buddha statues carved from one big rock.

After exploring Polonnaruwa, you will return to your hotel in Dambulla for the night.

Today you will leave the cultural area and drive east to the coast. You will go to Trincomalee, a beautiful city on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The drive takes about 2 to 3 hours.

On the way, you can visit the Koneswaram Temple, a famous Hindu temple sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean. This is a very old and holy temple.

After checking in to your beach hotel in Trincomalee, you can relax on the golden sand or take a swim in the clear blue sea. The beaches here are very beautiful and peaceful. Overnight stay in Trincomalee.

After breakfast, get ready for a fun day on the water. You will take a boat to Pigeon Island, a small island near Trincomalee. This is a national park and a great place for snorkeling. The water is clear and blue. You will see many colorful fish swimming around the coral. It feels like swimming in an aquarium.

You will spend a few hours on the island, swimming and relaxing on the beach. Later, you will return to your hotel in Trincomalee. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax or watch the sunset over the sea.

After breakfast, you will leave the east coast and drive to one of Sri Lanka's most sacred cities, Anuradhapura. This is an ancient capital with ruins dating back more than 2,000 years. You will see the Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred tree grown from a branch of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. It is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. You will also see huge dagobas (stupas) and ancient palaces.

After exploring Anuradhapura, you will drive to the coastal town of Negombo. Negombo is close to the airport and a nice place to relax before your flight. You can walk along the beach and enjoy a final Sri Lankan dinner. Overnight stay in Negombo.

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel in Negombo. Depending on your flight time, you may have some free time to relax or take a last walk on the beach.

Later, our driver will pick you up and drive you to the Bandaranaike International Airport. The drive is only about 20 to 30 minutes. You will reach the airport in time for your flight back home.

You have seen so much of Sri Lanka in these 9 days – from beaches to mountains, ancient cities to wild jungles. We hope you had a wonderful time and will come back again someday.