Tour of the Hill Country

Day 01- Arrive Colombo by international flight

On arrival the guests will be met at the airport arrival lobby and set off to Colombo.

City tour of Colombo – As the capital and main port of Sri Lanka, Colombo is home to many attractions, which include three sets of foreign rulers—the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British.

The Colombo Grand Mosque occupies a unique place in the life of the Muslim community in Ceylon from the times of ancient Sinhalese Kings. Its early origins are hidden in the dim past where legend and tradition are interwoven with history. Its significance and position for the Muslim community has been such that even today it takes a leading role in all the religious activities of the community. The decisions made by the Mosque committee on various religious issues based on the consensus, deliberations and agreement of the various Trustees, Imams of the many Jumuah Mosques in Colombo, and the Ulema, held regularly within its auspices and premises have, generally, been accepted by most of the Muslims in the whole Island.

The origin of the Mosque can be traced to the adventurous and pious Arab traders who used to carry on a lucrative trade between the Orient and the European ports in the Mediterranean in elephants, pearls, gemstones and spices during the period between the first and sixteenth centuries. This was a period when the Arabs had established lucrative trading posts on the Western coastal belt of Ceylon from Puttalam, in the North West, to Hambantota, in the South, as evidenced by the large number of Ceylon Moors, descended from them, living in these parts of the Island. It is hardly necessary to mention that the Arabs of that era were pioneers, not only in trade, commerce and accounting but also as skillful navigators and geographers, carrying this vast knowledge to the then known parts of the civilized world. In the hustle and bustle of Pettah, Colombo’s core commercial district, is situated a most striking building, a spiritual haven called Jamiul Alfar Masjid. This mosque is remarkable because the architecture is Indo-Saracenic, incorporating pomegranate-shaped domes. But the most extraordinary feature is that each brick is painted red or white and used in contrasting designs, which gave rise to its common name, the Red Mosque.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02– Colombo – Pinnawela – Kandy

After breakfast proceed to Kandy via Pinnawela. En route visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, a remarkable project that protects the island’s abandoned or orphaned wild elephants. Pinnewala enthrals adults and children alike. Roaming free within the Sanctuary, except when occasionally shepherded by their Mahouts (keepers) the elephants’ highlight is their regular bathing sessions.

Continue to the last stronghold of Sinhala Kings & UN World Heritage Site – the Hill Country capital of Kandy. Evening wander around the lake and the streets of Kandy getting a feel for this wonderful city.

Kandy excursions:

Gem Museum & Factory tour

Art & Craft Village

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03– Kandy – Peradeniya – Nanuoya – Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast proceed to visit the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens and see its treasures of tropical flora. Keep an eye out for the amazing fig tree.

Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the finest of its kind in Asia, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level. Conceived originally as the Queen’s pleasure garden, it was developed by King Kirti Sri Rajasinhe (1747-1778) where royal visitors were entertained. It was converted into Botanical Gardens in 1821, by the British during the deputy governorship of General Sir Edward Barnes, six years after fall of the last King of Sri Lanka.

Continue drive to Nuwara Eliya

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04– Nuwara Eliya

Nuwaraeliya – land of tea-laden hillsides, gurgling waterfalls, stirring mountains and clear hill-country air. Here, in temperatures akin to a beautiful English summer’s day, is wonderful walking country, a chance to experience Sri Lankan scenery at its finest.

Explore Nuwara Eliya – See how Ceylon tea is made and learn the art of becoming a discerning tea taster. Wander through the tea gardens and visit the local tea pluckers.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05– Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains Ella

6.30am Leave early on a Cold morning with a packaged breakfast/lunch to trek the Horton plains national park, get ready for a long day ahead but filled great satisfaction as you witness the Magic of the colorful and breathtaking Horton plains locally known as Maha Eliya (Great Light) Take your time and get as many photos as you can.

Continue journey to Ella.  Ella is a little village paradise in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This sleepy mountain village, with a view, is the perfect base for relaxing, whilst also offering lots of fantastic walks through tea plantations to temples and waterfalls. Ella with its perfect climate soothes your mind and makes your day to day anxieties feel a world away.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06– Ella- Colombo Airport

Have a Recap of all your beautiful memories at breakfast. Enjoy the ride with our Chauffer to the airport 3 hours prior – to catch your departure flight.

We don’t believe in Goodbyes. We say Thank you! Come again.