Southern Sri Lanka & beach holiday in the Maldives

Today, you will take the first step on your tour to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Departure is from your selected airport, and the flights include connecting flights along the way. 

Welcome to Sri Lanka, the emerald gem of the Indian Ocean! 

Upon arrival just north of the capital, Colombo, you'll pass through immigration and head to the baggage claim. In the arrival hall, your guide awaits with a TourCompass sign and a warm Sri Lankan welcome. 

You'll then be driven to Negombo, a vibrant beach town just a half-hour's drive from the airport. Here, you'll find a wide, golden sandy beach where the palm trees sway gently in the breeze and fishing boats drift lazily towards the shore. 

After checking in at your waterfront hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Perhaps a swim in the pool tempts you, or you might find peace in a sun lounger with a sea view, letting the sound of the waves and a good book set a serene start to your tour. 

In the evening, take a leisurely stroll along the beach and, if you're lucky, behold the sunset's scarlet hues, complemented by the batik-coloured sails and gently lapping waves, creating a magical close to your first day in Sri Lanka. 

Start your day with a front-row view of Negombo's golden sandy beach, before heading east towards Kandy, where you'll have the chance to explore Sri Lanka's enchanting highlands. 

After a drive of just over three hours, you can delve into Sri Lanka's renowned tea history with a visit to one of the highland's finest tea factories, Giragama Tea Factory. Here, you'll gain insight into the process from when the fresh tea leaves are plucked to when the tea is served piping hot in your cup. The factory's ancient colonial-era machines are still in use, allowing you to appreciate the aromas, flavours, and history of tea.  

Finally, you will have the opportunity to taste various blends and purchase some of the delicious Ceylon tea as a souvenir. Afterwards, you’ll proceed to your hotel in Kandy, nestled beautifully in a valley surrounded by green hills, tea plantations, and rivers. 

After checking in, the evening is yours to explore Kandy, and when hunger strikes, you can indulge in the city’s impressive culinary scene. Your guide is happy to help you find a favourite among the wide range of restaurants, offering everything from Sri Lankan classics like kottu roti to international favourites. 

Today, no excursions are planned, giving you the opportunity to decide what suits you best before your tour continues. 

Let the impressions of the past days settle as you relax by the hotel's inviting pool, or set out for new adventures on your own. 

Should you seek relaxation, settle beside Kandy’s mirror-like lake, observing everyday life in Sri Lanka's second-largest city. From here, you also have views of the mighty Buddha statue at Bahirawakanda Temple, the city’s highest landmark. Alternatively, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, a well-kept tranquil oasis with over 4,000 plant species to admire along the beautifully maintained paths. 

In the late afternoon, it’s worth visiting the Temple of the Tooth to witness Buddhism up close. This sacred temple is a significant reason Kandy is part of the UNESCO world heritage and it is reputed to house one of Buddha's teeth. This relic, supposedly smuggled from India to Sri Lanka in 1590, is kept in a gold casket. If you’ve pre-bought tickets, continue to a nearby cultural centre to enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan dance show featuring fire, drums, and vibrant costumes. 

As night falls, settle into one of the city’s hilltop restaurants with views over the valley and surrounding mountains. Enjoy your evening meal as Kandy basks in the beautiful evening light. 

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up for a drive to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s highest city, also known as Little England. 

The drive takes approximately 3-4 hours, winding through the picturesque highlands flanked by tea plantations and valleys. There will be occasional photo stops along the way, allowing you to capture the beautiful scenery with green tea plantations, mist-covered mountain peaks, and small villages.  

Upon reaching Nuwara Eliya at an elevation of 1,868 metres, you will immediately feel the refreshingly cooler air. Around you stand fine English houses with meticulously arranged rose gardens, a testament to the colonial influence.  

One of the city's iconic houses is the Grand Hotel, dating back to 1891 and originally the residence for the British governor. Here, you will be treated to High Tea British-style, where you can relax and soak in the historic atmosphere, with tea from the surrounding plantations served in fine porcelain cups. Accompanying the tea are small sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and sweet cakes in true colonial style, evoking memories of a bygone era. 

From the echoes of history, the journey continues to Ella, arguably Sri Lanka's most beautifully located town, reached after a two-hour drive through the still-picturesque surroundings. The rest of the day is yours to cherish the indescribably beautiful setting and pause time for a while. 

In the evening, head to Ella's charming main street, where a plethora of cosy restaurants and small shops sit side by side in an authentic atmosphere with equal parts relaxation and lively bustle.   

As you enjoy the crisp morning air and the first meal of the day, look forward to visiting some of the highlands' most breathtaking viewpoints. 

After breakfast, your guide will lead you on a lovely trek to Little Adam’s Peak, a smaller sibling to the pilgrim mountain, Adam’s Peak. Though smaller and more manageable, it offers equally stunning views. 

The route begins on flat terrain and winds through verdant tea plantations. As the landscape gradually opens up, you'll approach the summit after about an hour of leisurely walking. Over the final stretch, you'll conquer 350 steps for a magnificent view over the rolling highlands and the Ella Gap, which dramatically cuts through the surrounding mountains. 

The descent follows the same path through lush surroundings before you set off by car toward what is perhaps Sri Lanka’s most photographed landmark: the beautiful Nine Arch Bridge, constructed during British colonial times without iron or steel.  

From the car, descend via small trails, possibly greeting locals living among the area's many tea plantations en route. The nine-arched railway bridge awaits, an architectural masterpiece standing nearly 30 metres tall amid the verdant landscape.  

Along the bridge's rails, you might be accompanied by small lizards and colourful birds. If your timing is right, witness a train crossing the bridge, merging its architecture, the lush setting, and Sri Lanka's iconic railway in a magical moment.  

After returning to your hotel in Ella, you have a few hours to yourself before enjoying your final evening in Sri Lanka’s magnificent highlands. 

Today, you will continue your journey south towards Udawalawe, your starting point for tomorrow's safari in Udawalawe National Park.  

En route, stop at one of Sri Lanka's widest waterfalls, the mythical Ravana Falls. With a 25-metre drop, it cascades powerfully down the rocks. Legend has it that the demon king Ravana hid the fabled Princess Sitha in a cave behind the falls, now known as Ravana Cave. 

Next, travel to Buduruwagala Temple, dating back to the 10th century and famed for its well-preserved rock carvings. The temple features a grand rock face with a 16-metre high Buddha statue surrounded by six smaller figures, depicting Buddha in various poses of meditation. Here, you can appreciate their intricate detail and serene expression in peace, as Buduruwagala enjoys a quieter existence than many of Sri Lanka's more well-known temples.

By the afternoon, you will arrive at your hotel in Udawalawe, where you can relax and recharge for tomorrow's safari experiences. 

You will rise early and prepare to explore Udawalawe National Park during the first hours of the day, when the animals are often active and the sun gently bathes the landscape in golden hues. 

Your local ranger knows the park inside out and assists in spotting the wildlife while driving you around in a four-wheel-drive jeep, explaining the animals' behaviours and habitats. Here, you won't find large crowds, just peace and tranquillity, offering the perfect setting to get close to the wildlife. 

Udawalawe is particularly famous for its large population of wild elephants, which you are very likely to encounter on your journey. The national park is home to several hundred Asian elephants, often seen in small groups as they calmly wander across savanna-like plains or gather at waterholes to drink and bathe. 

The landscape in Udawalawe is open and dry, with low bush vegetation and grassy areas, making it easier to spot the animals. Besides elephants, you may also be fortunate enough to see water buffaloes, wild boars, jackals, deer, crocodiles, and a rich birdlife including eagles, herons, and vibrant kingfishers. 

After the safari, which lasts just under three hours, you’ll return to your hotel where a well-deserved breakfast awaits. 

Your guide will then drive you back to Negombo's golden sands, where you will stay at a beach hotel for one night before swapping your Sri Lankan adventure for relaxing days in the Maldivian beach paradise. 

Well before your flight departs, you will be picked up at your hotel and driven to the airport, where you’ll bid farewell to Sri Lanka and set course for the Maldives. 

The Maldives is Asia's smallest country and a true island paradise in the Indian Ocean. It consists of over a thousand small coral islands spread across 26 atolls, where turquoise lagoons and vibrant coral reefs surround the islands as a natural defence against the deep blue ocean. 

After a flight of around an hour and a half, you will land at Malé International Airport, where you collect your luggage and pass through immigration. In the arrivals hall, a representative from the resort will be waiting with a sign bearing your name, ready to assist you to the waterfront just outside the terminal. Here, you’ll board a speedboat that will take you the final stretch over the sea to your paradise island. 

Once at your resort, you will be warmly welcomed by staff who assist with your check-in. From here, the rest of the day is free, so slip into your swimwear and let your feet sink into the silky-soft, white sand. 

Your days in the Maldives will be steeped in peace and relaxation. There are no scheduled activities during your stay, leaving it entirely up to you how you'd like to spend your time. 

If you wake up early, witness the spectacle of the sun slowly rising over the horizon, painting the sky in golden hues. Along the shoreline, herons often stand as silent silhouettes, keeping watch over the tranquil lagoon waters. 

After breakfast at the resort’s main restaurant, the entire day lies ahead. Stake your claim on a favourite spot by the beach or beneath the shade of a palm tree, savouring the crystal-clear waters as they glide gently over the reef. 

The sea is as enchanting as the island itself. Armed with a snorkel and fins, glide straight from the beach to explore the underwater world, where vibrant fish, coral, and perhaps a curious though harmless reef shark will welcome you. 

For those seeking a sprinkle of adventure, take advantage of the resort's extensive watersport activities and excursion opportunities. Don’t miss out on a wonderfully soothing treatment at the resort's spa, where you can indulge in everything from facial and body treatments to enchanting massages. 

In the evening, stroll along the beach in the glow of sunset before embarking on a culinary journey through the resort's restaurants. Afterwards, enjoy a refreshing drink, and take your time to reflect on the journey's many impressions under the luminous starry sky. 

The tour now draws to a close, and you will head home with your suitcase full of experiences and sensory impressions from the southern Sri Lanka and one of the Maldives’ paradise islands. 

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport, where your homeward journey to Europe begins with connecting flight(s) along the way. 

You will land at your selected airport and can now look back on a tour filled with scenic surroundings, elephants, and crystal-clear bathing water - and perhaps a small yearning to one day return.