Enchanted Island Drive

Tailor-made for Adventure seekers

More adventurous and cultural tour. Drive along the misty mountains and historical places of Sri Lanka.

Tour Highlights

Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Dambulla Cave Temple
Pigeon Island National Park
Ruins in Polonnaruwa
Tribal (Vedda) People
Knuckles Mountain Range
Kandy City
Horton Plains
Nine Arches bridge
Lipton’s Seat Drive
Water Rafting In Kitulgala

Itinerary

Day 0 : Negombo (Arrival & Rest)

Arriving at Katunayake airport, you will be transferred to the hotel where you can enjoy the interesting coastal town of Negombo. As the first exercise, you will visit the fishing village and return to rest. Overnight stay in Negombo.

Day 1 : Sigiriya & Dambulla

In the morning you will drive to Sri Lanka’s most famous landmark, Sigiriya Rock, rising 370m above the jungle is an ancient fortress surrounded by extensive gardens. Sigiriya is world famous of its frescoes, mirror wall and lion’s paw. You will drive around the Sigiriya rock and nearby Sigiriya village. As an optional activity you could enjoy the jeep safari in Kaudulla or Minneriya National parks, and also a special elephant ride across Habarana village. As the next activity, you will visit Dambulla Cave Temple which has fascinating series of caves filled with beautiful Buddhist statues and paintings. Overnight stay at hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 2 : Trincomalee

Driving to the East coast, you will arrive to Trincomalee which is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and for the natural harbour. You will visit Koneswaram Hindu Temple, Dutch Fort and Pigeon Island National Park in Nilaveli beach for Snorkeling. In the morning you will get the chance to see the alluring view of sunrise from the East coast of Sri Lanka. Overnight stay at nearby beach hotel in Nilaveli.

Day 3 : Polonnaruwa

Next you will drive to Polonnaruwa, an ancient capital where you will gain the knowledge about history of Sri Lanka. You will visit ancient temples, palaces and huge water reservoirs built by ancient kings where they will tell you the stories about glorious history of Polonnaruwa. Stay overnight at Polonnaruwa.

Day 4 : Mahiyanganaya

You will strikeout for the east leaving the historic Polonnaruwa driving through lush mountain terrain. Passing the borders of Angammedilla National Park viewing the Knuckles Mountain Range you will arrive to Mahiyanganaya city. Dambana, a nearby village in Mahiyanganaya is home for indigenous Vedda People of Sri Lanka. In the evening, you will enjoy the nature walk and traditional Vedda dancing. Overnight stay in Mahiyanganaya nearby hotel in Sorabora Lake.

Day 5 : Knuckles Mountains

From Mahiyanganaya, you will head towards west, up to Sri Lanka’s mountainous escarpment and tea country. You will see the mountain range rising through the sky like a clenched fist. The entire area is characterized by its striking landscapes often robed in thick layers of clouds and mist. Knuckles Conservation Forest, which is UNESCO world heritage site is considered as a super biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. You will hike in the Knuckles Mountains watching nature and enjoying a bathing experience in waterfalls . Collecting plenty of lifetime memories you will stay overnight night in Knuckles’ Mountains.

Day 6 : Kandy

In Kandy you will visit first “Arthur’s seat” where you can perceive the territory beneath in the bird’s eye view including the Temple of Tooth. Most tourists prefer enjoying lunch or sip a beer nearby restaurant. Next we lead you to the Tooth Relic Temple which is supposed to be the most precious place of Buddhist people. Then you will have the opportunity to enjoy shopping in Kandy city and to walk around the Kandy lake in the evening. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Day 7 : Kandy (Rest Day)

As an optional activities you can visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Royal Botanical Gardens or hike in Udawattakele Forest Reserve. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Day 8 : Haputale via Nuwara Eliya

Leaving Kandy, you will head to Nuwara Eliya city, known as Little England by British Colonials where they used to stay here to escape from the scorching heat of the lowlands. In Nuwara Eliya you will get the chance to see several buildings with colonial era architectural style. Next you will saddle up again to another adventure drive to Horton Plains National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site which consists of ecosystems such as montane evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands and aquatic ecosystem and also an endemic flora and fauna. You will hike in Horton Plains to visit the World’s End where the plateau comes to a sudden end, a stunning escarpment that plunges 880m. Next you will descend to Haputale where you will stay overnight.

Day 9 : Kitulgala

After breakfast, you will saddle up and set off on the back roads for the long climb up to Lipton’s Seat tea trail in Haputale. There you will have a bird’s eye view of 5 provinces of Sri Lanka. The drive up to Lipton’s Seat will be an adventurous with a breathtaking view of highlands of Sri Lanka. From Haputale you will drive directly to Kitulgala where you will experience white water rafting in Kelani river. Overnight stay in a hotel near Kelani River in Kitulgala.