Culture,Wilderness and Nature (8 Days)

The Golden Temple of Dambulla dates back to the 1st century BC and houses ancient murals depicting the life of the Buddha. The five main caves, including the Cave of the Divine King and the Cave of the Great King, hold hundreds of Buddha and deity figurines, and a giant golden Buddha statue stands a short distance outside the complex.

This is where Buddhism began in Sri Lanka, marked by the meeting of King Devanampiyatissa and Monk Mahinda. Monastic ruins lie at the foot of the mountain, and the site includes the cave where Mahinda resided along with the Ambasthala Dagoba and the Maha Stupa.

This ancient ruined city served as the capital for over a millennium until the 10th century AD, with pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds spread across a vast area. Landmarks include the Jetavanarama stupa, once one of the tallest buildings in the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi, and the ruins of the Abhayagiri Monastery.

This 5th century AD rock fortress was the seat of King Kasyapa, entered through an entrance framed by giant lion's paws. Visitors climb past unfading murals and a steep staircase to reach terraced gardens, working cisterns and tunnels leading to the palace ruins.

A visit to a local village offers an authentic taste of Sri Lankan rural life, with an oxen cart ride, a catamaran safari on a calm lake and walks through paddy fields. A traditional cooking demonstration is followed by a home-cooked lunch served on lotus leaves.

A three-hour evening safari through the park offers the chance to see elephants, which gather here in large numbers during the dry season between May and October, along with other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

A guided tour of a spice and herbal garden near Matale, the spice capital of Sri Lanka, introduces coriander, chilli, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg along with their uses and the benefits of Ayurveda.

An evening visit takes in demonstrations of gem crafting, woodcarving and batik work, followed by the hour-long Kandy Cultural Show, featuring fire dancers, sword dancers and traditional Kandyan dancing to drumming.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 16th century to house and protect Lord Buddha's sacred tooth relic. Its passageways and halls are decorated in red, cream and black, with carved pillars and golden statues.

Ramboda Falls is the 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, near Pussellawa, and is made up of three sections. A path beside the bridge allows a climb up to see the upper section, while the middle section is visible from the A5 highway.

A guided tour through a tea estate explains how Ceylon Tea is processed, tracing the industry back to the tea plants first brought from China in 1824 and the commercial plantations started by James Taylor in the 1850s.

Nuwara Eliya was the main hill station for the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and its streets still hold cottages, villas and an old red-brick post office. The tour includes time at Queen Victoria Park or on the shores of Lake Gregory.

The park's grasslands and cloud forests in Ohiya lead to views from the precipice of World's End and the cooling spray of Baker's Falls, with a chance to spot endemic wildlife along the trek.

A rafting trip covers a 5km stretch of the Kelani River, taking in its rapids with proper safety measures in place.