Walk Amidst Culture (8 Days)

The Golden Temple of Dambulla dates back to the 1st century BC and holds ancient murals depicting the life of Lord Gautama Buddha alongside hundreds of Buddha and deity figurines across five main caves, including the Cave of the Divine King, the Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. A giant golden Buddha statue stands a short distance outside the cave complex.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, in the Sabaragamuwa province, is home to young elephants displaced or lost from their natural habitat and now houses around 70 animals, making it the largest captive herd of elephants in the world.

This 5th-century AD rock fortress was the seat of King Kasyapa, entered through steps framed by a pair of giant lion's paws that give the rock its name. The climb passes the well-known frescoes, terraced gardens, still-working cisterns and tunnels leading up to the palace ruins at the summit.

A jeep safari through Minneriya National Park, known for the Great Elephant Gathering of over 150 elephants between May and October, as well as other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians found across its scrubland and forest.

A guided tour of a spice and herbal garden near Matale, the spice capital of Sri Lanka, covering spices such as coriander, chilli, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg, their cultivation and their uses, including in Ayurveda.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 16th century to house and protect the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. Its painted halls in red, cream and black and carved pillars and golden statues make it one of the island's most venerated sites.

An hour-long show of traditional Kandyan dance and music, including fire dancers, sword dancers and drummers.

Nuwara Eliya sits in the heart of tea country and was built by the British in the style of an English countryside town, with homes ranging from Georgian to Queen Anne style, an Anglican church, a golf course and well-kept parks, set at a cool, elevated altitude.

A jeep safari through Udawalawe National Park, created as a wildlife sanctuary in the 1970s, taking in marshes, forests and grasslands known for their water birds and Sri Lankan elephants, along with other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies.

A boat ride through the Madu River's ecosystem passes through mangrove channels, past basking crocodiles and water monitors, and stops at a small island inhabited by cinnamon harvesters, with the option of a fish massage and sightings of water birds.

The hatchery on the southwestern coast works to protect the nests of five endangered sea turtle species that come ashore to nest, caring for hatchlings and injured adult turtles through the Kosgoda Turtle Care Program.

A tour of Colombo takes in landmarks such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple and the National Museum, along with the shops around Independence Square and the Race Course area.