Historic Heart of Sri Lanka

Day 1: Negombo - Kandy, Kandy Dance Performance

• Arrival in Negombo – begin your journey towards the beautiful hills of central Sri Lanka.
• Journey to Kandy – travel through changing landscapes, from tropical lowlands to green hills and villages.
• Kandy – arrive in the historic former royal capital, surrounded by beautiful hills and Kandy Lake.
• Evening Walk around Kandy Lake – enjoy a peaceful evening walk around the lake and your first impressions of this beautiful city.
• Kandy Dance Performance – enjoy a traditional evening performance of Kandyan dances, colourful costumes and rhythmic drumming.

Day 2: Kandy: The Last Royal Capital

• Kandy – The Last Royal Capital – Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and remained independent until the British took control in 1815.
• Royal Palace Complex – explore the historic area that was the residence and administrative centre of the Kandyan kings.
• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) – visit the most important Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka, where the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is enshrined.
• The Sacred Tooth and the Kings – the relic was closely connected with royal power; traditionally, possession of the Tooth Relic was linked with the right to rule. It was brought to Kandy in the 16th century.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Sacred City of Kandy, including the temple and royal complex, has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

Day 3: Yapahuwa – A Hidden Medieval Treasure

• A spectacular rock fortress – climb the ancient stone steps towards a magnificent rock that once protected a royal capital.
• The famous stone staircase – admire exquisite carvings of dancers, musicians, elephants and mythical creatures.
• A royal capital of the 13th century – Yapahuwa became the capital of King Bhuvanekabahu I around 1272.
• The Sacred Tooth Relic – the precious relic of the Buddha was once kept here, making Yapahuwa an important religious and political centre.
• Off the beaten path – discover one of Sri Lanka's most fascinating medieval sites, with ancient ruins, dramatic scenery and far fewer visitors than the island's better-known attractions. 

Day 4: Dambulla – The Cave Temple of Sri Lanka

• Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple – enter one of Sri Lanka's most remarkable historical and religious sites, used as a sacred pilgrimage place for more than 2,000 years.
• Five Sacred Caves – explore five cave sanctuaries containing an extraordinary collection of Buddhist statues and paintings.
• Ancient Royal Connection – according to tradition, King Valagamba sought refuge in the caves during his exile and later transformed them into a Buddhist monastery.
• Paintings and Statues – admire around 2,100 m² of murals and 157 statues, making Dambulla one of the best-preserved cave-temple complexes in Sri Lanka.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site – Dambulla has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and remains a living Buddhist pilgrimage centre.

Day 5: Anuradhapura – The First Royal Capital

• Ancient Royal Capital – discover Sri Lanka's first great capital, founded in the 4th century BC and flourishing for more than 1,300 years.
• Sri Maha Bodhi – see the sacred Bodhi tree grown from a cutting brought from India in the 3rd century BC.
• Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba – admire one of the most important ancient stupas in Sri Lanka and a major pilgrimage site.
• Jetavanaramaya & Abhayagiri – discover two enormous ancient monastic complexes, evidence of Anuradhapura's importance as a centre of Buddhist learning and culture.
• Ancient Engineering – see reservoirs, irrigation systems, monasteries and monumental architecture that demonstrate the remarkable engineering and urban-planning skills of ancient Sri Lanka.  

Day 6: Mihintale – The Birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

• The Meeting of Mahinda and the King – according to the ancient chronicles, Buddhist monk Mahinda met King Devanampiya Tissa here in the 3rd century BC, marking the traditional arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
• Sacred Mountain – climb the ancient stairway of more than 1,800 steps through one of Sri Lanka's most important pilgrimage sites.
• Ambasthala Stupa – visit the stupa marking the traditional place where Mahinda and the king met.
• Maha Seya – reach the great stupa at the summit and enjoy views across the ancient Anuradhapura plains.
• Ancient Monastic Centre – discover caves, inscriptions, stupas and monastery ruins that reveal the importance of Mihintale as an early centre of Buddhist life and learning. 

Day 7: Ritigala – The Hidden Forest Monastery

• Ancient Buddhist Monastery – discover the ruins of a secluded forest monastery, with a history reaching back to the 3rd century BC.
• Monks of the Forest – Ritigala became an important centre for the Pamsukulika monks, who followed a strict and simple way of Buddhist monastic life.
• King Sena I – in the 9th century, King Sena I built a major monastery here for the Pamsukulika community; many of the surviving ruins date from this period.
• Stone Pathways and Meditation Buildings – walk through the forest along ancient paved paths and see stone platforms, meditation buildings, bridges and bathing structures.
• A Hidden Historical Treasure – surrounded by dense forest on the slopes of Ritigala Mountain, the ruins offer a rare glimpse into the secluded world of Sri Lanka's ancient forest monks.  

Day 8: Sigiriya – The Ancient Royal Citadel

• The Ancient Royal Citadel – explore the spectacular rock fortress rising about 180 metres above the surrounding plains.
• King Kassapa I – discover the remains of the royal palace built by King Kassapa I in the 5th century.
• The Lion Gate – climb through the famous entrance marked by the enormous carved lion's paws.
• Ancient Frescoes – admire the celebrated paintings of graceful female figures, preserved high on the rock.
• Royal Gardens and Water Systems – explore the sophisticated gardens, pools and hydraulic systems that demonstrate the remarkable engineering of ancient Sri Lanka.

Day 9: Polonnaruwa – The Medieval Royal Capital

• Royal Capital of Sri Lanka – explore the magnificent medieval capital that became the centre of the kingdom in the 11th century.
• Parakrama Samudra – see the enormous ancient reservoir built under King Parakramabahu I, reflecting the advanced irrigation system of the kingdom.
• Royal Palace Complex – discover the remains of the palace, audience hall and other buildings connected with the royal court.
• Sacred Quadrangle – visit the historic religious centre with the Vatadage, Atadage and other remarkable monuments.
• Gal Vihara – admire four impressive Buddha images carved directly into a granite rock face, among the finest works of ancient Sri Lankan sculpture.