‘Ayubowan’ Take a second to wipe the sweat of your brow, breathe in & relax, you’ve made it to the little gem of the Indian Ocean. From literary greats, to colonial conquerors, you too have a chance to make your mark on this island & immerse yourself in melting pot of culture, history, color & adventure.

Your journey begins in a small fishing town called Beruwela, a name derived from the Sinhala word for ‘the place where the sail is lowered’. So like the Arab traders did in 8th century A.D, lower your sails, relax & gather your bearings. Your first point of call will be the relaxing eco friendly ‘Tropical Villas’ resort.

Energise yourself with a traditional Sri Lankan or western breakfast spread at tropical villas resort & get ready for a day of discovery. Beruwela is home to many Sri Lankan Moors, one of the many ethnicities that make up the multicultural fabric of Sri Lanka. Visit the Gem dealers & negotiate your “best price” for some of the worlds most renowned stones. If adventure is more to your style sink a line along with fisherman & setout on a trawler for some deep sea fishing. Ever wished to have a beach to yourself? Here is your chance.
Beruwela has kilometers of secluded coastline waiting for you.

A big day awaits, you head inland, towards the center of the island to Dambulla, once home to numerous Kings . Sri Lankas deep-rooted history stems from the paths you take, starting with the formidable rock fortress of Sigiriya. Dubbed the 8th wonder of the world, the entrance begins between two large rock carved lion paws, a small climb to the peak & you can relax as the swift breeze cools you down, lookout at some of the best views the country offers & cool your feet in the large rock carved pool once used by Sinhala kings. As the evening approaches treat yourself like a king at Sigiriya Village, your abode for the evening.

Today you continue the paths once taken by the Kings heading towards the Royal city of Kandy, the last Sri Lankan Kingdom. The picturesque town is home to the famous Buddhist pilgrim site the Dalada Maligawa also known as the Temple of the Tooth, which is home to the sacred tooth of the Buddha. Do as the worshippers do & buy some ‘offerings’ of flowers & fruits, just be sure the monkeys swinging on the vines don’t grab them off you. For the horticulture buffs a trip to the Perideniya gardens which houses Asia’s largest single collection of orchids as well as a giant Javan fig tree on the great lawn is well worth a visit.

Put on your favorite safari suit & hop on the back of an open top land rover, your on safari in the famous Yala national park. As your friendly tracker navigates his way through dry-mixed evergreen forests, bushland, water holes and seaside forest you’ll hear rustling in the bushes, what could it be? A monkey, a deer, a sloth bear, a crocodile or maybe a peacock all of whom roam freely. The guide slams his brakes, you pause, you look around, you hear a tree branch fall, all of a sudden you hear a trumpeting roar, then there they are staring at you, a herd of Elephants. Before you know it they move across on to the road only meters away. You have just met one of the main characters in the jungle book world of Yala national park. Like Jungle book itself, Yala is home to many characters the main protagonist is the elusive leopard, like any domineering character they come out when you least expect, roaming around looking for prey, could you be next? Hopefully not. Further on, a gang of grey langur monkeys bound across the arid earth creating circles of dust, their long, coiled tails silhouetted against the sun. To your right, their chins just hovering above murky water, are wide­eyed water buffalo, their bodies submerged in a waterhole. At dusk its time for you to retreat to your own waterhole at Elephant reach, an appropriate name for this hotel as you may find out.

A mouthwatering breakfast awaits before you depart for the calm tranquil waters of Marissa. This unfrequented crescent shaped beach is the perfect place to relax beachside. The friendly locals happily welcome you to this peaceful town, so feel free to strike up a conversation & tap into the local knowledge. For those yearning for a bit of adventure, the calm seas make for ideal for scuba diving or snorkeling, allowing you to navigate through the vibrant local sea-life & coral. Along the way you’ll be sharing the water with barracuda, manta rays, stingrays, turtles & numerous varieties of fish.

As evening approaches retire to the serene Giragala Village & rest easy as you doze off to the sounds of the water smoothly caressing the sand.

You’ve come face to face with some of the most revered animals on land now its time to meet the king of the Ocean, the great blue Whale. Like a submarine out of water these Whales rise majestically as you stare into the face of its sea spray. Relish the moment of seeing the largest mammal on earth & its support cast of sperm & humpback whales perform for you as you enjoy your flavorsome breakfast presented to you on deck.

After experiencing the high of seeing the largest mammal on earth its time to move on to the cheerful beach resort of Bentota. The beach resort is both discreet as it is accommodating to tourists. Take the opportunity to hop on board a single propped boat from the rivers edge. Duck your heads as you go under the bridges and though the mangroves. With the captains keen eye your able to see a variety of wildlife. Along this tour you stop at Cinnamon Island and the Koduwa Temple. Hidden amongst the mangroves is a tiny island where cinnamon grows in abundance. The sole family on the Island will happily share with you the process of how cinnamon sticks and cinnamon oil is made.

One of the many highlights of Bentota is the famed Bevis Bawa’s Brief Gardens. This paradise garden was sub dived into themes from sweeping lawns to romantic alcoves & garden scultptures. Once a working sanctuary for Sri lankas greatest artists, architects & designers, take the moment to embrace Sri Lankan art & garden culture. As sunset falls retreat to your beach hideaway at the Hotel Serendib.

Another relaxing day by the beach awaits or if that adventure streak is still brewing within, make the most of the exhilarating range of water sports on offer. Benefiting from a large flat estuary at the mouth of the Bentota Ganga, ensures safe waters all year round for wakeboarding windsurfing, waterskiing, banana rides, donuts, kayaking and jet ski, just make sure you HOLD ON!

A brisk 2.5 hour drive along the coastline & you’ve entered the capital, Colombo. The idea of a charming metropolis may be contradictory but Colombo certainly exhibits this through its colonial influences. Energetic traffic runs through the city towards the district of Fort, the historic centre of the city that has become the central business district. The countries post war economy thrives within the walls of gracious buildings from the Dutch, Portuguese and British colonial eras in the area. A short walk away is a beehive of commotion within the Pettah bazaar open market district, from colorful fabrics, to gems & vegetables its all here, so sharpen your bargaining skills, you could walk away with a bargain. Outside your hotel the Taj Samudra is the city's seafront known as Galle Face Green join the locals in a game of cricket, fly a kite or go for an evening stroll along the shore line at sunset.

Forgot to buy some gifts for friends & family back home, take advantage of Colombo’s bargain shopping. From the boutique styled Odel department store on Ward Place or the western styled Crescat shopping mall, pick up fantastic bargains on fashionable clothes and shoes (labels like Gap, Nike and Banana Republic manufactured in Sri Lanka). While in the precinct take sometime out to visit the distinguished Gangaramaya Temple & the Sima Malaka Meditation Island in the middle of Beira Lake designed by World-renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.

Sadly, the day has come when we must say goodbye, the hardest part of the trip begins, leaving. As you sip your tea over breakfast take a moment to look back at your journey, from lowering your sail in Beruwela to following the trails of kings to having breakfast in the company of elephants, leopards & whales. It’s no surprise the finest island for its size in all the world’ – said the legendary Marco Polo.