Things to do in

Hikkaduwa

Start your tour from Colombo at 9:00am where you will begin the 2 to 3 hour drive to Hikkaduwa. Stop on the way at Kosgoda where you will visit a sea turtle farm run by a non-governmental organization and maintained by volunteers. Next, visit the Ariyapala Mask Museum where you can learn about ancient masks and their part in ancient rituals, followed by the Mask Factory where you will see how these masks are brought to life through the hard work of artisans. After this, you will visit a family run gem and jewellery store and find various items at very affordable rates. Then, visit the agriculture and coir industry of Hikkaduwa, meeting a family that makes various products using coir and see the hard work they put in to make various valuable items. A very important ecological asset of the region is the Hikkaduwa lagoon. Take a boating trip on which you will discover the many avian fauna species of the region. Next up, visit one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the area. The temple is virtually free of tourists and mostly frequented by the local people. Here you can learn all about Buddhism with our local guide. After a busy day full of discovery head to Hikkaduwa beach to have a leisurely stroll and take in the sunset. Taste the most popular Sri Lankan alcoholic drink, Arrack, distilled from 100% coconut syrup.  End your tour with a barbecue dinner, consisting of fish bought from the nearby fishing harbour.

Day 1: Bentota-Weherahena-Yala Upon starting your journey at 4:00 AM from your hotel in Bentota, you will be met by your designated chauffeur guide. After exchanging formalities at your hotel, you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle in which you will proceed to Yala. En-route, visit the Mirissa fisheries harbor, and partake in a whale watching tour. Whale watching in Mirissa is one of the most sought-after activities in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is one of the best places to spot blue whales after a short period of time from the harbor. Mirissa is one of the best places to see not only blue whales but also sperm whales and dolphins. Visit Weherahena Poorwarama Raja Maha Viharaya is situated in the Matara District of Sri Lanka, about 6 kilometers from Matara town. This unique temple is known as the first tunnel temple in the world. The temple hosts a massive 130-foot Buddha image that was built following the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras. It also consists of all the main features of a Buddhist temple, such as the pagoda, a sacred bo-tree and a Samadhi Buddha statue. Following this tour, you will proceed to Yala National Park, one of the best national parks in the world to spot leopards. Here you find a large concentration of leopards in a small geographical area. Yala is home to many species of wild animals such as leopards, elephants, crocodiles, and monkeys.  Day 2: Yala-Galle-Hikkaduwa Early in the morning, you will proceed to Yala National Park to go on a lovely jeep safari. Yala National Park is the second largest on this island based off the southeastern coast of Sri Lanka. You will get a chance to see the famous Sri Lankan leopards, indigenous wild water buffalo, Sri Lankan Sloth Bears and large herds of Sri Lankan Elephants. The park is also home to many other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Later, visit the Galle Fortress and Hikkaduwa Beach. Galle Fortress is the best preserved Dutch fort in Asia, and it is one of the 7 UNESCO world heritage sites on the island. The Dutch Fort is a fortified city built in the 1600's and is home to hundreds of houses, palaces, shops, churches, museums, bars, pubs, hotels and much much more. On completion of this day, you will begin your journey back to your hotel in Hikkaduwa.