Today your journey to the pearl of the Indian Ocean begins. From Germany or Austria, you'll fly economy class to Colombo – usually overnight, so you'll land in Sri Lanka the following day. If you'd like to travel to the departure airport in comfort, you can add a Rail&Fly ticket from Deutsche Bahn when you book your trip (106 euros, 2nd class). Use the hours above the clouds to get in the mood for the next two weeks: tea plantations and the scent of spices, millennia-old temples and rock fortresses, leopards and elephants in Yala National Park, and palm-fringed beaches.

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Afterwards, you will embark on a city tour of the capital's most important sights: sacred temples and mosques, colonial and modern architecture, colorful bazaars, and the "White House" of Colombo. In the evening, you'll experience the complete opposite of the hustle and bustle of the city center. On the waterfront promenade "Galle Face Green," young and old gather, especially in the afternoons and on weekends, to fly kites, picnic, or simply relax and socialize. Stroll along the promenade, mingle with the locals, try a snack from one of the stalls, and get your first impressions of Sri Lankan culture. Back at the hotel, a welcome dinner awaits you in the rooftop restaurant: a varied buffet with Sri Lankan and international dishes. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers and your tour guide.

Today you leave the capital behind and begin your tour through the multifaceted Sri Lanka. A stopover takes you to the small town of Melsiripura, where a family-run coconut plantation awaits. You'll meet the owner, who will proudly guide you through his plantation – including a demonstration of how coconuts are picked and shelled. He'll explain the many uses of each part of the coconut and how much this amazing fruit contributes to the local economy. You'll also enjoy a refreshing drink made from a king coconut and a traditional sweet snack of coconut and syrup. Afterwards, you'll continue to your next hotel in Sigiriya – the perfect base for the program of the coming days. In the evening, a delicious dinner awaits you at a local restaurant.

Today you'll need to get up early, because one of Sri Lanka's greatest highlights awaits you: the impressive Sigiriya Rock. It's now open to visitors from 6:00 AM – we're not going to miss this opportunity to experience the famous Lion Rock in a peaceful atmosphere. You'll climb approximately 1,800 steps, admiring the exceptionally beautiful frescoes of the "Cloud Maidens" (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) along the way. From the rock plateau, you'll have a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding landscape bathed in the morning light. Back at the hotel, a hearty breakfast and some relaxation await you. In the afternoon, you'll set off again to explore the surroundings on foot. A leisurely hike will take you through forests and farmland, past small rural villages, and along picturesque lakes (easy, 7 km, walking time approx. 2.5 hours, +/- 50 meters elevation gain/loss). Your guide will tell you about the local produce and spices, as well as the traditional farming and processing methods still used today. Afterwards, you'll enjoy a picnic lunch with a view of the Sigiriya Rock in the distance.

The morning is yours to enjoy at the hotel. Use the time to relax by the pool – or alternatively, book an optional safari to one of the nearby national parks. Your tour guide will know if and where elephant herds are currently in the area. Depending on where the chances of wildlife sightings are greatest at the time of your visit, the optional jeep safari will take place in Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla National Park, or Hurula Eco Park (depending on the time of year; optional, USD 60 per person for groups of 4, bookable locally). Around midday, you'll visit a local family in their home. You'll gain an authentic insight into family life in Sri Lanka and can watch as various Sri Lankan curries are prepared. Afterwards, you'll sample the typical dishes for lunch. In the afternoon, another UNESCO World Heritage Site awaits you: the ruined city of Polonnaruwa, the kingdom's second capital, which was overgrown by jungle for 500 years. This provincial town, which today appears rather sleepy, offers not only beautiful scenery but also particularly magnificent and elaborately designed monuments – including the Royal Palace and numerous impressive Buddha statues and stupas.

Before continuing on to Kandy today, you'll visit the Dambulla Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These caves, over 2,000 years old, are carved into a 200-meter-high rock face and contain countless seated, standing, and reclining Buddha statues of every shape and size – some carved directly into the grotto stone. The impressive murals in the caves depict the life and teachings of Buddha. Next, you'll travel to Kandy. With 160,000 inhabitants, Kandy is Sri Lanka's third-largest city and offers an interesting mix of colonial charm and urban life, in addition to nature, history, and culture. Upon arrival, you can explore the city on your own if you wish.

Right in the morning, you'll experience one of the highlights of your trip: a visit to the famous Temple of the Tooth (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which is said to house a tooth of Buddha as a sacred relic. Your tour guide will show you other sights of the former royal city on a discovery tour. You'll stroll through the alleyways, across the local market, and along the shores of Kandy Lake. During your lunch break, you'll have the opportunity to visit a local restaurant and delve deeper into Sri Lankan cuisine. Afterward, you'll have free time to explore Kandy further on your own. How about a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens outside the city? Or perhaps you'd like to take another leisurely stroll through the market and buy some fragrant spices – they also make wonderful souvenirs. If you're interested in Ayurveda and alternative medicine, a visit to an Ayurvedic pharmacy might be just the thing for you. In the late afternoon, you can also attend a performance of artistic traditional dances accompanied by music. You can easily return to the hotel by tuk-tuk at a time of your choosing.

After breakfast, you continue your journey and make your first stop in Ramboda, a small village about 50 km from Kandy. A leisurely hike allows you to explore the surrounding countryside (easy, 3.5 km, approx. 1.5 hours, +/- 180 meters elevation gain/loss). The trail leads downhill through tea plantations, gardens, and small spice plantations, eventually ending in a rice paddy. Having already passed several tea plantations along the way, you'll now visit a tea factory and learn more about the production of pure Ceylon tea. This is an authentic, working operation that produces large quantities of tea daily. During the tour, you'll learn about the various production steps – rolling, sorting, drying, and packaging the tea leaves. Afterward, you'll go to the tasting room, where you'll be served three to four different teas. Then you'll enjoy a full cup of classic black tea and can purchase a piece of cake if you wish. Finally, you'll have the opportunity to buy tea in the shop area. Afterwards, you'll reach your destination for the day, Nuwara Eliya, where a journey back to the British colonial era awaits you. The English colonial style permeates the entire town – the houses, gardens, churches, and even the golf course. After an orientation walk, the evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

In the morning, you'll switch to a different mode of transport for a while, as you'll continue your journey by train – a true highlight of any trip to Sri Lanka. In Nanu Oya, just outside Nuwara Eliya, you'll board the train to Ella. This journey is one of the most impressive in the country, offering breathtaking views of the picturesque hilly landscape of the highlands (journey time approx. 2.5 hours). Enjoy the panoramic views of steep mountain passes, rushing mountain streams, lush green mountain scenery, and tea plantations stretching as far as the eye can see. In Ella, you'll have some free time around lunchtime, allowing you to explore the town at your leisure or enjoy a meal at a local restaurant. Afterward, you'll continue your journey south by coach. The next stop is an authentic market in a small village along the way. You'll mingle with the locals as they go about their daily business and stroll among the stalls. Your tour guide will explain the goods on offer and invite you to sample local delicacies or seasonal fruits – from familiar varieties like pineapple, mango, and passion fruit to lesser-known options like mangosteen and rambutan. Fortunately, in Sri Lanka, something is always in season. In Kataragama, the atmosphere becomes more spiritual towards evening: Just in time for evening prayers, you'll reach the important temple complex with its numerous Hindu and Buddhist temples. Here, coconuts are offered during the ceremonies – after a heartfelt prayer, the faithful powerfully smash them against stones and temple steps. Witness this extraordinary spectacle and let your tour guide explain the meaning of the ritual. Finally, you will reach your hotel in Tissamaharama, where you will also have dinner tonight.

Today you'll embark on a jeep safari through Yala National Park (duration 2.5 to 3 hours), home to elephants, water buffalo, crocodiles, monkeys, and numerous bird species. Yala National Park is particularly renowned for its high leopard population, making it one of the best places in the world to spot leopards. However, this, combined with the park's relatively small size, also means it can get crowded. Your guide will always choose the best time for the safari; for this itinerary, that's usually early morning. Look forward to an extensive game drive with hopefully plenty of fantastic photo opportunities, but be prepared to encounter numerous other jeeps in the park. Afterwards, you'll continue along the coast and reach Galle, one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful cities. This colonial city of 130,000 inhabitants captivates visitors with its seaside location and exceptionally well-preserved 16th-century old town, encircled by the walls of Galle Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). At the southern tip lies the well-preserved Dutch fort with its ancient fortress walls and picturesque lighthouse. A guided walking tour will give you a glimpse of the old town, followed by a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy this final evening with your tour guide over good food and conversation, and raise a glass to your shared experiences. A final leg by coach will then take you to your beach resort on the west coast, where the remaining time will be dedicated entirely to relaxation.

Today is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Reflect on the impressions of your Sri Lanka trip. Your beachfront resort offers the perfect setting for a relaxing end to your day: unwind with a good book, stroll along the expansive sandy beach, swim in the Indian Ocean, or simply indulge in blissful idleness.

You can design this day exactly as you wish. Your beach resort right by the sea offers the perfect setting for pure relaxation. Stroll along the endless sandy beach, try out the hotel's amenities, or simply unwind.

Today it's time to say goodbye. At the appointed time, you will be transferred back to Colombo airport for your return flight. If your flight departs after 11 pm, a late check-out is included – allowing you to freshen up after your individual explorations or simply relax and enjoy the hotel's amenities. For earlier flights, check-out is at the hotel's regular hours.

In the morning you arrive back at your home airport – with many pictures of temples, tea fields, leopards and dream beaches in your luggage.