Fly overnight to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s charming capital, and transfer to your hotel in Negombo. Depending on your time of arrival, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Travel inland to Sri Lanka’s UNESCO-rich Cultural Triangle. Immerse yourself in the charms of Sevangama Village, experiencing authentic local culture and rural life as you enjoy a scenic catamaran cruise followed by a tractor ride through lush paddy fields and vibrant flower gardens. You’ll also get to spend time with the villagers, learning to cook local dishes and taking a pottery class.

Travel to Sigiriya, home to the 5th-century UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock Fortress, ‘Lion Rock’. Explore the gardens, admire the world-renowned Heavenly Maidens frescoes and pass between a pair of colossal lion’s paws to climb to the top for panoramic views. Then, embark on an adventurous jeep safari on Minneriya National Park, looking out for large herds of elephants, sloth bears, leopards and more wonderful wildlife.

Travel to Dambulla where you will tour the Rock Temple which dates to the 1st century BC. Visit a spice garden in Matale and watch a cooking demonstration before continuing through majestic hill country to the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural hub. Visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic then, this evening, enjoy a cultural show of folk dancing and music.

Board a train bound for Nanu Oya, passing through endless tea plantations backed by mist-covered mountains and cascading waterfalls. Continue to Nuwara Eliya where, this evening you’ll take a tuk tuk ride through the town.

Begin the day at the Tea Factory, learning about the process of plucking, processing and packaging tea leaves. Then, enjoy a high tea experience at the Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya with freshly brewed Ceylon teas and views over the hillsides.

Ascend from the highlands back to Colombo. Take a tour of the city, visiting the Colombo Museum, Independence Square, Pettah’s vibrant markets and the scenic Galle Face Green promenade. Embark on a guided street food tour, visiting some of the city’s best local food spots.

Bid farewell to your guide today and transfer with the rest of your group to the airport and fly to the capital city of the Maldives, Malé. On arrival you will be met and escorted to your boat transfer to your hotel. The next few days will be at leisure with no escorted touring involved.

In the Maldives, you’ll be immersed in a paradisical, sun-drenched world of turquoise lagoons, powder-soft white sands and the unhurried pace of island life. Your time here can be spent exactly as you wish – that may be moving with the sun from the pool to the beach to the bar, exploring the house reef with a snorkel, or taking part in some of the many activities that are available at your hotel. With its calm lagoon, the Sun Siyam Olhuveli has plenty of watersports options, or you can indulge in a treatment at the spa. As the daylight fades, grab your favourite drink and find yourself the perfect spot to watch the sun dip gently into the ocean before dining at one of the hotel’s range of restaurants.

After breakfast, travel by boat back to Male’ and transfer to the airport for your flight, arriving home the same day.