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www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Traditional windmill, GraciosaDay 1 London to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Fly by scheduled flight. Day 2 Colombo. Arrive this morning and transfer to the Galle Face Hotel for an overnight stay. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (D) Day 3 Colombo to Sigiriya. Following breakfast enjoy a panoramic tour of Colombo, the largest city in Sri Lanka and known in the past as the gateway to the Orient. The tour will showcase some of Colombo%u2019s most famous landmarks and buildings. Afterwards we make our way towards Sigiriya with a light lunch en route arriving in the late afternoon. Check in to our hotel, the tranquil Water Garden Sigiriya, for a four night stay. Settle in this evening and enjoy dinner at the hotel. (B, L, D) Day 4 Polonnaruwa. After breakfast we visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. This 5th century ancient city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and is considered to be one of the best planned archaeological sites in the country. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by high man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, built during King Parakramabahu%u2019s reign in 1164-1196 AD. The monuments in the ancient city are relatively well preserved and highlights are the Royal Palace complex, including the King%u2019s Palace and Audience Hall, and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha cut from a single slab of granite, a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. Return to Sigiriya for an afternoon at leisure and enjoy dinner in the hotel this evening. (B, D)Buddha statue at PolonnaruwaMarco Polo described Sri Lanka as the finest island of its size in the world when he arrived there in 1265, while successive waves of Indian, Arab and European traders were seduced by reports of rare spices, precious stones and magnificent elephants. Although tiny in size compared to its neighbour India, Sri Lanka has a wealth of both ancient and natural sites which we will explore during this escorted tour including no less than five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Galle, Kandy, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, and Dambulla. Over the course of two weeks we will take an in-depth look at this remarkable country with its diverse landscape of beautiful beaches, lush tea plantations, rolling hills and forests which are scattered with intricately carved stone monuments. During our exploration we will learn about the country%u2019s cultural, colonial and religious history and visit some of its holiest temples and most scenic regions, most notably the verdant rolling hills of Hatton. Sri Lanka is also a paradise for wildlife lovers and we have included game viewing in Yala National Park, which offers the greatest diversity of animal and birdlife in the country and, further south, the lesser-visited coastal wetland area of Bundala National Park with its flocks of flamingos and rich birdlife. In addition to the guided tours there will be some time at leisure to explore independently and our final days will be spent in the small coastal town of Koggala from where we will visit Galle, a wonderfully atmospheric city. For our tour we have selected six very special hotels in some beautiful locations including the iconic Galle Face Hotel in the heart of Colombo, the charming Water Garden Hotel with the Sigiriya Rock as a backdrop, the Argyle nestled among emerald green tea plantations in Hatton and the luxurious Chena Huts close to the Yala National Park, ending with two nights at a luxury boutique beach resort on Sri Lanka%u2019s serene south coast, The Fortress Resort & Spa.SRI LANKAColomboGalleYalaYala National ParkKandyHattonMataleHabaranaPolonnaruwaSigiriya HiriwadunnaDambullaThe Itinerary