Arrive in Negombo, the famous coastal town famous for its fishing industry and golden sands. This relaxing beach resort is a short distance from Sri Lanka's capital city and is the perfect place to spot locals bringing in the day's catch and watch the sunset.

For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to explore Negombo at any time.

If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).l. If your flight arrives earlier in the day there is the option to head to the beach or make use of the hotel facilities which feature a swimming pool and gardens overlooking the Indian Ocean.

After breakfast, leaving Negombo travel north following the coastal road via the small towns of Chilaw and Puttalam before reaching the entrance to Wilpattu National Park. Here you will leave by bus and change to jeeps for an afternoon safari through the park hoping to spot Sri Lanka's most elusive resident, the leopard.

Despite Wilpattu National Park's location in Sri Lanka's dry zone, it boasts nearly 60 lakes and is renowned for leopard, elephant, and sambar deer spottings. Visit this park, rather than Yala National Park further south for a better experience. The same animals can be seen here as in Yala and despite being busy in places it is overall less crowded, making a visit more enjoyable and responsible. Leaving the park, take a drive to nearby Anuradhapura for an overnight.

Begin this morning with a visit to the mountain peak of Mihintale. It is believed that this was the site of a momentous meeting between the monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa, introducing Buddhism to the country. Exploring Mihintale involves climbing a flight of 1,840 shallow stone steps leading to the summit of the Missaka Mountain. There are excellent views from the top looking back to Anuradhapura.

After the exertions board a bus and drive to Trincomalee on the east coast of the island. We visit the Koneswaram Temple. After exploring the temple, make your way to the beach and the rest of the day is free to relax.

Today is left free for you to relax on the beaches of Trincomalee. The waters on the east coast are particularly calm and shallow, in some areas you can walk almost 100 metres in to the sea with the water only being waist height. Alternatively, you could take a short tuk tuk ride in to the town and explore the fort area, and then captured by the Dutch less than twenty years later.

Today, leave the coast and head inland and swap a bus for a bullock cart and make your way slowly through a small village on the outskirts of Habarana. Reaching the lake cross the short distance across the lake to Hiriwaduna Village and meet the villagers and treated to a traditional Sri Lankan lunch.

On the way to visit Dambulla, where a great series of caves have been turned into temples dating from the 1st century BC. This World Heritage Site still attracts scores of worshiper. Visit five separate caves, which contain a large number of Buddha images and sculptures of Hindu Gods.