Footsteps In Paradise (17 Days)

Visit historic monuments such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple and the National Museum.

Enjoy the malls around Independence Square or the Race Course, along with boutique shops and designer stores.

Yapahuwa served as the seat of government in the 13th century and once housed the Temple of the Tooth Relic. View the entrance arch and ornamental stairway, and walk through the temple ruins at the summit and along the terraces, with sculptures scattered throughout the fortress.

These caves date back to the 1st century BC and hold ancient murals depicting the life of Lord Gautama Buddha, along with hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities across five main caves, including the Cave of the Divine King, the Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. A giant golden Buddha statue stands a short distance outside the cave complex.

This 5th-century AD fortress was ruled by King Kasyapa. Walk through the entrance framed by a lion's paws, view the unfading murals, climb the staircase to the terraced gardens and working cisterns, and pass through the tunnels leading to the palace.

Polonnaruwa was the centre of royal rule over Sri Lanka's central plains some 800 years ago, a thriving commercial and religious hub whose temples and archaeological remains still convey the look of the city in its heyday.

This three-hour safari passes through the park's scrublands and forests, home to elephants, other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians; in the dry season between May and October it is known for the Great Elephant Gathering, when over 150 elephants congregate in one place.

Formed in the early 19th century, these gardens hold over 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices and medicinal plants. Features include the cannonball tree, a suspension bridge, hedge mazes and large, climbable trees.

Kandy was Sri Lanka's capital until the British took control in 1815 and is the island's cultural centre, now a city of Edwardian buildings, a king-made lake and a nature reserve, set among forested hills near the Royal Botanical Gardens. The tour includes stops at local markets and architectural landmarks.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 16th century to house and protect Lord Buddha's sacred tooth. Walk through passageways and halls painted in red, cream and black, past carved pillars and golden statues.

This hour-long show presents some of Sri Lanka's traditional art forms, including fire dancers, sword dancers and Kandyan dancers performing to drumming.

The drive takes in the park as it comes alive with sunlight, birdcalls and insects, with stops to take in the surroundings quietly. An expert naturalist points out wildlife including grey langurs, deer, birds, small mammals, elephants, reptiles and possibly leopard.

Set at 6,200 feet above sea level in the heart of tea country, Nuwara Eliya was built by the British in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne, with lawns, hedges, an Anglican church, a golf course and parks giving it a cool, nostalgic air.

Pass through bright green tea fields and rocky stretches for views towards Little Adam's Peak.

Walk over the Nine Arches Bridge and hear the story of its construction.

End the walk at Demodara Railway Station, known for its unique loop-over track design.

This three-hour safari crosses the marshes, forests and grasslands of a park created as a wildlife sanctuary in the 1970s, known for its water birds and Sri Lankan elephants, with further sightings of other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies possible.

Explore the fort on foot among Dutch-colonial buildings, old mosques, churches, mansions and museums, with restaurants and coffee shops to stop at along the way.

The beachside area offers a place to relax by the sea breeze and the ocean.

This two-hour ride passes through mangrove channels, with sightings of basking crocodiles and water monitors, a stop at an island where cinnamon is harvested, a fish massage, and views of water birds.