The Ceylon Heritage Trail — Destinova Journeys Private Collection

Your Journey

An Extraordinary Passage

Through the Soul of Sri Lanka

From the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya and the sacred ruins of Polonnaruwa, through the emerald heights of Hatton's colonial tea estates, into the untamed wilderness of Yala, and finally to the secluded shores of Tangalle — The Ceylon Heritage Trail is Sri Lanka distilled to its most extraordinary. Ten days of helicopter transfers, private safaris, plantation immersions, and barefoot coastal luxury, each chapter woven together by Destinova Journeys so that nothing stands between you and the experience of a lifetime.

01

Sigiriya

Jetwing Vil Uyana · 3 Nights

Ancient ruins, village life & forest encounters
02

Hatton · Hill Country

Ceylon Tea Trails · 2 Nights

Colonial bungalows & Ceylon's finest teas
03

Yala

Uga Chena Huts · 2 Nights

Leopards, elephants & wilderness safaris
04

Tangalle · Southern Coast

Amanwella · 2 Nights

Private coastline & barefoot Aman luxury

Day 01 Sigiriya · Arrival

Arrival — A Spectacular Entry by Air

Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, you are warmly welcomed by a representative of Destinova Journeys and escorted directly to the helicopter terminal for a spectacular aerial transfer to Sigiriya (approx. 50 minutes). From above, the island's extraordinary tapestry unfolds — the glittering coastline gives way to paddy fields, jungle canopy, and the ancient cultural triangle stretching below.

Touch down at the private helipad of Jetwing Vil Uyana, where your personal chauffeur and the property team await. Settle into your Forest Dwelling — an elegant sanctuary set within 14 acres of reconstructed wetland wilderness, where nature has been coaxed back to extraordinary abundance. The rest of the evening is yours to unwind, absorb the remarkable surroundings, and ease gently into the island's unhurried rhythm.

Highlights

◆Private helicopter — Colombo to Sigiriya

◆Jetwing Vil Uyana — Forest Dwelling

◆14 acres of reconstructed wetland wilderness

◆Warm Destinova welcome & orientation

OvernightJetwing Vil Uyana

RoomForest Dwelling

BoardBed & Breakfast

Days 02 — 03 Sigiriya · Ancient Kingdom

Village Life, Wilderness & Lost Kingdoms

Day 2 is a deep immersion in authentic rural life. Walk through a traditional Sri Lankan village and observe age-old farming techniques — fields protected from elephants by ingenious methods, farmers spending nights in elevated treehouses under the stars. Glide across a serene lake by canoe before indulging in a home-cooked Sri Lankan lunch prepared over a traditional wood-fire kitchen. In the evening, venture into the surrounding wilderness for a curated nocturnal experience: a rare loris watching tour and guided walk through the forest as it comes alive after dark.

On Day 3, journey to Polonnaruwa — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka's most remarkably preserved medieval capitals. Discover the towering Gal Vihara rock sculptures, the vast Parakrama Samudra reservoir, and a complex of palaces, temples, and monasteries that speak of a civilisation at the very height of its power. Your expert guide brings the ancient stones to life with stories of kings, conquests, and centuries of devotion.

Highlights

◆Traditional village walk & canoe on the lake

◆Home-cooked village lunch experience

◆Rare loris watching & nocturnal forest walk

◆Polonnaruwa — UNESCO World Heritage guided tour

◆Ancient stone sculptures & royal water gardens

OvernightJetwing Vil Uyana

RoomForest Dwelling

BoardBed & Breakfast

Days 04 — 05 Hatton · Hill Country

Tea, Mist & the Art of the Highland Life

On Day 4, a breathtaking helicopter journey to Hatton (approx. 50 minutes) reveals one of Sri Lanka's most dramatic landscape transitions — from the warm, ancient plains of the cultural triangle to the cool, mist-veiled emerald highlands of tea country. Your chauffeured transfer brings you to the legendary Ceylon Tea Trails, where a private colonial-era bungalow nestled amidst rolling plantations becomes your home for the next two nights. The all-inclusive experience — fine wines, curated dining, and the bungalow's entire team entirely at your disposal — is the very definition of unhurried privilege.

Day 5 is dedicated to the living heritage of Ceylon tea. Visit a working plantation and factory to trace the extraordinary journey from freshly plucked leaf to the perfectly brewed cup — meeting the tea pluckers, learning to distinguish grades, and gaining an intimate appreciation of the craft that made Ceylon tea synonymous with quality the world over. The afternoon belongs entirely to you: a stroll along the reservoir, high tea on the lawn, or simply watching the light fade over the hills from your veranda.

Highlights

◆Helicopter over emerald highland scenery

◆Ceylon Tea Trails — full all-inclusive bungalow

◆Working plantation & factory tour

◆High tea with panoramic mountain views

◆Colonial-era bungalow — private & exclusive

OvernightCeylon Tea Trails

RoomLuxury Bungalow

BoardAll Inclusive

Days 06 — 07 Yala · Southern Wilderness

Into the Wild — The Kingdom of the Leopard

Bid farewell to the highlands and take a scenic helicopter journey south to Yala, where the landscape transitions dramatically from cool, mist-wrapped tea country to the raw, sun-drenched wilderness of Sri Lanka's most celebrated national park. Check into the extraordinary Uga Chena Huts — an intimate collection of private cabins, each with its own plunge pool, set within the very edge of the park. The afternoon brings your first game drive through Yala's varied ecosystems, home to the world's highest density of leopards as well as elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and a dazzling array of birdlife.

Day 7 begins before dawn. Rise for a sunrise game drive through Yala's most active hours — when the park's extraordinary cast of characters moves freely across the landscape in the cool morning light. Return to Chena Huts for a leisurely breakfast and the rest of the day at pure leisure: linger by your private pool, observe the extraordinary bird life from your cabin deck, or simply absorb the rare sense of wilderness that surrounds you on every side.

Highlights

◆Helicopter arrival into Yala wilderness

◆Uga Chena Huts — cabin with private pool

◆Afternoon & dawn game drives

◆World's highest density of leopards

◆Elephants, sloth bears & birdlife

OvernightUga Chena Huts

RoomCabin with Private Pool

BoardAll Inclusive

Days 08 — 09 Tangalle · Southern Coast

Tangalle — The Quiet Art of Doing Nothing

After breakfast, a scenic coastal drive along Sri Lanka's southern shore brings you to the exquisite Amanwella — a sanctuary of absolute privacy perched above one of the island's most beautiful and unspoilt stretches of coastline. Your Ocean Hill Pool Suite commands sweeping views of the Indian Ocean, and the signature Aman sense of calm — that rare quality that transforms a beach into something closer to a state of mind — envelops you from the moment of arrival.

Two days here belong entirely to you. Unwind on Tangalle's pristine golden sands, far from the tourist trail. Surrender to the soothing rhythm of the ocean. Indulge in spa rituals designed to restore and replenish, snorkel in crystalline waters, or simply do nothing at all — with the particular confidence that nothing here could be more perfectly done. It is the ideal counterpoint to all that came before: a finale of pure, luminous stillness.

Highlights

◆Amanwella — Ocean Hill Pool Suite

◆Pristine, unspoilt southern coastline

◆Aman spa & beachside indulgence

◆Two nights of coastal seclusion & calm

OvernightAmanwella

RoomOcean Hill Pool Suite

BoardBed & Breakfast

Day 10 Departure

Farewell — Until We Meet Again

Your final morning in Sri Lanka. After a leisurely breakfast with the ocean before you, a private helicopter transfer (approx. 40 minutes) carries you northward along the coast to the airport — offering one last aerial perspective of this extraordinary island: the golden southern shoreline, the dark green wilderness of the interior, the mist-veiled highlands, all of it yours, one final time.

"The Ceylon Heritage Trail does not end here — it simply waits, unhurried, for your return."

Highlights

◆Leisurely final breakfast by the Indian Ocean

◆Private helicopter departure transfer

◆Final aerial views of Sri Lanka's coastline

◆Seamless onward journey coordination

Every Journey Is Yours Alone

No fixed itineraries. No group tours. We design your perfect journey and provide a tailored quote based on your dates, preferences, and party size.

Enquire Now

Sriyantha@destinovajourneys.com destinovajourneys.com