8 days tour

Sri Lankan Highlights

$ 1,875 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $1,875.00

Sri Lankan Highlights

This tour includes:

Guide

Our Sri Lankan team of leaders has proved very popular with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience Sri Lankan culture than letting a local leader show you around their country.

Meals

All breakfasts and three lunches are included. We suggest allowing about 7,000 rupees (US$20) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in Sri Lanka, but if you mainly eat at the more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s heritage; a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the Dutch, Portuguese and English. Despite (or perhaps because of) these influences, Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to as simply rice and curry. This is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as various pickles, sambols (condiments), and a handful of tiny poppadum – all using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and garlic. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent in Sri Lanka. For example, wheat- or dairy-free options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this – you may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food. Mineral water is provided by our local operator in large containers throughout the trip so please bring a bottle with you to refill. Please note, restaurant service can be quite slow.

Transport

We use an air-conditioned minibus or coach depending on the size of the group.

Accommodation

Hotels on this trip are generally of a good standard, all with swimming pools and with good facilities. Our property in Sigiriya is of a particularly high standard with a lovely pool, looking over the famous Lion Rock. Single accommodation is available on request. Please note, paying the single supplement may not mean you receive a double or twin room for sole use. The room you are allocated may differ from hotel to hotel, and on some nights a smaller room for ‘one person’ may well be allocated.

Not included:

Others

— Travel Insurance — Single accommodation (available on request) — Visas or vaccinations

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Sri Lankan Highlights

  • Day 1 Day 1: Start Wattala
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Start Wattala

      The adventure begins in coastal Wattala, a suburb of the capital Colombo. The rest of the day is free to relax at the hotel and settle into the trip. Accommodation: Pegasus Reef Hotel (or similar)

  • Day 2 Day 2: Game Drive Near Giritale To See Elephants In Their Natural Habitat (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Game Drive Near Giritale To See Elephants In Their Natural Habitat (Breakfast)

      Today we travel to Giritale, where we visit one of three parks (Kaudulla or Minneriya national parks or Hurulu Eco Park) and take to 4x4s to explore and observe elephants in their natural habitat. We then continue to Giritale, where we stay overnight. Our hotel overlooks the Giritale Tank – the early inhabitants of the island solved the dual problem of heat and lack of water by constructing large tanks to act as reservoirs and to cool the air. Nowadays, these provide an important habitat for birdlife, particularly between April and August. Accommodation: Giritale Hotel (or similar)

  • Day 3 Day 3: Cycle Trip To Dambalawewa Lake With A Village Lunch (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Cycle Trip To Dambalawewa Lake With A Village Lunch (Breakfast,Lunch)

      Today we cycle at a leisurely pace through a series of small villages to Dambalawewa Lake. We should see plenty of birdlife including egrets, brahminy kites, kingfishers and bulbuls. We stop for lunch in a traditional village, which breaks up the journey. In the late afternoon, we return to our hotel in Giritale. If you do not wish to participate, you can hire a tuk tuk for approximately 4,400 rupees (US$13.50) and follow the group but not cycle. Accommodation: Giritale Hotel (or similar)

  • Day 4 Day 4: Visit The Ancient Capital City Of Polonnaruwa; To Sigiriya, Evening Visit To The Rock Fortress (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Visit The Ancient Capital City Of Polonnaruwa; To Sigiriya, Evening Visit To The Rock Fortress (Breakfast)

      After breakfast, we take a short drive to Polonnaruwa, the ancient capital of the Sinhalese. There are many Buddhist relics and ruins dating from a 1,000 years ago when Sinhalese culture reached its zenith. Polonnaruwa flourished in the 12th century after the decision was made to move the capital from Anuradhapura, further from the incursions from southern India. We visit many of the temples, palaces, huge dagobas and remarkable Buddhist sculptures. After lunch, we drive to Sigiriya (about an hour away). This impressive fifth-century rock fortress rises 590ft (180m) from the plains, overlooking the countryside with far-reaching views. The route to the top is up a series of steep steps and gangways. From the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens, we ascend 655ft (200m), passing an overhanging rock under which superb portraits of native maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the rock wall. Crowning the flat-topped summit are remains of the king’s summer palace, where there are breath-taking views of the countryside. The descent is much easier and you can cool off in the hotel pool at dusk. Accommodation: Hotel Sigiriya (or similar)

  • Day 5 Day 5: To Kandy Via The Dambulla Cave Temples; Visit Temple Of The Tooth (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: To Kandy Via The Dambulla Cave Temples; Visit Temple Of The Tooth (Breakfast)

      Today we head into the hills to the picturesque town of Kandy. On the way, we stop at Dambulla, famous for its cave temple, one of the most impressive sights in Sri Lanka. There are colourful, well-preserved paintings and statues of the Buddha inside, some of which date back to the first century BCE. Kandy itself is on a small lake and we spend time in and around the town. We also visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka: the Tooth of Buddha, which was taken from the funeral pyre in 543 BCE and found its way to Sri Lanka in the fourth century CE. There are hundreds of worshippers who visit the temple each day and in July/August the most spectacular ceremony takes place. Some of our trips in July/August should coincide with the Kandy Festival, but the exact dates, decided by priests (depending on the auspicious time), are not known until five months prior to the event. We drive to a beautiful viewpoint for a great view of Kandy and its environs that are overlooked by a huge Buddha and visit a gem museum where you can see the products of the traditional methods of gem extraction. In the evening, we may have the chance to attend a performance of the athletic Kandyan Dancing and fire walking. Accommodation: Hotel Topaz (or similar)

  • Day 6 Day 6: Drive Through Misty Tea Country Hills To Nuwara Eliya (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Drive Through Misty Tea Country Hills To Nuwara Eliya (Breakfast,Lunch)

      This morning, we drive approximately 2hr 30min to central Sri Lanka and the picturesque tea country hills for a day trip. Our destination is Nuwara Eliya or Little England, which was a favoured cool escape for the British. At 6,128ft (1,868m) above sea level, this town is in the area of Sri Lanka most famous for tea production. En route, we visit a tea plantation arriving in Nuwara Eliya in time for lunch. There is time to explore the town with its Colonial era bungalows and Tudor-style hotels. The area is very picturesque with lush green hillsides and small waterfalls. We return to Kandy in the evening. Accommodation: Hotel Topaz (or similar)

  • Day 7 Day 7: Dehiwala To Colombo Via Bandaragama Agro Village (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Dehiwala To Colombo Via Bandaragama Agro Village (Breakfast,Lunch)

      After breakfast, we depart for Bandaragama, where we take a tuk tuk ride through the agro village. This is a chance to step inside village life and learn about the agricultural practices here. We have lunch cooked by a local family, who also introduces us to village life and shows us how they make coconut oil and cinnamon rolls. There is also a short tour of their farm, where we can see their impressive collection of 70 varieties of banana trees, pineapple and rubber plantations. In the afternoon, we drive to our hotel in Colombo. Accommodation: Cinnamon Red Hotel (or similar)

  • Day 8 Day 8: End In Colombo (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: End In Colombo (Breakfast)

      The trip comes to an end after breakfast. It’s been a culture-packed adventure, so if you’re craving a little R&R, speak to your sales representative about booking an extension to your hotel stay.

+5
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but you’re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

You’ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if you’re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 16 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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