Elephant Paradise Family Holiday - 16 days from £1299
The teardrop shaped island in the Indian Ocean is a truly magical place. The legacy of its position on the sea route to the East is evident for all to see; from the Moslem fishing villages which saw the passing of early Arab traders, to the several common surnames which tell of Portuguese occupation and the neat hill villages left by the British. This cultural crossroads has much more besides - all crammed into an area less than one third the size of Britain. There are ruined cities and rock-top forts to explore, strangely colourful birds, encounters with elephants and other wildlife and some of the world’s best beaches. Sri Lanka has something for everyone and never fails to enchant visitors.
- Family Holiday to Sri Lanka
- Buddhist temples & golden beaches
- Off-road & on-foot wildlife safaris
- Uda Walawe elephant orphanage
| Departure Date | Return Date | Flight inclusive price* | |
| Adult | Child | ||
| March 28, 2009 | April 12, 2009 | £1299 | £899 |
*Direct flights with Sri Lankan Airlines from London Heathrow. Selected departures may touch down in Male. Flight schedules and preferred airlines can change.
To book any of these late availablity tours please call Imaginative Traveller on 0845 077 8802 or +44 (0)1473 667337
Alternatively you can email online@imtrav.net
| Itinerary |
Day 1: Depart London
Depart London on overnight flight to Bandaranaike international airport outside of Colombo.
Day 2: Habarana
After your flight, you’ll transfer to Habarana in the hub of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. The three hour drive takes you through small villages interspersed with paddy fields, coconut and rubber plantations and forests. You will stay in the Chaaya Village, Habarana. Hotel - 3 nights (Swimming pool) (B)
NB: You will be met on arrival by your Group Leader/chauffeur guide. Although most Sri Lankan Airlines' flights arrive in the early afternoon, schedules sometimes dictate arrival in the very early hours. A hotel room and breakfast will be provided in these instances.
Day 3: Habarana
Driving the short distance from Habarana this morning, you’ll have the opportunity to climb to the summit of Sigiriya’s famous Lion Rock using a series of steps and walkways which zig-zag their way up the seemingly impenetrable rock cliffs. The site was occupied long before the citadel was built at the end of the 5th century, and it later became a monastery before falling into disrepair. From the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens, you’ll ascend 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 of the rock are the extensive remains of King Kasyapa’s summer palace from where there are breathtaking views.
This afternoon, you mount elephants for an exciting elephant-back safari! Sitting in a howdah – an open basket fitted with safety rails and padded cushions - you roll gently from side to side as your elephants ramble lazily through the bush. In the late afternoon you will return to your accommodation in the Chaaya Village, Habarana (B)
Day 4: Habarana
Today is left free for you to relax or explore at will. Bird lovers will appreciate the hotel’s bird trail, along which 130 species have been recorded; or why not take an optional cycle around the lake? Accomodation will be in the Chaaya Village, Habarana (B)
Day 5: Polonnaruwa
Very early this morning you make the one hour drive (complete with packed breakfast) to Parakrama Lake. You will drive via Minneriya National Park arriving at dawn, a very mystical way to start the day as the plains are covered in mist! Parakrama Lake is known as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest man-made lakes and you can watch the changing hues as the light comes up. It’s a fun, friendly experience as you wait alongside the wives and young children of fisherman, who’ve gone out to retrieve their fishing nets laid out the night before - a great way to get to know the locals!
After the fishermen have sorted their catch, it’s time to head out on a catamaran across the lake; a real adventure! You may even be able to spot white bellied fish eagles, brahmini kites, ibis, cormorants and other native birds as you travel. In the middle of the lake is a small island, a rocky outcrop that provides great 360° views of the lake and forests beyond.
NB – On holidays operating between June and September, you will not be able to ride on the catamaran because of lower water levels. The birdlife in the area is also less attractive as many of the species have migrated.
Bidding the fishermen and their families’ farewell, you continue to Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa was the capital from the 10th – 12th centuries, following the decline of Anuradhapura. Here you can explore many monuments which pay great testimony to the city’s important role in Sri Lanka’s history, such as the Royal Palace complex and the Gal Vihare complex, with four impressive Buddha images cut from a single slab of granite. In the late afternoon you will transfer to your accommodation in Polonnaruwa. Hotel - 1 night (Swimming pool) (B)
Day 6: Dambulla/Kandy
This morning you visit Dambulla, 30 minutes or so away, to learn its fascinating history. The Sinhalese King, Valagam Bahu, took refuge here when he was ousted from his capital. He transformed the five caves of this granite outcrop into a rock temple, decorated by statues of Buddha and frescoes, some of which are over 2000 years old. The steep 150m ascent to the top of the rock rewards you with more magnificent views. You then travel southward along the main trunk road to Sri Lanka’s second city, Kandy, a journey of around two hours. You'll pass through a fertile spice-growing area and plantations where coffee, cacao and rubber are cultivated.
This evening you’ll visit the Dalada Maligawa, the famous Temple of the Tooth. This is the major shrine where pilgrims have revered Buddha’s tooth since the 16th century; its gilded roof seems to act as a beacon to visitors throughout the day and into the evening. Your accommodation for the next three nights will be in Kandy. Hotel - 3 nights (Swimming pool) (B)
Day 7/8: Kandy
The royal city of Kandy is pleasantly set on the edge of a lake surrounded by hills. It was once the capital of a kingdom, and managed to resist European dominance for hundreds of years - long after the coastal areas surrendered.
During your time in Kandy you will visit the magnificent Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, with their immense fig tree and exquisite orchid collection. You will also take in the sights of Kandy including a visit to the bazaar area and a visit to the citadel in time for sunset over the lake.
The rest of your time here is free to explore. You may wish to take a nature walk at Udawattakele Sanctuary, close to Kandy, which offers the chance to see flowers, birds and monkeys amid 160 acres of tropical rainforest. Kandy is perfect for those who enjoy walking - the town has many hidden corners to explore and views from walks around the lake are spectacular. You will return to your hotel in Kandy for accommodation. (Bx2)
Day 9: Kitulgala
Leaving Kandy you take a bus journey through the green ranks of tea bushes which cover the higher hillsides on your way to Kitulgala. Your journey takes around two and a half hours and you travel accompanied by exceptional all-round scenic views of the tea plantations as you head further into the hill country. You continue your drive through this beautiful landscape, descending to Kitulgala, to arrive around lunchtime.
Located amidst thick forest on Sri Lanka’s second-longest river, the Kelani, Kitulgala is rapidly becoming something of an adventure centre and is a great place for a variety of activities. The river, setting for the epic film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ is an ideal location for rafting, swimming and other water-based activities. The surrounding forests with their wide variety of flora and fauna offer you a variety of spectacular walks, with some stunning views over the valley. This afternoon you will enjoy a dugout canoe ride across the Kelani River and a jungle walk in the forest reserve, where you may be able to spot various endemic bird species. Tonight you will stay in rustic accommodation in Kitulgala. Resthouse - 1 night (B)
Day 10: Bandarawela
After a free morning, with the chance to enjoy white water rafting on the Kelani River (optional) you set off through the hills once again, this time bound for Bandarawela. Along the way you’ll see tea pickers deftly plucking the tips of the plants and throwing them into the baskets carried on their backs. It’s approximately a three hour drive to reach a tea estate just outside the old British hill station of Nuwara Eliya. At the estate you’ll visit the tea factory and see every step of the tea making process - from bush to cup! You continue your journey to reach Bandarawela, another hill town once popular with British plantation managers. Today the twisting roads of the hill country make for one of the trip’s longest road journeys (5 – 5½ hours drive). There’s plenty of interest along the way however, including a stop at some waterfalls, and the added benefit of a shorter journey tomorrow. You can relax in the evening with an overnight’s stay in Bandarawela. Hotel - 1 night (B)
Day 11: Embilipitiya
After a short walk around Bandarawela and the vegetable gardens that surround it, you set off on your way down out of the mountains, making a short stop along the way at Ella. You have a spectacular view through the Ella Gap where on a clear day it is said you can see as far as the coast. Just below this you see the Rawana Ella Falls, where the water leaps down the mountainside making it Sri Lanka’s wildest-looking waterfall. You continue your journey south until you arrive at Embilipitiya by early afternoon, your base for exploring Uda Walawe National Park and the surrounding area. The hotel is wonderfully set on Lake Chandrika.
This afternoon you venture into Uda Walawe National Park, setting off on a jeep safari. The 308km⊃; park has an amazing array of animal and birdlife; herds of wild elephant are more numerous here than anywhere else in Sri Lanka. If you are really lucky you may also catch glimpses of macaque and larger monkeys, leopard, spotted deer and crocodile. This is a real safari experience; kids will love the thrill of coming across a herd of wild elephants; it’s nothing like a zoo or safari park! Stay on the lake overnight. Hotel - 1 night (Swimming pool) (B)
Day 12: Jungle Safari & The Coast
This morning, after some free time to explore the area around the hotel & Chandrika Lake, you will visit the nearby Elephant Transit Home. Run by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation and set up in 1995, it provides shelter for 30 orphaned or abandoned baby elephants, releasing them to the wild when they are strong enough to survive in their natural habitat. You will visit the Elephant Transit Home at feeding time and see the elephants from a viewing deck approximately 10m away; a great chance to learn more about Sri Lanka’s national animal.
This afternoon you continue your journey south to reach the coast at Nonagama. Here you’ll take a short drive along the coast road west and soon arrive at the small fishing village of Tangalle. You can relax with the sunset overnight in Tangalle. Hotel - 3 nights (B)
Day 13/14: Tangalle Beach Stay
Sri Lanka is justifiably famous for its exquisite beaches, washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. At Tangalle you have plenty of time to unwind on the white sandy beach listening to the lapping of the waves after the previous day’s travelling. With a history stretching back through the Dutch colonial period, laid back Tangalle is the perfect place to relax. Your time is your own here and you can either relax on the palm-fringed beach, or explore further afield. You return to your beach resort for accommodation. (Bx2)
Please note that the seas along the south and west coast of Sri Lanka can be rough, with undertows. Whilst on the beach children should always be supervised by an adult.
Day 15: Negombo
After your time on the beach it's time to head north to Negombo. As you head out along the coast you reach the town of Galle. Here you can walk the walls of the famous Dutch fort or explore the maze of backstreets and market stalls. En route you can pay a visit to the turtle hatchery at Kosgoda. Turtles are kept here for the first few days of their lives before being released into the sea and the project does much to help safeguard the welfare of these endangered animals. You will continue your coastal drive allowing you the opportunity to absorb the outstanding views of the surrounding area. Before you return home your Group Leader will probably arrange a final ‘last supper’ where you can reflect on the kaleidoscope of wonderful things you have seen. The last night’s stay is in Negombo. Hotel – 1 night (Swimming pool) (B)
(Where the return flight to London is scheduled to depart in the late evening or very early morning, i.e. 02.00hrs, this will be a day/evening room only for clients who have booked a flight inclusive holiday)
Day 16: Fly to London
The trip ends for Land Only clients. Those on group flights to the UK transfer to airport and fly to London. (B)
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