Sri Lanka Discovery

from USD 1095 for 15 days

Sri Lanka has just about everything the traveller could want - superb ancient sites, magnificent scenery, a delicious cuisine, incredibly friendly and welcoming locals and lovely white palm fringed beaches. We explore all of this and more on this comprehensive tour of Sri Lanka, the ‘pearl of the Indian Ocean’.

Brief Description Show detailed

Day 1 - Colombo/Negombo

COLOMBO / NEGOMBO: Arrive and transfer to our hotel in the beach resort of Negombo. Approx. 45 mins driving from the airport to Negombo.

Day 2 - Negombo - Anuradhapura

NEGOMBO - ANURADHAPURA: Visit the ancient city of Panduwasnuwara and the fascinating ancient rock fortress of Yapahuwa. Continue to Anuradhapura where we spend the night. (B) Approx. 6 hours driving in total

Day 3 - Anuradhapura

ANURADHAPURA: Cycle tour of the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the cradle of Sinhala civilisation. The route is flat and easy with many shaded areas to rest and exquisite temples to visit. In the afternoon we visit Mihintale with its superb views across the plains. (B) Approx. 20 mins driving from Anuradhapura - Mihintale

Day 4 - Anuradhapura - Polonnaruwa - Kaudulla

ANURADHAPURA - POLONNARUWA - KAUDULLA: Continue to Polonnaruwa. We spend the afternoon searching for wild elephants in Kaudulla or Minneriya National Parks. (B)

Day 5 - Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya - Dambulla

POLONNARUWA - SIGIRIYA: Explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, with its immense Buddhas carved from the rock. Later continue to Sigiriya, an extraordinary citadel built on top of an immense rock. We climb to the top to visit the fortress and view the superb frescoes painted on the walls. The views are stunning. Continue to Dambulla where we spend the night. (B) Approx. 1.5 hours driving

Day 6 - Dambulla - Kandy

DAMBULLA - KANDY: Morning visit to the magnificent Buddhist caves of Dambulla. We then drive to the old capital of Kandy in the Central Highlands, stopping en route at a spice garden. In the late afternoon we watch a performance of traditional Kandyan dancing which may include dancers in a trance walking on hot coals, and visit the Temple of the Tooth to experience a pooja (worship) ceremony. (B) Approx. 3 hours driving

Day 7 - Kandy

KANDY: Morning city tour of Kandy. Free afternoon with the chance to visit the botanical gardens. (B)

Day 8 - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya

KANDY - NUWARA ELIYA: Travel through the Ramboda Pass surrounded by green hills covered with tea. We reach Nuwara Eliya, an old British hill-station where the afternoon is free for you to explore; perhaps hike to Lover’s Leap on the edge of town or take afternoon tea in the colonial Hill Club. (B) Approx. 6 hours bus, transfer to hotel 1 hr drive

Day 9 - Nuwara Eliya - Woprld's End - Belihuloya

NUWARA ELIYA - WORLD’S END - BELIHULOYA: We hike along the hilly slopes through montane forests and tea plantations to World’s End. Here the ground drops beneath your feet and there are stunning views out across the plains below you. We end our day in Belihuloya. (B) Approx. 2 hours driving and 4 hours hiking covering a distance of 9km.

Day 10 - Belihuloya

BELIHULOYA: Continue hiking through lovely scenery of tea plantations, paddy fields and villages to the Bambarakanda Falls - the highest in Sri Lanka. There is the chance to take a dip in the pool at the bottom before continuing to a small village where we enjoy lunch with a local family. (BL)

Day 11 - Belihuloya - Tanamalwila

BELIHULOYA - TANAMALWILA: We visit the Elephant Transit Home, a successful exercise to introduce orphaned baby elephants back into their natural habitats. We spend the night camping. (B)

Note: The brochure mentions a visit to Diyaluma Waterfalls. However we do not stop here. This is to enable us to reach the elephant park in time for feeding.

Day 12 - Tanamalwila - Bentota

TANAMALWILA - BENTOTA: We visit the World Heritage site of the Galle Dutch Fortress before transferring to Bentota, a beach resort on Sri Lanka’s beautiful south-west coast. We spend two nights in a small hotel situated in a peaceful position on a quiet lagoon which stretches into the sea. (B)

Note: The brochure mentions a visit to the Kataragama Shine. However we do not stop here, preferring more time in Galle and a shorter drive overall.

Day 13 - Bentota

BENTOTA: An exciting morning spent cycling through local villages and various vegetation including coconut, rubber and cinnamon. This afternoon there is the opportunity to enjoy river canoeing. (B)

Note: The cycling is approximately 20 miles but it is possible to stop earlier if you are feeling tired.

Day 14 -

BENTOTA - NEGOMBO: Free morning to relax on the beach. In the afternoon we transfer back to Negombo. (B) Approx. 3 hours driving

Day 15 - Negombo / Colombo

NEGOMBO / COLOMBO: Tour ends after breakfast. (B)

Itinerary Notes

NEGOMBO: Is close to the International Airport.

PERAHERA FESTIVAL: A supplement will apply during the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival. This occurs every year in July or August but the exact dates are not fixed until nearer the time. Please contact us for information on the departures which might be affected and those dates where a festive season supplement is compulsory in December and January. Please check with us at the time of booking.