Full Itinerary

  Day 1: UK Airport / Colombo, Sri Lanka

  Depart on a choice of overnight flights to Colombo. Direct flights are with Sri Lanka Airlines from Heathrow, otherwise there are a range of one stop options with such airlines as British Airways, Qatar and Emirates.

Day 2: Arrive Colombo - Transfer to Cultural Triangle

On arrival you’ll be met by your private guide and transferred straight out to the Cultural Triangle that will take approximately 4 hours. On arrival check-in to your choice of hotel for 2 nights. The rest of the day’s free to recover from the journey.

Day 3: Cultural Triangle (B) - Private Sigiriya Tour & Minneriya National Park Jeep Safari

This morning your private guide will collect you for a tour of the Lion Rock of Sigiriya, one of Sri Lanka’s seven UNESCO World Heritage sites and a must see in any visit to the Cultural Triangle as a testament to ancient artistry and architectural ingenuity. Built in the 5th century by King Kasyapa as a fortress and pleasure palace it dominates the surrounding landscape, rising 200 metres above the ground. The entrance to the original fortress was through the mouth of a lion, however the ravages of time mean that only a part of the massive paws remain today. The view from the flattened summit of the rock is spectacular and well worth the climb, but those without a head for heights can stroll around the ramparts and pleasure gardens, or take in the famous Sigiriya frescoes that can be found partway up the rock.

Return to your hotel in time for an early lunch and then re-join your guide for an afternoon jeep safari through Minneriya National Park which is 30 minutes away. Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, the 8,890 hectares of Minneriya National Park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to favourites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. The park’s main attraction is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in 3rd century AD by King Mahasena) and is often the best place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze, as well as huge flocks of birds (cormorants and painted storks to name but a few) that come to fish in the shallow waters. Back at the hotel early evening.

Day 4: Cultural Triangle (B) - Dambulla Cave Temple - Kandy Hills

After breakfast your guide will pick you up for the 2.5 hour transfer to the Ancient Capital of Kandy, stopping at the Dambulla Cave Temple en route. This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the 1st century BC and the cave system has been in continuous use for over 2000 years. First used as a refuge by an ancient king, who on regaining his throne commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further additions and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha, the largest of which is a colossal figure spanning 15 metres. Cave inscriptions from the 2nd Century BC are found and on the walls are many paintings most of which belong to the Kandy period (early 19th century). This temple is the perfect place in which to see the evolution of ancient Sri Lankan art and is an important historical site due to the amalgamation of material from many eras. From here continue on to the hills above Kandy for 3 nights at Simpson's Forest Hotel. 

Day 5: Kandy (B) - Private City Tour including Temple of the Tooth

Morning free then join your private guide for an afternoon’s tour of the ancient city that was the capital from 1592 until the rule of the British in the 19th Century. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, it's an extremely picturesque setting with steep, green valleys running away from it in all directions. This afternoon’s highlights will include the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens that’s modelled on Britain's Kew Gardens, the Temple of the Tooth Relic where Buddhists believe they have enshrined a tooth of the Lord Buddha and the 88 foot tall Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue that looms protectively over the city and offers panoramic views over Kandy. Soak up the views before returning to your hotel.

Day 6: Kandy (B) - Free Day to explore the forest and rolling tea / spice estate that surrounds the hotel

Kandy is nestled amongst the Knuckles and Hanthana hills and Simpson’s Forest will appeal to those who would like to mix visiting Kandy Town with time to explore the beautifully preserved forest and rolling tea and spice estate that surrounds the hotel. Guests have 60 acres of countryside to explore at leisure or with the in-house naturalist. Perfect for those who would like a little time to soak in Sri Lanka’s natural beauty. You may want to extend your stay as the hotel offers a range of guided walking & cultural tours, mountain bike hire and cooking courses; all designed to showcase a more natural side to Sri Lanka.

Day 7: Kandy (B / D) - White Water Rafting - Tea Plantations - Hatton Bungalows - Leave For Adams Peak

This morning head deeper into the hills and enjoy a change of pace as you board your raft at Kitulgala for a white water rafting adventure, 1.5 hours away. En route to the Hill Country this can be added to any itinerary boasting medium level (depending on time of year) white water rafting on the majestic Kelani River surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. As a nod to the film industry, its claim to fame is that it was used as the location for the film "Bridge on the River Kwai", although the bridge no longer exists. With a double monsoon, low water is rarely a problem and the best conditions are during the summer and November / December. For a more peaceful ride travel from January to April.

Lunch can be enjoyed (own expense) at the rafting centre and then it’s just a short drive (1-1.5 hours) to the Hatton, home to some of the most beautiful and iconic tea estates and atmospheric luxury accommodation options.

The landscape here has a softness to it, as the perfectly manicured tea bushes follow the folds of the gently undulating hills and the narrow roads forms ribbons that reveal one majestic vista after another, whether it be the tree studded estates, the tea pickers hard at work or lake views. No large hotels, instead you’re treated to a range of century old British tea estate managers’ bungalows that have been largely restored to their former glory. On arrival check-in to your choice of hotel for 2 nights. 

This evening you will be leaving the hotel just before midnight to make a night time ascent of Adam’s Peak, one of Sri Lanka’s highest mountains and famous for Buddha’s footprint near the summit. Its name derives from a claim that it is the place where Adam first set foot on earth, thus indirectly claiming that Sri Lanka is the original Garden of Eden. However the more popular name is ‘sripada’ or the sacred foot print, in the belief that Buddha’s foot print is found at the summit. Start at 2am the climb takes approx. 4 hours so it’s timed that you enjoy sunrise at the peak. The view is unmatched in Sri Lanka and you truly feel like you’re on top of the world.

Climbing Adam’s Peak requires a good degree of fitness but the path is well lit and steady, you won’t be scrabbling or climbing. Don’t imagine you will be in splendid isolation as this is very popular with Sri Lankans and visitors, with vendors selling all sorts of food and drinks along the route but it would be best for the clients to carry their own water on this climb. The climb is seasonal from December to May.

Day 8: Hatton Tea Country - Return from the walk and rest of the day's free (B / D)

Climb back down and transfer back to the bungalow for a late breakfast. The rest of the morning is free to grab and few hours shut eye before lunch. This afternoon we've left free so you can take advantage of the natural setting and perhaps enjoy the scenery over afternoon tea or if you have the energy take a stroll through the surrounding tea plantations following well established trails.

Day 9: Hatton (B) - Train To Nuwara Eliya - Tea Plantation & Factory Visit

Travelling by car in air-conditioned comfort has a lot going for it, but swapping this for the train allows you to immerse yourself more into Sri Lanka life and from Hatton to Nuwara riding the rails offers the best views of the tea estates, forests, waterfalls and village life. This morning your guide will take you to the station and then meet you at Nuwara Eliya station. The journey takes about 1.5 hours as you follow the beautiful curves and ridges of the hill country landscape. Arrive early afternoon and your guide will take you to your choice of hotel for 1 night. En route visit a tea plantation and a tea factory where you will be taken through the manufacturing process to learn how some of the best tea in the world is produced.

Day 10: Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains Morning Walk - Yala National Park (B / D)

Early breakfast this morning as today’s walk is best done early. Leave at 6am and drive 1 hour to Horton Plains, Sri Lanka's highest plateau, 7200 ft above sea level in the central mountains. Reminding many of a tropical version of Scotland, but as you’re high in hill country to us it’s temperate and extra layers will be needed early morning. Horton Plains offers access to great walking country ringed by mountains but largely fairly even with grass plains and marshlands dotted with the occasional waterfall. You’ll see distinctive flora (many English field flowers grow on the plains) colourful butterflies and rare highland birds.

The reason you’ve come here is primarily to walk to the World’s End, a stunning escarpment that plunges 880m. The reason you leave so early is that by 10am the warm rising air will have created an impenetrable wall of white cloud, but arrive early enough and you can marvel at an uninterrupted view of villages, towns and farms dotted in miniature in the valley below all the way to the south coast. This will give you a good idea how dramatic the drive will be to Yala.

The walk to World’s End is 4km. You then loop back to Baker’s Falls (2km) and continue back to the entrance (another 3.5km). All in all this should take about 4 hours with your private guide.

Back at the car it’s time to leave the hills behind for the 3 hour drive south to Yala. Lunch (own expense) on way down. The changes in scenery are stunning as you start up amongst the tea plantations and then head down through jagged hills along winding roads that dramatically drop away from you to reveal amazing views. Once at the bottom tea bushes are replaced by coconut and paddy fields as you’ve dropped back into the tropics. The day will give you a full sense of the variety Sri Lanka has to offer. On arrival check in to your choice of hotel for 2 nights on half board.

Day 11: Yala - Morning and Afternoon Private Game Drives (B / D)

The best time to view the animals and avoid the worst of the heat is early morning and late afternoon. Alternatively we can arrange for you to spend the whole day in the park with a long picnic lunch by the sea as the safari vehicles have to pull up for a few hours in the middle of the day.

On the game drives you are likely to see deer, crocodile, wild boar, monkey, mongoose and elephant in addition to an incredible variety of colourful birds and raptors. If you are really lucky you may also see a sloth bear and leopard, as Yala has the highest density of leopard in Asia. However with this popularity also comes the crowds and during the winter high season you should be ready for a high number of fellow tourists.

Yala is unique within Sri Lanka because of the range of habitats it offers from dense to scrub jungle, open savannah to semi-arid areas, rock pools, ravines and fresh water lakes strewn with prominent rocky outcrops, all bordered by a snaking coastline. Head back to your hotel late afternoon and if you stay in a resort or camp close to the park you may be able to continue on wildlife look out late into the evening!

Day 12: Yala (B) - Beach

This morning the touring section of your holiday ends as you’re transferred out to the beautiful coastline and 3 nights (or more) nights on your choice of beach on the south or west coast.

Sri Lanka boasts an incredible range of resorts and hotels and so we’ll offer a selection of suggestions that we hope will fit the mark. If you’ve time a 5 minute conversation can often help us refine the choice to fit in with the style, budget and position you’re looking for.

Days 13-14: Beach Days (B)

3 full days to enjoy your beachside location and perhaps explore a bit further. Dolphin and whale watching tours are particularly popular off the south coast, as is a visit to Galle.

Day 15: Beach (B) / Home

Day free until your airport transfer and overnight flight home.

Day 16: Arrive home

Inclusions

What's Included

Each featured itinerary is really a starting point from which to create your ideal holiday.

We can include as much or as little as you like, mix and match hotels, excursions and experiences, add extra nights and change the destinations you'd like to visit.

The common thread is that each is a privately guided holiday, allowing you to travel where and when you want, with your own private transport and dedicated guide.

General Inclusions:

• Return scheduled international flights (optional if you would like to arrange your own)
• English speaking, local guide & driver
• Choice of hotel accommodation
• Transport in private air-conditioned vehicles
• Domestic flights detailed in itinerary
• Admission fees to all attractions, temples and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
• All meals as detailed (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)

General Exclusions:

• Entry visas International airport departure taxes if payable locally
• Optional Tours / Excursions
• Any meals not listed in the itinerary
• Drinks
• Personal expenses
• Tips for Guides / Drivers (discretionary)
• Travel insurance
• Any camera or video fees charged at sites

Where You'll Stay

 Hotels

The hotels below are there as examples, designed to act as a starting point from which to create your holiday. There are plenty of alternatives to choose from and when we quote we will include other suggestions so we get to understand your likes and dislikes. Quite often clients mix and match hotel categories throughout their holiday.

Sri Lanka

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