A 9 days 8 nights tour featuring…
● A city tour of Colombo
● Watching elephants bathe at Pinnawela, and Temple of the Tooth in Kandy
● Tea plantations in Hatton
● An eco-friendly rainforest hotel in Sinharaja National Park
● Historic Galle
Day 1
Airport – Colombo
On arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be escorted to your vehicle and driven to Colombo (45 minutes).
Check in at the hotel.
Spend the day at your leisure, exploring Colombo or relaxing at the hotel.
Accommodation: Maniumpathy Colombo
Day 2
Transfer from Colombo to Kandy (3 hours)
En route to Habarana, visit Pinnawela Millennium Elephant Foundation. This organisation was set up to rescue and care for captive Asian elephants in Sri Lanka. The foundation is situated on the Samaragiri 15-acre estate, located 10 km northwest of Kegalle, within the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka.
Continue on your journey to Kandy.
Visit Kandy’s main attraction, the Dalada Maligawa, also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. It’s a magnificent shrine, with decorative walls, a moat, turrets, a golden roof and fine woodwork. Three religious services (pooja) are held daily at dawn, midday and in the evening, accompanied by traditional music and a colourful Kandyan dance performance.
Accommodation: Villa Rosa
Day 3
Kandy
Visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens is the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka and the finest of its kind in Asia. It’s a leisurely walk in a circular fashion, which you can do independently or with a resident botanist.
Return to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Villa Rosa
Day 4
Kandy – Hatton
Transfer to Hatton (3 hours).
Ceylon Tea Trails
This hotel comprises five restored historic tea planter residences, called bungalows, perched at an altitude of 1250 meters in Sri Lanka’s panoramic Ceylon tea region. The 27 rooms & suites with period furnishings, gracious butler service, and gourmet cuisine create an ambience that has made Tea Trails the gold standard for luxury in Sri Lanka. Each bungalow is unique and offers guests the non-hotel, private house ambience that is the hallmark of the award-winning Tea Trails experience.
Accommodation: Ceylon Tea Trails
Day 5
Hatton
A day at your own leisure to enjoy the different hikes and treks in the surrounding tea country.
Accommodation: Ceylon Tea Trails
Day 6
Hatton – Yala (6 hours)
After breakfast, leave for an afternoon jeep safari to Yala National park where you will see Sri Lankan wild animals in their natural habitat. Inside the park, you will come across wild boar, deer, leopards, elephants, bears, peacocks and many more animals roaming freely.
Relax at the hotel for the rest of the day
Accommodation: Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Day 7
Yala – Sinharaja
After breakfast at the hotel, you will experience the Sinharaja Rainforest. The Sinharaja Rainforest is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is also the last remnant of Sri Lanka’s tropical lowland rainforests.
Follow winding trails and spot a large number of endemic species of plants and animals. Many threatened species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies are found in the reserve, including the leopard.
Accommodation: Rainforest Eco Lodge Deniyaya
Day 8
Sinharaja – Galle
Transfer from Sinharaja to Galle (3 hours).
Upon arriving in Galle, enjoy sightseeing of the Galle fort and town. A prominent seaport for centuries with a rich and fascinating history, today Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site, brimming with luxurious villas and boutique hotels side by side with restaurants, cafes, antique and fabric shops, and so much more.
Accommodation: The Fort Bazaar
Day 9
Transfer from Galle to Colombo Airport (2 1⁄2 hours)
Leave for Colombo Airport in order to connect to your flight out.
- Currency Exchange/Credit Cards – The local currency is Sri Lankan rupees (Rs.) and currency can be exchanged at bank counters in the arrival lounge. There are many certified money changers and banks throughout the country for currency exchange as well. All major credit cards are usually accepted at larger hotels, shops and restaurants.
- General Behavior – Sri Lanka is generally a very conservative country so be respectful towards the culture and different religions. You are required to dress appropriately (covering all parts of your body) when visiting sacred places like temples/shrines or any place of worship.
- Climate/Clothing – Most parts of the island get pretty hot and humid so you will mostly need light cotton clothing and comfortable shoes for walking/trekking. The hill country can get a little chilly at night so you will also need a light sweater for your stay there.
- Electricity – Electricity runs at 230–240V. Round, three-pin sockets are the norm, though you’ll also sometimes find square three-pin sockets, especially in more upmarket hotels. Adaptors are cheap and widely available.
- Health – Bring your bug spray and sun cream. You can get them at supermarkets and pharmacies locally but it’s best to bring your own if you are comfortable with certain brands.
- Festivals/Public Holidays – Sri Lanka is a land of many festivals and celebrations. You can find out the festivals taking place before your arrival into the country. Sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited on all Poya (full moon) days and religious festivals.
- Tipping – Tipping your chauffer guide is at your discretion. If you are happy with your chauffer guide’s service and would like to tip him, we recommend a starting tip of USD$10 per day.
- Hotel Rules & Regulations – Check in typically at 2pm. Check out typically at 12pm.