Spices & Serenity Tour

Sri Lanka is a country of diverse landscapes, rich in culture, history and incredible beauty. This private tour will take you by comfortable air-conditioned car* to the major sites of the ‘cultural triangle’ with a leisurely visit to the famous Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and the ‘tea country’ of Nuwara Eliya, ending with two days of safari to catch sight of wildlife such as leopards or elephants. After the tour you can opt to relax on one of Sri Lanka’s beautiful beaches or combine this tour with the Maldives.

Day 01 London - Columbo - Mount Lavinia
Evening departure from London Heathrow by Sri Lankan overnight flight. Meet and greet on arrival in Colombo and transfer to your hotel. Relax and take in the great views from the resort or indulge in a Cocunut Spa treatment.

Day 02 Mount Lavinia - Dambulla
Depart for Dambulla with a visit en route to the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela to possibly witness bathing time in the river or the feeding of the baby elephants. Later leave for Dambulla and visit the Cave Temples, a complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. metres of painted walls, dating back to the First Century BC with a 47 ft. recumbent image of the Lord Buddha.

Day 03 Dambulla - Sigirya – Polonnaruwa - Dambulla
In the morning ascend the 5th century Sigirya Rock Fortress which is a world heritage site. The Lion Rock is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. Explore the surrounding Water and Boulder Gardens and Caves with their famous frescoes.

Later leave for Polonnaruwa, originally the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th – 13th centuries and see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha. There are also many more famous monuments such as the Shiva Temple and the Lankathilake.

Day 04 Dambulla – Kandy
Depart for Kandy after breakfast. En route visit a Spice Garden and batik factory at Matale and see hoe spices are grown and processed. Afternoon visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king.

City tour of Kandy another World Heritage Sites - visit the Bazaar, the arts & crafts centre and a gem museum. In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha and thereafter witness a traditional Kandyan cultural show.

Day 05 Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
Proceed to visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where some of the best tea in the world is produced. Learn about the manufacturing and grading. On completion, proceed to Nuwara Eliya – ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka - is set against a beautiful backdrop of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. In the evening enjoy a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya.

Day 06 Nuwara Eliya – Udawalawa – Hambantota
A morning drive takes you south with time for a jeep safari at Udawalawa National Park en route, rich in elephant population as well as buffalo, crocodile and colourful bird life. Continue to Hambantota for a 2 nights stay.

Day 07 Hambantota - Yala -Hambantota
Breakfast at Hotel – Morning at leisure – Afternoon visit Yala National Park for a Jeep safari and to improve your chances of spotting one of Yala’s beautiful leopards.

Day 08: Hambantota - Airport/ Beach Resort Extension
Enjoy breakfast before transferring to Airport for connecting departure flight OR drive to your chosen Sri Lankan Beach resort.

Inclusions

This tour is operated on a private basis in an air/conditioned vehicle with an English speaking chauffeur-guide (local guides may be used in some sites). Prices include entrance fees for all attractions shown in the itinerary, and two safaris in Yala National Park. Hotel accommodation based on Twin share basis and stated meals (B- Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner).

Destination DELUXE Meals Colombo Mount Lavinia BB Dambulla/Sigirya Heritance Kandalama BB Kandy Earl’s Regency BB Nuwara Eliya Tea Factory Hotel BB Hambantota Cinnamon Wild BB

Prices:

7 nights tour from £1299 per person in a standard room. Includes return economy flights to Colombo on Sri Lankan Airlines.