Sri Lanka-
the Sensational Pearl
A breathtaking adventure across the cinnamon island, teeming with exotic wildlife, cultural intrigues, mouth-watering flavours and beach relaxation. Traverse waterfalls and bustling jungles in search of elephants, monkeys and leopards, explore ancient temples and fragrant spice gardens, replenish your senses in the luscious tea valleys and unwind on the southern shores. An unforgettable journey into the beating heart of the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
Highlights
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Hike up the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress
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Wildlife Safaris through Wilpattu, Minneriya and Yala National Parks
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Local cooking adventure in the village of Hiriwadunna
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Tea tasting in the luscious Tea Valleys.
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Twilight cycling tour of Anuradhapura
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City tours of Galle, Colombo and Kandy.
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Visit baby elephants at The Elephant Sanctuary
*Roma Tour Option*:
We're running a limited edition group trip this September where you can meet Roma to explore the sensational island and feast. If interested in joining this trip, please do reach out as spaces are filling up fast!
Date for group trip:
12th- 24th September (12 nights, 13 days)
Price:
£2,085 (per person based on twin sharing)
£755 (single supplement)
This is a limited edition offer, price valid until 31st May. A £250 deposit is required to secure your booking. Prices exclude flights but current flight prices are £750 and can be secured with a £50 deposit by our partners at The Luxury Travel Club.
Day 1: Arrival
On arrival into the bustling hub of Colombo, your chauffer guide will transfer to your first tropical oasis nestled amidst the beating heart of the city. Check-in at the hotel and unwind in the exotic garden sanctuary. Overnight Stay at The Walawwa | Meals: Half-Board
Day 2: Kingdom & Safari
After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll proceed towards Wilpattu. En route, you’ll visit the Kingdom of Dambadeniya, which teems with vibrant temples and ancient ruins cradled in the arms of nature. Proceed to Wilpattu for an afternoon safari in one of Sri Lanka’s oldest national parks. Peppered with glistening lakes and vibrant butterflies, Wilpattu National Park is world-renowned for its leopard population, while boasting all sorts of other eclectic wildlife. Keep an eye out for elephants, crocodiles, sloth bears and water buffalo as you traverse the jungle trails. Upon completion, proceed to your boutique hotel in Anuradhapura. Enjoy an evening at leisure amidst the sprawling 58 acre lush gardens laced with fragrant flora and the calls of wild peacocks and monkeys. Overnight Stay at Uga Ulagalla | Ulagalla Pool Villa Meals: Half-Board
Day 3: Ritigala Hike & Twilight Cycle
After a mouth-watering traditional breakfast, embark on a leisurely hike up Ritigala mountain. Ritigala is home to an ancient Buddhist monastery that dates back to the 1st century BC and its slopes are steeped in legend and mystery. As you weave your way past majestic trees and wild ruins thrumming with exotic birdsong, the remains of bathing pools, courtyards and meditation platforms can be seen nestled amidst soaring trunks and babbling streams, history tucked in the arms of nature. Powerful medicinal herbs bloom wild by your feet, thought to cure all human pain, and these are believed to be guarded by ‘Yakkas’, the spirits of the mountain. After filling up on Ritigala’s majesty, you’ll embark on a private twilight cycling tour of Anuradhapura. An expert guide will weave you through verdant paddy fields, archaeological marvels, local villages and jungle cloaked ruins. You’ll pedal past Elephant Pond, twinkling reservoirs and soaring stupas (including Abhayagiri Dagoba, the largest Buddhist monument in the world) before collecting lotus flowers and meandering to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree, one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist relics. Indulge in the rhythmic local fever beneath the stars as you marvel at the oldest human planted tree in the world. After feasting on some fresh fruit with locals, return to your hotel in Anuradhapura. Overnight Stay at Uga Ulagalla | Ulagalla Pool Villa Meals: Half-Board
Day 4: Village Adventure & Elephant Safari
After an indulgent breakfast, you’ll head off for a local village adventure in Hiriwadunna with an expert guide. After meandering through rolling paddy fields and land bursting with succulent fruit, you’ll catch a catamaran ride across waters jewelled with lilypads and all sorts of marine life. You’ll arrive in the heart of a tranquil village where you’ll feast on a traditional Sri Lankan meal cooked from scratch at a villager’s home, cradled by coconut trees and exotic birdsong. After your lovely local lunch, you’ll proceed to Minneriya National park for an evening safari in search of wild elephants. Beyond the graceful giants you’ll spot grazing beneath the setting sun, keep an eye out for monkeys, tropical birds, samba deer, reptiles, sloth bears and leopards who also thrive in this beautiful terrain. After your safari, you’ll proceed to Sigiriya to immerse in the serenity of your water garden oasis. Settle into your private apartment as wild peacocks roam past the windows and Sri Lanka’s iconic Lion Rock looms in the distance. Overnight Stay at Water Garden | Deluxe Meals: Bed & Breakfast
Day 5: Sigiriya, Spice Garden & Kandy Tour
Today you’ll hike the spectacular Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a revived garden city that dates back to the 5th century AD. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known as Lion Rock because it’s entrance is through a gateway in the form of a huge lion, with its staircase guarded on either side by humungous lion paws. Sigiriya not only boasts breathtaking views but it’s also full of impressive architectural features. It’s one of the best examples of sophisticated ancient plumbing, the upper palace is the oldest surviving palace in Sri Lanka and its lavish landscaped gardens are some of the oldest in the whole of Asia. After Sigiriya, you’ll begin your journey to Kandy, stopping off at a spice garden in Matale enroute. Surrounded by the Knuckles Mountain Range, Matale is one of the most fertile valleys in Sri Lanka and its fragrant spice gardens are the ideal pitstop for some self indulgence. You’ll wander the gardens with an expert guide who’ll show you how the herbs grow in their natural environment and teach you the nutritious spiced secrets of many traditional Sri Lankan dishes. In the evening, you’ll arrive in the hill tucked city of Kandy and enjoy a tour of the last capital of the ancient kings’ era in Sri Lanka. Here you’ll visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. Drenched in gold, moonstone and ornate carvings, this opulent temple is one of the holiest places of worship and pilgrimage for Buddhists around the world. You’ll then spend the night at leisure in The Kandy House hotel, a unique ancestral manor house set amidst serene tropic gardens. Overnight Stay at The Kandy House | Deluxe Meals: Bed & Breakfast
Day 6: Train adventure to Tea Valleys
After breakfast, you’ll be taken to Peradeniya railway station to catch the iconic intercity train to Hatton. This train journey is a true adventure, with rolling luscious hills and cascading waterfalls rushing past the windows as you climb higher into the island’s tea valleys. You will take along a packed lunch provided by the hotel. When you reach Hatton station, your chauffeur guide will be waiting to transport you to your hotel nestled in the tranquil tea valley. Serenity soaks the air here with misty tea-cloaked mountain slopes cascading down towards the lakes, peppered with brightly dressed women picking the finest shoots from the luscious landscape. Here you will visit to a tea plantation to taste a freshly brewed cup of Ceylon tea, 4200ft above sea level, and enjoy a leisurely hike around the breathtaking valleys. You’ll spend the evening feasting and at leisure in a scenic hillside haven overlooking the Castlereigh Reservoir. Overnight Stay at Camelia Hills | Meals: All Inclusive
Day 7: Baby Elephant Sanctuary
Today your private chauffeur will take you to Udawalawe to visit the Elephant Transit Home. On route, you’ll wind through picturesque towns, witness breathtaking waterfalls and temples, and enjoy an array of local flavours. You’ll arrive at Sri Lanka’s one and only Elephant Transit Home, a sanctuary for baby orphan elephants who are rescued from the jungle , rehabilitated and ultimately released back into the wild. You’ll witness a feeding session up close as a herd of adorable baby elephants arrive for their bottle feeding. On completion, you’ll proceed to Yala and check-in to your private luxury cabin nestled amidst bustling jungles and golden sand dunes. Stroll the secluded cove under the stars, feast on decadent flavours and spend the evening at leisure. Overnight Stay at Uga Chena Huts | Cabin with Pool Meals: All Inclusive
Day 8: Yala Safari & Beach Relaxation
You’ll begin the day with an early morning safari in the iconic Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s most famous wildlife destination. This is a bustling haven for all sorts of creatures, with leopards, peacocks, crocodiles, sloth bears, elephants, buffalo, samba deer and all sorts of tropical birds nestled in this thriving jungle hub. As you venture through the thickets and stunning landscapes, there’s just no telling what wild wonders you might find. After returning for breakfast in your serene cove, you’ll then proceed towards the southern shores of Sri Lanka to enjoy the sun-kissed sandy beaches of Galle. Here you can immerse in some replenishing spa treatments, feast on the southern cuisine and catch a papaya sunset blazing along the shore. Your luxury boutique resort also has an on-site Turtle Conservation Project where you can observe and learn about the baby sea turtles they’re helping to shelter and release safely into the ocean. Overnight Stay at Fortress Resort and Spa | Fortress Room Meals: Half Board
Day 9: Galle & Colombo
After a leisurely breakfast beside the lapping waves, you’ll proceed towards Colombo, stopping off to immerse in Galle’s cultural curiosities enroute. Galle is a historically rich jewel where you can meander the ancient Dutch fort, browse local crafts and soak up the architectural wonders of this UNESCO world heritage site. On your arrival in Colombo, enjoy a personalised guided city tour by Mark Forbes. Here you’ll witness the city’s fascinating cultural and historic gems, meander technicolour markets all while learning and experiencing what being Sri Lankan is all about. Your senses will be fizzing with the diverse tapestry of intrigues as you indulge your tastebuds in some favourite local foods and beverages. The walk is generally 3/4 hours and conducted in the evening to allow you to experience the wind-down of island culture beneath the setting sun. Check-in at the Maniumpathy and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Stay at Uga Residence | Park Suite Meals: Half Board
Day 10: Departure
After a scrumptious final breakfast, you’ll be dropped at the airport to connect with your departure flight (approx. drive time 45 mins).