4 spots left!The Sri Lanka Itinerary April 7th to April 17th 2024:The Ultimate Sri Lankan Experience
Day 1, 7th April, Colombo Airport - Negombo. Arrival at Colombo airport and transfer to Negombo for an overnight stay after your long flight to recuperate for your epic Sri Lankan adventure ahead. When you are all settled in, we will all meet for a welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant, to get to know each other.
Meal plan: (Welcome dinner)
Day 2, 8th April, Negombo - Dambulla - Sigiriya. Today after breakfast we will get on the road to visit Dambulla Cave Temple. Located at an elevation of 1118 feet from the sea level, rises a massive rock from its surrounding plains. Towering over 600 feet in height over Dambulla and 2000 feet in length, it is home to the world’s most acclaimed Cave complex of magnificent Buddha images. After this we will have lunch at Dambulla, and then check in to our hotel. We will depart later in the afternoon from the hotel to visit Pidurangala Rock. Pidurangala is where King Kassapa relocated the Buddhist monks who had previously occupied the area around Sigiriya. Just beyond an old temple which sits at the base of the hill, there is a path leading upwards. Like Sigiriya, Pidurangala was formed by volcanic activity. In the evening, back to hotel in Dambulla for overnight stay.
Meal plan: (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 3, 9th April, Dambulla - Sigiriya - Dambulla Sunrise in Sigiriya. We will depart our hotel at 5:30am to visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The spectacular “fortress in the sky” of the “King Kasyapa”. Its such a beautiful time to visit and a chance to beat the heat. We will be back in our hotel before 9:00 am for breakfast, or some rest, relaxation or a cool off in the pool before departing the hotel again at 1:30pm to visit a local village. We will be shown around the village and after seeing how a typical Sri Lankan village runs, you will be treated lunch cooked by the locals. We will return to our hotel after the village tour, where there will be a chance to visit the Ayurvedic Spa(extra) if you like, if not, then just relax before getting ready for dinner. Overnight stay in Dambulla.
Meal plan: (Breakfast, lunch at local village and dinner)
Day 4, 10th April, Dambulla - Kandy
After breakfast we will start making our way to Kandy. Along the way we will visit Matale which is the spice capital of Sri Lanka. Here we will do an educational tour around the spice garden, we will have the opportunity to explore and gain knowledge on Sri Lankan spices, herbs and benefits of Ayurveda. The tropical climate in which plants and herbs are grown helps them preserve its ancient originality. We will continue on to Kandy stopping at a view point, with panoramic views of Kandy City from a convenient spot high up on one of Kandy’s many plateaus. We will then visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic which is a Buddhist temple built within the royal palace complex at the banks of the Kandy lake. It is considered the holiest shrine in the Buddhist world and to the Buddhist people of Sri Lanka. After we will visit Kandy lake before having lunch. After lunch we will have a chance to do some shopping before go to see the traditonal Kandyan Dance, it is considered the national dance of Sri Lanka. Overnight stay in Kandy.
Meal plan: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5, 11th April, Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella This morning we say goodbye to Kandy and make our way to Ella. We will visit Ramboda Falls which is 109m high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world along route. We will also visit Bluefield Tea Factory and stop for the perfect cup of tea at one of the main tea factories in Sri Lanka. You will be able to see firsthand how fresh tea leaves from Ceylons’ finest high grown tea gardens are brought together and processed in techniques that have been passed down through centuries. Then onto Nuwara Eliya Town ironically referred to as “little England”, it does have an English country village feel to it with a Sri Lankan edge. We stop off at Nuwara Eliya Post Office located in the center of Nuwara Eliya,it is one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. The Tudor-style two-storey redbrick building with a clock spire, was constructed in 1894 by the British. Then onto the most famous train ride in the world, we will commence the journey from Nanu Oya. The Nanuoya – Ella train trip will take you through manmade tunnels, water falls, tea gardens and beautiful scenic mountains and valleys. Grey stone cliffs and rivers will flash past your window with occasional views of enormous waterfalls cascading down the mountainside, while the Train keeps climbing steadily through to Ella. We should arrive to Ella station at approx 5pm and then transferred to our hotel for the night in Ella. As Ella is such a cool place to eat out we didn't organise dinner in the hotel, instead we will eat in Ella. Overnight stay in Ella
Meal plan: (Breakfast and Lunch)
Day 6, 12th April, Ella This morning is chill morning, get up for breakfast, and relax. At about 11am we will leave the hotel to do a Sri Lankan cookery class, we will all be Gordon Ramsey when we finish. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Nine Arch Bridge and hopefully see the train go by. If you are still up for adventure we will hike up little Adams Peak and enjoy the breath taking views of Ella. We will return to our hotel get ready and head out in Ella for dinner and drinks for our last night here. Overnight stay in Ella.
Meal plan: (Breakfast & Lunch (Lunch at Cooking Class)
Day 7, 13th April, Ella - Udawalawe - Mirissa This morning we will leave Ella at approx 10am and make our way to Udawalawe. Along the way we will stop at Rawana Water Falls for some photos. Then lunch before our safari in Udawalwe National Park. Udawalawe, Sri Lanka is the best place in Asia to see herds of Asian Elephants, in the wild. In Udawalawe National Park, the trees retain their leaves even during the dry season, and is one of Sri Lanka's evergreen forests that harbours one of Asia'a largest & most viable Asian elephant populations. After our safari, we will make our way to our hotel in Mirissa. Overnight stay in Mirissa.
Meal plan: (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 8, 14th April, Mirissa Today is a chill day in Mirissa, time to relax and unwind after the last week of adventure. We are staying along the beach so the choice is your beach day or pool day, though the pool has a swim up bar. Today is also a day where we can visit coconut hill for the ultimate insta photos. Dinner time then discover the night life Mirissa has to offer. Overnight stay in Mirissa.
Meal plan: (Breakfast and Dinner)
Day 9, 15th April, Mirissa Today is another chill day in the beautiful Mirissa or a recovery day from the night before. Today we can check out some of the amazing cafes in Mirissa such as shady lane for lunch or if you are feeling adventurous book on for a surf lesson. Dinner and overnight stay in Mirissa.
Meal plan: (Breakfast and Dinner)
Day 10, 16th April, Mirissa - Galle - Mirissa
This morning is a relaxed morning, spend time at the beach or pool, in the afternoon we will visit the turtle hatchery farm. The Kosgoda turtle hatchery is situated strategically in the nesting shores of some of the rarest, largest and critically endangered sea turtles in the world. Massive giants such as the Leatherback turtle are critically endangered but however find a safe haven in the shores of Sri Lanka. Be a part of their wonderful journey at the Turtle Hatchery. We will also pay a visit to see the Stilt Fishermen in action. To finish off the day we will visit Galle Fort. First built by the Portuguese in 1588 and then extensively fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century, the Galle Fort is now deemed a UNESCO world heritage site for its cultural and colorful history and how the European architecture blends with South Asian tradition. We will then return to our hotel in Mirissa for dinner and over night stay
Meal plan: (Breakfast and Dinner)
Day 11, 17th April, Mirissa - Colombo Airport
Today it is time to say good bye, (well if you don't extend for a few days) after breakfast, we will have a shuttle bus leaving Mirissa at 10am to take you back to Colombo. Its approx a 3 hour drive so evening flights home after 5pm are best advised.
Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Total cost €1950 per person sharing
Included: Tour guide for the entire tour, transportation for the entire tour, all accommadation, 2 airport transfers, 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 8 dinners, water on whole tour, entrance tickets to the following sites: Dambulla, Pidurangala, Sigiriya, Village tour, Temple of the Tooth, Traditional Kandyan dance, train ride to Ella, cooking class, Udwalawe National Park (Includes private jeeps), turtle hatchery farm, stilt fishing.
NOT included: International flights, visa for entry to Sri Lanka, travel insurance, meals not listed in the itinerary, any required PCR tests required or tips
If you are happy with the itinerary and want to go ahead. A deposit of €500 will be required to secure your booking immediately, this is to secure your place.
The balance will be due 10 weeks before trip start date. (28th of January 2024)
You can make the payments in instalments after the deposit is paid if that suits you.
With regards to getting a refund: The deposit is non-refundable. For the balance of your payment (€1450), we may be able to refund this up 10 weeks before the trip should you have already paid and have an emergency and need to cancel. Anything closer than 10 weeks, and we cannot refund you.
We suggest you take out fully comprehensive travel-insurance that covers trip cancellations, that way should something happen, you will get a full pay out from your insurance company. Keep an eye on the excess required.
We are really excited to have you all on this trip, it is truly a trip of a lifetime.
Brenda and Jen xxxx