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Spend two weeks exploring the delights of this diverse and inspiring island
The group flight arrives at Colombo's Bandaranaike Airport and we transfer to our hotel approximately 30 minutes away. Those not flying with the group will meet us at the hotel. *The Covanro or alternative accommodation in the area*
We depart after breakfast for the drive (approx. 4 hours) through lush green countryside (a mix of coconut palms, paddy fields and banana plantations) through Kurunegala to Dambulla. Here we visit the magnificent Cave Temple, for some, the most impressive sight in Sri Lanka. There are colourful, well preserved paintings and statues of Buddha inside the caves, which date back to the 1st century BC. After lunch we continue to Sigiriya where we stay for the night. From our hotel we can see Lions Rock rising up from the plains (occasionally we may stay nearer to Dambulla due to hotel availability). *Hotel Sigiriya or alternative accommodation in the area*
This morning we drive to the foot of the Lions Rock at Sigiriya. The imposing 5th century rock fortress of Sigiriya rises 600 feet from the plains overlooking the surrounding countryside and giving far-reaching views. Used as a safe haven from invaders, the route to the top goes via a series of steep steps and gangways. From the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens, we ascend 200m, passing an overhanging rock under which superb portraits of native maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the rock wall. Crowning the flat-topped summit of the rock are extensive remains of the King's Summer Palace. During the afternoon, there is a chance to enjoy an optional game drive in either Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park or the Hurulu Eco Park to see elephants in their natural habitat. For those who don’t want to take part, there is time to relax at the hotel. *Hotel Sigiriya or alternative accommodation in the area*
This morning we have a short drive to Giritale where our usual hotel overlooks the scenic Giritale Tank. The island’s early inhabitants solved the dual problem of heat and lack of water in this dry area by constructing large tanks to act as reservoirs and cool the warm breeze. Nowadays they provide an important habitat for bird life, particularly from August to April. Today we take to bikes and cycle at a leisurely pace through a series of small villages and lakes (if you do not wish to participate you can hire a tuk tuk locally for approximately £10 per tuk tuk and follow the group but not cycle). We should see plenty of bird life including Egrets, Brahmany kites, Kingfishers and Bulbuls. Stopping for lunch in a traditional village will break up the journey. In the late afternoon we return to our hotel in Giritale. *Giritale Hotel or alternative accommodation in the area*
After breakfast, we take a short drive to the 10th century capital of Sri Lanka; Polonnaruwa, the ancient capital of the Sinhalese. Here there are many Buddhist relics and ruins dating from a thousand years ago when Sinhalese culture reached its zenith. The city flourished in the 12th century after the decision was made to move the capital from Anuradhapura, so it was further away from incursions from Southern India. The ruins are therefore younger and better preserved than those at Anuradhapura. We visit many of the temples, palaces, huge dagobas (Buddhist stupas) and remarkable Buddhist sculptures. After lunch, we head into the hills to the picturesque town of Kandy. On the way we stop at a spice garden near Matale where we can see various spices and herbs growing, and there is a chance to stock up on massage oils, spices and Ayurvedic medicines. This is a long but fascinating day and we arrive at Kandy in the early evening. *Hotel Thilanka or alternative accommodation in the area*
Kandy is located by a small lake and we spend two full days in and around the town. On the first day, we will visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic. The Tooth of Buddha was taken from the funeral pyre in 543 BC and only found its way to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. There are literally hundreds of worshippers who visit the temple each day and in August the most spectacular ceremony takes place. Some of our trips in August should coincide with the Kandy festival, but the exact dates, decided by priests, are not known until 5 months prior to the event. After our visit, we drive to a beautiful viewpoint over Kandy overlooked by a huge Buddha, and visit a gem museum where you can see the products of the traditional methods of gem extraction. Another highlight is the vast Peradeniya Botanical Garden with species of orchid that are endemic to Sri Lanka. In the evening, we may have the chance to attend a performance of dancing and fire walking. The second day is free to explore this wonderful town. The surrounding hills are wonderful, offering fantastic views of the town below and there are many handicraft stores and antique shops in which to browse. *Hotel Thilanka or alternative accommodation in the area*
Leaving Kandy early, we have a spectacular drive through the countryside on the way to Kitulgala. Here we have the opportunity of going on a walk through the jungle or local villages followed by an optional white water rafting excursion. The rafting costs extra (see the Optional Excursions section), lasts a maximum of 1.5 hours and there is a choice of gentle or wild water (grade 3 rapids) depending on your preference. Those of us who do not wish to go rafting will be able to freshen up and relax by the water until the rafters return in time for lunch. Afterwards we will drive to our hotel in Nuwara Eliya. (Please note that from the full moon day of December to the full moon day of May it is possible to climb Adams Peak. This is optional and you need to be very fit to attempt this. You would leave Nuwara Eliya around midnight on day 8 and drive to the base of the peak. The drive takes approximately 2 hours. From here it is a strenuous 4 hour climb to the top in time for sunrise. We then return to Nuwara Eliya to join the group for lunch on day 9). *Mirage Kings Cottage (or similar) *
This morning we will have free time to explore the beautiful town of Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya was a popular hill station during the British era and is situated in the cool highland air at 1890m. Known locally as 'Little England' it is dotted with British style houses and parks and features a golf club and a racecourse! Following lunch, we will visit a nearby tea factory and learn about the process of tea production. *Mirage Kings Cottage (or similar) *
We have an early start this morning and take a 30km drive south to Horton Plains, a large plateau over 2,000m high, overlooked by the second and third highest peaks in Sri Lanka. The scenery is beautiful and the best way to explore is on foot. We take a guided walk through the rolling grasslands where we hope to see such as the Sambur and Purple Faced monkey. We also visit 'World's End', which is one of the most stunning sights in Sri Lanka where the ground drops 1050m to the plains. Following this, we catch a train from the highest railway station in the country - within an hour and a half we drop from 1889m to 1097m. The train travels through the cloud forest into the tea plantations, with breath-taking views of the lush valley below. Please note that at times, particularly in peak season, the train may be extremely busy with standing room only. As a result, you may get a choice between taking the train or going by road, and in extreme cases the leader may decide that the whole group should go by road and avoid the train. We get off at Bandarawela, a town relatively untouched by tourism. *Orient Hotel or alternative accommodation in the area*
Today we continue on to Ella Gap where we have spectacular views of the coastal plain nearly 1,000m below. Almost the entire southern part of the island is in view and on a particularly clear day, the shimmering silver of the Indian Ocean is visible. Heading south out of the hills we travel to Kataragama on the plains; this is our base for visiting Sri Lanka's best known national park, Yala. The park is popular for elephant, leopard, bear, crocodile and Wild boar. At 97,800 hectares, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka's national parks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has also become better known for leopard. The park, which is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and fresh water lagoons, has one of the highest concentrations of leopard per square kilometre in the world. (Please note that the sanctuary may be closed for 4-6 weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the welfare of the animals. We therefore go to an alternative area close by, usually Udawalawe National Park). *Mandara Rosen or alternative accommodation in the area*
Today we leave for the coast, with its beautiful palm fringed bays. Stopping on the way at Hambantota and walking to a nearby farm house where you'll be offered tea in a coconut shell along with a local snack. We will mix with real Sri Lankan life and take part in some traditional Sri Lankan games, returning to our bus in tractors used by the farmers. Continuing on to Ahangama, in the afternoon we arrive at our coastal hotel and you can relax for the rest of the day. *Insight Resort or alternative accommodation in the area*
Today is a free day to relax on the beach or by the hotel pool. There are also optional activities during the day including a boat ride through mangrove swamps to a cinnamon plantation or, from November to April you can go whale watching off Dondra head, one of the best places in the world for seeing Blue and Sperm whales. Huge pods of dolphins are also often seen playing alongside the boats. *Insight Resort or alternative accommodation in the area*
We set off today and drive along the coastal road to the historic port of Galle, which dates back to the 17th century, and now a UNESCO world heritage site. On the way, we stop at a small folk museum inspired by the local writer Martin Wickramasinghe. The museum is a typical house from the Koggala region and is set amongst beautiful gardens. We continue along the expressway to Colombo reaching our hotel in the late afternoon. *Hotel Mirage or alternative accommodation in the area*
The trip ends after breakfast. Those on the group flights will be taken to the airport in time for their flight home
* 14 nights comfortable hotels, all en suite
* Travel by private bus
* Additional travel by train, bicycle and jeep
* Some long drives
All breakfasts and 1 lunch is included.
We suggest allowing about GBP 15-17 (approx. USD 24 - 27) per day for all
other meals. Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s
heritage; there is a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought
to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the
Dutch, Portuguese and English. Despite (or perhaps because of) these
influences, Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to as simply ‘Rice and
Curry’. This is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a
serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as
various pickles, ‘sambols,’ and a handful of tiny poppadum’s – all
using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and
garlic.
Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any
special dietary requests. Please note, that in Sri Lanka the availability of
certain products is minimal or non-existent. For example, wheat or dairy-free
options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this and you
may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and
lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food.
* 14 nights comfortable hotels, all en suite
* Travel by private bus
* Additional travel by train, bicycle and jeep
* Some long drives
*This trip rated Activity Level 2: Leisurely/Moderate*
This is not a demanding trip although there are a few long drives, on bumpy
and twisty mountain roads. The buses that we use are comfortable and
air-conditioned. Temperatures can vary between the tropical heat of the coast
to the cool of the mountains.
Hotels
You will spend 14 nights in en suite hotels. Hotels on this trip are
generally of a good standard, most with swimming pools and good facilities.
The standards and styles of the hotels do vary however and some of our
selections are based on location and what is available in the area or the
character and atmosphere at the premises.
The hotel that we typically use on the south coast for two nights has been
selected because it has a good beach location, where it is possible to swim
in the sea most of the time. There are good photo opportunities with the
stilt fisherman nearby and it is within close proximity to the optional
excursions. Although service at the hotel can sometimes be rather slow, it is
a small property so the staff and management are flexible and cater for our
group’s needs.
Please note that hotels in Sri Lanka are becoming increasingly busy and
occasionally, we have to find alternatives to the ones that we usually use.
We will endeavour to find the nearest alternative that provides a similar
standard of rooms.
Single accommodation available on request.
*Please note, paying the single supplement may not mean that you receive a
double or twin room for sole use. The room you are allocated may differ from
hotel to hotel, and on some nights a smaller room for ‘one person’ may
well be allocated.*
Our Sri Lankan team of leaders have proved very popular with their incredible
knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is
no better way to experience Sri Lankan culture than letting a local leader
show you around their country.
All breakfasts and 1 lunch is included.
We suggest allowing about GBP 15-17 (approx. USD 24 - 27) per day for all
other meals. Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s
heritage; there is a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought
to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the
Dutch, Portuguese and English. Despite (or perhaps because of) these
influences, Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to as simply ‘Rice and
Curry’. This is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a
serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as
various pickles, ‘sambols,’ and a handful of tiny poppadum’s – all
using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and
garlic.
Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any
special dietary requests. Please note, that in Sri Lanka the availability of
certain products is minimal or non-existent. For example, wheat or dairy-free
options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this and you
may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and
lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food.
We use an air-conditioned minibus or coach depending on the size of the
group. Jeeps in Yala National Park and jeeps or a microbus to drive to Horton
Plains.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 16 Days*
The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before
Day 1 of the itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We normally use the scheduled services of Sri Lankan Airlines (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm
up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date
and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.
**
*Travelling land only: 15 days starting in Veyangoda and ending in Colombo*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Veyangoda in
the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start
point are provided in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately
two weeks before departure.
Accommodation check‐in times are normally from around 2 pm.
Free transfers are only applicable if booked in advance directly through
Exodus before a trip commences.
Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two distinct wet seasons or monsoons.
The SW monsoon brings rain to that area of the island between May and August.
The NE monsoon takes place from October to January and only really affects
the north and east coastal regions.
Generally, you should expect rain at some time but with plenty of sunshine.
On the plains, day and night time temperatures are warm to hot with Colombo
having an average daytime temperature of 30ºC. The temperatures drop as we
go higher into the hills and especially at Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains
where daytime temperatures are between 10º - 15º C and night time
temperatures will be chilly (about 8º C minimum) and a warmish jacket will
be needed.
* 1 litre water bottle (ideally with a wide mouth) - plastic bottles are a
big issue in many countries where recycling isn't yet widely available and
we would like to reduce our impact here. Therefore, the leader can take a
kitty and purchase 5 litre bottles of water for the group which is less
wasteful than everyone purchasing smaller bottles of water individually.
* Sunhat
* Sun cream
* Light casual clothing
* Warm sweater/fleece
* Sandals (especially if you want to go rafting)
* Trainers / Walking shoes (needed at Kitulgala and Horton Plains)
* Light waterproof (especially if climbing Adams Peak)
* Swimming costume
* Hand washing gel
* Torch (especially if climbing Adams Peak)
If you want to visit The Hill Club in Nuwara Eliya (subject to availability),
you will need some more formal clothing (no jeans). Especially when visiting
temples, men’s and women’s clothing should cover shoulders and be on or
below the knee. Women especially should always dress conservatively to avoid
unwanted attention and not to cause offence; vests, tight fitting trousers,
short skirts and short shorts are not recommended. It doesn't matter what
type of bag or case you use on this trip. You should also bring a small day
bag for your valuable items.
As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject
to change, we suggest you check the airline's website for the latest
information prior to your departure.
* Small personal first aid kit
All entrance fees and activities described above are included except for the
optional activities mentioned on some days. It is recommended that you allow
at least GBP 5 per day (approx. USD 6) for personal expenditure such as
stamps, postcards and soft drinks. Shopping opportunities throughout this
tour are endless and we suggest that you take money for souvenirs ‐ even
if you are generally not a keen shopper we have found that most people
succumb to some of the wide variety of handicrafts on offer.
*Optional Excursions*
Optional White Water rafting at Kitulgala cost approximately GBP 20-25
(approx. USD32‐USD 40) each. Your leader will advise you on costs and
arrangements of the trip to Adams Peak; it is usually between GBP 15‐30
(approx. USD 25- 50) per person depending on how many people would like to
attempt the climb. The local boat ride from the beach hotel will cost
approximately GBP 10 (approx. USD 16) per person.
*Whale watching (November to April)
*Please note, if you choose to enjoy this excursion on your free day we
strongly advise booking a private charter boat through your leader. The more
members of the group who wish to join the charter the more cost effective it
will be. We do not recommend the larger, commercial boats, they may be
cheaper, but they do not always respect the welfare of the animals or operate
in an environmentally responsible way. We have also had reports of
overcrowding on the boats. Please ask your leader for/ further details on how
to book a private charter./
The whale watching trip by private boat should cost between GBP 40 and 80
(approx. USD 50-100) per person depending on the number of participants.
Optional game drive on day 3 will cost approximately GBP 25‐ 38 per person
(will vary depending on booking numbers).
Tipping is a way of life in Sri Lanka and we suggest you allow about GBP 3
(approx. USD 4) per day for this. With the permission of the group, your tour
leader may collect a kitty to cover tips for hotel staff, toilet attendants
and porters etc. Tipping of the leader, driver and driver's helper is at your
discretion.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request)
* Visas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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