Wild Sri Lanka - 16 days
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

This itinerary provides the opportunity to experience the magical ancient history and nature that Sri Lanka has to offer, taking in cultural landmarks such as Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple and Pollonaruwa as well as natural wonders such as Horton Plains, Yala National Park and the stunning beaches of Tengalle. You will be staying in an excellent range of unique accommodation.

The tour begins with stays at two unique eco-retreats in Sri Lankas Dry Zone including two nights in the heart of Sri Lankas Cultural Triangle. You will then head south to Kandy and the Hill Country, an area renowned for its tea plantations, with visits to the botanical gardens and the dramatic Horton Plains National Park. After moving further south still, you will visit Yala, one of Sri Lankas oldest national parks and famous for its high density of leopards. It will then be time to head down to Tengalle on the south coast for a peaceful stay on an idyllic white-sand beach.

From £2,495 pp inclusive of flights from the UK.

(This price is based on a tour price of £1,772 pp and international flights from the UK from £723 pp = £2,495 pp)

Inclusions

- Direct flights with Sri Lankan Airlines. (Business class upgrade available)

- Air taxi service from Dickwella to Colombo

- Private transport within country with qualified chauffeur-guide.

- Meals and accommodation as stated.

- All taxes and surcharges

Please note that the price of flights in particular, can be higher during peak travel periods.

ALL EXPERIENCE TRAVEL TOURS ARE PRIVATELY GUIDED AND TAILOR MADE TO SUIT YOUR AVAILABLE TIME, BUDGET AND PREFERENCES. ALL OUR SUGGESTED ITINERARIES ON THE WEBSITE CAN BE ADAPTED TO YOUR SPECIFIC TASTES AND REQUIREMENTS.

DAY 1

Depart London Heathrow for Colombo, Sri Lanka.

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DAYS 2 & 3

Arrive in Colombo and transfer to The Mudhouse for a two nights stay on a Full Board basis. Locally guided excursions are also included such as bicycling, visits to local temples, swimming trips, lake kayaking and picnics. This little visited but beautiful area of Sri Lanka is deeply rural and life moves at a tranquil pace.

Located in the heart of Sri Lankas dry zone it is characterised by startling rock formations and scattered tanks village reservoirs which have provided the means for agriculture for thousands of years continue to do so today. The rustic charm of the design complements the warm and friendly hospitality of the staff. The sleeping accommodation and facilities are very comfortable and luxurious considering the lack of electricity or modern building materials while the space available means that each party is afforded their own privacy and living space in abundance.

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DAYS 4 & 5

You will be met by your chauffeur, guide and private car who will remain with you until you are dropped at your beach hotel. This afternoon you will be driven from The Mudhouse to the equally remote Back of Beyond - Dehi Gaha Ela, visiting the Dambulla Cave Temples en route. Staying for two nights on a half board basis, Dehi Gaha Ela is one of the most unique examples of natural architecture in the country and a wonderful place to sit back and relax when not out exploring the local sites.

On your second day visit the world heritage site of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress before heading onto the ancient city of Polonnaruwa for a half-day afternoon tour.

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DAYS 6 & 7

From the cultural triangle you will head to the cooler yet equally cultured climes of Kandy. Stay 2 nights at Serendib Stone Bungalow, a quaint seven bedroom hotel occupying an old colonial building located in the leafy suburbs of Kandy. Plenty of free time to relax or explore the city as you choose. We include a trip to the fabulous Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and sacred Temple Of The Tooth on the second day.

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DAYS 8 & 9

From Kandy we head higher up into the tea-covered mountains - a spectacular journey past vast tea estates, quirky towns and stunning waterfalls, breaking the journey for a quick tour of a tea factory. Our destination is the Melheim Resort, a small resort located on a beautiful hillside south of Haputale where you will stay two nights on Half Board basis. On the second day we venture to Horton Plains and Worlds End a fantastic 10km walk through a patchwork of tropical cloud forests and open grasslands. This area has arguably the best views in Sri Lanka.

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DAYS 10 & 11

Dropping south out of the hills and back into the lush vegetation of the plains and wetlands of the south we head leisurely towards Yala National Park in the south-eastern tip of the island. Stay at the Hibiscus Garden Hotel, a simple yet charming property well located close to the park. The following day we enter the park for an afternoon safari in search of elephants and the enigmatic leopard, amongst a vast array of flora and fauna. Yala has the highest concentration of leopards of any park in the world.

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DAYS 12, 13, 14 & 15

We head from Yala towards Kalametiya and the excellent Turtle Bay Resort - a beautiful and peaceful beach haven where you will stay four nights to really relax and unwind after all the activity and adventure along the way. For those who still have the energy and desire to explore, it is worth visiting the various bird sanctuaries, turtle nesting beaches and spectacular coastline in the area. If you just want to put your feet up and relax, there a few better places than Turtle Bay to do so.

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DAY 16

You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to nearby Dickwella. You will take the seaplane back to Colombo that connects to your return flight to London

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...