We Love —
- Taking the train through the tea plantations on one of the world’s most beautiful railway routes.
- Watching majestic Sri Lankan elephants grazing in Yala National Park!
- Visiting the breathtaking Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in picturesque Kandy.
Customer reviews —
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Experience Sri Lanka’s breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant cities with a tour in 9, 11 or 13 nights.
Watch herons flocking in the Negombo Lagoon from a boat, and watch elephants lumbering gently through the grasslands in Yala National Park.
Visit sacred temples like the Dambulla Cave Temple and Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and spend time in traditional villages and picturesque cities.
Learn about Sri Lanka’s history as a place of trade for spices and producer of the finest Ceylon tea.
Conclude your tour with a 1, 2 or 3-night beach stay, where you'll enjoy plenty of time to sunbathe and swim in the crystal-clear waters.
Our Offers:
9, 11 or 13-night tour
Day 1: Negombo
Day 2: Habarana
Day 3: Habarana
Day 4: Kandy
Day 5: Kandy
Day 6: Nuwara Eliya
Day 7: Yala
Day 8 - 9 / 8 - 11 / 8 - 13: Beach
Your Itinerary In Detail —
Day 1: Negombo
Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport. After passing through the immigration formalities, collect your luggage, and go to meet your H.O.T Destination Management representative, who'll meet you at the arrivals lounge with a sign, and help you find your vehicle. You'll be immediately transferred to your hotel.
Check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 2: HABARANA
Breakfast and transfer to Habarana.
- Morning boat ride in the lagoon
- Welcome cocktail
The Negombo Lagoon is a vast expanse of water dotted with a number of islands. Fish, lagoon crabs, and prawns also live in these waters. Mangrove plants and other types of marsh plants are found in the islands as well as along the lands bordering the lagoon. Various types of water birds like herons, cormorants, and strokes can be seen.
While on the boat tour, you'll be given a freshly-made Arrack cocktail or king coconut, and you'll be able to watch the sun set during the excursion.
Home to the famous Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the Iron Wood Forest and the Rose Quartz Mountain Range, Dambulla contains breathtaking sights in a region UNESCO named as the 'Cultural Triangle'.
Dambulla Cave Temple: Also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, the Dambulla Cave Temple consists of five caves and a picturesque facade carved into the side of a steep rock face. It houses ancient paintings depicting the Buddha and his life.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 3: HABARANA
Breakfast at the hotel.
Sigirya: Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient fortress and palace in the central Dambulla of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of gardens and reservoirs. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is renowned for its ancient frescos. It is one of the Seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka, and is UNESCO's Eighth Wonder of the World. If you wish to climb all the way to the top, it will take approx. 2 to 3 hours.
Outdoor lunch in Sigiriya overlooking Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Optional: Jeep Safari to Minneriya National Park
These national parks in Habarana are the best places in the country to see wild elephants. Evening time is the best time to see them as they move around the park.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 4: Kandy
After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and take your transfer to Kandy.
Cycling Tour & Village Experience
- Cycling tour
- Catamaran ride
- Experience traditional village life
Enjoy a scenic Catamaran ride in the reservoir, a relaxing trip with plenty of nature and wildlife with an expert guide. Experience traditional village life, and walk through the village and vegetable crops in the area.
En route, visit an Ayurvedic Village in Matale. Sri Lanka was an important stop in the spice trade, with the first recording of cinnamon and cassia in the Middle East noted at least 4,000 years ago.
Note: spices are also available for sale at the site, but you are not obliged to buy any. Feel free to politely decline if you don't wish to purchase anything.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 5: KANDY
Breakfast at the hotel.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic:
The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, or Dalada Maligawa, is a significant architectural monument not just in Kandy, but in the whole of Sri Lanka. It houses the most important Buddhist relic - a tooth of the Buddha, brought to Kandy by King Wimaladharmasuriya I. As well as the revered main temple, the complex encompasses several smaller temples and shrines.
Note: Modest clothing is recommended during the visit to the temple. Flowers can be purchased en route to the complex. You may take your camera, but footwear should be removed at the entrance to the temple, and there are safe storage facilities available for your belongings.
Kandy city tour by Tuk Tuk:
Set amid verdant hills, with the Mahaweli River weaving through, Kandy is certainly the most picturesque city on the island, and the most visited. Still retaining much of its old-world charm and traditions, the centrepiece is the magnificent Kandy Lake.
Join your guide and continue the rest of the tour. Visit a Batik and Wood carving centre. Get an insight into local crafts and arts, and finely cut gems.
Note: The visit will take approx. 2-3 hours.
Evening Cultural Show visit in Kandy. Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 6: NUWARA ELIYA
After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and transfer to Nuwara Eliya.
Train Ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya:
Travelling by train in Sri Lanka is a unique experience: the railway road stretches across scenic hill countryside, and the train still runs on the original route built in the nineteenth century. Train times and routes may be changed to avoid crowded trains and/or delays. Please be aware, the basic local trains aren't as comfortable as UK trains. Duration: approx. 3 hours.
Visit to a Tea Plantation, Tea Factory, and Tea-picking Experience:
Tea Plantation and Tea Factory:
Sri Lanka is home to the world's best tea, the renowned Ceylon Tea. With its fine, rich flavour and bright golden colour, it's unrivalled in terms of quality. Guests will gain an insight into the art of growing and producing the tea.
Note: Tea pickers are not available on public holidays.
Day 7: Yala
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and take your transfer to Yala.
Jeep Safari to Yala National Park:
The second-largest national park in Sri Lanka, Yala is situated in the southeast part of the island in the dry, semi-arid region bordering the Indian Ocean. It boasts of one of the highest leopard densities in the world, and majestic Sri Lankan elephants also live in the park.
Check in to the hotel and relax. Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 8 - 9 / 8 - 11 / 8 - 13: BEACH EXTENSION
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and take your transfer to your beach hotel. En route, visit Galle fort.
Galle Fort:
One of Sri Lanka’s must-see attractions, this ancient citadel is packed with history and charm. Learn how the largest living fort in Asia was built, walk along the ramparts and take in panoramic views of the fort, harbour and crystal-clear waters below. Meet descendants from the original merchant families and experience the island’s restaurants, boutiques and museums with colonial antiques.
Note: the itinerary will take 1 to 2 hours.
Your Hotels —
Just for you:
- Welcome Pouch on arrival at the airport.
- Fresh Sri Lankan fruits/ king coconut during the tour.
- Included refreshment drink after Safari.
- 15% Discount at the Spa at Habarana Village.
- 15% Discount on food and beverages at Habarana Village.
- 15% Discount at the Spa at Cinnamon Bey.
- 15% Discount on food and beverages at Cinnamon Bey.
- Special outdoor lunch in Habarana.
- Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle during the tour.
- Included hotel service charges and VAT.
- Two bottles of water per person per day.
- Included departure hotel to the hotel.
- Included entrance fees according to the itinerary.
HAND-PICKED JUST FOR YOU
Maximum room capacity
Throughout your tour, you'll be accommodated in Standard Rooms in the following 4* hotels (or similar):
- Negombo: Goldi Sands 4* (or similar)
- Habarana: Habarana Village 4* (or similar)
- Kandy: Earl's Regency 4* (or similar)
- Nuwara Eliya: Araliya Green Hills 4* (or similar)
- Tissamaharamaya: Chaarya Resort & Spa 4* (or similar)
- Beruwala: Cinnamon Bay 4* (or similar)
Your Dining Choices
This offer's board is according to the itinerary.
Your Included Excursions —
English Speaking Guide-Included-All Offers
Germany Speaking Guide-Included-All Offers
Your Optional Excursions —
Jeep Safari to Minneriya National Park-Optional-All Offers
French Speaking Guide -Optional-All Offers
Italian Speaking Guide -Optional-All Offers
Spanish Speaking Guide -Optional-All Offers
Your Included Services —
Christmas supplement: 24th Dec 2022-Included
New Year supplement: 31st Dec 2022-Included
Your Journey to Sri Lanka —
Flights:
You may choose from Economy, Premium or Business class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process. The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Your Destination —
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a lush, tropical island paradise, famously described by Marco Polo as "undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world". This is a culturally rich and environmentally diverse country, with nine World Heritage Sites (the oldest dating back to the 3rd Century BC); 86 species of mammals (including elephant and leopard) and more than 400 bird species (including 26 endemics);
a colorful array of flowering plants and trees, and a Hill Country famous for tea; 14 National Parks out of 100 areas protected by the government; and an Indian Ocean coastline boasting palm-fringed and sandy tropical beaches.
Visit ancient sites and marvel over legendary temples, or see the sacred home of the world’s oldest living tree, Anuradhapura. Take a safari tour in one of Sri Lanka’s national parks to encounter elephants, leopards, water buffaloes, and exotic birds, or spend the day relaxing on the dazzlingly white, often untrodden, beaches.
Try your hand at a little surfing or retreat up into the Sri Lankan hills to experience a more temperate climate and the lavish greenery of the tea plantations. And if you can even trek through the rainforests with an experienced guide or just take in the breathtaking vistas on a spectacular train ride.
With fabulously flavoursome food and a vast array of culturally rich experiences to delve into, Sri Lanka promises to be one of your best-loved travel destinations, and the charm of the people will simply enchant you.