Sri Lanka discovery holiday

country:	Sri Lanka
trip type:	A small group adventure
departures:	2009: 21 Nov, 19 Dec 2010: 9 Jan, 6 Feb
price:	From £930 (15 days) excluding flights. Single supplement £180. We can arrange flights from the UK
vouchers:	Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

read 3 travellers reviews

Holidays to Sri Lanka

the amazing things you'll be doing

Sri Lanka has just about everything the traveller could want – superb ancient sites, magnificent scenery, a delicious cuisine, incredibly friendly and welcoming locals and lovely white palm fringed beaches.

We explore all of this and more on this comprehensive tour of Sri Lanka, the 'pearl of the Indian ocean'.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Colombo - Negombo. Arrive and transfer to your hotel in the beach resort of Negombo.
Day 2:	Negombo - Anuradhapura. Visit the ancient city of Panduwasnuwara and the fascinating ancient rock fortress of Yapahuwa. Continue to Anuradhapura where we spend the night.
Day 3:	Anuradhapura. Cycle tour of the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the cradle of Sinhala civilisation. The route is flat and easy with many shaded areas to rest and exquisite temples to visit. In the afternoon we visit Mihintale with its superb views across the plains.
Day 4:	Anuradhapura - Polonnaruwa - Kaudulla. Continue to Polonnaruwa. We spend the afternoon searching for wild elephants in Kaudulla or Minneriya National Parks.
Day 5:	Polonnaruwa- Sigiriya. Explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, with its immense Buddha's carved from the rock. Later continue to Sigiriya, an extraordinary citadel built on top of an immense rock. We climb to the top to visit the fortress and view the superb frescoes painted on the walls. The views from the top are stunning. Continue to Dambulla where we spend the night. (B)
Day 6:	Dambulla - Kandy. Morning visit to the magnificent Buddhist caves of Dambulla. We then drive to the old capital of Kandy in the Central Highlands stopping en route at a spice garden. In the late afternoon we watch a performance of traditional Kandyan dancing which may include dancers in a trance walking on hot coals, and visit the Temple of the Tooth to experience a 'pooja' (worship) ceremony. (B)
Day 7:	Kandy. Morning city tour of Kandy. Free afternoon with the chance to visit the botanical gardens. (B)
Day 8:	Kandy - Nuwara Eliya. Travel through the Ramboda Pass surrounded by green hills covered with tea. We reach Nuwara Eliya, an old British hill-station where the afternoon is free for you to explore; perhaps hike to Lover’s Leap on the edge of town or take afternoon tea in the colonial Hill Club. (B)
Day 9:	Nuwara Eliya - World's End - Belihuloya. We hike along the hilly slopes through montane forests and tea plantations to World's End. Here the ground drops beneath your feet and there are stunning views out across the plains below you. (B)
Day 10:	Belihuloya. Continue hiking through lovely scenery of tea plantations, paddy fields and villages to the Bambarakanda Falls - the highest in Sri Lanka. There is the chance to take a dip in the pool at the bottom before continuing to a small village where we enjoy lunch with a local family. (BL)
Day 11:	Belihuloya- Tanamalwila. We enjoy the beauty of the Diyaluma Waterfalls and visit the Elephant Transit Home, a successful exercise to introduce orphaned baby elephants back into their natural habitats. We spend the night camping. (B)
Day 12:	Tanamalwila- Bentota. We visit the Kataragama Shrine and World Heritage site of the Galle Dutch Fortress before transferring to Bentota, a beach resort on Sri Lanka’s beautiful south-west coast. We spend two nights in a small hotel situated in a peaceful position on a quiet lagoon which stretches into the sea. (B)
Day 13:	Bentota. An exciting morning spent cycling through local villages and various vegetation including coconut, rubber and cinnamon. This afternoon there is the opportunity to enjoy river canoeing. (B)
Day 14:	Bentota - Negombo. Free morning to relax on the beach. In the afternoon we transfer back to Negombo. (B)
Day 15:	Negombo / Colombo. Tour ends after breakfast

travellers' tales

Personal highlights were climbing the steps to the ancient rock fortress at Mihintale during monsoon-style rain; the views from Mount Sigirya; the scenery & tea plantations in the Hill Country; & drinking Lion beer during a thunderstorm with our tour group whilst camping in a rubber plantation! (more)

small group adventure holiday

Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

This small island is absolutely packed with opportunities for cultural interaction. From meeting locals whilst hiking, exploring villages, heading off on mountain bikes and visiting the main Buddhist pilgrimage sites, travellers gain a great insight into all aspects of the Sri Lankan way of life.

We stop off at small local eateries, rather than large tourist restaurants for meals, and near Belihuloya we stop for lunch in a local family house. This is an arrangement we have set up directly with the family so can ensure that they are paid properly and receive the full benefit of our small group visit. At World's End we overnight in very small guest house which is in a remote area that other tourists find it difficult to get to - bringing much needed money into this area. In Kandy we visit an elephant orphanage where our entrance fees contribute to conservation of these incredible animals.

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