Sri Lanka hill country tour
| country: | Sri Lanka |
| departures: | This trip can be arranged at any time and can be tailored to fit your own unique requirements, interests and budget. |
| price: | From US $1535 (9 days) excluding flights. |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
The hill country of Sri Lanka is probably one of the most beautiful places on earth and the Sri Lanka Hill Country tour aims to capture this magic.
Our journey first takes us to Kandy. This bustling city was the last capital of ancient Ceylon before it was captured in 1815 by the British.
We spend two days exploring this city before heading into the tea plantations where we spend two nights in a beautiful planter's bungalow. Next we spend one night in Nuwara Eliya, a beautiful town 2040m above sea level, which retains most of its colonial architecture and is known as “little England”.
We then visit Horton Plains a high altitude nature reserve and then travel to Kitulgala where we spend one night. The eco lodge where we spend the last night is very basic but is right on the banks of the Kelani River. You may also experience white water rafting at this lodge. Finally return to Colombo and visit some clothing and souvenir shops or relax at the hotel.
Highlights of the tour
Holiday itinerary may be fully customised as per individual needs.
Our journey first takes us to Kandy. This bustling city was the last capital of ancient Ceylon before it was captured in 1815 by the British.
We spend two days exploring this city before heading into the tea plantations where we spend two nights in a beautiful planter's bungalow. Next we spend one night in Nuwara Eliya, a beautiful town 2040m above sea level, which retains most of its colonial architecture and is known as “little England”.
We then visit Horton Plains a high altitude nature reserve and then travel to Kitulgala where we spend one night. The eco lodge where we spend the last night is very basic but is right on the banks of the Kelani River. You may also experience white water rafting at this lodge. Finally return to Colombo and visit some clothing and souvenir shops or relax at the hotel.
Highlights of the tour
- Kandy: Dalada Maligawa, fire walking, Peradeniya Gardens
- Castlereigh: Breathtaking scenery
- Nuwara Eliya: Tea factory, Horton Plains Nature Reserve
- Kitulgala: White-water rafting, bird watching or caving
Holiday itinerary may be fully customised as per individual needs.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Colombo. On your arrival in Sri Lanka you will be met at the airport by your chauffeur and transferred to Colombo. During the 60 minute journey from the airport you can catch a glimpse of Sri Lankan life: throngs of street vendors, tuk-tuks weaving crazily about in traffic, 60 seater buses that always seem come right at you are all part of the sights and sounds that would greet you on your way. Upon arrival at the Galle Face Hotel, you can rest, relax and recover from jetlag. We will host you to a complimentary dinner in the evening. During this dinner we will answer all your questions regarding the tour and also familiarize you with general information. |
| Day 2: | Kandy. Travel to Kandy after an early breakfast. En route to Kandy we visit the Peradeniya Gardens which is now a botanical gardens but was the pleasure gardens prior to colonial occupation. The botanical gardens are home to some very unique plant life and one of the best exhibits is the orchids. Arriving at the hotel towards afternoon rest a while before witnessing a colourful pageant featuring drummers, dancers and firewalking. Spend the night in Kandy at a hotel with spectacular views of the surroundings. |
| Day 3: | Kandy. Begin the day by visiting the sites in and around the city of Kandy. This includes visits to the Museum and the Temple of the tooth. We also visit a handicrafts village and watch the workers creating fine handicrafts. Return to the hotel and relax in the evening. |
| Day 4-5: | Leave Kandy and travel into the tea plantations to arrive at your planter’s bungalow overlooking the Castlereigh Reservoir. This beautifully restored bungalow has classic wooden furnishings and fireplaces. Relax in total comfort and have your meals in the dining room or on the terrace. Play a game of croquet, swim or explore the surrounding tea trails. Summer houses offer the option of relaxing with a cup of tea and a good book. Watch the sunset over the lake and sip sundowners on the terrace. |
| Day 6: | Nuwara Eliya. Leaving Hatton travel a short distance to Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is a town 2040m above sea level. This town is popular amongst the locals and is packed during the annual new holidays break in April. It is however quiet during the rest of the year. The architecture of the town is predominantly British influenced and is often referred to as “little England”. On arrival in Nuwara Eliya you may relax at the hotel or explore the town. |
| Day 7: | Kitulgala. Meet at dawn with our horticulturalist and travel to the Horton Plains. This high altitude nature reserve is home to large numbers of samburs and a few leopards. There are also quite a few unique plants found only at this reserve. With Lal as your guide you would truly appreciate the uniqueness of this nature reserve. The highlight of Horton plains is the “World’s End”, a sheer cliff face of 880m. It offers some breathtaking views and on a clear day you can see the Indian Ocean 50 Km away. Bidding farewell to Lal we travel to Kitulgala. This sleepy town is home to some of the best white-water rafting in Sri Lanka. The grade 2 and 3 rapids are safe for even beginners and offer the more experienced excitement. The eco lodge is also a birdwatchers paradise. You can white-water raft, explore the caves nearby, visit the forest crossing over in a dugout or relax with a glass of fresh toddy. |
| Day 8: | Colombo. Leave Kitulgala and head to Colombo. Arriving in Colombo at noon time you may visit the various clothing and souvenir shops or relax at the hotel. |
| Day 9: | Airport. Depart in good time for your flight back home. |
travellers' tales
We stayed in some extremely good hotels selected by Ruban and had the chance to see a lot of wildlife, temples and different terrain. We will certainly be looking to book holidays through your company again.
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how this holiday makes a difference
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The current environment in Sri Lanka as a result of some unfortunate events has dropped arrivals considerably. This means that the monthly revenues are only sufficient to meet our running expenses. Therefore we are now concentrating on sustaining the individuals and the industry at large.
Our primary responsibility is to our chauffeurs and here we ensure that we pay them 5% above the going rate for mileage. Although this amount is not significant it helps maintain morale when the going is tough. We are also trying our utmost to look after the wellbeing of secondary workers in the industry like guides and craftsman by using their services for our tours. As always 93% of all your money stays in Sri Lanka. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |