Classic Lanka

Tour Type:
Small Group Journeys
Start:
Colombo
Duration:
14 Days
End:
Colombo
Departs:
Guaranteed Departure Min Pax: 04

Starting From

AU$ 2827
Per Person Sharing Twin/Double ENQUIRE NOW

This small-group tour combines culture and relaxation, taking in some of Sri Lanka’s finest historical, archaeological and natural treasures while not forgetting the pleasure of a few days by the sea.

Starts Ends Twin Price (AU$) Solo Price (AU$) Status
2024
10-Mar 23-Mar 3144 4416 Closed
07-Apr 20-Apr 3144 4416 Closed
07-Sep 20-Sep 3098 4288 Available
06-Oct 19-Oct 3084 4263 Available
03-Nov 16-Nov 3270 4607 Available
01-Dec 14-Dec 3270 4607 Available
2025
09-Feb 22-Feb 3460 4917 Available
09-Mar 22-Mar 3460 4917 Available
06-Apr 19-Apr 3460 4917 Available
04-May 17-May 3460 4917 Available

Itinerary

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DAY 1

On arrival at the airport, meet your tour manager at the arrival lounge who will assist you to transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.

DAY 2

After breakfast travel to Habarana the hub of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Located in the north-central part of the island, Habarana is a part of Sri Lanka’s dry zone. Thanks to the genius of our ancient kings dating as far as the 05th Century AD, the Sri Lankan Dry Zone is anything but dry, with hundreds of lakes and eservoirs which are connected by an elaborate network of canals making up an old but great irrigation system. Aside from the benefit for agriculture and industry, the waterworks of the dry zone provide some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery and fertile habitat for the islands incredible bio-diversity. The remainder of the afternoon is free to relax or explore this small town.

DAY 3

Today enjoy an excursion to Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s ancient capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins and monuments, an engineering marvel, embellished with handsome stone carvings or sculptures, pleasure gardens, beautifully executed stone baths and ponds and a superb irrigation system of reservoirs and canals dated back to the 2nd Century BC.

DAY 4

Morning visit the 5th Century Sigiriya rock fortress. An afternoon bullockdrawn cart ride will take you through the village of Hiriwadunna. Cross a scenic reservoir by Oruwa (traditional boat), its long, narrow shape gliding effortlessly on the water, to visit a Chena cultivation, wherefrom the shade of a treehouse made of mud and thatched palm leaves, the village of Hiriwadunna can be surveyed. Mix and mingle with locals over a cup of Ceylon Tea before a home-cooked lunch is served by the local family.

DAY 5

Take an excursion to Polonnaruwa, another World Heritage Site, and visit monuments built by the South Indian Cholas dynasty in the 11th and 12th centuries. Later visit Minneriya National Park to watch a big family of elephants come to bathe and graze, as well as the
variety of birds that come to fish in the shallow waters.

DAY 6

Leave after breakfast for Kandy, stopping en route in Matale spice growing region for special insight to some unique Sri Lankan agriculture. First, stop at a coconut plantation to learn about the multitude of uses of this fascinating tree; see how the coconut is husked and its fibres used to make rope. Witness the collection of the sweet coconut water for a refreshing drink, the use of the coconut kernel for the extraction of coconut milk which forms the base for most Sri Lankan curries and the production of honey and sweet jaggery from sap collected from the coconut flower. Proceed to Kandy on reaching we check-in at the hotel relax until 6:00 pm then get ready to enjoy a drum and dance cultural show before concluding the day.

DAY 7

After breakfast at the hotel, drive out to Peradeniya Botanical Garden. This 147-acre garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was later expanded by the British. It offers an amazing variety of trees, plants, and flowers. Return to Kandy the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and listed as another UNESCO world heritage site. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendour and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions, and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around Kandy Lake, built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, in 1798. Visit Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy town and bazaar, the arts and crafts centre, a gem museum, and a lapidary. Overnight stay at Hotel.

DAY 8

After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya; a tea country; where ever you look, you will see tea plantations, the rich full green of thousands and thousands of tea bushes. And out of the green in regular intervals, the white coloured tea factories will enchant your eyes. Occasionally you can see a few rice fields and near the villages, vegetable plantations or gardens. The small resort town of Nuwara Eli ya, situated at 2'070 m above sea level, lies on a little lake and is surrounded by mountains covered over and over by tea bushes. At the town boundaries there are a lot of vegetable plantations and flower fields, but also along the roads of Nuwara Eliya and in most of its gardens flowers are blooming. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 9

Wake up to the freshness of the tea garden enjoy a leisurely breakfast and get ready for a tea garden tour. The tea industry in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is over 150 years old. It is a traditional industry commenced by the British when Ceylon was a colony. Vestiges of the Colonial heritage are still evident, particularly in the tea-growing regions. Meet tea experts and scientists at the Tea Research Institute and learn about the latest scientific discoveries. Sharpen your tea tasting skills with experts. Remaining day is free to relax and enjoy beautiful surroundings. 

DAY 10

Travel to Yala, famous for its national park, enjoy a scenic ride through small towns, and arrive late afternoon. Evening free to explore and stay overnight at Yala.

DAY 11

After breakfast, enjoy a morning jeep safari to Yala National Park. Yala – Sri Lanka’s most known National Park is popular for Elephant, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. 97,800 hectares in extent, 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 received much fame through publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research/conservation and identification project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world’s highest concentration of leopard per square kilometre. Vegetation is primarily grassland and shrub jungle with patches of dense growth while several salt and freshwater lagoons are a haven for a large variety of resident and migrant birds. Areas popular with leopard are rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide. Thereafter proceed to the next destination and enjoy three nights at the beach resort.

DAY 12

After breakfast, enjoy a day excursion to the Mask Factory Museum st Ambalangoda, Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. Kosgoda is famous for its turtle hatchery- operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka's turtles from extinction. The hatchery pays fishermen for eggs that they collect at night along the sandy beach. Visitors can see huge tanks filled with newborn turtle hatchlings. After being fed, the baby turtles are taken to the sea and released when they are 2-4 days old, usually during the safer hours of darkness. Before returning, explore Galle fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site said to be the famous Tarshish of the Bible where King Solomon obtained gems and spices.

DAY 13

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the day is free to relax on the beach.

DAY 14

Check out by midday and travel back to Colombo. The tour finishes by late afternoon with a direct transfer to the airport.

Inclusion


13 Nights deluxe accommodation with private facilities

Travel by chartered air-conditioned vehicle

Group assistance and transfers

Sightseeing as specified

Meals as specified

THO National Guide (minimum 07 people)

Monument entry fees

Jeep safari at Minneriya & Yala National Park 

Cultural dance show in Kandy

Turtle hatchery

Village experience

Tea tour

Bottled water while travelling

All currently collectable taxes

Exclusion


International Airfares

Any meals other than specified, drinks, laundry, mineral water, telephone calls, postage

Camera and Video entry charges at Monuments/Forts etc

Train or domestic airfares excluding those mentioned in includes column

Optional tour and meals unless otherwise mentioned in the includes column

Visa & passport fees

Covid insurance

PCR test costs

Travel insurance of any kind

Tipping

Extra baggage charges

Early check-in or late checkout

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