Splendours of Sri Lanka

Fly to Colombo

Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Colombo with Sri Lankan Airlines. (N)

Meal basis: As per itinerary B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Chilaw

Arrive and transfer to the Anantaya hotel for 1 night. Welcome dinner. (D)

Anuradhapura

Drive to Anuradhapura via Wilpattu National Park. Afternoon wildlife safari in search of leopards and sloth bears. Stay 3 nights at the Forest Rock Garden Resort. (B, D)

Wilpattu National Park – Anuradhapura

Full-day safari in Wilpattu National Park. (B, L, D)

Anuradhapura

Drive to the ancient city of Anuradhapura. For 1,400 years, this city was the capital of Sri Lanka and contains fabulous Buddhist shrines and relics. Afternoon at leisure. (B, D)

Habarana

Transfer to Habarana. Stay 2 nights at the Cinnamon Lodge. Afternoon cookery lesson. (B)

Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa

Morning visit to the UNESCO-listed rock fortress town of Sigiriya. Continue to the 11th-century medieval capital of Polonnaruwa. (B)

Dambulla – Kandy

Morning visit to Dambulla, home to Asia’s most impressive cave temples. Continue to the beautiful hill station of Kandy and stay 2 nights at the Cinnamon Citadel. Afternoon sightseeing tour. In the evening, watch a traditional Kandyan dance performance and visit the Temple of the Tooth for the evening Puja ceremony. (B, D)

Kandy

Kandy is set on the shores of a beautiful man-made lake and the area abounds in rich and varied plant life. Morning visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Afternoon at leisure to explore Kandy’s markets. (B, D)

Nuwara Eliya

Morning drive to the hill station of Nuwara Eliya via a tea plantation. Situated at 2,000 metres, Nuwara Eliya attracted the British in the 18th century and their legacy is still visible. Stay at The Blackpool for 2 nights. (B, D)

Horton Plains

Early morning visit to Horton Plains, situated on Sri Lanka’s highest plateau (this excursion involves a 2.5-hour walk*). Horton Plains is inhabited by large populations of monkeys and sambars. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B, D)

Wadduwa

Drive to Wadduwa. Stay 2 nights at the Blue Water Hotel, a luxury hotel with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. (B, D)

Wadduwa

Day at leisure. Farewell dinner. (B, D)

Fly to London

Transfer to Colombo and fly to London with Sri Lankan Airlines. (B)

Meal basis:As per itinerary B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.