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When you travel with a Specialist, your senses are opened to a world far beyond conventional. Asia Travel Specialist deliver the extraordinary with ease with specialist who care about your trip as much or even more than you do! But, remember always, Travel with a Specialist.
13 days
Age 12+
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec
£3,995
Sri Lanka Highlights
First Time
Asia Travel Specialist is thrilled to reveal the highlights of this intoxicating paradise island. Asia Travel Specialist recommend that for any first-time visitor to the teardrop island, a Sri Lanka tour should include lofty views atop Sigiriya Rock Fortress, verdant tea plantations, Uda Walawe’s Elephant herds, Galle’s historic streets and the swaying palms of the Indian Ocean coastline. We have got it covered in this stylish, well-paced private tour. After this captivating experience, the only question is, how long will your clients wait until their next trip?
Sri Lanka Highlights – Tour Highlights
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Unwind on arrival at the stunning Wallawwa boutique hotel.
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Climb the fascinating Sigiriya Rock Fortress and explore the palace remains at the summit.
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Hike through the tea estates of Stafford Bungalow.
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Witness the Asian Elephant in its natural habitat at Uda Walawe National Park.
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Explore the characterful and historic fort town of old Galle.
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Swim in the Indian Ocean and watch the sunset from Shinagawa Beach Resort at serene Balapitiya
Suggested itinerary – We will customize this for you
Day 1 – Colombo to Kotugoda
Upon arrival, your clients are warmly welcomed by our local representatives. Your clients will no doubt be tired after the long flight and so we transfer them to a beautiful boutique hotel at nearby Kotugoda village so that they can relax and unwind.
Meals: None
Hotel:
The Wallawwa
Relax and recharge after the flight at The Wallawwa, a boutique hotel inhabiting a former 18th century manor house. Explore the 200-year-old tropical gardens and enjoy the stunning swimming pool surrounded by jungle and exotic bird life.
Day 2 – Kotugoda to Sigiriya
This morning your clients will meet their driver/guide who will look after them throughout their Sri Lanka tour. Transfer approximately 4 1/2 hours to Sigiriya in the cultural triangle. Check into Jetwing Vil Uyana which will be your client’s base for three nights while they explore the highlights of the cultural triangle. The afternoon is at leisure so that your clients can relax after the long drive.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
Jetwing Vil Uyana
Jetwing Vil Uyana is well located for easy access to all the cultural sites. In addition, Vil Uyana’s wetland environment attracts a vast amount of wildlife including monkeys, peacocks, monitor lizards, loris and fruit bats. Wildlife walking tours are available on the property and bookable through the resort.
Day 3 – Sigiriya
Today travel north to Anuradhapura, arguably the most impressive cultural site in Sri Lanka.
Because Anuradhapura was the first political and religious capital in Sri Lanka dating back to the 5th Century BC, we visit this cultural site first.
Explore the enormous dome stupas and ancient reservoirs, amazing feats of ancient engineering. The Dagobas of Jetavaranamaya, Ruwanweliseya and Abhayagiriya are second only in height to the pyramids of Egypt. Explore Abhayagiri Monastery, the largest monastery complex in Anuradhapura consisting of an enormous stupa, a large Buddha statue, and an impressive pond. Visit the Sri Jaya Maha Bodhi, the oldest human planted tree in the world. Sri Jaya Maha Bodhi was grown from a sapling of the fig tree under which the Buddha had attained enlightenment more than 2500 years ago.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
Jetwing Vil Uyana
Jetwing Vil Uyana is well located for easy access to all the cultural sites. In addition, Vil Uyana’s wetland environment attracts a vast amount of wildlife including monkeys, peacocks, monitor lizards, loris and fruit bats. Wildlife walking tours are available on the property and bookable through the resort.
Day 4 – Sigiriya
After breakfast your clients will climb to the top of nearby Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The word Sigiriya means the Lion’s Rock. Clients will climb up 1200 steps before they reach the palace ruins on top of the imposing 200-metre-high granite rock. Many of the steps are steel staircases attached to the rock itself and so this climb is not for those who fear heights! Along the climb your clients will come across beautifully detailed and well-preserved frescoes. The lions’ paw is a good place to have a rest before the final ascent. Previously a lion statue with steps leading into the lion’s mouth, these days only the paws and steps remain. It will take a total of around 2-3 hours to climb up and back down.
As the Sigirya climb can be hot and tiring we recommend the afternoon at leisure so that your clients can enjoy their resort. Perhaps they could embark on a nature walk or enjoy the pool.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
Jetwing Vil Uyana
Jetwing Vil Uyana is well located for easy access to all the cultural sites. In addition, Vil Uyana’s wetland environment attracts a vast amount of wildlife including monkeys, peacocks, monitor lizards, loris and fruit bats. Wildlife walking tours are available on the property and bookable through the resort.
Sigiriya Rock
Day 5 – Sigiriya to Kandy
This morning drive 3 1/2 hours to Kandy. Dambulla Cave Temple consists of five sanctuaries that are the largest and best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka and so we stop en-route to Kandy. Buddhist mural paintings adorn the cave walls which house the 157 Buddha statues.
Check in to The Theva Residency. This afternoon is at leisure so that your clients can enjoy a spa, sauna or the infinity pool.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
The Theva Residency
The Theva Residency is a homely boutique hotel in the Hantana Mountain range overlooking Kandy. The Theva features one of the best restaurants in Kandy. Facilities include an infinity pool and a sauna and steam room. Rooms are very well maintained in a modern style.
Day 6 – Kandy
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, if not the world and so is a must see in Kandy. The temple houses the tooth of Buddha nestled in a golden chamber located within the premises of the royal palace complex.
Later today your clients explore the Botanical Gardens. Spread over 60 hectares, clients will find a huge range of fascinating flora and fauna in this immaculately landscaped open space. Visit the Orchid House and the 40-metre-high Burmese bamboo, often inhabited by many mischievous monkeys. They will also come across a variety of bird life and fruit bats.
Kandy’s bustling markets are worth a quick visit and so your clients may want to ask their guide to show them around. As always, the exact itinerary details and timings are entirely up to your clients wishes on the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
The Theva Residency
The Theva Residency is a homely boutique hotel in the Hantana Mountain range overlooking Kandy. The Theva features one of the best restaurants in Kandy. Facilities include an infinity pool and a sauna and steam room. Rooms are very well maintained in a modern style.
Day 7 – Kandy to Tea Country
After breakfast, the client’s driver/guide will drop them off at nearby Peradeniya train station. Enjoy the scenic train journey into the cooler tea growing region in either first class or the observation carriage. The 4 1/2 hour journey to Nanu Oya station is stunning and so your clients will be able to capture some magnificent images along the way. Their driver/guide will meet and transfer them from Nanu Oya station to Stafford Bungalow.
Stafford Bungalow estate contains fantastic walking trails and mountain biking routes and so we suggest your clients explore the estate this afternoon. Stafford Bungalow staff know the estates well and therefore will be happy to guide them through the tea plantation.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
Stafford Bungalow
Stafford Bungalow is a former tea planter bungalow built by Scottish planters in 1884. Stafford Bungalow features only four en suite bedrooms each with their own character and finished to a very high standard. All rooms are tastefully furnished with teak furniture and wooden floors.
Train journey into tea country.
Day 8 – Tea Country
Sri Lanka’s tea industry is incredibly successful and so this morning your clients visit a nearby tea factory.
Later this afternoon your clients will explore nearby Nuwara Eliya hill town with their driver/guide. Nuwara Eliya is also referred to as ‘Little England’ as it has a similarly cool climate. Nuwara Eliya is filled with colonial-era bungalows, Tudor style hotels and pretty parks and gardens and so is well worth exploring.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
Stafford Bungalow
Stafford Bungalow is a former tea planter bungalow built by Scottish planters in 1884. Stafford Bungalow features only four en suite bedrooms each with their own character and finished to a very high standard. All rooms are tastefully furnished with teak furniture and wooden floors.
Day 9 – Tea Country to Uda Walawe National Park
The next stop is Uda Walawe National Park, a scenic five hour drive. We shall ensure your clients arrive in time to see the afternoon feeding at the Elephant Transit home. At the transit home, trained veterinary staff nurse baby elephants because they have been separated from their herds. Baby elephants are looked after until they are ready to be released back into the wild.
Around 700 elephants have been counted in Uda Walawe National Park and so your clients will head out on a private safari drive this afternoon to see these impressive creatures in their natural habitat. They will look out for spotted deer, endemic toque macaque monkeys, sloth bears, grey langur monkeys, crocodiles, jackals, monitor lizards, and water buffalo. Bird life is also prolific. Species include bee-eaters, peacock, white-bellied sea eagle, crested serpent-eagle, grey-headed fish eagle and booted eagle.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel:
Centauria Wild
Centauria Wild is located very close to Uda Walawe National Park entrance and offers a wide range of facilities. These include a large pool, fitness centre, sauna and spa. Rooms are tastefully furnished and offer excellent views of the surrounding countryside.
Sri Lankan Elephant enjoying a dust bath in Uda Walawe National Park
Day 10 – Uda Walawe National Park to Galle and Balapitiya
Your clients wake before sunrise and enjoy an early morning safari drive in Uda Walawe National Park. After a late breakfast they will be transferred approximately 3 1/2 hours into historic Galle where they will explore this charming UNESCO protected fort with their knowledgeable driver/guide. During this walking tour they will begin by exploring the imposing ramparts. Later, they will stroll past a myriad of churches, mosques, Dutch colonial buildings, museums, British era post boxes, stylish shops and cafes.
Later this afternoon your clients will be transferred one hour along the coast to their relaxing beach resort at Balapitiya. As they will no longer need any further guiding, their driver/guide will head home to Colombo. Another driver will take them to the airport on the last day.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
Shinagawa-Beach
Shinagawa Beach enjoys prime location on a largely empty stretch of fine golden sand that is backed by lush coconut palms. Shinagawa’s beach is one of the few locations along the coast of Sri Lanka where it is safe to swim in the sea. The resort offers well-appointed modern style rooms, fitness centre, spa, outdoor pool and a children’s pool.
Day 11 – 12 Balapitiya
As the clients have had a few busy days it is now time for them to relax and unwind at this beautiful beach resort.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel:
Shinagawa-Beach
Shinagawa Beach enjoys prime location on a largely empty stretch of fine golden sand that is backed by lush coconut palms. Shinagawa’s beach is one of the few locations along the coast of Sri Lanka where it is safe to swim in the sea. The resort offers well-appointed modern style rooms, fitness centre, spa, outdoor pool and a children’s pool.
Day 13 – Balapitiya to Colombo
Today your clients will be transferred approximately two hours to the airport to meet their departing flight.
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DepartureLondon and Regional airports
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IncludedAirfareLocal transportation5 Star AccomodationProfessional Guide
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Not IncludedDeparture TaxesEntry Fees
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When you travel with a Specialist, your senses are opened to a world far beyond conventional. Asia Travel Specialist delivers the extraordinary with ease with a specialist who cares about your trip as much or even more than you do! But, remember always, Travel with a Specialist.