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The Best of Sri Lanka

£2,595.00

Seeing the gentle giants at Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home.

On our Sri Lanka holidays, this introduction to the ‘Land of Serendipity’ reveals mountaintop fortresses, ancient capitals hidden in dense forest and national parks where elephants roam free. Starting and finishing in the island’s capital, Colombo, our Sri Lanka tours journey to Buddhist temples and botanical gardens, stopping to sample some of the world’s best tea along the way. A safari drive in Yala National Park is another highlight of our Sri Lanka itinerary, and a great opportunity to spot leopards, buffalo, elephants and crocodiles.

  • 13 excursions & visits
  • 20 meals
  • Group size up to 24
  • Active traveller pace
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Your itinerary

Day 1 – In flight

Our door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your overnight flight to Colombo.

In flight

Day 2 – Colombo

On arrival we transfer to our hotel and the rest of the day is free.

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo (4.5-star)

Today includes…

Dinner

Old Parliament Building in Colombo

Day 3 – Colombo – Habarana

Colombo is Sri Lanka’s commercial centre, a curious mix of eastern tradition and western infiltration. Our morning tour includes a visit to the fort built by the Portuguese. From our coach, we’ll also view the buzzing Pettah bazaar district, where the streets are crammed with stalls and shops. We continue our journey to Habarana, in the heart of the island, where we’ll stay for three nights.

Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana (4.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: City tour of Colombo (morning)

Breakfast and Dinner

Buddha statues in Seema Malaka temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Day 4 – Anuradhapura – Hiriwadunna Village

We head to Anuradhapura, ruled by the Sinhalese Kings for over 1,000 years. Star attractions include ancient Buddhist shrines, dagobas (bell-shaped memorials) and pokunas (stone water tanks). We also visit the sacred 2,000-year-old Sri Maha Bodi tree. Later we’ll visit Hiriwadunna, a typical Sri Lankan village, for an introduction to local culture and indigenous farming practices.

Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana (4.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the Buddhist shrines at Anuradhapura (morning)Visit to Hiriwadunna village (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

Thuparama Dagoba in Anuradhapura, UNESCO World Heritage Site, North Central Province, Sri Lanka, Asia.

Day 5 – Sigiriya

Adventure awaits us this morning in Sigiriya, a 182m-high rock plateau on which a 5th-century ruler built a fortress and palace. The spectacular ‘lion rock’ fortress stands majestically over the green jungle. Carved in a niche in the rocks are frescoes of beautiful women. This afternoon you’re free to relax or join an optional excursion to Polonnaruwa, built in the 12th century by King Parakramabahu. The remains of the King’s Palace include shrines, temples, dagobas and the Gal Vihara.

Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana (4.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit Sigiriya Rock fortress (morning)

Breakfast and Dinner

Free time

Sri Lanka: beautiful ancient Lion Rock fortress in Sigiriya or Sinhagiri, located near the town of Dambulla, a famous Sri Lankan landmark. The Gardens of Sigiriya in the foreground.

Day 6 – Dambulla – Kandy

Today’s tour takes in the serene Golden Temple at Dambulla, a home for Buddhist monks since 3 BC. Over the 22 centuries, the five natural caves that make up this sacred pilgrimage site have been decorated with brilliant murals and exceptional sculptures. Take your time to explore and marvel at the rock-hewn Buddha. We then stop at a spice garden before reaching Kandy, last capital of the ancient kings, which nestles among low hills looped by the Mahaweli River.

Cinnamon Citadel Hotel, Kandy (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the Golden Temple, Dambulla (morning)

Breakfast and Dinner

The Golden Temple in Dambulla Sri Lanka - a UNESCO heritage site.

Day 7 – Royal Botanical Gardens – Temple of the Tooth

This morning’s tour reveals the Royal Botanical Gardens, where you can admire stunning flora and fauna. After a chance to relax, we’ll head out again to watch Kandyan dancers perform the enchanting national dance of Sri Lanka, a feast for your eyes and ears! We’ll continue our journey to the royal palace complex, for a visit to the sacred Temple of the Tooth. The temple houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.

Cinnamon Citadel Hotel, Kandy (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens (morning)Kandyan dance performance (afternoon)Visit the Temple of the Tooth (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

Colorful Flowers At Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden Kandy, Sri Lanka. The Botanical Garden Includes More Than 4000 Species Of Plants, Including Of Orchids, Spices, Medicinal Plants And Palm Trees

Day 8 – Nuwara Eliya

Today, we’ll make tracks for Nuwara Eliya, home of Ceylon tea. It was built during the 19th century in the style of an old English country town, with some local twists. Victorian- and Tudor-style homes line the pretty lake, and tuk-tuks can be found parked beside a red phone box. Tea lovers will be in their element as we tour a plantation, where workers – or ‘pluckers’ – pick each delicate leaf by hand. We’ll see the entire manufacturing process, from grading the tea by quality and size through to its final preparation. Later on, we’ll celebrate the tradition of high tea at our hotel.

The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Tea plantation tour in the Nuwara Eliya area (morning)High tea at The Grand Hotel (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

Hands with some tea in a tea fields in Sri Lanka

Day 9 – Elephant Transit Home – Yala

Our journey continues to the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe. Unlike many other sanctuaries, this home rehabilitates orphaned and injured elephants until they’re strong and old enough to be released back into the wild. We continue on to Yala, on the south coast of the island and one of Sri Lanka’s most famous national parks.

Cinnamon Wild Yala (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the Elephant Transit Home (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home in sri lanka

Day 10 – Yala National Park

We rise early for our safari in Sri Lanka’s best-known national park, in search of the elusive Sri Lankan leopard. Even if we fail to catch a glimpse of this majestic predator, there’s plenty more to see, including elephants, buffalo, monkeys, deer and crocodiles. After all the excitement you can relax for the rest of the day, or join an optional evening bird trail with an expert local guide.

Cinnamon Wild Yala (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Yala National Park safari (morning)

Breakfast and Dinner

Free time

A leopard hides among the foliage in Sri Lanka

Day 11 – Galle – Beruwala

The Old Town of Galle, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in southern Asia. The Portuguese first took control of the city in the early 16th century and began the fortification process, only to surrender it to the Dutch East India Company around 150 years later. The Dutch built substantial ramparts and walls, which are still standing today. Following our short tour, we head up the coast to Beruwala.

Cinnamon Bey Hotel, Beruwala (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: City tour of Galle (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

An aerial view of the walled city of Galle, Sri Lanka

Day 12 – Colombo – departure

Today we transfer to Colombo Airport for your return flight. Upon arrival, our vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

Today includes…

Breakfast