Sri Lankan Splendours in a week

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    Visit the sacred ‘Temple of the Tooth’ - one of Sri Lanka’s most important religious monuments

    Visit the sacred ‘Temple of the Tooth’ - one of Sri Lanka’s most important religious monuments

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    Head off to Horton Plains National Park

    Head off to Horton Plains National Park

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    Sip tea in the plantations of Nuwara Eliya

    Nuwara Eliya is set in the heart of tea country

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    Relax on the glorious beaches of Negombo

    Relax on the glorious beaches of Negombo

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    You've got a great chance of spotting a leopard at Yala National Park

    You've got a great chance of spotting a leopard at Yala National Park

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    Trek through the Knuckles Mountain Ranges

    Trek through the Knuckles Mountain Ranges

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    Accommodation in this category includes Amaya Hills, Kandy

    Accommodation in this category includes Amaya Hills, Kandy

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    Stay at Cinammon Wild in Yala National Park

    Stay at Cinammon Wild in Yala National Park

Trip ideas

Duration(in days): 8

From: Colombo

To: Negombo

From

£1,030

Exc. International flights (per person, based on 2 sharing)

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See more ideas for: Sri Lanka

    With the comfort of your own private driver, this 8 day Sri Lankan Splendour itinerary is designed to introduce you to some of the most beautiful regions of Sri Lanka.

    Your trip begins in the cultural capital, Kandy, home to the sacred ‘Temple of the Tooth’. Next you'll enjoy a short 4km trek through the Central Highlands, where you'll witness the stunning Knuckles Mountain Range, visit a tea plantation and the beautiful town of Nuwara Eliya. From tea country to leopard country, your next stops are Horton Plains and Yala National Park - where you'll have the opportunity to spot a buffalo, sloth and even the elusive leopard if you’re lucky!  

    • Explore Sri Lanka with the comfort of a private driver
    • Enjoy a cultural show at the Kandyan Arts & Cultural Centre
    • Complete the ‘horse shoe’ trek in the Knuckles Valley
    • Watch the manufacture of tea on a working tea plantation
    • Spy the ocean through the stunning Ella Gap
    • Spot wildlife on a jeep safari through Yala National Park

     

    Itinerary in brief:

    • 2 nights Kandy
    • 2 nights Nuwara Eliya
    • 1 night Yala National Park
    • 2 nights Negombo

     

    Day 1: Arrive Colombo – travel to Kandy 

    On arrival, you'll be greeted by your driver/guide and driven to Kandy. En route, visit the spice garden in Mawanella before arriving in Kandy and checking into your hotel.

    After freshening up, begin your city tour by driving to the top of the hill for a bird’s eye view of the city. From here you can visit the sacred ‘Temple of the Tooth’ one of Sri Lanka’s most important religious monuments, said to hold the tooth of Buddha.

    Tonight you will get to enjoy a Kandyan Cultural Show at the Kandyan Arts & Cultural Centre, featuring dancers, drummers and fire walkers.

    Overnight in Kandy


    Day 2: Knuckles Mountain Ranges

    After breakfast, you will be collected for your trip to the Knuckles Mountain Ranges. The name ‘Knuckles’ derives from the similarity of its ridges to the knuckles of a clenched fist. This mountain range is great for bird watching, trekking and wildlife photography, but the weather can be quite unpredictable so make sure you pack your waterproofs.

    In the mountains, you'll be taken for a 4km accompanied trek beginning in the village of Ratkinda, at the base of the elephant shaped rock ‘Manigala’. As you pass through the village, you'll get tosee authentic Sri Lankan rural life before walking past paddy fields and into forest canopy of the valley, with it's unique bio-diversity including flowers, birds and butterflies. The trail horse-shoes back to village you began in, taking around 3 hours.

    Overnight in Kandy


    Day 3: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

    After breakfast, you'll head to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya on the way to the town of Nuwara Eliya.

    On arrival into this beautiful town you will check into your hotel and relax before heading out at your own pace on a sight-seeing tour. Nuwara Eliya is set in the heart of tea country and is where the English created a home away from home with Georgian and Queen Anne style houses complete with well-kept lawns and hedges. After a look around the town the evening is free to enjoy at leisure.

    Overnight in Nuwara Eliya


    Day 4: Horton Plains National Park

    It’s an early start this morning and by 5:30am you will be on your way to Horton Plains, the highest plateau in the country.

    Horton Plains is one of the most important national parks in Sri Lanka with its unique vegetation and many rare highland birds. The best feature of the plains however is the steep slope that falls 880 metres to the lowlands offering spectacular views across the countryside towards the south coast – this is known locally as the ‘end of the world’.

    Overnight in Nuwara Eliya


    Day 5: Nuwara Eliya to Yala 

    After breakfast it’s a 90 minute journey to the town of Ella. Ella is a mountainous village considered one of the most scenic parts of the island and home to the Ella Gap, a gap in the mountains where you can see all the way to the ocean on a clear day as well as the Rawana Waterfall, a stunning site with the scenic backdrop of mountains and valleys.

    Whilst in Ella you will be able to join a mountain bike ride to Ellewala Falls. This takes around 40 minutes and you are able to swim in the waterfall on the arrival if you wish before heading back.

    Once you have completed your bike ride it’s onto Yala National Park where you will spend the night.


    Day 6: Yala National Park to Negombo

    Another early start this morning, there’s time for a cup of tea before it’s off on a jeep safari around the national park. Yala National Park is home to wildlife such as elephants, wild buffalo, sloth bear and crocodile as well as the highest density of leopards in the whole world. Spotting these elusive animals can still require a bit of luck though!

    After breakfast at the hotel you will check out and be on your way to Negombo. On the way there’s time for a stop in Colombo and a city tour to show the highlights of Sri Lanka’s capital city. Make sure to check out the vibrant markets and bazaars of Pettah.

    From here it is a further hour onwards to Negombo.

    Overnight in Negombo


    Day 7: Negombo

    Today is a free day, after breakfast why not head to the beach and relax on the white sand.

    Overnight in Negombo


    Day 8: Depart Negombo

    After breakfast check out of your hotel, your driver will be available to take you to the airport at anytime.


     

    High season in Sri Lanka runs from December to March and is when the Hill Country and West/South coast beaches are busiest and driest. The Maha monsoon season keeps the East, North and ancient cities wet at this time. April and September are the best option for those travelling countrywide with these months enjoying the best weather overall, New Year’s celebrations in mid-April can cause transport in particular to be busy so keep this in mind. Low season brings rain to the South and West coasts plus the Hill Country, weather is best at this time for travel to the North & East.

    All of our itineraries are tailor-made to give you an idea of just some of what is possible; this means we can adjust as necessary to completely suit your needs!  Let your travel consultant know how long you plan to spend away, what you like to do, what properties you like to stay in and an idea of your budget and we will do the rest!

    What's included
    • Meeting and assistance on arrival and departure
    • B&B accommodation in mentioned hotels or similar standard
    • Transportation in an air conditioned car with private driver
    • Entrance tickets to all the sites mentioned in the itinerary
    • Jeep safari in the Yala National Park
    • Return van transfer up to Horton Plains NP entrance
    • Mountain bike ride to Ellewala waterfall
    • All taxes 
    Not included
    • Visa processing
    • Lunch & dinners
    • Video/camera fees at sites
    • Items of personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, tipping etc

    8 nights in 4* style standard accommodation.

    Hotels in this category include:

    • Amaya Hills, Kandy

    • Cinnamon Wild, Yala National Park