Description
Day 1: London - Colombo
Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Colombo with Sri Lankan Airlines.
Day 2: Colombo
On arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be transferred to the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo for your overnight stay. The day is yours to explore at leisure - there are shopping malls, restaurants, nightclubs and casinos. Make sure you get a good night's sleep as it's an early start the next day!
Day 3: Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kandy
After breakfast, depart for the world-famous Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Arrive in time to see the bathing of the elephants in the river. After lunch at the restaurant overlooking the river, witness the bottle feeding of baby elephants. This afternoon, transfer to the Royal city of Kandy for your overnight stay at the Chaaya Citadel. Enjoy some time at leisure in this ancient capital city. (B/D)
Day 4: White-Water Rafting - Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, depart for Kitugala. This is where David Lean's masterpiece The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed and is home to some of Sri Lanka's most fertile landscape. A great base for many adventure-based activities, enjoy an exhilarating 1 hour 30 min to 2 hours of white-water rafting on Kelani River. This afternoon, transfer to Nuwara Eliya for your overnight stay at the Grand Hotel. Enjoy some time at leisure in town situated in the midst of the Hill Country. (B/D)
Day 5: Horton Plains - Bandarawela
Today you head to Horton Plains National Park for a 2- to 3-hour trek to World's End - Sri Lanka's highest plateau, nearly 1,000ft above sea level. The 'fen' encompasses everything from mountains to grasslands and marshes to trout streams, and is close to where some of Sri Lanka's best-flavoured teas are grown! It is also great for wildlife spotting, so watch out for leopard, bear, monkeys and mouse deer. At World's End you are rewarded with breathtaking views, sweeping through hazy lakes and paddy fields. Overnight at the Bandarawela Hotel, situated in the hill country of Sri Lanka. (B/D)
Day 6: Bandarawela
Leave for Bambarakanda for a trek through lower Ohiya to the Bambarakanda Falls, Sri Lanka's highest waterfall. The 6- to 7-hour trek takes you through a richly forested area to the highest point of Sri Lanka's railway line and further into the hills through tea plantations. The descent is equally breathtaking. Alternatively, if you would prefer, take a short 3-hour trek through the vegetable plots and tea gardens which surround Bandarawela. Overnight at the Bandarawela Hotel. (B/D)
Day 7: Udawalawe National Park
It's up early to travel to Udawalawe National Park, world famous for its elephant population, where it is more than likely you will see them feeding, bathing and playing in the water. Enjoy an afternoon jeep safari - with wildlife to rival the savannas of Africa, you may also spot deer, wild boar, water buffalo, jackal and leopard. A delicious barbecued dinner will be served by the river, after which you can retire to your tent, listening to the sounds of the jungle as you drift off. (B/L/D)
Day 8: Yala National Park
If it's bird life that interests you, join an early morning safari to spot serpent eagle, white ibis and stork-billed kingfisher. Migrant species include forest wagtail, osprey, sandpiper and tern. Return to the camp for a late breakfast before your journey to Yala, one of the best parks in the world to see and observe leopard, where you will enjoy an afternoon jeep safari. More than 3 times larger than Udawalawe, it is also famous for its elephants and is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and freshwater lagoons. Overnight is spent at Yala Village, a chalet-style hotel that borders the national park and the Indian Ocean. (B/D)
Day 9: Yala - Beruwela/Mount Lavinia
Before breakfast, it's another chance to spot leopard on an early morning jeep safari. After breakfast, either journey along the southwestern coast to the Riverina Hotel for 5 nights (AI) or continue your holiday in the Maldives. You will be transferred to the Mount Lavinia (B) for 1 night, before an onward flight to the Maldives and transfer to the Chaaya Lagoon Hakuraa Huraa (page 49) for 6 nights. (AI)
Days 10-13/15: Sri Lanka or The Maldives
Time at leisure to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka or the Maldives. (AI)
Days 14/16: Sri Lanka/Maldives - London
You will be transferred back to the airport for your return flight to London Heathrow with Sri Lankan Airlines.
Departs: Every Sun from London Heathrow.