Sri Lanka
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Known as the teardrop of India, a holiday in Sri Lanka rewards you with a tropical climate, traditional Buddhist culture, unique and colourful wildlife, welcoming people, inviting sandy beaches and cooler temperate hill stations. Visitors can delights in its ancient architecture; fortresses and temples alongside palm fringed shores and lush National Parks.
Sri Lanka Highlights
Anuradhapura
This sacred city is famous for its immense Buddhist shrines
Southwest coast beaches
Stretching from the fishing village of Negombo, all the way down the coast to Hambantota – here the sand glitters like gold and the sea sparkles in the bright sunlight.
Colombo
Sri Lanka’s capital city offers shopping, good restaurants and the famous Galle Face seafront.
Dambulla
The 566 feet high cave temples offer the finest frescoes in Sri Lanka within a painted area of 20,000 square feet
Galle
The historic fortified city of Galle, south of Colombo, is a World Heritage site. Here you can watch the stilt fisherman and stroll along the top of the ramparts of the Dutch Fortification.
Habarana
Close to Sigiriya, in the heart of the cultural triangle, Habarana boasts local restaurants and charming accommodation amongst the lush tropical vegetation. Here you can take an elephant back safari - a truly unique experience! A two hour safari on elephant back (seats take up to four people) through the lush woodlands at Habarana, from £20 per adult and £10 per child. During your journey you may see crocodiles, huge water monitors or simply enjoy the stimulating environment.
Kandy
The Royal city of Kandy offers a lakeside setting and beautiful views. Kandy is famous for its magnificent golden roofed temple which houses the sacred tooth relic of Buddha, the Royal Botanical Gardens and Victoria Dam.
Nuwara Eliya
6,000 feet above sea level, Nuwara Eliya is one of Sri Lanka’s famous hill stations offering views of the green hillsides, rushing waterfalls and tea plantations.
Polnnaruwa
This sacred city boats magnificent shrines and statues from the great Buddhist civilisation.
Sigiriya
Climb over 1200 steps to the top of the rock fortress – the views are worth it! The water gardens and the remains of the royal palace on the summit are quite something.
Yala National Park
Yala is an elephant reserve in the south of the island – you may see wild elephants roaming free, boar, crocodiles or deer.
Grand Ceylon Tour
This 7 night tour can be enjoyed as part of a small group (maximum 6 passengers) or as a private tour, and is designed for you to add a stay in a Sri Lanka or Maldives beach hotel.
- Day 1 – Depart from Heathrow on SriLankan Airlines overnight flight to Colombo
- Day 2 – Transfer to the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo, rest of the day free to relax
- Day 3 – After breakfast leave for Pinnawela and visit the Elephant Orphanage. This orphanage was established to feed and house young abandoned elephants. The tour continues on to Dambulla, overnight stay at Amaya Lake.
- Day 4 – After breakfast climb Sigiriya Rock. Proceed to Polonnaruwa where numerous monuments are found, which include sculptures of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddhas. Overnight stay at Amaya Lake.
- Day 5 – After breakfast leave for the Minneriya wildlife park where elephants, deer, wild boar, crocodiles, wild buffaloes, monkeys and around 130 species of birds are found. Overnight at Amaya Lake
- Day 6 – Travel to Kandy, visiting the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, a spice garden and batik factory on the way. Proceed to Kandy and visit the Temple of the Tooth. In the evening enjoy a Kandyan cultural performance. Overnight at Amaya Hills, Kandy.
- Day 7 – Continue on to Nuwar Eliya, Sri Lanka’s best known hill resort and home to vast tea estates. Overnight at Hill Club, Nuwara Eliya
- Day 8 – After breakfast travel back to Kandy and visit the Royal Botancial Gardens at Peradeniya, which boast the largest single collection of orchids in Asia. Overnight at Amaya Hills, Kandy.
- Day 9 – After breakfast proceed with your chosen beach extension or return to Heathrow.
Beach Extensions
Sri Lanka – Taj Exotica, a world renowned property, ensuring the highest standards and quality of service, The Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, a member of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” club, this elegant resort provides traditional Sri Lankan hospitality and discreet service within a peaceful and tranquil setting, Mount Lavinia, a classical colonial-style hotel which retains old-world charm and imperial elegance combined with the most up-to-date facilities of a modern resort.
Maldives – Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa, a perfect vision of paradise where the tropical splendour of the Maldives combines with the world-class hospitality of Hilton, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, a resort that combines luxury and harmony and is perfectly integrated with the island’s natural beauty, Meerufenfushi, a well established resort with a vast array of facilities and amenities for the whole family.
Sri Lankan Fact File
Time Difference: GMT +6 hours
Flight Duration: 10 hours, 45 minutes, (Direct)
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee, although the US Dollar is widely accepted.
Capital: Colombo
Visas: Not required for British Passport holders.
Ideal for
- Beach and touring holidays
- Cultural attractions
- Tea sampling
- Elephant Trekking
- Weddings and Honeymoons
Weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Rainfall (inches) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 7 |
