UNIQUE SRI LANKA

11 NIGHTS / 12 DAYS

This tour of Sri Lanka incorporates wildlife safaris at Yala National Park , a stay in Tea Country and a chance to explore the Cultural Triangle . In addition , you will have the chance to get off the beaten track with a stay in The Mudhouse in the little explored Puttalam district and go dolphin watching in Kalpitiya .

Yala

Galle

Day 1 Arrive Colombo to Galle You will be met on arrival in Colombo and driven by your English-speaking chauffeur guide who will accompany you throughout your tour of Sri Lanka . Drive to the Galle Heritage Villa in Galle Fort ( approximately 2.5 hours ) to check-in for one night . Depending on your flight arrival time , take a walk around Galle Fort and enjoy some sightseeing . Its rich heritage derives from the colonial influences of the Portuguese , Dutch and the British respectively , spanning four centuries . Galle was a key harbour city for centuries , hence its value to successive colonial superpowers . The town ’ s centrepiece , the Dutch Fort , remains a hive of activity and is one of the few UNESCO World Heritage listed sites in which a bustling population continues to thrive .

Day 2 Galle to Yala In the morning , drive to Yala ( approximately 5 hours ). You will be taken into the Yala National Park in a 4WD jeep , where you will be camping in style for the next two days ( just outside the park ). Enjoy lunch at the Mahoora tented safari camp followed by an afternoon safari . Yala National Park is famous for its leopards . The best chance to see a leopard is at dawn and dusk . Male leopards can often be seen walking the tracks during the day .

Day 3 Yala National Park Spend the day enjoying a full day safari at Yala National Park . In addition to the leopards , there are a large number of elephants living in the park . Spotted deer , sambar , wild boar , wild buffaloes , sloth bear , jackal and mongoose can also be seen . The bird life is fantastic too . Enjoy a fine al fresco dinner back at the camp .

Day 4 Yala to Ambewela After breakfast , drive to the hill country of Ambewela ( approximately 6 hours ). You will be staying at Jetwing Warwick Gardens for two nights . On arrival , walk around the property with the resident manager to learn about the history of the property . This old colonial ‘ bungalow ’ was built in the style of a Scottish country mansion over a century ago and offers a home from home experience .

Day 6 Ambewela to Sigiriya After breakfast , set off on the journey to Sigiriya in the Cultural Triangle ( approximately 5.5 hours ). En route , visit Kandy , the last capital of the Sinhalese kingdom . Sightseeing will include the famous Temple of the Tooth as well as the beautiful Peradeniya Botanical Gardens . On arrival in Sigiriya , check into Jetwing Vil Uyana for two nights .

Day 7 Cultural Triangle Today , you will be taken to the Hiriwaduna village ( approximately 30 minutes ) for a small nature trail , where you will cross a lake in a traditional local boat . Afterwards , enjoy a typical Sri Lankan style rice and curry in a local village , where you can talk to the villagers . In the afternoon , visit Sigiriya rock fortress - a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Known as Lion Rock , this was built in the 5th century during the reign of King Kasyapa .

Days 8 and 9 Sigiriya to Anamaduwa Drive to Anamaduwa ( approximately 3.5 hours ), where you will experience the lifestyle of a typical Sri Lankan village in the Mudhouse for two nights . Nestled in sixty acres of forest in the ancient rural heartlands of Sri Lanka , this is a private and seductive retreat , far from the beaten track providing an authentic back-to-nature experience .

Days 10 and 11 Anamaduwa to Kalpitiya Today , drive to Kalpitiya ( approximately 2 hours ) and check-in to the Palagama Beach Resort for two days at leisure on the beach . While you are here , you could opt to do some water sports or go dolphin watching . There is also a chance of spotting whales in season . The Palagama is not a grand resort but offers quiet sunsets , good food and a friendly atmosphere .

Day 12 Departure from Colombo Transfer to the airport ( approximately 4 hours drive ).

The Mudhouse

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Day 5 Tea Country Tea Country opens up a breath-taking panorama of colour with beautiful gardens , cascading waterfalls , lakes and sweet mountain air . Spend your day enjoying these beautiful sites . You could also visit a tea plantation and a tea factory . xxxxxxxxxxxx

30 FOR EXPERT ADVICE AND TO MAKE A RESERVATION CALL OUR TRAVEL CONSULTANTS ON 01392 441224

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UNIQUE SRI LANKA