Sri Lanka Discovery - Overland Trip

2 weeks: to (IMT-HTSL)

Intro

Sri Lanka has just about everything a traveller could want - superb ancient sites, magnificent scenery, delicious cuisine, incredibly friendly and welcoming locals and lovely palm-fringed, white sandy beaches. Add to this a history touched by Portuguese, Dutch and British influences and a society with a strong and devout adherence to the Buddhist faith and we find an island-nation of incredibly rich diversity with much to offer. We discover all of this and more on a comprehensive journey of what has been affectionately called, due to its shape, the \'Teardrop Isle\'.

Included

Local tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary.

Itineraries ( - )

Day 1

(Sat) Arrive at Colombo Airport and transfer to hotel in Negombo.

Day 2

Visit the ancient city of Panduwasnuwara and the fascinating ancient rock fortress of Yapahuwa. Continue to Anuradhapura, where we spend the night.

Day 3

Cycle tour of the sacred city of Anuradhapura - the cradle of Sinhala civilisation. Afternoon visit to Mihintale, enjoying superb views across the plains.

Day 4

Continue to Polonnaruwa. Afternoon in search for wild elephants in Kaudulla or Minneriya National Parks.

Day 5

Explore ancient city of Polonnaruwa, with immense Buddhas carved from rocks. Continue to extraordinary citadel of Sigiriya. Climb to the top to visit fortress and view superb frescoes painted on the walls. Continue to Dambulla for the night.

Day 6

Morning visit to the magnificent Buddhist caves of Dambulla, then drive to the old capital of Kandy, stopping en route at a spice garden. Watch performance of traditional Kandyan dancing and visit Temple of the Tooth for a 'pooja' (worship) ceremony.

Day 7

Morning city tour of Kandy. Free afternoon with the chance to visit the botanical gardens.

Day 8

Travel through Ramboda Pass, surrounded by hilly tea plantations. Arrive in Nuwara Eliya, an old British hill station and enjoy free afternoon.

Day 9

Hike along the hilly slopes through montane forests and tea plantations to World's End. Stunning views across the plains. Continue to Belihuloya.

Day 10

Hike through lovely scenery of tea plantations, paddy fields and villages to Bambarakanda Falls. Opportunity for swimming before continuing to small village and enjoying lunch with local family.

Day 11

Visit Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are introduced back into their habitat. A night of camping.

Day 12

Visit Kataragama Shrine and World Heritage-listed Dutch fortress at Galle, before transferring to Bentota - a beach resort on the beautiful south-west coast.

Day 13

Exciting morning spent cycling through local villages and countryside. A chance to enjoy optional river canoeing.

Day 14

Free morning to relax on the beach. Afternoon transfer back to Negombo, near Colombo.

Day 15

Trip ends in Negombo this morning (Sat).

Note: Negombo is close to Colombo's international airport.

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Departures

Reference	Departure	Arrival	Price GBP	Kitty	Notes
IMT-IT-HTSL-100403	03 Apr 10	18 Apr 10	£930	0
IMT-IT-HTSL-100508	08 May 10	23 May 10	£930	0
IMT-IT-HTSL-100612	12 Jun 10	27 Jun 10	£930	0