Sri Lanka - 10 days in luxury
Sri Lanka, is an island nation of 20 million inhabitants lying off the southern tip of India. The country offers grand colonial buildings, lush tropical landscapes, fine golden beaches and a rich Buddhist culture.
Highlight: You’ll take game drives in a national park, tour lush tea estates and have the options of private guided village walk and a round of golf.
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Colombo
Upon arrival on Singapore Airlines at 23:55 you will be transferred to nearby Kotugoda where you’ll spend your first night at a boutique hotel.
Day 2: Kotugoda – Wilpattu (B, L, D)
Travel north along the coast towards the largest of Sri Lanka’s national parks, Wilpattu. For two nights you will stay in a mobile tented camp on the outskirts of the park. The facilities, the food and service are exceptional. The park boasts an impressive variety of flora in huge expanses of forest, and varied wildlife, including deer, elephants, wild boar, sloth bears and leopards. Unlike in Africa, leopards here do not have any natural predators so they are not so nocturnal in their habits.
Day 3: Wilpattu (B, L, D)
Your morning game drive will start very early, before dawn. Explore the park looking for leopard tracks, If lucky you may spot some elephant down at one of the natural water holes. Visit Kuveni's Palace, an archaeological site in the park. Return to camp for a late breakfast and rest until lunch. The evening game drive will commence around 4pm again tracking leopard. Dinner under the stars.
Day 4: Wilpattu – Anuradhapura (B, D)
Enjoy a final, dawn game drive before heading back for breakfast. Travel to Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. En route stop to see the giant Buddha at Aukana – a 12 meter high statue hewn out of the rock face and dating back to the 5th C. Monks gather in the morning to offer lotus flowers in front of the statue. Stay for the next 2 nights at a beautiful resort located on 58 acres of woodland and paddy fields, It boasts stunning chalets with state of the art facilities.
Day 5: Mihintale and Anuradhapura (B, D)
Your chauffeur guide will take you on a tour of Mihintale and Anuradhapura. Mihintale, a monastic city, is revered for being the location where the Singhalese King Tissa was converted to Buddhism in 243 BC. Continue on to Anuradhapura which was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 4th century BC, regarded as the cradle of ancient Sinhala civilization Anuradhapura and its Bodi Tree in particular attract thousands of pilgrims on a daily basis from all over Sri Lanka.
Day 6: Anuradhapura – Dambulla – Kandy – Pussellawa (B)
You will be transferred to Dambulla. It consists of five magically lit caves which feature remarkable hand-carved Buddha statues and colourful murals representing the life of Buddha. After lunch in a local restaurant in Kandy continue to Pussellawa and stay 3 nights in an elegant tea planter bungalow dating back to the 18th C, tucked away in the peaceful and lush Pusellawa Tea Estate.
Day 7: Pusellawa (B)
An excursion to the surrounding Helboda Tea estate to visit the tea factory and savour views over the scenic Kothmale reservoir. This afternoon relax at the house by the infinity pool, have a game of tennis or alternatively there are lots of gentle walks to more challenging hikes that can be done directly from the bungalow.
Day 8: Pussellawa (B)
Full day at leisure. Optional excursions to Victoria Golf Course for a round or for those who do not wish to play golf, mountain bikes are available to explore the surrounding countryside as well as nature trails. Fantastic bird watching for early morning vwalkers.
Day 9: Pusalewwa – Kosgoda
Depart to the sleepy coastal resort of Kosgoda and stay 2 nights in a 4 bedroom private villa fully staffed with a housekeeper and cook. It has its own private swimming pool, fabulous gardens and leads on to a secluded beach. Meals are discussed with the cook who will prepare to order and meals are charged based on the cost of supplies from the local markets only.
Day 10: Kosgoda – Colombo
A whole day to relax at the villa – you can visit the nearby Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery where local fishermen are paid for each turtle egg they find so that they can be incubated in a safe environment and released back into the sea under supervision. Entry is Rs200/- per person. Check out of the villa by 6:60pm to drive to the airport to check in for your departure flight.
Included
• Accommodation on twin-share basis for 9 nights
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Transport in a private, air-conditioned vehicle
• English speaking chauffeur guide for all sightseeing
• Entrance fees to all sites as per the itinerary
• All applicable taxes
Please contact your Concierge Traveller Advisor for prices more information.
