The Sri Lanka Discovery tour is a varied 15-day holiday, which will show you
many of the island's beautiful and interesting sights while giving you ample time to relax
on tropical beaches. This holiday will take you from the ancient
cities of Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle via Kandy, capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom,
through tea plantations in the Hill Country, to the island's principal wildlife reserve at Yala,
and finally to the palm-fringed sandy beaches on the south coast.
Beginning with a tour of the Cultural Triangle,
you will visit the cave temples at Dambulla, Sigiriya rock fortress
and the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa, before heading to Kandy,
the capital of the last Sihalese Kingdom.
You will then travel through tea
plantations in the Hill Country, trek across
Horton Plains to get stunning views at World's
End, before ambling around Nuwara Eliya, the British colonial capital of the Hill Country
and the highest town in Sri Lanka at 1900m above sea level.
Continuing to the southern Hill Country and dropping down to the southern plain below,
before
taking a jeep safari in Yala West National Park, the island's principal wildlife reserve,
to spot wild elephants and the elusive leopard (hopefully!), finishing up with a few days
on a tropical beach at the south coast, the perfect end to your Sri Lanka
holiday! The Sri Lanka Discovery tour is a 15-day holiday on half board
(bed, breakfast and dinner).
To get a taste of what
you will be doing on the Sri Lanka Discovery holiday, click
on Holiday Highlights
Holiday Itinerary
Click on Map of Itinerary
to see the route of your Sri Lanka holiday.
Day 1
Depart UK to begin your holiday to Sri Lanka!
Day 2
Arrive Colombo airport and greeted by your dedicated
Tikalanka Tours chauffeur guide. Transfer to the island's Cultural Triangle.
Night stay at Sigiriya.
Day 3
Head to the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa
for a tour of its historic
temples and exquisitely carved statues. In the afternoon, enjoy a jeep safari
in Minneriya National Park to see
elephants and a spectacular array of Sri Lankan bird life. Night stay at Sigiriya.
Day 4
Early morning ascent of the rock fortress of Sigiriya
to view the surrounding
countryside at dawn - a very special experience indeed. Tour of Sigiriya's
rock palace and ornamental gardens before continuing on to
Sri Lanka's finest cave temples at Dambulla.
Drive south to Kandy, one of the principal points
of the Cultural Triangle. Night stay at Kandy.
Day 5
After an early breakfast, experience the Buddhist puja (blessing ceremony) at the
Temple of the Tooth, which houses Sri Lanka's most revered religious relic. Kandy is the
perfect size to be explored on foot, since the altitude (500 m above sea level) makes the climate
conducive to long and leisurely strolls. A guided walking tour of the city will take in the
Hindu devales (temples), the lake and the municipal market. After lunch, visit the
beautifully kept and well presented Peradeniya Botanic Gardens on the outskirts of Kandy.
In the early evening, enjoy a performance of the famous Kandyan Dancers and Drummers,
with a fire-walking finale. Night stay at Kandy.
Day 6
A one-day tour of the Hill
Country, starting with a drive through
tea plantations and past spectacular waterfalls
on your way to Nuwara
Eliya, the British colonial capital of the Hill Country.
On the way, take a tour of
a working tea factory at Labookellie, followed
by a cup of Broken Orange Pekoe and a slice
of delicious homemade chocolate cake! Night
stay at Nuwara Eliya.
Day 7
Early morning trek through the heath and forest
of Horton
Plains National Park in time to see the
spectacular views at World's End before the
cloud sets in. Return to Nuwara Eliya to amble around
'The City of Light' and enjoy a little piece of England in the
tropics! Night stay at Nuwara Eliya.
Day 8
Head to Ella in the southern Hill Country before dropping 1000 m to the
southern plain through Ella Gap. Drive on across the hot and dry southern plain
to Yala. Night stay at Yala.
Day 9
Early morning jeep safari in Yala West National Park,
Sri Lanka's principal wildlife reserve, which has the highest density of leopards in the world.
Other inhabitants include elephants, sloth bears, sambars, spotted deer, wild boars, crocodiles,
wild buffaloes, mongooses, jackals, monkeys, and over 150 species of birds. Leave the park and
enjoy a leisurely drive west along the picturesque southern coastline to laid back
Mirissa. Night stay at Mirissa.
Day 10
At leisure. Night stay at Mirissa.
Day 11
At leisure. Night stay at Mirissa.
Day 12
At leisure. Night stay at Mirissa.
Day 13
Continue along the southern coastline to Galle
for a tour of the Old Dutch Fort,
a World Heritage Site. Amble around the ramparts and stroll through the Arab Quarter.
Night stay at Galle.
Day 14
A leisurely drive north along the west coast to the airport, via Colombo.
Night stay at Airport.
Day 15
Depart Colombo airport with thoughts of returning next year...
To ensure that you will enjoy
the Sri Lanka Discovery holiday,
please click
on Tikalanka
Tips for more information.
If you would prefer to discuss your Sri Lanka holiday options
with a Sri Lanka holiday expert, feel free to call Tikalanka Tours on
020 313 76 763 or email us at holidays@tikalanka.com
where you can also order your Tikalanka Tours brochure or book a Sri Lanka holiday.
Holiday Price
The Sri Lanka Discovery holiday is
available at various prices according to the holiday season you wish to travel.
Click on Holiday Price for up to date holiday prices.
