Price
From £1,865 per person for a family of four.
Includes B&B, H/B or F/B accommodation, a/c transport with chauffeur guide, entrance fees & activities, and taxes.
Arrive Colombo airport and greeted by your dedicated Tikalanka chauffeur guide.
After a long flight, transfer to Negombo on the island's west coast close by.
One night stay at Villa Hundira, which is an elegant home-from-home situated in a secluded location on Negombo lagoon. The comfortable and stylish rooms are complemented by a relaxed ambience. Indira, one of the passionate owners, runs an on-going community project, Thimble, which supports local fisher folk through an arts and crafts workshop in-house. The Water Suite has both double and twin en suite bedrooms as well as a spacious living area, private terrace and wonderful views of the lagoon.
Wind your way up through Sri Lankan ‘jungle’ into the northern Hill Country to Kandy, the seat of the last Sinhalese kingdom and one of the principal points of the island’s Cultural Triangle. The second city of Sri Lanka has a picturesque setting around its lake, a rich historical and cultural heritage, a comfortable Mediterranean-type climate, and UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Two nights stay at Hanthana House, which is a friendly and welcoming homestay guesthouse offering a comfortable stay in attractive surroundings in an area famous for cultivating some of the first tea grown on the island, with the added benefit of tasty and authentic Sri Lankan home cooking! There is exclusive accommodation available for families.
Kataragama Devale at Embekke, Lankathilaka Viharaya and Gadaladeniya Viharaya are spectacularly situated on top of a small chain of rocky promontories on the edge of a valley carpeted with paddy fields, and the temples exhibit the flowering of the Kandyan artistic craftsmanship. The guided walking tour through traditional rice paddy offers opportunities to meet Buddhist monks, chat to locals, spot a variety of birdlife and experience authentic Sri Lankan pastoral life. Bicycles are available to hire for a relaxed and gentle bike ride along the quiet country lanes.
Learn to prepare the island’s favourite dish of ‘Rice and Curry’ and get hands-on experience of how the delicious food is eaten!
Leave Kandy and head southwest to Kitulgala in the foothills of the western Hill Country, made famous by the cinematographic epic, Bridge on the River Kwai, which was filmed here in 1956.
Two nights stay at Borderlands Eco Lodge. Overlooking the Kelani River, the eco lodge and jungle camp provides a ‘glamping’ experience for those who need a certain degree of comfort. Surrounded by mountains and the clear, rushing river below, the site is truly magical. Family en suite cabins available.
The combined rafting and canyoning trip begins on the upper Kelani River, rafting down the Class II and Class III rapids. After the rapids, you disembark and head up one of the Kelani River tributaries for the canyoning. The trip finishes on the lower Kelani River, with its small rapids suitable to all ages. With the Kelani’s special “Killer Fall” and “Butter Crunch” rapids, rafters are guaranteed a challenge, but are also offered a chance to relax, with small calm stretches allowing a refreshing swim in the river to unwind. As you make your way down the narrow side canyons, you will have to jump into plunge pools and wade across small ‘potholes’, the best and only way to experience the stony canyon’s features carved by rushing water over many thousands of years. There are even a few ‘waterslides’ along the way. During this adventure you will face several thrilling challenges.
Head into the upper Hill Country, following the winding, vertiginous roads through the velveteen slopes of verdant tea plantations and past spectacular waterfalls and impressive mountain scenery on your way to Nuwara Eliya, the British colonial capital of the Hill Country and the highest town in Sri Lanka at 1900 metres above sea level.
Amble around the ‘City of Lights’ and enjoy a little piece of England in the tropics!
Scenic train journey to Ella in the southern Hill Country - subject to availability.
Two nights stay at AMBA Estate, which is an organic farm and guesthouse perched in a tranquil, unspoiled valley above Ravana Falls, with spectacular views of Ella Rock and Lipton’s Seat. The 100-year-old estate bungalow is a full-service guesthouse, offering guests the opportunity to learn more about organic farming and artisanal tea-making. More accommodation is available in a former estate manager's bungalow and a converted estate outbuilding.
Most visitors want to stay at the estate to learn more about organic farming and artisanal product-making. Guests can join the daily public tour at 11.00 or they can book to do a private tour and tasting at other times. For guests who want to spend time with village families learning about local food and handicrafts, help to collect honey and kithul treacle from the forest, explore the farm and learn about organic farming, and try their hand at plucking and rolling their own tea, peeling cinnamon, roasting coffee or making jams and chutneys, a range of hands-on experiences are offered, from 1 to 5 days in length.
There are various walks of differing difficulty to spectacular waterfalls and panoramic viewpoints in the vicinity as well as further afield to Lipton’s Seat, Little Adam's Peak and Ella Rock. You may also explore Ravana’s Cave, which is the mythical hideout of the Ramayana where the demon king of Lanka imprisoned Rama's wife, Sita, or visit Bambarakanda Falls, Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall. For adrenaline junkies, there is the Flying Ravana Mega Zip Line at Ella, where you ‘fly’ along the 0.5 km-long zip-wire at speeds of up to 80 km/h with a bird’s-eye view of the iconic tea estates and lush vegetation surrounding Ella Gap.
Drop down to the hot and dry southern plain before continuing south to Weerawila.
Suggested activities (NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE):
- Weerawila Bird Sanctuary bird watching nature trail.
- Debarawewa Lake bird watching nature trail.
- Jeep safari in Bundala National Park.
- Freshwater fishing trip.
- Local village tour by bicycle.
- Kataragama pilgrimage site.
- Traditional Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.
- Palmyrah weaving.
Two nights stay at Flameback Eco Lodge, which is nestled within a bird sanctuary amongst lush vegetation alongside tranquil Weerawila Lake. The luxury ‘glamping’ tented lodges allow guests to be immersed in nature and the great outdoors without losing an element of luxury or comfort.
Early morning (06.00) OR afternoon (14.30) jeep safari in Yala National Park, which is one of the island's best-known reserves and one of its largest. This region, known as the ‘Dry Zone’, has mostly dry thorn scrub, interspersed with small dusty glades – the ideal habitat to view elephants, Sri Lanka's largest mammal. The park does have a varied landscape, however, from parkland to dense jungle on the plains, scrubland with rocky outcrops and several streams, small lakes and lagoons. The picturesque ocean frontage to the east has wide beaches and high sand dunes. A former hunting reserve, which was transformed into a nature park in 1938, Yala National Park, also called “Ruhuna”, is currently home to over 390 elephants, several of which are tuskers, and about 120 leopards, reportedly the highest density of leopards in the wild anywhere in the world. Watching elephants go for their bath at sunset or seeing leopards laze about on the rocks at dusk are the most popular natural spectacles at Yala National Park. However, you may also see other species of mammals such as sambar and spotted deer, wild boar, buffalo, musk deer, black bear, the unique small Loris, toque macaque and langur monkeys, jackal, mongoose, porcupine, fishing, rusty spotted and civet cats, anteater, and the enigmatic sloth bear. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in Yala National Park, including the Sri Lankan junglefowl, white-bellied fish eagle, painted stork, black-necked stork, lesser adjutant, Pompadour green pigeon, orange-breasted green pigeon, brown fish owl, red-faced malkoha, three species of bee-eaters, and large numbers of waders (including three species of pratincole and two thick-knees).
IMPORTANT – Yala National Park (Block 1) is closed from 01 September for up to two months annually as a respite period for the animals and environment at the end of the dry season.
Head west along the island's picturesque and cove-sprinkled southern coastline to Mirissa, an attractive crescent-shaped bay popular for surfing, snorkelling and whale watching.
Three nights stay at Villa Atulya, which is a home away from home experience in luxury. The villa is situated on the beachfront with five ocean-facing, spacious air-conditioned rooms and swimming pool. It is located on a quiet beach where the Indian Ocean laps at the edge of the property and local fisherman will offer you their catch. Ideal for families seeking an alternative to the standard fare on offer at larger hotels who want to experience Sri Lankan hospitality, culture and food.
Transfer to Weligama for an exclusive ‘Ocean Safari by Borderlands’ (starting at 07.30). On arrival, you will be handed safety equipment, and given a safety briefing and the plan for the day. After registering at Mirissa Harbour (a mandatory requirement), you will start looking out for whales‘ blowholes, which are projected 8 to 12 metres high and are normally spotted 16 to 24 nautical km away. Your experienced skipper will know how best to reach these leviathans of the deep from their extensive knowledge of the local tides and currents. During your RIB speedboat ride, you will also learn about other marine life and local fishing techniques. Once you reach a well-known submarine canyon of around 1 km deep, you will be able to admire the beauty of these wonderful beasts at close quarters and learn how to recognise individuals by observing the dorsal fins, cape, throat grooves, flippers, flukes, etc. On the way back to the bay, you may stop for snacks and refreshments, while back in the bay, you may swim or experience a variety of water sports activities. IMPORTANT – Season from November to April.
Suggested activities (NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE):
- Guided tour of the imposing rock temple of Mulkirigala Raja Maha Viharaya, which is situated about 15 km inland from Tangalle on an isolated rock 210 metres high rising almost vertically from the surrounding forest and believed to have been founded around 130 BCE.
- Boat safari in Kalametiya Sanctuary near Tangalle, which is an extensive area of wetland with brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps, open grassy areas and pockets of scrub jungle. It is an important site for migrant waders and provides an important refuge (one of the few remaining on the southern coastal strip) for smaller mammals.
Continue west along the southern coastline to Galle, famed for its exquisite Dutch colonial era fort.
Guided walking tour of the Dutch fort at Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amble around the ramparts and stroll through the Arab Quarter.
Two nights stay at 41 Lighthouse Street, which in a sensitively renovated 17th century Dutch colonial era villa retaining its heritage with huge open arches, exposed beams, and black and white chequered floors. The three-bedroom villa has a walled internal courtyard bedecked with lush tropical vegetation surrounding a crystal-clear swimming pool and terrace.
Early morning (07.00) boat safari through the mangroves and lush vegetation along the Mahamodara River near Galle, which offers great opportunities for spotting birds, butterflies, monitor lizards, and much more!
In the afternoon, enjoy ‘The Paddy and Lake Trail’ cycle route through Eluvila Bird Sanctuary and out into paddy fields, sticking to the local paths and quiet lanes around Galle. There is a half way stop for king coconuts served under an ambalama in a private and exclusive jungle garden. The 26-km trail includes a beautiful section cycling alongside the northwest shoreline of Koggala Lake and its cinnamon plantations.
Transfer north to the airport for your flight home, with a mind full of wonderful memories and thoughts of returning again next year...
