Sri Lanka Cultural Tour

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Sri Lanka is a historic and cultural storehouse set against a backdrop of stunning beauty. No visit to the island is complete unless you venture into the interior and sample these wonders at first hand. Our 7 night Scenic Highlights tour, staying at premier hotels, gives a fascinating insight into the wonders that exist in Sri Lanka today - the ancient cities and temples of past civilisations, the fascinating highlands where world famous Ceylon tea is grown on the steep hillsides, the lakeside city of Kandy, the last stronghold of the Sri Lankan Kings, an orphanage where baby elephants are reared and trained by their loving keepers; there is much to see.

This fascinating 7-night tour can be taken before your beach holiday in Sri Lanka, the Maldives or Kerala.

Sri Lanka Cultural Tour Itinerary:

(all travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver/guide)

Day 1: Clients will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to Sigiriya to check into the Sigiriya Village Hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in a Superior room.

Day 2: After breakfast visit Anuradhapura, the first capital of the island dating from the 4th century BC. See the sacred Boo Tree, world famous Samadhi Buddha, the remains of the Brazen Palace and rock carvings. Afternoon at leisure with optional bird watching or nature ramble (payable locally). Dinner and overnight at Sigiriya Village in a Superior room.

Day 3: After breakfast proceed to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, the second capital of Sri Lanka in the 11th and 12th centuries AD. See the ruins of the Royal Palace, Lotus Bath and Polonnaruwa Statue and visit the Gal Vihare which are splendid statues of the Buddha carved out of rock. Afternoon at leisure with optional Sri Lankan wood carving experience or a visit to the Polonnaruwa Rest House (payable locally). Dinner & overnight at Sigiriya Village in a Superior room.

Day 4: Early morning explore the Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is a World Heritage site dating from the 5th century AD, built by the King Kashyapa. Return to the hotel for late breakfast. In the afternoon visit Dambulla Rock Temple dating from the 1st century BC it is a World Heritage Site and the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples which includes over 2000sq metres of painted walls. Dinner and overnight at Sigiriya Village in a Superior room.

Day 5: After breakfast, proceed to Matale and visit a Spice Garden and a Batik factory to experience the variety of spices and the batik paintings. Continue to Kandy and check in at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel. In the afternoon city tour of Kandy which is a World Heritage site, visit Kandy Lake, a gem museum and lapidary bazarr, arts and crafts centre and drive around Kandy Lake. Dinner and overnight at Mahaweli Reach hotel.

Day 6: After breakfast, visit the Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya. Continue to the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage where you will see abandoned elephants being cared for. Some are baby elephants being fed and trained by the wildlife authorities. You have the opportunity to see them feeding and then bathing in the nearby river. In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in time for the ‘Pooja’ (religious worship) and a cultural show. Dinner and overnight at Mahaweli Reach Hotel.

Day 7: After breakfast proceed to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s leading hill resort and tea growing centre. Visit a tea factory followed a short city tour. Dinner and overnight at the St. Andrew's Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.

Day 8: After breakfast to Kitulgala, witnessing the Devon’s and St. Clares water falls and passing the site where the film ‘The Bridge On The River Kwai’ was shot, continue to Colombo where you will experience a city tour before the tour ends. Transfer to your respective beach hotel in Sri Lanka or to your flight to the Maldives or Kerala.

Dates and Prices:
21/12/11-31/03/12 £649pp.
01/04/12-07/04/12 £599pp.
08/04/12-30/04/12 £629pp.
01/05/12-30/06/12 £649pp.
01/07/12-31/08/12 £659pp.
01/09/12-07/09/12 £599pp.
08/09/12-30/09/12 £629pp.
01/10/12-31/10/12 £649pp.
01/11/12-20/12/12 £729pp.
21/12/12-31/12/12 £799pp.

Single Supplement:
21/12/11-31/10/12 £449pp.
01/11/12-20/12/12 £519pp.
21/12/12-31/12/12 £569pp.

Compulsary Gala Meals:
24/12/12 & 31/12/12 £69pp.

High Season supplement:
15/12/12-15/01/13 £59pp. (Single supplement: £59pp)
15/07/12-15/08/12 £19pp. (Single supplement: £19pp)

Note: Single travellers & couples may not always travel as a group. If the hotels detailed are not available alternatives will be used of a similar standard. The tour may also be reversed but all sites mentioned & content will remain the same.

Depending on flight times, a night may need to be spent in Colombo prior to the tour or prior to departing for Maldives or Kerala (for extension in Maldives or Kerala). The cost on Half Board is £55pppn. Single supplement £40pppn.

If the tour is booked to depart between the following dates, these supplements will also apply:
If the tour is booked to depart between the following dates, these supplements will also apply: In conjunction with a beach stay in Sri Lanka:
01/12/11-18/12/11 £90pp. 23/12/11-09/01/12 £10pp.

You can combine this wondrous tour with stays at any of the Sri Lanka beach hotels or with an add-on to the Maldives or Kerala. This tour must be taken at beginning of your Sri Lanka holiday and booked at the time you make your reservation. If the tour is booked to depart between the following dates, these supplements will also apply (in conjuction with a beach stay in Sri Lanka): 06/07/12-23/07/12 £135pp, 01/12/12-18/12/12 £125pp, 19/12/12-25/12/12 £25pp

This tour must be taken at beginning of your Sri Lanka holiday and booked at the time you make your reservation.

We regret that at present, this tour cannot be booked online.
To make a booking to Sri Lanka with this tour, please contact our reservations department on 0843 224 0066 who will be happy to assist with your booking.