With a focus on luxury and designed around some of the country’s finest hotels, this leisurely paced journey features two-to-three-night stays at each location to allow plenty of time to experience these amazing properties.
Travellers wanting an upmarket, leisurely holiday
Welcome to Sri Lanka! You will be met upon arrival in Colombo and transferred to your hotel, the nearby and serene The Wallawwa.
After breakfast drive to Dambulla. Visit the world heritage-listed Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, considered to be the largest best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Continue to Thirappane and for the next three nights stay at the luxury eco resort Ulagalla. Afternoon at leisure.
Continue your exploration of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle this morning with a visit Lanka. Take in the sights of the ancient city, with its rich collection of religious and architectural wonders. Visit the main stupa and join pilgrims at the sacred Bodhi tree. Later, return to your accommodation and spend the afternoon enjoying the facilities at your luxury resort. There are a number of activities on offer at Ulagalla including horse riding and bicycling around the hotel’s expansive grounds, massage, enjoying its magnificent pool or dining in the rice paddy fields. (Direct payment applies for some activities.)
This morning you will visit the Ritigala Archeological Monastery. This lesser- visited archeological site bears a certain mysterious nature owing to the long meditational pathways that open into the thick jungle and large stone-lined reservoirs. Remainder of the day at leisure.
Drive to Sigiriya Rock Fortress – one of Sri Lanka’s biggest draw cards – and climb this massive rock formation. Marvel at the magnificent rock frescoes as you make the taxing ascent to the top of Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the lush green valleys and plantations below. Afterwards, continue to Kandy and stay two nights at the elegant The Kandy House.
This morning visit the much-revered Buddhist Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, said to house the relic of the tooth of Buddha. See the pilgrims that travel from across the globe to visit this sacred site and the offerings presented at the temple during daily rituals. You may also wish to take a stroll around Kandy Lake, or explore the small streets and markets of the city. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Today enjoy a picturesque train journey to Hatton, travelling through Sri Lanka’s hill country with lush tea plantations and mountains covered in mist. From Hatton continue by vehicle to Ceylon Tea Trails, the world’s first tea bungalow resort, perched at an altitude of 1,250 metres in the country’s beautiful tea region. You can either relax or put your walking shoes on and stride out into the picturesque tea estates right at your doorstep.
Start your day with traditional bed tea, a daily ritual at Tea Trails. Today discover the history of tea and learn the secrets of tea tasting, with a true tea expert as your guide. A plantation tour will reveal the age-old tea making process. You can observe tea being plucked by hand, and visit the factory where the leaves are processed. The tour ends with a tasting of different grades of tea. In the afternoon, indulge with high tea on the verandah.
A full day to enjoy your luxury stay at Tea Trails. You may wish to visit the nearby Warleigh Church, built by early British planters and located in one of the most stunning locations, or enjoy a walk/trek or bicycle ride through the tea plantations with one of Tea Trails’ delicious picnics to savour along the way.
After breakfast, depart for Colombo. With its large harbour and strategic position along the East West sea-trade routes, Colombo was well known to ancient traders as long as 2,000 years ago. Today, Sri Lanka’s capital is a metropolis of over two million people. The contrast between high-rise hotels and colonial mansions, supermarkets and street bazaars, dazzling cars and motor-rickshaws, is found everywhere. Stay at The Residence, a boutique property in central Colombo with an impressive contemporary restaurant.
A morning at leisure to enjoy your beautiful accommodation. Later in the afternoon, take an easy two-to-three-hour guided walking tour that takes you through the city’s heart, highlighting its historic buildings and revealing tales of the city from times gone by. Stroll to the bustling local Pettah Market with its labyrinth of streets bursting with tiny shops. Afterwards, you may wish to visit some of Colombo’s contemporary shopping boutiques.
Your tour concludes after breakfast. Transfer to Colombo Airport for your departing flight.
Perhaps the best testimony is the fact that this is my third trip and hopefully not the last.
Prices are indicative only & subject to change.
Prices are indicative only & subject to change.
Prices are indicative only & subject to change.
Additional inclusions may vary from private tour to private tour. A full list of inclusions and exclusions will be provided with each individual enquiry/quote. For a detailed quote on specific travel dates with full inclusions/exclusions please enquire at mail@srillankaunbound.com.au