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Sri Lanka |
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A Fabulous ancient cities, colonial hill stations and beaches by the Indian Ocean. |
Ref: EX-DWL
12 days
from £1265 (minimum 4 passengers)
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Destination:
Sri Lanka
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Fabulous ancient cities, colonial hill stations and beaches by the Indian Ocean
Sri Lanka is world-famous for its beautiful beaches and was described by Marco Polo as being the finest island of its size in the world. Behind the stunning coastline is a lush interior with thick jungles and vast palm and banana plantations cut by high waterfalls and rushing rivers. Sri Lanka’s long and interesting history has left magnificent ancient sites, beautiful Buddhist temples and architecture from the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial eras. For nature lovers there is an amazing amount to see, from the lowland jungle and plantations to the high rolling hills in the central highlands. The countryside teems with an abundance of bird life while the lovable elephants at the orphanage near Kandy have universal appeal. For the botanist the magnificent Peradeniya Botanical Garden at Kandy is a must. The holiday ends with two days to relax on the Sri Lankan west coast. Palm trees overlook beautiful sandy beaches and there is plenty of time for swimming or just to sit back and relax and read a book.
Extend your stay: Extra nights accommodation can be booked at the Hotel Sapphire, Colombo or at the Club Villa, Bentota, please ask for a quote. A £5 booking fee is applicable in each case.
Further Information
Special equipment required: Light cottons, sandals, trainers or light boots for Horton Plains, warm jacket/jumper, trousers, light raincoat or umbrella and a small day pack for sightseeing. You should dress conservatively when visiting temples; trousers and long skirts are most appropriate.
Extra Expenses: allow around £70 for meals not included and approximately £50-70 for optional activities available. Allow extra for tips, soft drinks etc.
Meals Included: all breakfasts and dinners.
Transport: we use a private minibus or small coach depending on the size of the group.
Children: the group departures are not available for children under the age of 16, but families can book a private departure: Please call exodus (00 44) 0870 240 5550 or email: sales@exodus.co.uk for further details.
Joining locally: the local joining point is the Hotel Sapphire, Colombo. A taxi from the airport to the hotel costs approx. £10. You can join in the afternoon or evening of Day 2.
Group & Staff
Min 4, max 16 plus leader.
Accommodation
In Colombo we stay at the centrally located 3-star Sapphire Hotel, while in Nuwara Eliya we are accommodated in the historic Grand Hotel, formerly the residence of Sir Edward Barnes, Governor of Sri Lanka from 1830 to 1850. The delightful Culture Club Resort at Dambulla is set on the shores of the Kandalama Tank (Lake) and has recently been awarded the 'Bird Friendly Hotel' certificate from the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. Here we stay in chalets set in the forest. Le Kandyan Resort is designed to reflect a palace of the old Kandyan Kings and the hotel is set on a hillside overlooking the forested valley. We complete our time in Sri Lanka at a 3-star hotel with all modern amenities on the delightful south-west coast.
Food
The staple food in Sri Lanka is curry and rice although the dishes tend to be milder than those in India and many of the hotels also offer some fantastic seafood and a range of international cuisine. Typical breakfast is continental style with various extras to the coffee, local tea, bread, jam and honey. Fresh fruit is widespread and vegetarian dishes are always available. Lunches are not included to allow you to experiment with local restaurants and shops. Wine, beer and soft drinks can be purchased to accompany meals.
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Day 1 | Depart London in the morning on the overnight flight to Colombo. | Day 2 | Arrive Colombo and transfer to the Sapphire Hotel. Those booking land-only arrangements should join us in the afternoon at the hotel. | Day 3 | Drive to Dambulla, our base for the next 3 nights. We visit Polonnaruwa, the 10th century capital of Sri Lanka, and we see the various buildings, temples and the huge Parakrama Samudra water tank. Nearby, the impressive 5th century rock fortress of Sigiriya rises up 600 feet from the plains. The ascent by steep steps and gangways may not be for vertigo sufferers but the views are superb. The Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela is a highlight where the orphans roam freely around the compound. | Day 4 | As above | Day 5 | As above | Day 6 | Kandy is located on a small lake and we spend two full days in and around the town. We will visit the Temple of the Tooth and the vast Peredenrya Botanical Garden, with species of orchid and plants unique to Sri Lanka and others from around the world. There is also time to explore the markets, see the Spice Gardens and visit the beautiful viewpoint high on a hill above Kandy. | Day 7 | As above | Day 8 | Leaving Kandy, we drive through tea plantation districts to Nurawa Eliya, the favourite hill station during the British era situated in the cool highland air at 1890m. Known locally as ‘Little England’ it is dotted with British-style houses, hotels and a race course. On the way we visit one of the tea plantations to learn about the tea industry. | Day 9 | Short drive to Horton Plains, a large plateau over 2,000m high. The scenery is beautiful and the best way to explore is on foot. We take a guided walk through the rolling grasslands, seeing forest, unusual wildlife, such as the sambur and purple monkey and visit ‘World’s End’, where the ground drops 1050m to the plains. In the late afternoon we leave the hill country and drive to Bentota on the coast. | Day 10 | Today is a free to relax on the beach. | Day 11 | The morning is free at Bentota before we drive up the coast to Colombo with the chance for some last minute sightseeing or souvenir shopping. | Day 12 | We transfer to the airport in the early morning for the flight back to London. Those with land only arrangements end the trip at the hotel in Colombo. |
Departures Between | Price from | 06 Nov 04 | *£1265 | 18 Dec 04 | *£1599 | 22 Jan 05
12 Mar 05 | *£1345 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Single room supplement £190
Insurance £77
**Land-only 11 days Sun to Wed
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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Sri Lanka
A Fabulous ancient cities, colonial hill stations and beaches by the Indian Ocean.
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