Grand Tour of Sri Lanka
Ancient sites, hill stations, national parks, and a visit to Galle
In Brief
| Flight - 1 night. Colombo area- 1 night. Dickwella - 1 night. Katharagama - 1 night. Nuweira Eliya - 2 nights. Kandy - 1 night. Sigiriya - 2 nights. Kurunegala - 1 night |
Itinerary 2 - 10 nights (Jun 2012 onwards)
Day 1 Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Colombo.
Day 2 Transfer to Pegasus Reef Hotel, near Colombo, for overnight stay.
Day 3 Drive to Galle for sightseeing including a turtle hatchery and the Old Dutch Fort. Continue to Wewrukannala Temple. Overnight at Dickwella Resort.
Day 4 Drive to Yala (3 hrs). Afternoon jeep safari at Yala National Park. Overnight at Mandara Rosen in Katharagama.
Day 5 Journey by rail from Haputale to Nanu Oya (subject to change due to local conditions and schedule amendments). Continue by road to Nuwara Eliya. Two nights at St. Andrews Hotel.
Day 6 Optional morning excursion by jeep to Horton Plains for a guided walk (3 hrs) to ‘World’s End’ with the opportunity to spot a variety of plant life and wildlife.
Day 7Visit a tea plantation and factory before continuing to Kandy for overnight at Chaaya Citadel or Topaz hotel. Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Temple of the Tooth. Evening cultural show.
Day 8 Visit Pinnawela Elephant Sanctuary and Dambulla cave temple. Two nights at Sigiriya Hotel.
Day 9 Visit Polonnaruwa, the second ancient capital city of Sri Lanka. Optional afternoon excursion to Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Day 10 Visit Anuradhapura and Mihintale. Continue to Kurunegala for overnight at Yapahuwa Paradise Hotel.
Day 11 Return flight to London arriving later the same day.
Extension - Trincomalee
Day 10 Transfer from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee, on the east coast, for three nights at the 4-star Chaaya Blu Hotel.
Days 11–12 At leisure. A half-day sightseeing tour of Trincomalee will be included.
Day 13 Drive to Tamarind Tree Hotel close to the airport (6 hrs) for overnight.
Day 14 Return flight arriving later the same day.
