Sri Lanka In-Style

Land Tour

17 days

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Sri Lanka In-Style
  • About
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  • Itinerary
  • Location

$AUD 488 per day

Departure: Negombo, Sri Lanka

Arrival: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Small group

Traverse the Pearl of the Indian Ocean in style on this luxurious journey through one of Asia’s best kept secrets. Be welcomed with arms wide open by the locals, marvel at the lush green jungle landscape from atop Lion Rock, meet the resident wildlife, sip on tea in Nuwara Eliya and stay in some of Sri Lanka’s most highly regarded properties along the way.
About

Sightseeing

  • Cruise the Negombo Lagoon at sunset
  • Enjoy a BBQ welcome dinner
  • Observe Negombo's local fish markets
  • Tour the cave temples of Dambulla
  • Trek through the monastic ruins of Ritigala
  • Enjoy an afternoon jeep safari in Minneriya National Park searching for sambar deer, leopards and elephants
  • Visit the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa
  • Tour the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya
  • Visit a typical home in a Sri Lankan village for lunch
  • Visit the Coconut House
  • Visit the Matale Spice Plantations
  • Tour the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy
  • Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya
  • Enjoy a cultural show and local traditional Kandyan dance performance
  • Learn about the tea-making process and sample Ceylon tea at a plantation
  • Join the locals and marvel at the stunning highland scenery for a short journey by train to Thalawakale Station
  • Visit the St. Clair and Devon Falls
  • Enjoy High Tea at the Grand Hotel
  • Visit the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe
  • Enjoy a jeep safari in Yala National Park
  • Drive along the south coast to Galle and see the World Heritage-listed Dutch Fort
  • Enjoy a walking tour of Galle
  • Learn about endangered turtles at a local hatchery
  • See the famous Stilt Fishermen at Weligama
  • Cruise the Madu River and visit the Moonstone Mine
  • Visit the moving Tsunami Museum which remembers the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami
  • Tour Sri Lanka's capital of Colombo
  • Tour Colombo’s streets in open-top jeeps

Travel

  • Return economy-class flights from Australia to Sri Lanka. Taxes included
  • Airport transfers on the first and last day of tour
  • All touring in air-conditioned vehicles (excluding jeep-safari vehicle)
  • Local train from Nanu Oya to Thalawakale Station

 

Accommodation

Accommodation

  • 13 nights in 5 star specialty luxury hotels and resorts
  • 2 nights accommodation  a short walk from the historic walled city of Galle

Properties include:

  • 2 night stay at the Heritance Negombo, Negombo
    • With the Indian Ocean on its doorstep, The Heritance Negombo offers guests a deluxe experience. The highlight of this hotel is its large outdoor pool nestled amongst palm trees with views out to the ocean. The hotel also boasts 7 different dining options. Guest rooms are contemporary and full of natural light for a superior stay.
  • 4 night stay at the Water Garden, Sigiriya
    • Sigiriya Rock acts as the perfect backdrop to the luxurious Water Garden Sigiriya Hotel. Impeccable manicured gardens are in abundance at the hotel and can be explored by buggy. The hotel boasts an outdoor swimming pool, spa, restaurant and bar that complement the opulent guest villas.
  • 2 night stay at the Jetwing Gallery, Kandy
    • Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of Kandy’s city centre, and overlooking the Mahaweli River, is the opulent Jetwing Gallery. Surrounded by greenery and nature, the hotel’s infinity pool is the perfect place to unwind. The spacious guest rooms ensure a pleasant stay in this part of Sri Lanka.
  • 2 night stay at the Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
    • Be transported back to Nuwara Eliya’s colonial past during a stay at the opulent Grand Hotel that dates back to 1891. The former residence of the governor of Sri Lanka, Sir Edward Barnes, the hotel boasts elegantly furnished rooms, a panoramic bar, luxurious pool and spa, and elegant high tea served on manicured lawns.
  • 2 night stay at the Jetwing Resort, Yala
    • The best of Sri Lanka’s hospitality and wildlife collide at Jetwing Yala. Situated on the edge of Yala National Park, the luxurious resort is nestled between the Indian Ocean and the untamed landscape of the national park. Guests can relax in pure luxury in the hotel that boasts an outdoor swimming pool, deluxe spa and contemporary décor.
  • 2 night stay at the Le Grand, Galle
    • Overlooking the Galle Fort, the Le Grand Galle offers a modern luxurious oasis in this historic destination. World-class service, modern décor and a relaxing atmosphere combine to offer an ultra-luxurious stay. The property boasts superior amenities including an outdoor swimming pool with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, a pool side bar, relaxing spa and more.
  • 1 night stay at the Shangri-la Hotel, Colombo
    • Luxury awaits at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo. Towering high above the city in the business district, the Shangri-La offers guests a superior stay with elegant décor, spacious rooms, a large outdoor pool, and direct access to the city’s premier One Galle Face Mall. Its central location means exploring Colombo is a breeze.

Hotels listed are an indication and are subject to change without notice.

 

Meals

  • 15 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 13 dinners, including group welcome and farewell dinners

Tour Guides

  • English-speaking national guide throughout (based on a min. of 6 passengers)
  • English-speaking locally based guides

Porterage

  • Porterage included where available

Some things to note

Please note:

  • During the dry season of September and October Yala National Park may be closed to visitors, should the park not be open during one of our departure dates our groups will visit an different park, such as Lunugamvehera National Park.
  • Women may need a head scarf to enter some mosques and temples, and wear modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders. Also, a good tip is to pack a spare pair of socks in your daypack, as sometimes shoes need to be removed when entering and the ground can be hot.

Optional Excursions

  • All optional excursions are based on minimum participants and are subject to availability. The length of optional excursions advised is an approximate only. Optional excursions can be booked on tour directly with your Tour Director or guide. We recommend arranging the booking at the beginning of the tour to avoid disappointment. Please note some optional excursions may also be available on multiple or alternate days. Prices are a guide only and are subject to change without prior notice. Payment by cash is preferred as there are no guarantees that credit card facilities will be available. Please check with your Tour Director or guide locally for information relating to this. Credit card fees and exchange rates are at the discretion of your bank.

Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart Australia – Arrive Negombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka, where the original soul of Buddhism still flourishes, and nature’s beauty remains relatively unspoiled. Stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, captivating cultural heritage and wildlife experiences await!
Day 2 - Negombo
The coastal town of Negombo is set alongside a picturesque lagoon and home to an impressive network of canals built in Dutch colonial times. Negombo was an important strategic outpost for the trade of cinnamon in colonial times and has been ruled at varying times by the Dutch, Portuguese and British empires.

We’ll enjoy the day at leisure today to rest up and refresh from our flight before our sightseeing commences in the early evening.
Special Experience
Cruise along the calm waters of the jungle-fringed Negombo Lagoon at sunset before enjoying a delicious BBQ dinner.

As the sun sets, keep an eye out for various colourful birds and water monitors while our boat navigates the mangrove islands. In a fitting welcome to our time in Sri Lanka, we’ll then be treated to a delicious traditional meal while getting to know our fellow travelling companions further over dinner.
Day 3 - Negombo – Dambulla – Sigiriya
Sri Lanka is home to no less than 8 UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, 5 of which are situated in what is known as the cultural triangle, in the centre of the island. Neighbouring some of Sri Lanka’s most important sites and landmarks, Sigiriya is the gateway to Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle and national parks.

Negombo’s fish markets are full of life and colour each morning when the fresh catch is brought in and vendors voice their prices at the top of their lungs. Buyers bargain for the best deals in what is a daily practice for the locals of this coastal town. We’ll visit the fish markets during a morning tour of Negombo; don’t wear your best shs and have a handkerchief on hand just in case (it tends to smell rather fishy)!

Next, we’ll make our way to the Dambulla Caves, home to the best-preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka, a key site of the country’s cultural triangle. The cave temples were built in the 1st century and the gigantic granite outcrop towers more than 160 metres above its surrounds. We explore the caves covered by ancient frescs and their interior where over a hundred statues of Buddha (157 in fact) are housed, some carved from the rock itself.

We continue to Sigiriya and enjoy the remainder of our afternoon at leisure.
Day 4 - Sigiriya
Set deep in the jungle around a large hill formed by huge sculptural granite monoliths, lies the ancient and now abandoned hermitage of Ritigala. Today the visible remains are those of a Buddhist monastic congregation that used to practice meditation in total austerity. Rarely visited by tourists, this mystical place is incredibly beautiful and unspoilt with shady forests filled with streams, pools and granite boulders leading to ruins with various meditation platforms. We’ll spend our morning here before making our way to Minneriya National Park.

Our destination this afternoon is Minneriya National Park, where vast expanses of evergreen forest and scrub areas serve as the roaming grounds for elephants and sambar deer. The central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank, built in the 3rd century by King Mahasena. During the dry season from June to September, this tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze, as well as the huge flocks of birds such as cormorants and painted storks, that come to fish in the shallow waters.
Challenging Day
Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.
Day 5 - Sigiriya
Polonnaruwa lies at the cultural triangle’s easternmost point and became Sri Lanka’s second capital in the 11th century. We’ll spend our morning in the ancient city that was built alongside a large artificial lake and is home to well-preserved ruins of palaces, bathing pools, stupas and exquisite rock sculptures of Buddha at the Gal Vihara.

After lunch in Polonnaruwa, we’ll return to our hotel to freshen up and take some time to relax before dinner this evening.
Day 6 - Sigiriya
Regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s most impressive sites, a visit to the famous rock fortress of Sigiriya is a must. The remains of a 5th-century fortress lie perched high atop a rock plateau, offering panoramic views over a vast plain and dense jungles. Built by King Kasyapa, an impressive 5-acre fort sat astride the rock and a city nestled at its base, but now the city is gone and the fortress is in ruins.

We depart our hotel early this morning to visit Sigiriya. Braving the spiral staircase, we’ll see the 21 frescs of female nature spirits, known as Apsaras, painted beneath an overhang about 90 metres up the rock. These frescs are beautiful – still boasting vibrant colours even after 1,500 years. Just above them, a wall adorned with 1,000-year-old graffiti and ptry serves as a testament to visitors who recorded their impressions of the painted women. Reaching the summit after climbing 1,200 stairs, we are rewarded with breathtaking views over the Sri Lankan jungle below and intriguing remnants of a once-thriving kingdom
Special Experience
Visit a local village near Sigiriya and be welcomed into a local home for a traditional lunch.
We get acquainted with the traditions of the local family as we watch how they prepare their meals, learn some traditional cooking techniques and enjoy a delicious meal together. After lunch, we’ll enjoy the remainder of our afternoon at leisure. Our hotel features a large outdoor pool, ideal for relaxing after a day of sightseeing.
Challenging Day
Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.
Day 7 - Sigiriya – Matale – Kandy
Kandy is a truly charming town, set around an artificial lake and nestled amidst rolling hills covered by forests and tea plantations. Known for housing the most important Buddhist temple in the country, the former capital of Ceylon and the last seat of the Sinhalese Kingdom is Sri Lanka’s cultural capital. The city has a distinctive style due to the impressive colonial architecture that still survives today.

En-route to Kandy, we’ll stop at the Coconut House, which is a wonderful opportunity to see how a local family utilises every element of a coconut tree, from extracting coconut oil to creating rope. We will also stop at Matale and visit some of the best spice plantations on the island. A large variety of spices such as cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg and precious cardamom (a relative of ginger) are grown here. We’ll be shown how some of these spices are grown and processed and will be able to purchase favourites to take home.

Upon arrival in Kandy this afternoon, we’ll visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Ever since it was founded in the 16th century, it has housed one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism—a tooth of Buddha collected from his funeral pyre, which is now protected within the gold-roofed Temple of the Tooth.
Day 8 - Kandy
The stunning Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya is our destination this morning. Initially a Royal Park, in 1821 under British rule it became a Botanical Garden. Here exotic crops such as coffee, tea, nutmeg, rubber and cinchona (quinine), all of which are important to the country's economy, were first tested. The Botanical Gardens include a beautiful orchid house and a wide variety of plant species from all over the world.

We’ll discover the city of Kandy on a guided tour this afternoon before being treated to a cultural show and traditional dance performance.
Day 15 - Galle – Colombo
Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, the ‘Garden City of the East’, faces the Indian Ocean and stretches along more than 14 kilometres of the island’s western shores. A bustling city crowded with buses and minivans has overtaken the once quiet roads laden with bullock carts. Tree-lined boulevards, colonial buildings, open air markets, temples, lakes, and churches add great character to this city.

Upon arrival in Colombo, we’ll enjoy a guided city tour visiting the Gangarama Temple and the famous Cricket Club Café, owned by two Australians.
Special Experience
Navigate the hustle and bustle of Colombo’s streets during a tour of the city in open-top Jeeps.

We’ll enjoy a farewell dinner this evening at Colombo’s Gallery Café. Housed in the former offices of world-renowned Sri Lankan architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, the internationally acclaimed restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy our last group meal together.
Day 14 - Galle
This morning we enjoy a scenic cruise along the Madu River, meandering through islets forested with mangroves. Look out for the 46 different species of birds that reside in the area, including 14 aquatic varieties, as well as huge water lilies and colourful butterflies.

We’ll then visit the Moonstone Mine in Meetiyagoda. This mine is one of the few places where the semi-precious stone is found in high concentrations, hence the villagers believe this area is blessed by the moon. At Meetiyagoda you can see, or even go down into the deep, narrow shafts where the stones are mined.

On our way back to the hotel, we will make a stop at the moving Tsunami Photograph Museum which remembers the devastating 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami that inflicted widespread damage to the coast of Sri Lanka.

The rest of the afternoon is ours to enjoy at leisure. You may like to make the most of the luxurious hotel amenities, explore the Galle fort further on your own or take part in an optional cycling tour of Galle’s countryside.
Optional Excursion
Cycle in the Galle Countryside - Enjoy a relaxed cycle through paddy fields and small villages stopping to meet some of the locals along the way. The tour will also include a visit to a local tea and cinnamon factory, where of course you’ll enjoy a tasting! 3 hours/30km – from US $60pp
Day 13 - Yala – Weligama – Galle
The coastal walled city of Galle is the capital of the South Province and is best known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Galle Fort, a fantastically preserved colonial sea fortress. Built by the Portuguese in the late 16th century, the old trading port was further fortified by the Dutch and British colonialists. The narrow streets of shuttered mansions and churches protected by the stone walls, bastions and ramparts, are a delight to stroll through. Upon arriving in Galle, we enjoy a guided tour of the city on foot, learning about the town’s history.

Enroute to Galle we’ll visit a turtle hatchery on the beach in Habaraduwa, set up to conserve the turtle population before witnessing the unique stilt fishermen of Weligama go about their trade.
Deluxe Experience
Spend two days staying a short walk from the historic walled city of Galle, wandering the narrow streets and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Galle Fort.
Day 9 - Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
The main hill resort of Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya is the heart of Sri Lanka’s lush tea-growing region. Founded by the British explorer Samuel Baker in 1846, Nuwara Eliya was a sanctuary to the colonialists keen to escape the humidity and heat of Sri Lanka. The town was originally built with mock-Tudor houses featuring inglenook fireplaces and billiard tables, a golf course, racetrack, gentlemen's clubs and botanical gardens. Now a bustling town and the vegetable garden of Sri Lanka, it still provides a glimpse of life during the colonial heyday. The region’s temperate climate makes this the coolest area in the country.
Deluxe Experience
Enjoy an exclusive visit to a tea plantation to learn the tea-making process and sample the local produce while overlooking lush tea gardens.

Meandering through some of the country’s most beautiful scenery, there will be plenty of photo worthy moments during our journey. We’ll arrive in the afternoon and have time to relax at the hotel before dinner this evening.
Day 11 - Nuwara Eliya – Udawalawe – Yala
Home to one of Sri Lanka’s most premier eco-tourism destinations, Yala National Park, Yala is the gateway to some of Sri Lanka’s incredible wildlife. Established in 1938, Yala National Park boasts a diverse range of habitats, including scrub jungle, brackish lagoons, lakes, and rivers, that leopards, elephants, wild buffalo and more call home.

We make our way to Yala this morning, stopping to witness the gushing water of the incredible waterfalls at Ella before continuing to Udawalawe.
Special Experience
Spend time at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe and learn about its rehabilitation program.

Established in 1995, the Elephant Transit Home rehabilitates orphaned elephant calves for release back into the wild.
Day 10 - Nuwara Eliya
Colonial past and current-day Sri Lanka meet in Nuwara Eliya to create one of Sri Lanka’s most unique destinations.

This morning we board the local train for a scenic ride to Thalawakale station. We then discover the town of Nuwara Eliya during a guided tour before venturing out of town to see the spectacular St. Clair and Devon Falls that cascade down the lush green mountains of the region. Known as Little Niagara of Sri Lanka, St. Clair Falls is one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka. Nearby Devon Falls was named after an English coffee planter by the name of Devon, whose plantation is situated nearby.

Back at our hotel, we’ll enjoy a lovely high tea at the Grand Hotel before enjoying the evening at leisure.
Day 16 - Depart Colombo
Today marks the completion of our adventure across amazing Sri Lanka. We’ll enjoy the day at leisure to explore Colombo further or simply relax and enjoy our hotel amenities. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!
Optional Excursion
Optional Excursion – Visit the Bunnik Tours office – Enjoy a behind the scenes tour of the Bunnik Tour’s Colombo office to see how our tours are created and meet the Sri Lankan team. Be taken on a tour of the building before enjoying a local homemade meal with the staff over lunch. 2.5 hours – complimentary
Day 12 - Yala National Park
This morning we’ll enjoy time at leisure to relax and enjoy our hotel’s facilities. Grab your cameras this afternoon for a safari through Yala National Park. Among the oldest and best known of Sri Lanka’s national parks, our safari will take us through the park’s stunning scenery and past a number of important cultural ruins. Keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready for the number of different species that call Yala National Park home.
Day 17 - Arrive Australia
Day 17 - Arrive Australia
Location

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