Few places have the heritage and cultural diversity of Sri Lanka. This small tear-drop shaped island at the southern tip of India is a tropical paradise and plenty can be seen in a relatively short amount of time.
This journey focusses on the many different landscapes and histories of the island. There is an exploration of the ancient sites of the ‘Cultural Triangle’ whilst there are also visits to the charming hill capital of Kandy and the UNESCO protected fort at Galle. Sri Lanka naturally combines well with the neighbouring Maldives and this journey end with seven nights of relaxation at the Meeru Island Resort and Spa.
Colombo – Sigiriya – Kandy – Galle – Kotugoda – Maldives
Trip Highlights
- Explore archaeological remains and noted historic sites in Sri Lanka’s ‘cultural triangle’
- Walk the lanes of 400-year-old Galle Fort, an important UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Close to Kandy, visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens considered one of the finest in Asia
- Visit Minneriya National Park in central Sri Lanka, home to a large elephant population
- Enjoy colourful coral reefs, sandy beaches and enticing tropical seas in the Maldives
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Today depart the UK on the non-stop Sri Lankan Airlines flight to Colombo.
Day 2
Arrive Colombo / Colombo to Kandalama – 170kms
Arrive into Colombo where you will meet your driver-guide and begin the journey north-east towards Kandalama which is located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s acclaimed ‘Cultural Triangle’. This region is Sri Lanka's cultural centre and encompasses no fewer than five UNESCO World Heritage Sites including ancient cities and monasteries to rock-cut caves and free-standing Buddhas. Stay for three nights in the Cultural Triangle.
Heritance Kandalama Hotel
Jetwing Vil Uyana
Day 3-4
Kandalama
Over the next two days explore the region with your driver-guide. Highlights include Sri Lanka's first capital Anuradhapura and nearby Mihintale. Explore the wonderful archaeological remains at Polonnaruwa, the island's medieval capital between the 11th and 13th centuries, and the astonishing frescoes and monumental rock fortress of Sigiriya. Time permitting, the Aukana Buddha and jungle-clad remains at Ritigala are well worth visiting as is Minneriya National Park, home to a large resident elephant population.
- Breakfast
Heritance Kandalama Hotel
Jetwing Vil Uyana
Day 5
Kandalama to Kandy – 85kms
Today leave Kandalama and begin the drive to Kandy. On the way stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dambulla to visit the richly painted caves of this important temple complex. Dating, at their earliest, from the 1st century BC, the frescoes and sculptures at Dambulla portray scenes from both religious and secular life. Later continue to Kandy, capital of the highlands and best known for the opulent Temple of Tooth. Later visit the temple where Buddha's tooth relic is housed.
- Breakfast
Jetwing Kandy Gallery
Adigar’s Manor
Kings Pavilion Kandy
Day 6
Kandy
Kandy is an attractive city of palaces, parks and gardens. The centre of town is known for its 19th century architecture and this morning spend time at the colourful bazaar and interesting Kandy National Museum. In the afternoon visit the magnificent Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, a former royal pleasure garden but converted into its current form in 1821. With over 4,000 labelled species, Peradeniya is one of the finest botanical gardens in the subcontinent.
- Breakfast
Jetwing Kandy Gallery
Adigar’s Manor
Kings Pavilion Kandy
Day 7
Kandy to Galle – 220kms
After breakfast leave Kandy and drive south to the coastal city of Galle. Once the chief port of British Ceylon, today Galle is divided into two parts – the modern, bustling centre and the historic, colonial fort. The charming old town – now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site – was visited by Ibn Batuta during the 14th century and was subsequently controlled by the Portuguese, Dutch and British who finally captured the city in 1796.
- Breakfast
Fort Bazaar, Galle
Amangalla
Day 8
Galle
Today explore Galle’s old town and fort with your driver-guide. This important world heritage site is one of the best examples of a fortified city built by Europeans in Asia and is a wonderful place to explore on foot. The colonial architecture, bastions and city gates are incredibly well-preserved and highlights include the ramparts, Dutch Reformed Church which dates to 1754, the pretty old post office, All Saints Church built in 1868 and the old Arab Quarter.
- Breakfast
Fort Bazaar, Galle
Amangalla
Day 9
Galle to Kotugoda – 155kms
After breakfast leave Galle and follow the coast back towards Colombo. Stay overnight in Kotugoda at The Wallawwa which is ideally located close to the international airport.
- Breakfast
The Wallawwa
Day 10
Colombo to Male – by air / Male to Meeru Island Resort and Spa – by speedboat
This morning you will be met and transferred to Colombo Airport for the short flight to the Maldives. On arrival at Male Airport you will be taken by speedboat to the Meeru Island Resort and Spa where you will stay for the next seven nights.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Meeru Island Resort and Spa
Baros Maldives
Day 11-16
Meeru Island Resort and Spa
At leisure to relax and enjoy the Meeru Island Resort and Spa.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Meeru Island Resort and Spa
Baros Maldives
Day 17
Male to the UK
This morning return by speedboat to Male Airport in good time to catch the SriLankan Airlines flight to Colombo. On arrival connect onto the SriLankan Airlines flight non-stop to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Include wildlife with two-nights in Yala National Park, arguably Sri Lanka’s finest reserve. From coastal dunes to parkland and jungle, Yala supports a huge variety of animal life but is particularly renowned for its large leopard population.
Discover some lesser-known sites of the Cultural Triangle. Options include Yapahuwa rock fortress, the archaeological site of Medirigiriya, cave temples of Dimbulagala, Sasseruwa which served as a capital of medieval Sri Lanka and the Vessagiriya Cave Monastery.
Experience Sri Lanka’s beautiful hill country with its historic towns, pristine tea plantations and sensational scenery. A highlight is Horton Plains National Park where there are a number of excellent walks to undertake, all with fabulous views.
Relax at the beautiful Rosyth Estate House in Kegalle, a perfect place in which to break your journey between Colombo and the Cultural Triangle. Surrounded by tea and rubber plantations, walk estate trails, bird watch, take a cookery lesson or simply relax by the pool.
Guide to Price
17 days from £4360 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Private car with English speaking driver-guide
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
- Return speedboat transfers in the Maldives
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £4360
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways currently fly non-stop from London to the Maldives. There are a range of alternative airlines which include Emirates, SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airlines connecting in Dubai, Colombo or Doha.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from London to the Maldives take approximately 10 hours. Flights with stops en-route take from 12 to 15 hours.
Time Zone
The Maldives are +5 hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
British nationals can obtain a tourist visa for up to 30 days on arrival in the Maldives.
Do’s & Don’ts
Alcohol is available only on the resort's islands but is prohibited elsewhere. It is advisable not to buy any on the flight or at the duty free shops en route to the Maldives as it will be confiscated on arrival at customs.
The use, possession or distribution of vaping products is prohibited. If found with a vaping device, it will be confiscated.
If you need regular medication a valid medical prescription, issued by your registered medical practitioner, is required. Without one you may not be able to take the medication through customs.
Dress standards are generally informal but tourists should be sensitive to local dress requirements when visiting non-resort areas. A degree of modesty while sunbathing is required even on resort islands.
Money
The Maldives' currency is the rufiyaa, which is made up of 100 larees. Notes are available in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 or 500, although the two and five-rufiyaa notes are rare. Coins are in denominations of one and two rufiyaa and 10, 25 and 50 larees. However, many visitors to the resorts will never see rufiyaa with US dollars commonly used and accepted everywhere. Cash and credit cards are accepted and, unless otherwise specified, US dollars are preferred. Some resorts which are popular among European visitors will also accept Euros.
Tipping
There are no clearly-defined rules to tipping in the Maldives. A service tax of 10-12.5% is added to almost everything, from minibar drinks to snorkelling trips. In many places, this means there is no need to tip additionally but, in some cases, the people serving you personally will expect a tip. Leave a tip for room staff including the butler if there is one. Acceptable currencies for tips are US dollars, local currency and Euros. It is not usually necessary to tip bar staff or waiters as the tip is added to your bill.
Food & Drink
The resorts in the Maldives usually offer a wide variety of international cuisine. Locally, fish is common and the most popular is tuna, including skipjack, tunny, yellowfin and frigate. All is caught locally and prepared in several ways including boiled, sun-dried or smoked. Tuna is also used as a filling. Another popular local delicacy is garudiya, a traditional fish soup, often with chillies, onions and curry flavourings. It is served with rice, onion, lemon and chilli. Coconuts are also used in many recipes – in particular for desserts – and rice too is popular either boiled or ground into flour. A flat bread called roshi, like an Indian chapatti, generally accompanies meals.
Accommodation
There is a huge range of accommodation to choose from in the Maldives from exclusive island retreats offering barefoot luxury to larger more family-friendly resorts. As each hotel is a self-contained island resort they all have their own restaurants and bar and, depending on the specific property, spa and water sport facilities too. The Anantara Dhigu Resort is a fantastic option if you wish to travel with your family, Baros Island Resort is perfect for those seeking intimate luxury whilst the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa is consistently known to be one of the best five-star options and is a short speedboat ride Male Airport.
Shopping
Shopping on the Maldives is limited as the majority of visitors spend most of their time on the resort islands. Local gifts at the hotel can be bought and if visiting the main island of Male local jewellery and fabrics may be found.
Suggested Reading
The Footprint and Rough Guide offer a good general introduction to the Maldives. Some other suggestions include: ‘Maldives: The Very Best Of’ by Michael Friedel ‘A Brief Guide to the Maldives’ by Adrian Neville ‘Maldives’ by Stefania Lamberti ‘Maldives, God's Masterpiece on Earth’ by BK Adhitya
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on the Maldives the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
Thank you for an epic and amazingly unforgettable holiday
SC & DC - Maldives - April 2023
Just wanted to say thank you for such an epic and amazingly unforgettable holiday experience. We made some fantastic family memories...and it was exactly what I wanted and needed.
Thank you so much...for the time and effort that you spent on getting this right for me and dealing will all my questions and emails.
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