Sri Lanka: A Summer Family Adventure

Day 1 Depart the UK

Today depart the UK on the SriLankan Airlines flight to Colombo. (N)

Day 2 Arrive Colombo

Arrive into Colombo and transfer to the Galle Face Hotel for an overnight stay. Colombo is Sri Lanka's capital. A former Portuguese trading outpost, the city grew under both the Dutch and British to become the commercial hub of the country and today is home to numerous colonial remnants, colourful bazaars and an interesting National Museum. Later visit the city for a brief afternoon tour. (N)

Accommodation in Colombo: Galle Face Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 Colombo to Udawalawe National Park via Kitulgala – 210kms

Today leave Colombo and travel by road to the small town of Kitulgala close to the banks of the Kelani River for a thrilling white water adventure. Rafting on the Kelani is suitable for all experiences and, as the river widens, it passes the film location for 'Bridge over the River Kwai'. After lunch leave Kitulgala and continue to Udawalawe National Park. (B)

Accommodation in Udawalawe National Park: Kalu's Hideaway (or similar)

Day 4 Udawalawe National Park

Today explore Udawalawe on morning and evening jeep safaris accompanied by a naturalist. Mainly open parkland, the park is famous for its elephants which can be seen in herds of over one hundred. Udawalawe is also home to spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, water buffalo and jackal whilst the birding is excellent with nearly 200 species recorded. In the afternoon visit the Elephant Transit Home which has helped care for dozens of injured, sick, or orphaned baby elephants from all over Sri Lanka. (B)

Accommodation in Udawalawe National Park: Kalu's Hideaway (or similar)

Day 5 Udawalawe National Park to Kandapola – 150kms

Early this morning enjoy one further jeep safari before leaving Udawalawe for the scenic drive up into the hills to Kandapola, the heart of the island's tea growing region. Located close to the old colonial hill-station of Nuwara Eliya, with its English country-style homes and pretty well-tended gardens, this afternoon visit the town and a neighbouring tea plantation. (B)

Accommodation in Kandapola: Tea Factory Hotel (or similar)

Day 6 Kandapola to Kandy – 150kms via Horton Plains National Park

This morning visit the Horton Plains National Park. Located on a high wind-swept saddle over 2,000 metres above sea level, this is the starting point for a 12kms circular walk to Baker's Falls and the dramatic World's End. This walk provides some of the finest, and far-reaching, views in Sri Lanka. Later drive to Kandy. Capital of the highlands, Kandy is best known for the opulent Temple of Tooth and later visit the temple where Buddha's tooth relic is housed. (B)

Accommodation in Kandy: Cinnamon Citadel Hotel (or similar)

Day 7 Kandy

After breakfast visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage which was established in 1975 and today is home to the largest group of captive elephants in the world then return to Kandy and the Udawattekele Sanctuary—once the reserve of the kings of Kandy and today home to several endemic species of flora and fauna and over 150 different species of birds. End the afternoon at the magnificent Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, a former royal pleasure garden, and one of the finest botanical gardens in the subcontinent. (B)

Accommodation in Kandy: Cinnamon Citadel Hotel (or similar)

Day 8 Kandy to Passikudah – 195kms

Leaving Kandy, today drive to Sri Lanka's beautiful east coast. Located to the north of the city of Batticaloa, first landing point of the Dutch in 1602, Passikudah has one of the island's finest beaches of golden sand and gentle crystal clear waters ideal for swimming and snorkelling. (B)

Accommodation in Passikudah: Maalu Maalu Resort

Alternative option: Uga Bay Resort

Days 9 to 11 Passikudah

Over the next three days relax and enjoy Passikudah. The Maalu Maalu Resort is located directly on the beach and has a large, welcoming swimming pool and its own Ayurvedic spa. For the more active, cycle or walk to some of the small neighbouring fishing villages, dive or snorkel the virgin coral reefs or visit the Portuguese fort in Batticaloa. (B)

Accommodation in Passikudah: Maalu Maalu Resort

Alternative option: Uga Bay Resort

Day 12 Passikudah to Habarana – 120kms

Today leave Passikudah and drive to Habarana. Habarana sits at the heart of Sri Lanka's 'cultural triangle', an area of numerous exceptional Buddhist sites. Later visit nearby Minneriya National Park which is home to a large elephant population. Unlike many of the other national parks, due to their large numbers elephants can be usually be spotted at a very close range. (B)

Accommodation in Habarana: Cinnamon Lodge (or similar)

Day 13 Habarana to Kotugoda – 150kms

This morning see the astonishing frescoes and rock fortress of Sigiriya, a vast flat-topped rock which dominates the surrounding rainforest for miles around, before continuing to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dambulla. Here, visit the richly painted caves of this important thousand year old temple complex, then drive back to Colombo and nearby Kotugoda. (B)

Accommodation in Kotugoda: The Wallawwa (or similar)

Day 14 Colombo to the UK

Today transfer back to Colombo Airport to catch the SriLankan Airlines flight non-stop to the UK. (B)

Sri Lanka: A Summer Family Adventure

14 days from £2820 per person

Itinerary Highlights

Itinerary: Sri Lanka: A Summer Family Adventure

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