All Island Club Tour | A clasic Sri lanka cricket tour.

All-Island Club Tour

Introduction

There is no finer, more welcoming place in the world than Sri Lanka for a cricket holiday. Its breathtaking combination of golden beaches, energising hill country and cultural sites all within easy reach of the capital Colombo can rival anything the Caribbean has to offer. You are able to play in the leading venues in the island, including Galle's seaside stadium and the historic Sinhalese Sports Club. But most appealingly of all, cricket is a national obsession in Sri Lanka and cricket travel allows you a unique insight into a fascinating island and friendly people.

This 16-night tour will be more than most clubs can manage, but it illustrates the variety that is on offer. If you have such time on your hands then many delights await you. The All island Club Tour explores the varied delights of Sri Lanka to the full, with plenty of cricket along the way. It ticks all the boxes – wildlife, culture, beaches and, of course, world class cricket venues. It could easily expand into a leisurely thrtee-week trip, with more time at the end of the tour on the west coast beaches and Colombo. Those of you limited to a fortnight could chip a couple of days from the schedule and still see most of the island, but it will be a demanding itinerary, with quite a lot of driving, and you must plan your reductions carefully with the help of your Red Dot consultant. Alternatively, consider our other sample tours.

We have illustrated this All Island Club Tour with upmarket hotels, but as ever our itineraries and accommodation are entirely flexible enabling you to plan the perfect tour at a quality and price you need. What you see here are recommendations based on years of experience.

Holiday Highlights

	Play cricket at the spectacular Galle Stadium.
	Clamber up Mount Sigiriya.
	Explore the UNESCO protected Galle Fort and searching for leopard in Yala
	Tackle the Victoria Golf Course, voted ‘Best Course in Asia’ by Asian Golf Monthly.
	Play in the unique setting of Radella CC, amidst the tea plantations of the central highlands.
	Unwind along the golden beaches and azure seas of the Sri Lankan south or west coast.
	Play at Galle underneath the backdrop of the famous Dutch fort.

Photo Gallery


Day 1 & 2Upon arriving in Sri Lanka transfer to central Colombo and the luxurious Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Here you can enjoy a choice of fine dining at a selection of Colombo’s finest restaurants, a brand new spa, health club and swimming pool. Fully refreshed after a good night’s sleep, you will be ready for a light training session the following day at an Indoor Academy or a first-class Colombo ground. Red Dot will be happy to supply net bowlers if required. While the cricketers toil in the sun, non cricketers can shop or lounge by the pool. In the evening of Day 2 have a welcome dinner at The Cricket Club Café. Day 3: Time for MATCH 1 against a Colombo club side. Colombo remains the centre of Sri Lankan cricket and all its first-class grounds love to play host to touring sides whenever they can. After the match spend your third night at Cinnamon Grand before heading tomorrow for the Cultural Triangle. By now you should be in the mood to sample some of the best restaurants, bars – and even the odd nightclub – in this easily-explored city. Cinnamon Grand The five-star Cinnamon Grand belongs to the exclusive Cinnamon properties of the John Keells group. This city hotel combines the Cinnamon signature touch of grandeur and opulence with a degree of warmth and sensitivity giving it much character. It's central location, luxurious facilities, personalised service, up-to-date modern conveniences and the added convenience of an adjoining three-storey up market shopping mall, makes Cinnamon Grand an ideal resting point at the end of your holiday in Sri Lanka. ...(More)
Day 4The journey to the Cultural Triangle can be a drag – England once wound up Kevin Pietersen that they had missed the turning for the non-existent motorway – but besides the outstanding cricket this area has a great deal to offer. The heart of the cultural triangle, this is a great place from which to explore some of Sri Lanka’s ancient sites and discover some of the island’s rich heritage. We suggest that after checking into Kandalama Hotel, and recovering with a leisurely lunch, you climb the Lion Rock of Mount Sigiriya, but a more learned tour party may refer to take a look at the ruined city of Polonnuruwa, and cram in Sigiriya at dawn the following day. Alternatively you may take the opportunity to take a hot air balloon or elephant ride. Day 5: Kandalama is a hotel normally favoured by the England cricket side for their games in Dambulla and you are treading in their footsteps. Take on a Dambulla Cricket Authority Invitation XI at the nearby Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in MATCH 2. England were skittled for 88 here by Sri Lanka in 2003 but the square has bedded in since then! The venue has superb facilities, a monstrous scoreboard and a large stand for Pete & Sophie, your loyal supporters. After the match at Dambulla drive the 2 ½ hours to Victoria Golf and Country Club, Kandy. Heritance Kandalama Heritance Kandalama is a minimalist contemporary hotel cleverly designed by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s famous architecture guru. Bawa conceived the hotel `as an austere jungle palace’ located on the bund of an ancient 3rd century tank (reservoir) and captures the surrounding magical views from every angle. Stroll along its restful, atmospheric corridors and you may spot a tame monkey, or some of the 160 resident bird species and you can experience it all in the finest comfort. ...(More)
Day 6You will have arrived at Victoria golf club in the dark on the previous evening, weary and ready for a good night’s sleep. Awake then to an uplifting sight. You are staying on the edge of the Knuckles mountain range at one of the world’s most picturesque golf courses. This must be one of Sri Lanka’s best-kept secrets. Spend the day here before moving down to Kandy for your next match the following day and – we recommend – staying the night in Kandy. The hassle of changing hotels is offset by reduced transport times. Victoria Golf Chalets Victoria Golf & Country Resort has two sets of chalets: Victoria and Knuckles. The four Victoria chalets enjoy grandstand views of the 17th Tee and the mountains beyond. The two Knuckles chalets are also well placed to enjoy the mountain views. Both sets of one-bedroom chalets are located just minutes from the clubhouse. ...(More)
Day 7Play MATCH 3 at the Asgiriya International Stadium, Kandy. Another of Sri Lanka’s international arenas. Although the ground is a little basic it is a beautiful cricket venue. Asgiriya is the only Test match ground that is owned by a school, Trinity College, and we would hope to arrange a fixture against an Old Trinitians XI. They are a delightful and hospitable club and will drag you to their club bar for beers after the game. Then check in for a night at Earls. Earls Regency The Earls Regency, lying alongside the broad Maheweli River, offers modern and spacious four-star comfort on Kandy’s outskirts. Earls strives for a sense of grandeur, and can claim to be the best-appointed hotel in town, but some find it lacking in atmosphere for a Sri Lankan hotel. The most conveniently-situated hotel for Victoria golf club. ...(More)
Day 8Early on Day 8 jump on the train at Kandy to head high into the tea country. Your luggage will be taken separately by the coach and you can sit back, relax and enjoy one of the world’s most spectacular train journeys as you wind slowly up the mountain passes. Arrive for late lunch at the Tea Factory. Heritance Tea Factory The Tea Factory lies, alone and unique, on the slopes of the tea plantations at Kandapola, high above the popular hill country town of Nuwara Eliya. It is what it says – a beautifully converted tea factory – and offers high-grade accommodation in a sparsely-populated land of rolling tea-green hills. Still one of the finest hotels in the highlands. ...(More)
Day 9Today will be MATCH 4 – and what a unique venue. The game will take place on just about the only flat bit of land in the region - Radella Cricket Club. It was was built by the British plantation fraternity in the middle of a tea estate. Founded in 1894, the club is full of memories of the past, including memorabilia from early MCC and international touring team. The pitch can vary in quality but the breathtaking setting with the ground set in a tiny valley surrounded by steep tea slopes more than makes up for this. Return to the Tea Factory for a second and final night. Day 10 & 11: An early morning and departure to Yala Game Park. There is potential for an afternoon game drive, otherwise relax by the pool and save it for the following morning. Elephants and leopard are frequently spotted here, as well as a whole host of other wildlife. Note: Should you wish to reduce your tour by one night at this point – and cut the driving – opt for the nearer Uda Walawe game park, where elephants abound. The one-night’s accommodation at Centuaria Hotel will be of 2-star quality, but you will save about four hours travelling and can clip a day off your itinerary. Yala Village Yala Village Hotel located in a Kirinda enjoys a scenic location, stretching from a lagoon to the border of Palatupana-Kirinda beach, which boasts some of Sri Lanka’s finest unspoilt sand dunes. Animals may wander through the Village unhindered as the management pursues a policy of existing in harmony with nature. The nearby beach is remote and attractive, although swimming is not recommended here. The view from the top deck of the bar-restaurant over the pool and to the lake beyond, where animals and birds come to drink and bathe, will tempt some to stay for hours. ...(More)
Day 12, 13 & 14After two nights in Yala, drive along the stunning coast road to the Galle coastal region. There is a vast choice of accommodation on offer in this region, whether you want to stay in the Galle Fort, a world heritage site, or on the tropical beach is up to you. Day 13 is MATCH 5, this time at the iconic Galle Stadium. The stadium has the Indian Ocean on two sides and was badly damaged by the tsunami, only to be rebuilt after the affection of the world’s cricketing publ;ic became clear. The rest of the time on the coast can be spent having aching limbs massaged, exploring the UNESCO protected Galle Fort, trying your hand at some water sports or simply soaking up the sun. Heritance Ahungalla Heritance Ahungalla is a large five-star west-coast beach property and an early creation of Sri Lanka's famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Rooms are well-appointed and spacious, leisure facilities are extensive and the hotel is designed to allow maximum views of a quiet beach and the Indian ocean beyond. Few beach properties are as reliable as this. ...(More)
Day 15After your rest on the beach you will be firing on all cylinders. On your return to Colombo, you can stop off for an optional MATCH 6 – a Twenty 20 match at Seenigama. The Foundation of Goodness charity, championed by Muttiah Muralitharan, has rebuilt a village wiped out by the 2004 tsunami. At the centre of this community is a charming cricket pitch, financially supported among others by Suyrrey and the MCC. We would encourage you to visit. Travel onto Colombo – the end of the tour is nigh. Don’t forget the last-minute shopping. Day 16: You could leave early morning on Day 16, or you could stay longer for a final match in Colombo – choices, choices. If you stay on, you could meet a Red Dot Invitation X1 at one of Colombo’s premier grounds in MATCH 7. Or perhaps just spend your last day in Sri Lanka by the pool or bargain hunting in the numerous shopping plazas. Red Dot would suggest that for the cricketers this would be a good opportunity to buy good value cricket kit for the season ahead. A Red Dot consultant would be happy to point you in the direction of one of the suppliers we personally use. If you have any energy left, consider a tour dinner and prize-giving. Day 17: Head for the airport for your return flight home.

Package price includes:

	Return economy flight (inclusive of all taxes)
	16 night’s accommodation on twin-sharing basis
	Breakfast at all hotels
	Air-conditioned coach for duration of the tour
	Match costs including venue hire, umpires, packed lunches and water
	Full-time cricket liaison officer for tour duration
	Cricket assistant for organising dressing room, kit, drinks and assistance during practices/warm-ups