This ‘Boutique Ceylon’ is a classic but easy-paced
journey that takes you around the most interesting and beautiful
parts of the island. Experience the ancient heritage of the
north central cultural triangle, the tea plantations and misty
mountains of the southern highlands, the dry zone scrub jungles
of the south east, and finally the glorious beaches of the
south coast. The tour strays away from the well-trodden tourist
trail to allow you to see Sri Lanka at its resplendent best.
We have selected unique and stylish accommodation including
lifestyle boutique hotels, colonial bungalows, eco resorts,
and a beachside villa – all of which will make this
a truly unforgettable holiday. Of course, we are able to tinker
with this itinerary if you wish and add an extra night here
and there. We can also discuss other hotels or villa options.
Holiday highlights
• Ruins of Sigiriya’s rock fortress
• Dambulla’s serene Buddhist cave temples
• Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth
• Train through tea-growing highlands
• Yala’s untouched wilderness
• Galle’s UNESCO-protected Fort
• Colonial bungalows and chic hotels
Itinerary:
Day 1: Upon arriving in Sri Lanka transfer to Hideaway, a
beautiful plantation villa tucked away in the countryside, a
relatively short drive from the airport. The Hideaway is a quaint
Sri Lankan home, where your every need will be taken care of,
but discretely, leaving guests alone to relax and indulge in
their own dreams in complete privacy. Evenings are magical with
the flickering light of oil lamps that ring the small pond and
the waft of sweet scented oil that sooths your soul.
Accommodation profile: Hideaway’s Sri
Lankan owners have carefully and tastefully converted this lovely
new property into a small boutique villa. The attention to detail
is impressive, from the welcoming betel leaf and refreshing
pineapple juice on arrival to the soft white cotton sheets on
the beds. There are two suites – the Sun and the Moon
– and a deluxe room called the Stars, all complete with
high wooden ceilings, four-poster beds and outdoor bathrooms
that have Jacuzzis. The interior décor mixes old antiques
with modern touches. If you’re in the mood to explore,
there are many ancient cave temples and church close by as well
as cycling, hiking and trekking.
Day 2 & 3: Travel to The Cultural Triangle village of Sigiriya
where you will stay three nights at Vil Uyana, a brand new boutique
hotel situated just minutes away from the magnificent Sigiriya
rock fortress. Explore Sri Lanka's ancient kingdoms –
the lion rock of Sigiriya and Dambulla’s Buddhist Cave
Temples – all UNESCO protected World Heritage Sites. En
route, you also have the option of visiting Yapahuwa, an ancient
temple built on a rock described by the Insight Guide to Sri
Lanka as "one of the great architectural wonders of the
island”, and Aukana, where the Buddha stands 42 feet high,
the best-preserved statue in Sri Lanka.
Accommodation profile:Vil Uyana is a brand new lifestyle hotel situated on the flatlands immediately to the west of the Sigiriya rock. The hotel is envisaged as a natural extension to the efforts of ancient Sinhala kings who developed and irrigated this area. Vil Uyana, spread over 24 acres of land, also includes a wetland system consisting of paddy fields, marshes, and waterways newly introduced to this area by the hotel. Individual dwellings, luxuriously appointed within, and blending seamlessly into the rural landscape, are located over lakes, marshes, and paddy fields.
Day 4 & 5: The journey from the cultural triangle to Sri Lanka's
hill capital – the small lakeside city of Kandy –
will occupy most of the morning. Check into the Ellerton Lodge,
a plantation bungalow in Gampola on the outskirts of Kandy with
magnificent mountain views. Visit the Temple of the Tooth in
Kandy where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined
since 4th Century A.D. The temple has decorative walls, a golden
roof and fine woodwork. Religious services (pooja) with traditional
music and drumming are held daily at dawn, mid-day and in the
evening where guests can participate.
Accommodation profile: Set on
a hilltop, 2,400 feet above sea level with magnificent views,
Ellerton is a tranquil planter's bungalow situated on a 9 acre
organic tea and spice estate in Gampola. Located just half an
hour from the hill capital Kandy, Ellerton is an ideal stop
en route to the hill country towns of Nuwara Eliya and Hatton.
This 100 year old planter's bungalow has been refurbished blending
old world charm along with tasteful modern touches. The property
consists of the old colonial style Main House and the Valley
House, a separate newly constructed three bed roomed villa with
panoramic views of the Mawanella mountain range.
Day 6, 7 & 8:
This morning you hop on aboard a train and head to Bandarawela
in the tea-growing Southern Highlands - a land of lush tea plantations,
majestic peaks and gushing waterfalls. Stay for three nights
at Kirchhayn bungalow on Aisleby Tea plantation. The landscaped
gardens lined with flower beds and the Aislaby Tea Estate itself
is wonderful to walk about. Several trails are possible including
a half hour walk to the "Bostock seat" or a rigorous hour and
a half through some of the best tea in the world culminating
with a steep climb to the top of the "patna" to check out the
most spectacular 360° view. En route, visit the Aislaby Tea
factory and the Hindu Kovil nearby. Bird watching is rewarding
here and for those who are really keen, the Tangamale Bird Sanctuary
located half an hour away in Haputale. Adisham - a Benedictine
Monastery with a century old stone buildings, several waterfalls
including Dunhinda, Diyaluma, and Ravana Ella are all located
nearby in the towns of Haputale and Ella.
Accommodation profile: Kirchhayn Tea
estate bungalow stands amidst the 50 acre tea plantation of
the Aislaby Estate in Bandarawela. Surrounded by mountain peaks
in the breathtaking Southern Highlands, Kirchhayn is a peaceful
haven which is ideal for family or friends traveling together.
The high roofs, large spacious rooms, old working fireplaces,
hardwood floors and priceless antique furniture are all tastefully
highlighted with muted colours, fascinating family photographs
and fresh-cut flowers from the garden.
Day 9 & 10:
Today you travel to the southeast of Sri Lanka, an undeveloped
and wonderfully rustic corner of the island famous for its huge
game reserves, vast sugar cane and paddy fields, as well as
a rich cultural heritage. Enroute, visit Buduruvagala to see
Sri Lanka's tallest rock-cut Buddha statue, 51 ft. in height,
and other Mahayana Buddhist statues dating back to the 8th-century
AD. In the afternoon check into the Galapita Eco Retreat, a
charming eco-lodge whose atmosphere is completely attuned to
Mother Nature’s rhythms. Located a short distance from
Galapita is the Yala National Park with a total protected area
of 126,768 hectares of scrub plains, lagoons and rocky sections.
Yala offers the broadest cross-section of the country’s
flora and fauna and, in terms of game viewing, this is probably
the best place to see all of the ‘big three’ –
elephant, leopard and water buffalo. We also recommend a visit
to the sacred jungle shrine of Kataragama located nearby. This
holy shrine was built by the warrior King Dutugemunu in the
2nd century B.C. to pay homage to God Kataragama. This shrine
is worshipped by people of many faiths. Each day at specific
times, the shrines come alive when poojas (devotions) are presented
to the Gods. The baskets filled with fruit and flowers, the
aromas from burning incense and oil lamps, the sounds of dashing
coconuts, clanging bells and continuous chanting all combine
to provide a mesmerizing experience.
Accommodation profile: Galapita Eco Retreat
lies on the banks of the Menik (Gem) River. What began as an
idealistic rural retreat for friends and family is now the ultimate
escapist retreat for a small selection of independent travellers.
Life can hardly be more natural than this. Your bedroom on stilts
will be one of four huts perched on the rocks by the river.
It will have a straw roof, bamboo walls, a futon bed, mosquito
nets and a little driftwood furniture, nothing much else. It
might be the Tree House that peers over paddy fields. Families,
too, will love Galapita because the surrounding countryside
will keep children enthralled for hours. Galapita only offers
vegetarian food but the rice and curries are mouth-wateringly
good.
Day 11, 12, 13 & 14:
journey along the spectacular south coast to the fishing village
of Thalpe just 8 km. from the historic city of Galle. Relax
and enjoy the sun and surf at Apa Villas, a luxurious and homely
boutique hotel perched at the edge of the sea. There is much
to see nearby including the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum
in Koggala located just minutes from the hotel. The exhibits
here bring back to life the age old crafts, rituals and lifestyle
of the rural south. Galle's 17th century Dutch Fort, a UNESCO-protected
World Heritage site and a melting pot of cultural influences
is an interesting morning's excursion. Several hours can be
spent wandering along the narrow streets, well preserved ramparts,
the lighthouse, the Dutch Reform Church, and several houses
with the typical manor house style architecture with columns,
courtyards, and verandas. The thick, high ramparts that protect
and distinguish the Fort are today used for romantic evening
strolls and convenient viewpoints to catch the sweaty action
of local 'village' cricket games and the international games
held in the adjacent Galle cricket stadium. High on the headland
of Unawatuna Bay is Rhumassala Temple. With beautiful views
stretching out over the Indian Ocean a walk around the headland
near the temple is very special. Famed for the natural medicinal
herbs nearby you will walk through hidden villages and verdant
jungle valleys eventually finding yourself on "Jungle Beach"-
a little known and secluded beach. Scuba diving is immensely
rewarding in Sri Lanka and around Galle there are some of the
country's best dive spots. Run by PADI centers, based in Unawatuna
diving is suitable for beginners to advanced. Spotting bright
corals and exotic fish is easy and there is the opportunity
to go both cave diving and wreck diving. Based at Mirissa Harbour,
Mirissa Water Sports also offers exciting water sports activities
such as sailing, fishing, coastal cruises, river trips, sea
kayaking, snorkeling and boating activities for visitors to
the South coast.
Accommodation profile:Apa Villas
Thalpe is a small sea side boutique hotel consisting of 3 separate
villas - Cinnamon, Cardamom, and Saffron located on an idyllic
stretch of beach on the south coast. Hans Hofer, founder of
the Apa Guides - later to become famous as the Insight Travel
Guides, owns this private villa. Here at Apa Villas Thalpe,
he has brought to life his dream of perfect beach hideaway.
The villas incorporate typical southern architectural features
of columns and verandahs, courtyards and open spaces that let
the ocean breeze and fresh air in. The interiors are minimalist
and contemporary with timber, steel, and glass blended furniture,
cement based beds and recliners, and cooling cement floors.
Day 15: Depart to the Bandaranaike International
Airport in Colombo in good time for your flight back home.
Cost: TBC
Package price includes:
• 14
night’s BB accommodation on twin-sharing
basis
• Airconditioned car and English-speaking
driver for tour and transfers
• First-class train tickets from Kandy to
Bandarawela (subject to availability)
• Entrance Fees: Sigirya Rock Fortress,
Dambulla Cave Temple, Temple
of the Tooth
• Entrance and jeep hire for Yala (one game
drive)
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prices and offers independent advice and flexible itineraries. Trust Red Dot for
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hotels in the United Kingdom. [ Check
our licence ]
This ‘Boutique Ceylon’ is a classic but easy-paced
journey that takes you around the most interesting and beautiful
parts of the island. Experience the ancient heritage of the
north central cultural triangle, the tea plantations and misty
mountains of the southern highlands, the dry zone scrub jungles
of the south east, and finally the glorious beaches of the
south coast. The tour strays away from the well-trodden tourist
trail to allow you to see Sri Lanka at its resplendent best.
We have selected unique and stylish accommodation including
lifestyle boutique hotels, colonial bungalows, eco resorts,
and a beachside villa – all of which will make this
a truly unforgettable holiday. Of course, we are able to tinker
with this itinerary if you wish and add an extra night here
and there. We can also discuss other hotels or villa options.
