The Enchanted Island
Overview
Itinerary
Arrive in Colombo, and check into the Cinnamon Lakeside for 1 night. Enjoy a welcome dinner.
In the morning, transfer to Dambulla, home to Asia's most impressive cave temples. Stay 3 nights at the Heritance Kandalama.
Drive to ancient Anuradhapura. This city was Sri Lanka's capital for 1,400 years and contains fabulous Buddhist shrines and relics. Afternoon visit to Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Morning visit to the rock-fortress town of Sigiriya. Continue to the 11th-century capital of Polonnaruwa.
Continue to the beautiful hill station of Kandy and stay 2 nights at the Earl's Regency. This evening, watch a traditional Kandyan dance performance and visit the Temple of the Tooth for the evening puja.
Kandy is set on the shores of a beautiful man-made lake and the area abounds with rich and varied plant life. Morning visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Afternoon at leisure.
Board the train to Nanu Oya, winding through picturesque landscapes. Visit a tea plantation in Nuwara Eliya, a town set at an elevation of 1,880 metres above sea level. Stay at the Heritance Tea Factory for 2 nights.
Early morning visit to Horton Plains, situated on Sri Lanka's highest plateau, including a 2.5-hour walk. Horton Plains is inhabited by large populations of monkeys and sambar deer. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Visit the Rawana Ella Falls and impressive Buduruwagala statues. Then drive to Yala and stay for 2 nights at Cinnamon Wild.
Morning wildlife safari in Yala National Park. Covering 1,300 sq km, the park encompasses a diversity of jungle habitats, including scrub, brackish lagoons and riverside locations. Creatures that may be seen include elephants, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild pigs, jackals, marsh crocodiles and a great variety of birdlife. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner.
Drive to Ahungalla, stopping for a tour of Galle Fort before continuing to the Elephant Transit Home. Stay 2 nights at Heritance Ahungalla or upgrade to the Cinnamon Bentota Beach Resort & Spa by speaking to one of our travel specialists.
A day at leisure.
Transfer to Colombo airport, where your tour ends.
Trip Inclusions
- Visit the impressive Dambulla caves & Sigiriya rock fortress
- Witness a Puja ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth
- Stay in an authentic converted tea factory
- Journey by train through scenic tea country
- Upgrade to half-board in Dambulla, Kandy & Ahungalla available
- Small group size - average 14 people (max 18)
- 4 & 5 star accommodation
- Flexible - extensions & room upgrades available
- Transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- Experienced local tour manager
- 11 breakfasts & 3 dinners
- Welcome & farewell dinners
- Wildlife safari & national park entrance fees
- Porterage at hotels
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
Operator
Cox & Kings groups rarely exceed 18 guests, and ninety percent of journeys have at least one guaranteed departure date, letting you plan with peace of mind.
Cox & Kings tours feature deep, authentic local experiences that reveal hidden truths and cultural secrets about each destination.
Cox & Kings partners with charming hotels that are comfortable and capture the essence of their surroundings, whether it’s a historic, characterful building, or an ideally placed location.
All Cox & Kings tours are guided and supported by experienced locals, who use their knowledge and on-the-ground relationships to improve and deepen the travel experience.
Dates & Pricing
AUD
Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Cox & Kings. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
