Pearls of the Indian Ocean – Sri Lanka & the Maldives
Itinerary
Days 1-2 – Amble along Negombo’s canals
Today you’ll arrive in Negombo, a modest beach town on the palm-fringed west coast, not far from Colombo. During your time in Negombo, you’ll stay in an elegant villa with a swimming pool and gardens. The rest of the day is free for you to do as you please; why not relax by the pool with a good book or take a stroll along the beach.
Days 2-4 – Discover Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle
Next, your driver will take you to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. From crumbling ruins to majestic elephants, this trip will take you on a discovery tour of Sri Lanka’s fascinating Cultural Triangle. You’ll start the next day by climbing Sigiriya’s mighty rock fortress before you arrive at Sri Lanka’s ancient capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Polonnaruwa. You’ll cycle around the ancient stone city with a local guide and learn about its glorious past. You’ll spend 2 nights at a lakeside hotel, where you can relax and take in the beauty of the area.
To avoid you getting ‘templed out’ we’ll also arrange a jeep safari into nearby Minneriya National Park. The park is home to large herds of wild elephants, which are easy to spot and observe, due to the wide, open landscape. Between the drier months of June and September in particular, hundreds of elephants can be seen gathering around the park’s lakes in search of water.
Days 4-6 – Explore the emerald valleys of Ella
Next, you’ll travel from Polonnaruwa with your driver by private car to the green hills of Ella. The journey will take around 4,5 hours.
Ella is a peaceful village nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill-country, with fresh air, some lovely places to eat and a welcoming atmosphere. You’ll travel in a car through the lush countryside, before settling into your cosy hotel for the next couple of nights. All around Ella you’ll find tea plantations, temples, waterfalls and green hills. At Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock there are some truly spectacular viewpoints too. You can pack a day-bag and explore this wonderful part of Sri Lanka to your heart’s content, or just find a comfy chair and take it all in with a nice cup of tea.
Days 6-8 – The wild heart of Yala National Park
Next, you’ll travel from Ella with your driver by private car to Yala National Park. Along the way, you’ll make a stop at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home where injured babies and orphans are cared for. You’ll watch as they impatiently appear at the gates at feeding time and jostle each other for milk.
Yala National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Sri Lanka. During this trip, you’ll head out on a jeep safari where you can spot a kaleidoscope of colourful birds, monkeys, crocodiles, buffaloes and of course, elephants. If you’re really lucky, you might even spot a leopard sneaking past, so make sure you have your camera ready! After an exciting day of wildlife spotting, you’ll head back to your simple yet unique accommodation, located on the edge of the park. Your comfortable tent comes equipped with a bed, toilet and sink! In the evening, you can fall asleep to the sounds of the wild – an experience to make your Sri Lanka wildlife trip complete!
Days 8-9 – Just one more thing… in Colombo!
It’s time to leave the wildlife behind you and head back to Colombo. We’ll arrange a transfer via the Southern Express Way. The journey should take around 4 hours.
The time has come to dip into the hectic life of Colombo. During this trip, you’ll enjoy a city tour, Sri Lanka style, in one of the colourful tuk-tuks and spend the night in a stylish hotel. The city itself probably won’t be the highlight of your holiday, but it’s an interesting and convenient way to end your Sri Lankan adventure if you’re flying early the following day.
Days 9-13 – Daydreaming on coral islands – Maldives
It’s time to wave goodbye to the tear-drop island and your driver will take you to the airport in time for your international flight to the tropical paradise.
You’ll stay in an eco-hotel right by the beach and from your comfortable, air-conditioned room you can simply step out onto the sands and wade into the turquoise waters around you. We’ll arrange a guided cycling trip for you to explore the island on one of your days and there’s nothing else planned for the rest of your time here. Time to kick back, relax and soak up your exotic surroundings.
After your exotic beach break, you will hop on a short domestic flight back to Male to catch your international flight home.
Accommodation
