SPECIAL TOUR SRI LANKA 12 DAYS

Enjoy a scenic journey. Relax and travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle, chauffeur driven for you. You do not have to worry about meals and entrance fees to sites specified in the itinerary. We have planned it all for you. Just stay cool and relax as you journey through the Cosmopolitan City of Colombo to the laid back towns where the scenery and culture will captivate your attention. Have a great holiday!

DAY 01: AIRPORT/NEGOMBO

Driving time approximately 30 mins

Welcome to Sri Lanka. Our representative will be waiting eagerly to meet and greet you at the arrival lounge of the airport. Look out for a guy holding a board displaying your name. If you don't spot him you can present yourself at our counter and all will be taken care of for you. Your chauffeur will then take you to your hotel in Negombo. Check in and relax as your tour will have an early start the following day.

Your Hotel: Goldi Sands Negombo / Beacon Beach Hotel Negombo
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 02: POLONNARUWA

Driving time approximately 5 hrs

Program Today

Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Visit Dambulla Cave Temple
Do a wildlife safari in the evening at Minneriya

Feeling excited today! Well sit back and relax. You will be heading to the historic town of Polonnaruwa. On the way you will stop at an elephant orphanage situated in a town called Pinnawala. Feeding times are between 10:00 am - 14:00 pm. You can watch the baby elephants being bottle fed and also follow the herd heading to the nearby river for their daily baths. You can get up close to these gentle giants for a photo shoot and assist the mahout with a scrubbing brush. Continue your journey to Polonnaruwa. In the evening you will go on an exciting wildlife safari at the Minneriya National wildlife Sanctuary. Return to your hotel and relax.
Please note due to many protests worldwide on animal cruelty we will be gradually phasing off visits to Pinnawala elephant orphanage until we are fully satisfied that mahouts are trained to stop chaining, prodding and pricking of these orphaned animals.

Your Hotel: Sudu Araliya or Kasappa Lions Rock,Sigiriya
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Lunch at Tropical Village Restaurant

DAY 03: TRINCOMALEE

Driving time approximately 3 hours

Program Today

Visit Polonnaruwa Ruins
Do a village trek and tour
Cottage Lunch

Another exciting day with an early start. Your final destination to rest will be Trincomalee. But before you get there you will visit the historic town of Polonnaruwa where you will see remnants of temples, dagobas and palaces of the great Kings & despots who once ruled this Country with all their might and power. This place has a lot of history to deal with. Best observed by bicycle (Optional). Next you will visit a village at Hiriwadunna. You will cross a lake in a canoe and hop on land to experience a cottage lunch prepared in your presence by a local village woman. This experience will give you an insight into the way of life of farmers in these areas. Proceed to Trincomalee.

Your Hotel: Trinco Blue by Cinnamon
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Cottage lunch at Hiriwadunna village

DAY 04: TRINCOMALEE

Program Today

Do a City tour of Trincomalee
Visit the Koneswaram Temple
Visit Fort Fredrick
Go snorkelling or Blue whale watching and rest for the day.

Trincomalee is a port city. Fort Fredrick was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century. Whale watching is seasonal from April to October. You will get panoramic views of the City and surroundings from the Swami Rock (Koneswaram temple) situated on top of the cliff. This temple is dedicated to the hindu god Shiva. It is said that this temple was well established during the arrival of the exiled prince Vijayan in the 6th century BC. There is a maritime museum and naval history museum nearby you can visit during the city tour. White sandy beaches fringed by palm trees will set the atmosphere to relax and unwind.

Your Hotel: Trinco Blue by Cinnamon
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner at the hotel
Lunch at Luck Grove Spice Garden

DAY 05: KANDY

Driving time approximately 4 hrs

Program today

Visit Historic Dambulla Cave Temple
Visit a spice garden
Proceed to hotel in Kandy

Today your will be heading to Kandy. The last Kingdom that fell to British occupation. On the way you will visit the Dambulla cave temple complex - A pre-historic site constructed in (103 BC- 77 BC) during the reign of king Vattagamani Abhaya. Skeletal human remains found here ascertain that humans occupied these caves before the arrival of Buddhism. This is a large well preserved cave temple. You will see buddhist mural paintings and 153 statues of the buddha in seated and reclining positions and three statues of Kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses
Spice garden tour - There are many spice gardens on your way to Matale offering garden tours. While you might enjoy the educational tour explaining the merits of herbs, spices etc., you will be led to the spice shop at the end of the tour. Be mindful that prices at these shops are exorbitant. Bargain if you must. Do not buy if you don't want to.

Your Hotel: Serene Kandy
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

DAY 06: NUWARA ELIYA

Driving time approximately 3 hrs

Program Today

Visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
Take a Scenic Train Ride from Nanu Oya Station
Lunch pack will be provided

Peradeniya Botanical gardens - Once reserved only for Kandyan royalty this picturesque garden is now open to locals and foreigners. You will see a fine collection of orchids, an avenue of royal palms, a beautifully laid out Javan fig tree, tall Burma bamboo trees and beautiful lawns spread out beneath the tall trees. You will also see many local couples canoodling under the shade of an umbrella.
Today, you will be travelling uphill into the scenic and cool climate of Nuwara Eliya. Known as "Little England" during British occupation. You will find the climate quite salubrious as you pass luscious green tea plantations adorned with tea plucking women at work amidst the cool misty surroundings. Next, you will embark on the most beautiful and scenic train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella. The scenery is breathtaking as you will see hills covered with tea plantations, steep mountains, old bridges, waterfalls, little villages and children greeting you as they run along the railway tracks trying to sell flowers and sweets. Some tourists take this opportunity to travel on the footboard of the train to take pictures and selfies as they enjoy this scenic ride.

Your Hotel: Heaven Seven or Galway Heights Nuwara Eliya
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

DAY 07: YALA

Driving time approximately 4.5 hrs

Program Today

Visit Horton Plains
Visit Buduruwagala
Proceed to Yala

You have an early start with packed breakfast as you will be trekking the natural beauty of Horton plains to view far below the landscape as far as the eye can see at world's end lookout point. The 8km trek, takes you through pristine forest land. The rugged trail could be slippery on rainy days. Bakers waterfall is an opportunity for a photo shoot or selfie. The surrounding plains are covered with montane grass along your walking trail. Cloud forests are common here. The altitude here is 2,300 metres and the plateau is rich in biodiversity and endemic flora and fauna. Horton plains is an UNESCO world heritage listed plateau. Please be mindful of the environment and do not litter the area during your trail.
Next, you will continue your journey down south as you head downhill to the coastal southern regions. You will take a brief stop at Buduruwagala, to view the 1000 yr old ancient rock carvings of the buddha. This is a remote site prominent to buddhist heritage. Continue to Tissamaharama and check into your hotel and rest for the day.

Your Hotel: Chaarya Resort Tissa
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Lunch at a Local Restaurant (TBA)

DAY 08: GALLE

Driving time approximately 4.5 hrs

Program Today

Do a wildlife safari at Yala National Park
Visit Galle Dutch Fort

Today you will rise up early to do a wildlife safari at the national park, well renowned for spotting the elusive leopard that roams the park stealthily. The park is bordering the ocean and is home to leopards, elephants, sloth bear, deer,crocodiles and many species of endemic and migratory birds. The area is also famous for an ancient buddhist monastery. Nearby caves containing centuries old rock paintings and a buddhist temple housing ancient buddhist ruins can be seen here if time permits.
Continue your journey to visit the historic Dutch Fort in Galle. First built by the Portuguese in 1588 and later fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century and maintained onwards by the British until independence from colonial rule in 1948. Galle Fort is a UNESCO listed heritage site.
Check into your hotel and rest for the day.

Your Hotel: Fairway Resort Galle
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Lunch at Kamu Restaurant
Packed breakfast on Wildlife tour

DAY 09: AHUNGALLA

Driving time approximately 1 hr 10 min

Program Today

Proceed to Ahungalla
Check in at the All inclusive 5 star resort
Relax all day.

Your Hotel: Hotel Riu Ahungalla
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Now that you have reached the tailend of your journey, we selected this 5 star all inclusive 500 roomed hotel with you in mind. This is the place to be. You can unwind, relax and enjoy the food, drinks & cocktails to your heart's content. Every detail is taken care at this All Inclusive resort providing excellent value and great relaxation. This hotel overlooks a beautiful stretch of beach. Has an all-inclusive 24- hour day service, large rooms and a wellness spa. You will spend 3 nights at this wonderful resort reminiscing and discussing the good and the bad aspects of your itinerary that we carefully planned and executed for you. We sincerely hope your holiday in Sri Lanka was worth it. Please email your reviews at the end of this tour to reg@leisureworldtours.net

DAY 10: AHUNGALLA

Program Today

Relax and unwind
Do your own thing

Optional tours:

Visit the Turtle Hatchery
Take a boat ride at the Maadu River

Your Hotel: Hotel Riu Ahungalla
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

DAY 11: AHUNGALLA

Program Today
Relax and unwind
Hire a Tuk Tuk and explore the surroundings.

Your Hotel: Hotel Riu Ahungalla
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

DAY 12: DEPARTURE TO AIRPORT

Driving time approximately 2 hours

Your Hotel: Hotel Riu Ahungalla
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch

Your holiday in Sri Lanka has come to an end. We can guarantee a late check out at 3:00 pm. Late check outs at 6:00pm will be subject to availability. These arrangements are done for you keeping in mind that most outbound flights to your homeland could be scheduled after midnight.

END OF TOUR

OUR CHARGES

Charges based on per person basis sharing a double room will be announced on inquiry

INCLUSIONS

Accommodation in shared double room with private bathroom
Meals are as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
Transfers and tours with local English-speaking chauffeur guide in Confirmable A/C Vehicle
All entrance fees to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Minneriya National park with 4X4 Jeep, Polonnaruwa, Hiriwaduna Village, Dambulla Cave Temple, Kandy Temple, Cultural Dance Show, Peradinya Garden,Train ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya, Buduruwagala temple, Tea Factory visit and Yala National park with 4X4 Jeep
All government taxes and service charges

EXCLUSIONS

Optional tours
Surcharges for other language guides
Surcharges for Christmas & New Year Eve
Personal travel insurance
Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
Drinks with meals
Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking
Electronic Travel authorisation fee for Visas upon arrival (Please note that an ETA is compulsory for nationalities besides nationals from the Republics of Singapore and Maldives)
Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme

Please Note

For air ticket reservations, we require the guests’ full names AS THEY APPEAR IN THEIR PASSPORTS. Airfares and reservations are always subject to change until paid in full and ticketed.
Airfares are subject to increase without prior notice.
Please be advised that prices will be adjusted periodically in case of fuel price increase by our suppliers.
This is a quotation only and neither reservation for services nor hotel bookings have been made.

Cancellation policy
Refunds will not be given for unused or cancelled services after the tour arrangements have commenced.

FIT (Individuals): Cancellation charges are calculated from the day the written notification is received by the company or agent as a percentage of the net total tour price as shown plus any surcharges (e.g. ticketed air sectors, other penalties imposed by suppliers such as hotels):

Between 29 – 21 days prior to departure on tour: According to the costs incurred will be charged
Between 20 – 15 days prior to departure on tour: 25% of package price
Between 14 – 8 days prior to departure on tour: 50% of package price
Between 7 – 5 days prior to departure on tour: 75% of package price
4 – 1 day prior to departure on tour or no show: 100% of package price

GIT (Groups): Cancellation of tours due to minimum number of participants will be advised 6 weeks before departure of the tour; in which case Diethelm Travel will offer an alternative tour of a similar standard or a full refund. Cancellation policy for GIT bookings will be advised separately case by case.

Cancellation policy for hotel reservation only

Between 29- 21 days prior: 30% of accommodation price**
Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 60% of accommodation price**
Between 14 days and 0 days prior to departure: 100% of accommodation price**

**Certain Hotels impose stricter cancellation policies which will be advised separately.

Payments by Credit Card: If the payments are made by credit card, the following charges will be added to your invoice value