Day 1: Fly from UK
Depart from London Heathrow on an overnight flight with Emirates to Colombo via Dubai or Oman Air via Muscat.
Day 2: Arrive Colombo
Change planes in Dubai/Muscat for a connecting service to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city. On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to the
Wallawwa, a boutique colonial-style hotel on a two-acre coconut estate. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens, the hotel is located just fifteen minutes from the airport. Spend the rest of the day recuperating, take a swim in the pool or perhaps ease your tired muscles with a treatment at the hotel’s spa.
Day 3: Colombo to Cultural Triangle
Your car and driver will be waiting for you today to begin your explorations. You’ll start with a drive to Habarana in the centre of the country, to check into your first Geoffrey Bawa creation, the
Kandalama. Conceived as an ‘austere jungle palace’, the hotel looks like a Bond villain’s lair, with incredible views from every room, and crafty monkeys playing round the pool and taking a few sips from it when no-one’s looking.
Day 4: Cultural Triangle
Spend a day with your guide exploring some of the gems of Sri Lanka’s ‘cultural triangle’. Start with a visit to Anuradhapura, a picturesquely ruined ancient city which for 1300 years was the glittering political and religious capital of Sri Lanka. Nearby, climb the 1,840 steps to the sacred site of Mihintale, a series of shrines, stupas and caves revered as the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Day 5: Cultural Triangle
Early this morning, whilst it is still cool, your driver will take you to visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, another former Sri Lankan capital, built as a citadel atop a vast rock guarded by giant lion’s paws. The climb to the top is challenging but worth it for the outstanding views of the surrounding countryside. Afterwards, transfer to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s capital from the 11
th – 13
th centuries, preserving the Gal Vihara, four magnificent Buddha statues carved out of granite, including the famous serene 14-metre reclining Buddha.
Day 6: Cultural Triangle to Kandy
Make one last visit before leaving the cultural triangle; to the atmospheric cave temples at Dambulla. Then travel south towards Sri Lanka’s hill capital, Kandy, set picturesquely around a lake, and famous for its Temple of the Tooth where a sacred tooth of the Buddha is believed to be enshrined. You will spend two nights at
The Kandy House, a boutique hotel in an ancestral manor house built in 1804.
Day 7: Kandy
This morning, enjoy a tour of the city and Royal Botanical Gardens, with some free time in the afternoon to explore on your own. In the evening, your guide will take you to the Temple of the Tooth to see one of the daily Pooja (religious services) with traditional drumming and music.
Day 8: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and Central Highlands
Today for a change of pace, your driver will drop you off at the train station for you to catch a train into the central highlands, with glorious mountain scenery unfolding from your window. Arrive at the colonial hill station of Nuwara Eliya, famous for its lush tea plantations and continue to Dickoya to check into
Ceylon Tea Trails Summerville, a former colonial tea estate manager’s bungalow, now turned into an exclusive boutique hotel.
Days 9: Central Highlands
Today you have a choice of activities; including visiting a tea factory to learn first-hand how tea is made, from picking and processing to drying. Ceylon Tea Trails is a fantastic base for a variety of adventure activities, with a number of treks and scenic walks as well as mountain bike trails through the tea estates on offer, or kayaking on the nearby reservoirs, Castlereagh and Maskeliya. Some activities payable locally.
Day 10: Central Highlands to Tangalle
Your driver will take you down out of the hill region southwest to Tangalle on Sri Lanka’s southern coast: a meandering stretch of golden coastline made up of quiet coves and sleepy fishing villages. Base yourself at
The Last House, a cosy boutique hotel which was the last property architect Geoffrey Bawa created. With prime beach frontage, this is the place to kick back and enjoy the south coast’s unspoiled beaches.
Day 11: Udaipur to Cochin
Early morning flight from Udaipur to Kochi (Cochin) via Mumbai, arriving late morning. On arrival, you will be met by your new guide and transferred to
Malabar House, a boutique heritage hotel in the heart of Fort Cochin. Your afternoon is free to relax and explore. Set on the beautiful Malabar Coast, Cochin blends Portuguese and Dutch architecture with the remnants of the British Raj to create a charming jumble of a city.
Day 12: Cochin
Meet your guide for a morning walking tour of Fort Cochin, once home to traders, plantation owners and explorers of many nationalities. See the historic Chinese fishing nets, historic synagogue, colonial-era churches and old spice warehouses from Cochin’s days as the world’s foremost spice trading port.
Day 13: Cochin to Alleppey and Mararikulam
Leave Cochin this morning for a short drive to Alleppey, jumping off point for Kerala’s famed backwaters. Board a converted Keralan rice barge for a leisurely day exploring the network of canals, lakes, rivers and inlets, known as the ‘Venice of the East’. Dock in the late afternoon and take a short transfer to Mararikulam, a sleepy fishing village on a golden stretch of beach. Check into the award-winning
Carnoustie Ayurveda & Wellness Resort for two nights
Day 14 : Mararikulam
Enjoy a day relaxing at Marari Beach. The hotel’s fabulous spa offers Ayurveda treatments and Thai/Balinese massages, not to mention Yoga, sailing, archery and painting courses. Or simply borrow one of the resort’s bikes and explore the local area.
Day 15: Mararikulam to Cochin and London
Time to go home. Early this morning you’ll be collected for a one hour transfer back to Cochin to catch a morning flight to London via Abu Dhabi on Etihad in Business Class, arriving the same evening.
