1 7

LK10DB1011

Glorious Ceylon (13 Days)

Glorious Ceylon (13 Days)

£608.00 GBP
£654.00 GBP £608.00 GBP
Sale Sold out
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Vehicle

A cultural and spiritual experience awaits those who take this 13 Day tour of Sri Lanka. When combined with a blend of wildlife, adventure, scenery and a relaxing beach stay, means that you get to experience the diverseness of this tropical paradise without feeling left out. It’s an ideal holiday for the entire family! From the marvelous monuments and ruins of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, to the evergreen seas of hills that stretch as far as the eye can see, to the beautiful blue ocean with its golden sands, to the trails of spice that will leave you infatuated with Sri Lankan cuisine, to the urbanized commercial capital, Gorgeous Ceylon will surely take your breath away.

View full details

1 Day in Negombo

Prior to exploring the wonders of Ceylon, you will be directed to a comfortable hotel stay in Negombo which is the closest tourist destination to the International Airport in Katunayake. A short drive away from the airport, Negombo is a fishing port which has been influenced by the Dutch while there are many remnants that reminds you of that era.

Negombo

Arrive at Colombo International Airport. Here, you will be met by a designated chauffeur guide from Lakpura. After the formalities at the airport you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle and proceed to Colombo and check into the hotel.

2 Days in Anuradhapura

The first ancient political and religious capital that flourished for over a thousand years, Anuradhapura is home to many ruins and important landmarks such as temples, pagodas and monastic buildings. While travelling to Anuradhapura you will also make a stop at the Yapahuwa Rock Fortress as well as the Mihintale Rock where Buddhism was born in Sri Lanka.

Yapahuwa Rock Fortress

Visit the rock fortress of Yapahuwa where the seat of government was based in the 13th century. It also had its own Temple of the Tooth Relic where the relic was housed at that time. View the majestic entrance arch and ornamental stairway. Walk through the ruins of the temple at the summit or along the terraces. Enjoy the detailed sculptures scattered throughout the entire fortress. Yapahuwa is an incredible place that defies description and is best seen with one’s own eyes.

Mihintale Rock

Visit the place where Buddhism began in Sri Lanka. See the spot where the meeting of King Devanampiyatissa and Monk Mahinda took place. View the monastic ruins at the foot of the mountain. Walk in the footsteps of Mahinda as you visit the cave where he resided. View historic stupas, Ambasthala Dagoba and the Maha Stupa. Enter the ruins of an age long past to understand its impact on the history of Sri Lanka.

The Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Walk through the ancient ruined city of Anuradhapura, which was the capital for over a millennium until the 10th century AD. View the pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds that are scattered all over the vast area. Visit important landmarks such as Jetavanarama, which was one of the tallest buildings of the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of the huge Abhayagiri Monastery. Gain more knowledge about Sri Lanka’s history as you walk in the footsteps of Kings.

1 Day in Polonnaruwa

The second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa is a city known for its monumental ruins of the garden city created by King Parakramabahu I as well as Brahmanic monuments built by Cholas. From Polonnaruwa we can enjoy a safari through the Minneriya National Park, famous for its elephant population and gatherings during the dry season.

The Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

Visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which was the second major capital of Sri Lanka. Walk through the ruins of the city that flourished between the 10th to the 13th century AD. View important monuments such as Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu whose reign was considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa. Get to know more about Sri Lanka’s ancient history.

Minneriya National Park

This safari takes you on a ride through the Minneriya National Park. Enjoy the sight of over 150 elephants congregating in one place during the famous Great Elephant Gathering, which happens in the dry season between May to October. In addition to elephants, get a chance to also see many mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the scrublands, forests and other areas.

1 Day in Kandy

Travelling towards the hills, you will first visit the Dambulla Cave Temple and its complex and then experience a guided spice tour allowing you to learn about local herbs and spices as well as Ayurvedic medicines. A colourful traditional Kandyan cultural show awaits you allowing you to experience various art forms that are popular in the region.

Dambulla Cave Temple

Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.

Matale Spice Tour

The Matale Spice Tour gives you a hands-on experience of a Spice & Herbal Garden within the Spice capital of Sri Lanka, Matale. Here you will learn about Sri Lanka’s famous spices such as coriander, chili, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and their uses. The garden is enriched with herbs, spice groves, and plants with fragrant greenery shading from the tropical trees that heighten the unique aroma of each spice and herb. Apart from gaining knowledge on Sri Lankan spices, this unique tour also lets you learn about Ayurvedic medicine. The tropical climate in which the plants and herbs are grown helps them preserve its ancient originality.

Kandy Cultural Show

Watch the Kandyan Cultural Show with its colourful traditional dances and delightful music. The Kandy Cultural Show gives you an opportunity to experience some of Sri Lanka’s traditions. Enjoy this hour-long extravaganza as some of the most popular art forms of the island take to the stage. Get mesmerized by fire dances, sword dances, and watch the talented Kandyan dancers take to the air to the thrumming, primal beat of the drums.

2 Days in Nuwara Eliya

En-route to Nuwara Eliya, you will pay a visit to the most famous temple in the region – the Temple of the Tooth. Visit a Ceylon Tea Factory and learn about the entire process of tea manufacturing and then you can explore the city which has an ambience of an English neighborhood. Enjoy a trek to the Horton Plains National Park.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was built in the 16th century as the place of veneration and protection for Lord Buddha’s sacred tooth. Walk through the beautifully embellished passageways and elaborately painted halls, done in red, cream and black. Lounge against delicately carved pillars and get amazed by the beautiful golden statues. Get an unforgettable experience of history and art.

Tea Factory Visit

Tea Factory to learn how tea is manufactured in Sri Lanka. You can observe the tea pickers, locally known as ‘tea pluckers’ as they move between the lush green rows along the mountains with their large baskets.Thereafter you will be given a guided tour explaining fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and the grading of tea. Finish with a tea tasting process and learn of the history, and why Ceylon Tea is considered among the best in the world.

Explore Beautiful City

The highland city that was the premium holiday resort town of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy walking through the streets with their pretty little cottages, quaint villas, and beautiful mansions. Make a memory in the old red-bricked post office as you purchase an inexpensive and colourful postcard to take home or send to your friends. Relax at Queen Victoria Park or on the shores of Lake Gregory.

Horton Plains National Park

Visit the beautiful Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya, with its montane grasslands and cloud forests. Enjoy the majestic views from the precipice of World’s End and the cooling sprays from Baker’s Falls. Catch glimpses of the many endemic fauna that make their home in the plains. Get to know more about the archaeological finds that were discovered in the area.

2 Days in Yala

Changing your route to the South Eastern side of Sri Lanka, you will be travelling through the cities of Ella and Haputale. Here you will explore Ella with its landmarks such as the Nine Arches Bridge and drive through Haputale and experience some main sites there including the Adhisahm Bungalow. Finally enjoy a safari at the Yala National Park.

Misty Ella

Explore Ella’s most interesting places. Pass through bright green tea fields, and tough stretches of rock, and get to see the magical views of Little Adam’s Peak. Walk over the history seeped Nine Arches Bridge and listen to the story of its construction. End your hike at the Demodara Railway station with its unique loop-over track design. This tour gives you the chance to see the best sights of Sri Lanka

Haputale

Explore the most famous landmarks of Haputale. Visit Lipton’s seat, one of the most famed observation points in Sri Lanka, which gives views of the Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern Provinces. Roam over the grounds of Adisham Bungalow, a beautiful Tudor mansion built in the early 1900s. View the neo-gothic architecture of St Andrews church, walk through its graveyard which is the resting place of many British tea planters, and much more. This is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy the calming beauty of Haputale and its sights.

Yala National Park

This amazing Safari offers the opportunity to visit Yala National Park, the second largest in the island based off the Southeastern coast of Sri Lanka. Get a chance to see the famous Sri Lankan leopards, indigenous wild water buffalo, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear and large herds of Sri Lankan Elephants. The park is also home to many other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.

2 Days in Bentota

Bentota which is a city along the South Western coastal belt of Sri Lanka is a popular destination among beach lovers and water sport enthusiasts. Bentota gives the opportunity to travel to nearby hotspots like the Old City of Galle and the magnificent Galle Fort. You will get the opportunity to enjoy a boat safari and visit a turtle hatchery.

Old Colonial City of Galle

Discover the city of Galle, where the Portuguese and Dutch made their headquarters, and its secrets. Visit the Galle Fort which is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia. View the Maritime Museum, Galle National Museum and the lighthouse. Walk through the cobblestoned streets with their Dutch names as you learn more about their histories.

Madu River

Go on a wonderful boat ride down the Madu River with its flourishing ecosystem. Pass through the secretive passages created by the mangroves. See the basking crocodiles and water monitors. Visit one of the small islands with its cinnamon harvesting natives. Enjoy the restorative qualities of the famous fish massage. Observe the water birds in their natural habitats.

Turtle Hatchery

Visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery on the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. Learn more about the five endangered sea turtle species that come to the shores of Sri Lanka to nest. Learn how the Kosgoda Turtle Care Program helps protect the nests until they hatch and increases the chances of survival for the babies. Get a chance to see, touch and feed baby turtles; or even injured adult turtles that the Turtle Hatchery cares for.

Water Sports in Bentota

Spend an exciting watersport adventure filled holiday in the town of Bentota. Try out diving and snorkeling and see more of the amazing underwater world. Enjoy a thrilling ride on a jet ski or speed boat. Have an extreme adventure with as wind surfing, kite surfing, boogie boarding or surfing. Enjoy the salty sea and golden beach with a swim; or go for a fun family ride on a banana boat. If you are trying these for the first time, fear not, there are qualified trainers on hand.

1 Day in Colombo

The final leg of the tour which will bring you to the commercial hub of Colombo allows you to explore the city. There are many places that you can visit which includes some old buildings like the lighthouse and parliament and also the Gangarama Temple with all its grandeur. There are many shopping malls that you can shop at.

City and Shopping Tour in Colombo City

Experience the colorful lights and bright life of Colombo, the capital City of Sri Lanka. Visit historic monuments such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple, the National Museum and more. Enjoy the malls of Independence Square or the Race Course. Visit boutique shops and designer stores.

Departure

After the breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to airport after spending a memorable time in this island.

Includes:

  • Transport in a Private Vehicle, Fuel, Parking & Highway tolls.
  • Service of English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.
  • All prevailing taxes and service charges.
  • 2 x 500ml Water Bottles per Person per Day.

Excludes:

  • Hotel Accommodation and Meals.
  • Entrance fees to the respective sites.
  • Chauffeur Guide's Accommodation.
  • Expenses of personal nature.
  • Visa and Related Expenses.
  • Tips & Portages.

Complimentary:

  • 1 x 1 Liter water bottle per person per day.
  • 1 x Local SIM card per room.

Services of Lakpura LLC

1 4