Experience the best of Sri Lanka on our comprehensive discovery holiday

Transcription

1 Experience the best of Sri Lanka on our comprehensive discovery holiday The UNESCO listed ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Visit the tea growing 'hill country' & walk to the 'World`s End' Search for elephants and leopards in Yala National Park & sea turtles at Rakawa Chill out on the palm-fringed white sandy beaches at Tangalle HOLIDAY CODE SLH Sri Lanka, Discovery, 14 Days 1 night chalet, 12 nights hotel, 13 breakfasts, 13 dinners, max group size: 16, 12 days touring and sightseeing with easy walks VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction The tiny island nation of Sri Lanka has inspired many names overtime, known variously as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean', the Teardrop of India', the Spice Island' (due to it's famous cinnamon), and Ceylon' during the time of its colonial rule. These days, it's probably best known as an exporter of tea and for its national cricket team, but Sri Lanka has far more secrets to reveal as we'll discover on this two week holiday. Few places on earth can boast such diversity of geography, wildlife, history and culture in such a small area - and that's the great thing about this discovery holiday; there are only short drives required between each of the areas we'll be exploring. Beginning in the North with its ancient cities and Buddhist temples, we'll visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and the 5th century citadel of Sigiriya before winding down through the beautiful (and cooler!) hill country all the way to the palmfringed beaches of Tangalle in the south. En route we will encounter 2000 year old civilisations, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth' in Kandy (said to house the tooth of Buddha himself!), Live Like a Local' on a working farm project, visit tea plantations, charming old colonial hill stations, take a trip on the narrow gauge railway all the way to Pattipola - the highest station in the whole of Sri Lanka and walk to the jaw dropping sheer cliff known as the World's End'. What's more, along our journey we'll chance to meet a host of wildlife including river crocodile, sea turtles, elephants and possibly even a leopard whilst on safari in the Yala National park. Two weeks full of sun, sea, spice, temples and, of course, tea! What more could you want? Is this holiday for you? This is first and foremost a touring and sightseeing holiday, but we'll still have opportunity to stretch our legs as we get in amongst the action and discover all of Sri Lanka's secrets. We ll climb the stairs all the way to the top of Lion s Rock Fortress at Sigiriya and enjoy a 3hr hike to the dramatic World s End view point in the Horton Plains National Park. This walk is on a straightforward trail, but we will be walking through open grassland; owing to the effect of the overhead sun, we recommend taking plenty of drinking water and a wide brimmed hat. Both of these walks are optional. There is also a focus on wildlife throughout the holiday (monkeys, turtles, crocodiles, elephants and even leopards!). In order to visit as much of this fantastic country as possible in our two weeks, there will be a reasonable amount of driving involved, but since the island is reasonably compact there are no day-long drives and the pace of the holiday is reasonably relaxed throughout. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Dambulla. A single timed transfer from Colombo Airport is provided. Meet at the group hotel in Dambulla. A single time transfer from Colombo Airport is provided. Dambulla, located in the north central part of the island, this region is a part of Sri Lanka s 'Dry Zone'. Thanks to the work of its ancient kings dating as far as the 5th Century AD, the Sri Lankan 'Dry Zone' is anything but dry, with hundreds of lakes and reservoirs which are connected by an elaborate network of canals which are part of an amazing gravity-fed irrigation system. Besides the obvious benefit for agriculture the waterworks of the dry zone provide some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery as well as providing a habitat for the island's incredible bio-diversity. The rest of the day is to relax and recover from our journey. Drive time: 4 hrs. MEALS D

3 PAGE 3 Day 2: Walk and boat ride to a traditional Chena village. Afternoon visit to UNESCO listed Anuradhapua. We leave after an early breakfast to make the most of the cooler morning. After a short drive we reach the bund (bank) of a wewa (manmade reservoir) from where we enjoy an easy walk and boat ride to an archetypal Sri Lankan village. The excursion will last around 3 hours. The reservoir is always a hive of early morning activity as the villagers as they go about their early morning tasks of fishing, or washing clothes at the periphery of the lake. Further along the walk we stop to visit a Chena cultivation and to enjoy the farmer s humble hospitality with perhaps a drink of sweet King Coconut or some other seasonal fruit. Our walk continues through shrub forests, home to many forest birds and other wildlife. At the end of the walk we meet our tour bus and return to the hotel in time for lunch. After lunch we set off again driving for just over an hour to the ancient Sri Lankan capital of Anuradhapura, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Anuradhapura was the first city of Sri Lanka from the 5th century BC to the 9th century AD and during this period it was the centre of the island's Buddhist civilisation. It contains the oldest historically documented tree on earth (over 2,200 years old), the Sri Maha Bodhi, reputedly grown from a sapling of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. In fact the city contains some of the world's oldest Buddhist shrines, dating back to the 3rd century BC, as well as stone carvings, pleasure gardens, ponds and reservoirs with interlinked canals. After spending some time at this endlessly fascinating place we return to our hotel in Dambulla for dinner. Drive time: 3hrs. TIME 1 HR WALKING HOUR Day 3: Explore the ancient capital city of Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We drive for approximately 2 hours to another stunning example of ancient Sri Lankan art and culture. Following the decline of Anuradhapura in the 10th century AD, a new first city arose at Polonnaruwa and this became Sri Lanka's capital for the next 200 years. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the entire landscape of Polonnaruwa is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or the 'Sea of Parakrama', which is bigger than Colombo harbour! The monuments on the site are relatively well preserved and give a clear picture of the glory of Sri Lanka's ancient architecture. Highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite. Polonnaruwa also contained the original 'Temple of the Tooth' before the relic was moved to its present-day site at Kandy. We stop for lunch before returning to Dambullla in the afternoon. Drive time: 4hrs. Day 4: Morning boat ride on lake. Afternoon visit to the specacular 'Lion's Rock' Fortress at Sigiriya. We will have another early start this morning to visit some fishermen who take out their catamarans on a nearby lake. Silently we glide along the lake to view the birdlife which surrounds the area. Our fisherman will dock the catamaran at a quiet location across the lake where we can enjoy a packed breakfast. Returning to our hotel we will have some free time to relax or to explore the village before setting off again in the afternoon (30 minute drive) to visit yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka s major attractions, the spectacular Rock Fortress of Sigiriya. Situated on the top of an isolated rock butte rising 200 metres above the surrounding jungle, the fortress of Sigiriya was a unique complex of palaces, temples and water gardens. Built by King Kashyapa ( A.D), the 'Lion Rock' was the innermost stronghold of a 70 hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat and rampart. The stairway to the top of the rock led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head. A sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway contains world-renowned frescoes and at the summit we can see the remains of

4 PAGE 4 the buildings which used to cover the entire rock including Royal Citadel. After exploring Sigiriya, we return to our hotel in Dambulla for dinner. Drive time: 2hrs. Day 5: Drive to Kandy in the hill country. Visit spice garden at Matale and batik factory. We leave the north today and head south to Sri Lanka's central 'Hill country' driving through a fascinating landscape of rice paddies, and jungle punctuated with small villages and busy towns eventually giving way to rolling hills and tea plantations. The total driving time today is only a couple of hours but we will make some stops along the way including a break at Matale where we can stretch our legs with a visit a spice garden where we can learn to identify the different spices and their uses in Sri Lankan cuisine. We will also stop off at a batik factory where we can learn all about this intricate art of fabric decoration. Afterwards we continue our journey to the capital of Sri Lanka's hill country at Kandy. After checking in at our hotel we have some free time have lunch, relax and to explore the town. Top of everyone's list will be the famous 'Temple of the Tooth' which houses a tooth of Lord Buddha, known throughout Sri Lanka simply as 'The Relic'. It is also worth spending some time around the shores of the lake where we can hope to spot an array of wildlife, such tortoise and monitor lizards. Day 6: 'Live Like a Local Homestay' at Lake Victoria. Learn about village life and help prepare dinner. After an early breakfast we drive (45 minutes) to the Tamarind Gardens for a unique Live Like a Local home-stay. Located on a working farm on the banks of Lake Victoria approximately 20 kilometers outside Kandy, Tamarind Gardens is a collection of chalets which have been designed and built to be similar to local village homes. The chalets are simple like villagers homes with no air conditioning but basic amenities such as electric fans and mosquito netting are provided and the rooms have attached bathrooms. The farm rears cattle and has a vegetable and fruit garden. All fruit, meat and vegetables used are locally sourced from the farm or the surrounding village and all services including laundry, maintenance & housekeeping are outsourced to local villagers to ensure that the community as a whole gains direct benefit through your visit. In return we are enriched through a rare insight to the lives of the local community and their individual personalities and way of life. This experience is designed to allow us the opportunity to interact freely with the local community and we can volunteer to help on the farm or take part in any village activities. Traditional meals are cooked in an open kitchen by village folk and we are invited to join in and assist in the preparation of the meals to learn about Sri Lankan cuisine. CHALET Day 7: A day exploring Sri Lanka's tea growing region, including a visit to a tea factory. For those who wish, there is an optional pre-dawn start to help with the early feeding of the animals and the milking of the cows. After a traditional Sri Lankan farm breakfast, we leave Tamarind Gardens and drive into Sri Lanka's 'Hill Country', climbing on winding roads up into this utterly charming region heading first for Nuwara Eliya. On the way we will stop at a tea factory to witness the process of turning the raw green leaf in to the familiar finished product in our tea packets. Nuwara Eliya which was an original British hill station still sports cottages complete with rose gardens which would not look out of place in Sussex or Surrey. From Nuwara Eliya we proceed to the lesser known and more quite tea and vegetable growing hill station of Bandarawela where we check into our hotel.

5 PAGE 5 Day 8: Train journey to Horton Plains and World's End walk. After an early breakfast we take the local train from Bandarawela to the Horton Plains (1 hour 30 min). Alighting at the Pattipola station which is the highest point of Sri Lanka s railway, we meet our tour vehicle and drive for around 30 minutes to the Horton Plains National Park. This is Sri Lanka's highest plateau at over 2100 metres elevation with an astounding variety of scenery from misty mountains to grasslands and from marshes to ice cold streams, lakes and waterfalls. Here we can stretch our legs with a walk to 'Worlds End' where the plateau plunges almost 1000 metres in a sheer drop. We will also visit the beautiful Bridal Veil also known as Bakers Falls. The National Park is also home to many rare endemic, resident or migrant birds and several animal species including sambhur, bear monkey, barking deer, giant squirrel, fishing cat, wild boar, and hare. After the walk we head back to our hotel at Bandarawela. DISTANCE 9KM TIME 3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 9: A morning to enjoy exploring Bandarawela. Drive to Tissamaharama via the Ravana Ella Waterfall. This morning we have time for a stroll through the town and the vegetable gardens which surround it. Bandarawela is a bustling, unpretentious hill-country town which exists to supply the needs of the tea plantation workers, farmers and its hardworking inhabitants. The people of Bandarawela enjoy a simple way of life where school children and grandparents work together in the family plot and also tend their cattle and goats. After our walk we board the tour vehicle and drive for approximately 15 minutes to the panoramic viewpoint of Ella and the multi-tiered cascades of Ravana Ella Waterfall said to be the place where Sita the wife of Rama was hidden by Ravana in the epic Hindu tale, the Ramayana. We continue our drive heading south and down from the hill country towards the coast. After approximately 3 hours driving we arrive at the town of Tissamaharama on the edge of Yala national Park. Day 10: Visit the shrine of Kataragama and afternoon wildlife safari in Yala National Park. We leave after breakfast to visit the town and shrine of Kataragama which is possibly the holiest place in Sri Lanka containing the 95 feet high Kiri Vehera stupa built by King Mahasena in the 3rd century BC. In the afternoon we take an exciting jeep safari through Yala National Park. This is Sri Lanka s most well-known National Park and is the habitat for elephant, bear, crocodile and wild boar as well as reputedly having the world s highest concentration of leopard per square kilometre. The vegetation in the park is primarily grassland and shrub jungle with patches of dense growth, while several salt and fresh water lagoons are a haven for a large variety of resident and migrant birds. The areas where we are likely to find leopard tend to be typified by rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide. After the safari we return to our hotel at Tissamaharama. Day 11: Free morning to explore Tissa. Optional second safari. Drive to coastal resort of Tangalle. The morning is free to relax at the hotel or to explore Tissamaharama (known as Tissa). The backdrop to the town is the Tissa Wewa, a large artificial lake where you can stroll along the shore and watch bathers mixing with flocks of aquatic birds. Between the lake and the town is surrounded by paddy fields, is the beautifully restored 3rd

6 PAGE 6 century 'Great Stupa'. The modern town is a bustling city with the main street lined with shops, cafes and kiosks. For those who want more wildlife there is also the option this morning to take a second jeep safari in Yala National Park. In the afternoon we will drive (1 hour 30 minutes) to the beach resort of Tangalle located at the southern tip of the island. Tangalle has clear waters and soft sandy beaches. It is a tranquil area without the crowds of some of the coastal resorts to the west. Arriving in Tangalle we check into our hotel right beside the beach. Day 12: A day to relax on the beautiful palm fringed Sri Lankan beach. Evening turtle walk. We have a full day to relax and enjoy the palm-fringed beach, to play in the surf, or explore the nearby sprawling town of Tangalle. After a quick dinner we will leave at around 8.00pm to visit the Rakawa Turtle sanctuary which is located 20 minutes drive away. The sanctuary is a 2 km stretch of protected coastline which is a nesting haven for 5 species of marine turtle. After visiting the information centre to learn about the habits and lives of the turtles, we have a guided tour by torchlight to the nesting sites. Between the months of January to May turtle nesting is at its peak and sighting is quite frequent, although nesting does occur during the rest of the year though also. It is possible to approach the nesting turtles once they have dug their pit and begun the process of laying between eggs! With luck we may get to sit by the turtle and share an unforgettable experience. After the visit we return to the hotel for bed. Day 13: Drive to Katunayake with time to explore Galle and Colombo en route. For our final full day of touring in this 'land like no other' we head up the coast to the old colonial Dutch port of Galle. The original fortified town built on a square-shaped promontory jutting out into the Ocean by the Dutch in 1663 has had few changes over the centuries and walking round the old town we are transported back in time. From 17th century Galle we now travel to 21st century Colombo and we have some time to look around Sri Lanka's modern capital before continuing our journey to the group hotel at Katunayake on Sri Lanka's west coast and close to the international airport. After check in we can relax by the hotel pool or enjoy the excellent gardens. Total driving time today is approximately 6 hours. Day 14: Departure day. Complimentary transfers to Colombo Airport are provided. KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. Complimentary airport transfers are provided. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included An experienced English-speaking local driver / guide Single-timed group Airport transfers All land transport involved in the itinerary All accommodation as described in the trip dossier

7 PAGE 7 Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Guided sightseeing and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary What's Not Included Travel insurance Visas Airport transfers (other than single group transfers) Tips to local staff Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan Optional tours and excursions Miscellaneous expenses - soft drinks and souvenirs etc. Meal Plan All breakfasts and dinners are included in the holiday price from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 13. You will need to pay directly for all lunches. Dining out is not particularly expensive in Sri Lanka and we suggest a budget of should adequatelly cover this. Food Sri Lanka s rich history includes several periods of colonisation which has created an exotic cuisine with influences from Indian, Portuguese, Dutch, Malay and a host of other world food traditions. The staple food of Sri Lanka is rice, which is boiled or steamed and served with a variety of curries ranging from very mild to very fiery. A typical Sri Lankan meal would consist of a main curry of fish, beef, chicken or mutton, accompanied by several other side dishes made with vegetables or lentils, pickles, chutneys and 'sambols' - a spicy condiment made of ground coconut or onions mixed with chilli, dried fish and lime juice. Other Sri Lankan foods include Hoppers - rice pancakes commonly eaten for breakfast and lunch, and lamprais - a dish of Indonesian / Dutch origin comprising of rice cooked in a meat stock and slowly baked in a banana leaf with a variety of meat and vegetable sides. In the majority of tourist hotels including the ones we shall be using for this holiday it is also usual to find several Western dishes offered on the menu. Joining Arrangements & Transfers There will be a single group transfer arranged on day 1 to meet the group flight. This transfer will normally depart from the airport at approximately 9.00am ( or 04.30am for SLH.1.17, SLH.2.17 and SLH.3.17). Anyone may use this transfer regardless of which flights they use but if you are not on the group flight you should check the timings of this transfer prior to departure. Independent airport transfers can be arranged to meet clients arriving prior to day 1 at an additional cost. On the final day there will be a single transfer to Colombo Airport to meet the check in for the group flight. This transfer will normally reach the airport by 8.00 am (1900 for SLH.1.17, SLH.2.17 and SLH.3.17). If you are departing later the hotel can arrange and airport shuttle at the cost of around $10. Detailed joining instructions along with an emergency number and hotel contact information will be provided with your booking confirmation. Accommodation Our first 4 nights will be spent at Pelwehera Village Resort, Dambulla, an eco friendly resort surrounded by beautiful gardens. In Kandy we will spend one night in a tourist class hotel. The following night will be spent at the Tamarind Garden a working farm on the banks for the Mahaweli Weewa, which is part of a community based project 'Live Like a Local'. Accommodation here will be in simple modern chalets in the design of a traditional

8 PAGE 8 fisherman's home, each with its own bathroom (but no hot water!). There will be simple amenities such as fans and mosquito nets. The following 2 nights will be spent in Bandarawela at a relaxing mountain inn with comfortable rooms and a lovely sunny beer garden! For our two nights in Tissamaharama we will use a tourist class hotel. To conclude the holiday we will enjoy 1 night at a comfortable beach resort and 1 night in a comfortable hotel in Katunayake, near to Negombo Lagoon, and Colombo (Bandaranaike) International Airport. All accommodation is on twin share basis. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Depending on availability it may be possible to book a single room for some of the hotel nights. For additional hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website. Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be led by an experienced English-speaking local guide / driver. Walks will be guided by a local guide. Spending Money Approximately (or equivalent in US dollars, Euros etc) changed into local currency, should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses including lunches and tips for local guides and hotel staff. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, or take optional activities you should budget accordingly (credit cards can be useful in this respect). Allow a further 50 if you intend to take the additional safari in Yala Park. It is not necessary to obtain local currency (the Sri Lankan Rupee) prior to departure. Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are equally acceptable for exchange. We recommend that you carry your travel money in the form of cash rather than travellers cheques, since you will exchange the majority of this on the day of your arrival in Sri Lanka. When changing your travel money you should obtain a quantity of small bills for tips to hotel staff. Guidance On Tipping Tips are the accepted way of saying thank you to your local support staff. Tips do not form part of their wages. KE always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. For your guide and driver we recommend that you give a tip if you feel that their services have met your satisfaction. We suggest that tips to local staff are presented from the group as a whole and suggest a contribution of approximately in equivalent local currency will provide a sufficient pool to provide good tips to your local staff plus incidental tips to hotel staff etc. As a rough guide, tips to other people who do you a service should range from Rs 10 to someone who minds your shoes when visiting a temple to Rs 20 for a the hotel porter who carries your bag to the room. Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. * A free KE trek bag is available on this holiday. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline. Group Size & Holiday Status

9 PAGE 9 For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Sri Lanka UK and USA passport holders do require a visa/eta. The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) fee is US$35 (free for children under 12yrs) if you apply for it online prior to departure at Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transitted for more than 12 hrs through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, like malaria. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Currency The unit of currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday It makes sense to spend some time before coming on an active holiday getting some additional exercise. Though this trip is not especially demanding, the fitter you are, the more enjoyable you will find the experience.

10 PAGE 10 Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Climate Sri Lanka has a typically tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 27 C at sea-level. It is, of course, cooler at higher elevations, with annual average temperatures of 20 C in Kandy, dropping to 16 C at Newara Eliya. Year round, the conditions in the hill country are pleasantly warm with cool evenings and hot at the coast with warm evenings. Sri Lanka is subject to two monsoonal influences. The south-west monsoon brings rain from May to July to the western, southern and central regions, while the north-east monsoon brings rain to the northern and eastern regions in December and January. However these monsoons are not as pronounced as the Indian Monsoon and bright, sunny, warm days are common even during the height of a 'monsoon' season. From the point of view of the visitor, Sri Lanka has no 'off season'. Books Sri Lanka. Lonely Planet Guide. Footprint Sri Lanka. Footprint Guides. Sri Lanka: The Bradt Travel Guide. Maps Sri Lanka.. Nelles Guides & Maps Featuring a new style cover and easy fold system, this map has been revised with the help of local correspondents. It is marked with tourist attractions and public transport systems, and includes inset maps of major cities. The scale of this map 1:450,000 and it includes city maps of Colombo, Anuradhapura, Kandy and Galle. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays.

11 PAGE 11 Flight Inclusive Notes The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London (Heathrow or Gatwick) to Colombo with Emirates Airlines. Outbound flights will depart from the UK in the afternoon, arriving morning the following day (day 1 of the itinerary). Return flights will depart Colombo morning of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK later the same day. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are available on request. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection. Land Only Notes The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Colombo. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Colombo Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to 'Joining Arrangements and Transfers' for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. Flight Options From The US For help and advice with booking your flights, we recommend you consult our friends at Exito Travel, airfare specialists since The air team at Exito are familiar with our destinations and know the airports, best airlines and potential pitfalls. If there is ever a flight change, cancellation or air-related issue before or during your travels, it's nice to know you have someone on the Exito air team looking after you. Visit their website at: or contact the team on: keadventure@exitotravel.com &/or via phone at: ext Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 31 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who

12 PAGE 12 has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In

13 PAGE 13 addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

14 PAGE 14 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your luggage to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Comfortable walking shoes Sandals (for the beach) Socks Lightweight trousers Underwear Shirts Lightweight fleece jacket Lightweight waterproof jacket Sunhat Sunglasses Small daypack Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles (1 Litre) Washbag and toiletries Personal first aid kit, including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Immodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite) Small padlock (to lock your KE trek bag) The Following Items Are Optional: Torch with spare batteries Shorts Buff or scarf Antibacterial handwash Insect repellant (DEET) Travel clothes Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage) Camera

15 PAGE 15 Notes At religious sites it is necessary to cover shoulders and wear long trousers or a skirt that extends below the knees. You also have to remove hats and shoes. The stone floors can be very hot so it is a good idea to take a pair of socks that you can put on when visiting temples. Please note: This document was downloaded on 16 Dec 2017, and the trip is subject to change.