Exotic Nature & Wildlife Adventure of Sri Lanka

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1 Exotic Nature & Wildlife Adventure of Sri Lanka

2 Your tour at a glance... Day 01 - Welcome to Sri Lanka Day 02 - Relax, unwind and Explore Day 03 - Wilpattu National Park Day 04 - Wilderness and Ancient Hidden Caves Day 05 - Ancient Civilizations and Wild Elephants Day 06 - Ancient City Discovery Day 07 - Kandy! Sri Lanka s cultural capital Day 08 - Visit the charm of the beautiful tea country Day 09 - Explore the Wonder of Ella Day 10 - Yala National Park, Home of the Leopard Day 11 - Leopard Trails Safari Day 12 - ird Life Exhibition Day 13 - undala National Park Day 14 - Explore, relax and Dine! Day 15 - Cooking Class

3 Welcome to Sri Lanka DAY 1 DAY 2 Relax, unwind and Explore e greeted at the airport by your private chauffer and transfer to Anamaduwa. The journey from Airport to Mudhouse Anamaduwa, where you will be for a three-night stay, takes roughly 3 hours. Despite being in the jungle, there is a huge range of activities available during your stay at the Mudhouse to keep you occupied. These include the fantastic morning bird walk; an interesting tour of the farm, huts, workshops and grounds; bike riding which you can explore the grounds and region with; visits to local temples; swimming in the local tanks; a cooking demonstration and picnic opportunities which you can do at any time during your stay. Speak to your hosts on arrival to plan your time or just go with the flow and relax with a book in the stunning surroundings with only the sound of nature to keep you company. Accommodation: The Mudhouse Today is at your own leisure. Accommodation: The Mudhouse

4 Wilpattu National Park - An introduction to Sri Lankas magical wilderness... DAY 3 DAY 4 After breakfast at your convenient time, transfer to Wilpattu National Park where you will be for one night stay at a premium camping site. After lunch, visit Wilpattu which is Sri Lanka s largest national park and is home to Leopards, Elephants, ears, Crocodiles and a huge array of birdlife. You will explore this magnificent park from a private jeep, with a national park tracker and driver. Make sure you pick their brains about the stunning bird life and fauna. Accommodation: Leopard Trails D Wilderness and Ancient Hidden Caves... Wake up to your morning safari at Wilpattu National Park. Here is your morning safari to see what animals are also waking up to sunrise! After your safari, you will then travel to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanak. The journey from Wilpattu to your next destination at Aliya Resort, takes roughly 2 & ½ hours. The journey is scenic as you pass ancient reservoirs and rural Sri Lankan countryside. Once you check in and refresh, get prepared to visit one of the oldest caves within Sri Lanka, dating back to 1C at Dambulla Cave Temple. Five caves up in the rocky outcrops of Sri Lanka, house ancient statues of uddha and historic artwork depicting the uddha s life. The grounds surrounding the cave temple are also home to a functioning uddhist Monastery. e awe inspired by this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accommodation: Aliya Resort and Spa

5 Ancient Civilizations and Wild Elephants!!! DAY 5 DAY 6 Ancient City Discovery... After an early breakfast, head out to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, proudly proclaimed by the locals as the Eighth Wonder of the World. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is not only stunning, but is a great testament to the extraordinary engineering of Sri Lanka s inhabitants around 1500 years ago. Rising out of the surrounding flat landscape, the large granite monolith, peppered with patches of tropical vegetation, had a fortress built upon its top. As well as awe inspiring engineering, Sigiriya Rock is home to some ancient frescoes of the Sigirya Maidens and a Graffiti Mirror Wall. The climb up the rock is mostly by stairways, which at points is steep. During the months of July - September, Minneriya National Park is home to the largest wild Asian elephant migrations in the world! The Gathering. The relatively short window in which to see this wildlife spectacle means that the park can get busy, but it offers the most amazing opportunity to witness large groups of wild Asian elephants up close. Take a few hours in the afternoon to observe the incredible migration of the elephants. Accommodation: Aliya Resort and Spa After breakfast, visit one of Sri Lanka s oldest ancient cities, Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa is the second major ancient capital, and flourished for a couple of hundred years, 1000 years ago. The ruins are well preserved and easily accessible to the visitor. A visit of around 3 hours will be enough time to explore this wonderful ancient city. Return to the hotel and relax in the afternoon. Accommodation: Aliya Resort and Spa

6 Kandy! Sri Lanka s cultural capital DAY 7 DAY 8 Visit the charm of the beautiful tea country... After breakfast, you will head to Kandy, the cultural capital. Check-in to your accommodation and relax after a 2.5 hrs drive. In the afternoon get prepared to visit Kandy s Sacred Temple of the Tooth. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic houses Sri Lanka s most important uddhist relic - a tooth of the Lord uddha. Said to have been snatched from the flames of the uddha s funeral pyre in 483 C, the tooth was smuggled into Sri Lanka during the 4thcentury AD, hidden in the hair of a princess. Today, the temple acts as a pilgrimage site for Sri Lankan uddhists who will pay at least one visit to the temple during their lifetime. Free time to explore the Kandy city. Accommodation: Clove Villa The journey from Clove Villa to Nuwara Eliya takes roughly 3.5 hours. On the way to Nuwara Eliya visit Labukele Tea Factory, to learn about how one of Sri Lanka s most iconic exports is produced, starting right from the humble shrub through to the end product in your teapot back home! The educational and fun tour takes you right through every step of the tea making process, and finishes with a well -earned cup of tea. You will then be dropped at Nanu Oya station by your guide, who will continue on with your luggage. Catching the train from Nanu Oya to Haputale is one of the most scenic rides through Sri Lanka you will have. Climbing into the hill country you get a unique perspective of Sri Lankan life as the train passes through this beautiful countryside. Although the trains may be slow at times, almost walking pace, this is part of the charm! *Please note that tickets are subject to availability. The journey takes roughly 2.5 hours. Your guide will meet you at Haputale Station and take you Melheim Resort where you will be for a two-night stay. Accommodation: Melheim Resort

7 Explore the Wonder of Ella DAY 9 DAY 10 Yala National Park, Home of the Leopard After a delicious breakfast overlooking manicured tea plantations, you will have time to explore Ella. Transfer to Ella where you have free time to walk around and visit the small café and shops. There are plenty of short hikes / rides such as Little Adam s Peak around which can be done at your own pace. Accommodation: Melheim Resort The journey from Melheim to Yala, where you will be for a twonights will take around 4 hours. After arriving at your camp managed by Leopard Trails, you will settle into your luxury tent and be guided around the camp. In the afternoon you will be taken on your first safari drive, which will take you deep into Sri Lanka s most famous National Park, which has one of the densest populations of leopards anywhere in the world. You may spot elephants, leopards, herds of wild buffalo, wild boar, crocodiles, huge birds of prey, colorful water birds, reptiles and small mammals. Your expert nature guides will explain how these wonderful animals live, the ecology of this area and how eco tourism is the best chance for protecting this area for the wildlife. You will return to the camp for a beautiful candle lit dinner that is prepared by the staff and a night time drink of choice. Accommodation: Leopard Trails L D

8 DAY 11 Leopard Trails Safari... DAY 12 You will have two further game drives today. The first safari in the early morning and the second safari in the afternoon. Here you will get a great opportunity to explore the park and its wildlife. In between the safaris, you will have time to relax back at camp, enjoying the tranquil surroundings and an atmospheric lunch. Accommodation: Leopard Trails L D ird Life Exhibition... Wake up to your final morning safari at Yala National park, then journey too Tissamaharama where you will be for one night. Once you are settled, you will take part in an evening safari at undala National Park, where the bird watching is globally recognized. undala National Park, an area of 6216 hectares is one of the 3 RAMSAR approved Wetland Reserves in Sri Lanka that hosts over 20,000 shorebirds, during the period August to April. The Park consists of lagoons and inter-tidal mud flats where wintering birds rest and feed, golden sandy beaches and sand dunes where sea turtles nest and the thorny scrub-land where elephant, spotted deer, wild buffalo, wild boar, crocodiles and peacocks roam. More than 150 species (including 45 species of Waders ) of resident and migrant birds could be seen in this Park. Thousands of Greater / Lesser Flamingoes, Spot-billed Pelicans, Spoonbills, Ducks, Indian Shags, Cormorants, Stone Plover and various species of Herons are among the large flocks found here. Accommodation: The Safari

9 DAY 13 DAY 14 undala National Park Explore, relax and Dine! Early Morning safari at undala National Park before you head off to your beach side stay. The journey from Tissamaharama to Frangipani Tree, where you will be for two-night stay, takes roughly 4 hours drive. Stop along the way to visit the stilt fisherman of Ahangama and enjoy a wonderful beach front lunch at your choice. Frangipani Tree is an elegant beach sanctuary with ten exquisitely furnished suites located on the secluded end of Thalpe bay. Accommodation: Frangipani Tree Today is at your own leisure. Recommendations Activities: Galle Fort - Walking around the Fort is the best way to unravel all its secrets; so go for a wander around the maze of alleyways, meet the locals, make your own discoveries, get lost! Unawatuna Visit the beach side strip which is famous for shopping and excellent Q seafood cuisine along the beach front. Kingfisher Restaurant is a recommended restaurant of choice. Accommodation: Frangipani Tree

10 DAY 15 Cooking Class After breakfast experience a traditional cooking class with a local food enthusiast. You will learn more about Sri Lankan food and prepare some of the staple dishes that make the cuisine so delicious. TIP Don t eat too much for breakfast!! You will then get back to your hotel to get ready. You will have time to relax before your transfer to the airport late afternoon. End of tour L

11 Optional Sri Lanka Add Ons Maldives package rates including airfares and accommodation. Colombo accommodation package Terms and conditions Christmas (24th Dec 2014) & New Year (31st Dec 2014) Compulsory Gala Dinner Supplement applicable at each hotel Cancellation Policy applicable for all bookings 21 days prior to arrival 15% charge on total booking value + Admin charges 14 days prior to arrival 50% charge on total booking value 10 days prior to arrival 75% charge on total booking value Less than 10 days and No -Shows 100% will be charged Included 14 night s accommodation on twin/double - sharing basis Air-conditioned Car and English-speaking driver-guide for tour and transfers Entrance: Sigiriya Rock, Polanawurra, Dambulla Cave Temples, Temple of Tooth Relic and Cultural Dance Train Ride in Hill Country Tea Factory visit Entrance and jeep hire for Minneriya National Park (half day safari) Entrance and jeep hire for undala National Park (2 half day safaris) Entrance and Jeep hire for Wilpattu National Park (2 half day safaris) Entrance and jeep hire for Yala National Park (4 half day safaris morning and evening) Cooking Class in Ahangama with Lunch All other services mentioned on the above itinerary and Applicable Government Taxes Legend L D reakfast included Lunch included Dinner included

12 CONTACT T/A 32907