Secrets of Sri Lanka (March)

Friday 20th March

Today we begin our journey to Sri Lanka.

Overnight in flight.

Saturday 21st March

Arriving into Colombo we’ll transfer to our hotel, where we’ll have time to rest before coming together for our first welcoming dinner.

Dinner included. Overnight in Habarana.

Sunday 22^nd March

This morning begins with a leisurely start, giving time to recuperate after our travels. Perhaps enjoy a late breakfast, a dip in the pool, or a stroll around the beautiful grounds of the hotel before our welcome briefing with our local guide and host for the holiday. The afternoon takes us to the fascinating, ancient city of Polonnaruwa, where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at the Lake House, before our guided tour by tuk tuk of this UNESCO-listed archaeological site. A huge complex of temples, ancient monuments and statues and a great way to start our Sri Lankan adventure.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Habarana.

Monday 23^rd March

This morning, we’ll tantalise our taste buds with a cookery lesson featuring some of Sri Lanka’s tastiest dishes. We’ll learn how to make lentil curry, coconut sambol and ‘hoppers’ – a traditional pancake-like street food. With our appetites whetted, we’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch at our hotel and some free time for relaxing, before we drive out to the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress, or Lion Rock. At approximately 200 metres high, this UNESCO-listed rock column used to serve as the royal residence of King Kashyapa in the 5^th century. Colloquially known as Lion Rock, the main entrance once featured an immense lion sculpture of which just the paws remain today. For those who wish, you may ascend the 1200 steps to the top of the fortress for breathtaking views of the sunset or ascend as far as the Lion’s Paw level to soak in the scene from there. After enjoying a beautiful sunset, we’ll return to our hotel for a well-earned dinner.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Habarana.

Tuesday 24^th March

We’ll rise early this morning and take a gentle guided walk through the grounds of our hotel listen to and identify the songs of the beautiful birds. Sri Lanka is considered a bird watchers paradise with over 400 recorded species, more than 30 of which are unique to the island. After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll have the morning free to relax at the hotel.

In the afternoon, we’ll set out for Minneriya National Park in search of elephants and other native wildlife, such as purple-faced Langur monkeys and toque macaques. In smaller vehicles, we’ll drive through the park listening for the various animal calls and hoping for a glimpse of the majestic Sri Lankan elephant. After our adventures, we’ll return to our hotel for dinner and share tales of our wonderful wildlife encounters.

N.B. The park we travel to will be chosen depending on the movement of the elephants and could also be Hurulu, or Kaudulla National Park. Your local guide will advise you on the day.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Habarana.

Wednesday 25^th March

Today we travel to our next stop – the UNESCO-listed city of Kandy. Our journey takes us first to Matale where we will discover the art of batik painting, led by local women, and try our hand at creating designs of our own. We’ll enjoy lunch at the workshop, before continuing to the tranquil haven of the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Here we’ll walk under the natural canopy of giant bamboo and double palm trees, many more than a century old. We’ll admire the incredible collection of over 300 varieties of orchids, some which smell of chocolate and mint, and some which resemble Kandyan dancers, scorpions and even doves. As we stroll through the immaculate lawns and along the serene paths, we’ll learn about the ‘Grand Circle’, where world leaders have donated and planted trees since 1875. From the gardens, a short drive takes us to Kandy, the next exciting stop on our Sri Lankan journey.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kandy.

Thursday 26^th March

This morning, we begin with an exploration of the city of Kandy, the capital of the last Sinhalese Kingdom until it fell to the British in 1815. Kandy is a place of huge spiritual and cultural significance with Buddhists from all over the world coming to visit the Temple of the Tooth. This spectacular jewelled shrine holds the Holy Tooth – said to be Buddha’s left canine – brought to Sri Lanka from India around 1500 years ago. We’ll visit the holy shrine and witness Thevava, daily rituals of chanting, drumming and offerings, in honour of the Buddha’s tooth.

For lunch, we’ll take a step back in time to Sri Lanka’s colonial past, with a visit to the Royal Bar. Originally an aristocrat’s mansion house, later a British officer’s club, then eventually opening to the public as a tavern in 1860, this beautiful building retains its period features with a stunning outdoor terrace from which to watch the world go by.

This afternoon, we’ll visit the Surabha Guru, a renowned master of folklore dance who will teach us a few basic steps of the traditional Kandyan dances derived from simple yoga and breathing techniques. We’ll have the opportunity to feel the intricately decorated Kandyan Ves dancing costumes, soon understanding that the sheer weight of these garments creates immense physical demands on the dancers before they even take a single step.

Arriving back at the hotel by late afternoon, we’ll have some time to relax by the pool or around the grounds and reflect on a varied and culturally rich day.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kandy.

Friday 27th March

This morning, we head into the lush emerald-green hills to a tea plantation. Here we’ll witness the tea being picked, with a chance to try ourselves and learn about the grading of the different buds. A guided tea tasting will help us understand the different scents and flavours of the various tea types and offer us a chance to savour our favourite brew.

After our tea stop, we’ll drive to the Suriyakantha Art Centre. Here we’ll learn about Sri Lankan culture and history from the curator of the centre, who will tell us stories of artefacts from the Kandyan era and offer us the opportunity to touch some of the old manuscripts and traditional household utensils. We’ll take lunch at the centre before heading back to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon at leisure.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kandy.

Saturday 28^th March

We’ll savour our last morning in the highlands with a leisurely start at our hotel. You might enjoy relaxing by the pool, or a mid-morning coffee, before we journey on to Colombo. After lunch, we’ll begin our drive towards the country’s capital on the coast, enjoying some onboard entertainment along the way and stopping on route for refreshments. Arriving in Colombo, we’ll explore our heritage accommodation and perhaps take a stroll along the beach before a welcome dinner by the hotel.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Colombo.

Sunday 29^th March

A rejuvenating morning awaits us at the Thusare Talking Hands Wellness Centre, as vision impaired hosts share their stories whilst we enjoy traditional head, neck, shoulder and foot massages, with essential oils to stimulate the senses.

Lunch follows at the Umandawa Green Hut, an organic food initiative, offering a unique opportunity to experience different snacks and tasting plates traditionally made and bursting with fresh flavours. We’ll return to the hotel for a restful afternoon before taking an early evening stroll to the Galle Face Green. Once a polo ground of the British elite, this public space is now a bustling seaside park, popular with locals who come down with friends and family to walk along the beach, enjoy an array of different foods, and fly their kites. We can have a go at this tradition on the green and join the young and old who partake in this popular activity, flying their kites in the sea breeze.

Dinner tonight will be at the renowned Ceylon Curry Club, where master craftsmen guard their recipes and meticulously chosen spice blends closely, to produce some of the best flavour combinations in all of Sri Lanka.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Colombo.

Monday 30^th March

After breakfast, we’ll check out of our hotel, before visiting a local temple in Beddagana to engage in a mind-spa session. Here a young monk storyteller will guide us through different ways of reducing anxiety or worries in daily life through Buddhist philosophies. We’ll finish our session at the sound of a gong, signalling time to share a simple, healthy meal with the monks – a delicious, wholesome vegetarian curry with rice.

After our relaxing experience at the temple, we’ll head to our final destination in Sri Lanka – the picturesque coastal town of Kalutara. An afternoon at leisure in this idyllic location could mean a barefoot stroll along the long soft golden sands, a dip in the clear blue sea, or a cocktail by the pool – or maybe even all three!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kalutara.

Tuesday 31^st March

Today is free for you to enjoy at leisure. Perhaps wander the pristine beach, take advantage of the pool and spa facilities at the hotel, or explore nearby Kalutara – home to the sacred Kalutara Bodhiya, one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Sri Lanka. In the evening, we’ll come together for a celebratory farewell meal, offering a chance to share our favourite memories from this once in a lifetime adventure.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kalutara.

Wednesday 1st April

Leaving our beach paradise behind this morning, we’ll check out of the hotel before driving to Bandaranaike Airport for our onward journey home.

Breakfast included.

Full UK passport holders will need a visa to enter Sri Lanka and this should be obtained before you travel.  You can apply for your visa here https://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/

Please allow enough time to obtain your visa before travel.

Visas are valid for 30 days from entry and you will also need 6 months validity left on your passport at the end of your stay.

Holders of passports from outside the UK should check the relevant embassy for requirements.