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Blissful Island - Sri Lanka
Blissful Island - Sri Lanka
EY

Highlights: Kotugoda - Sigiriya - Kandy - Dickoya - Galle - Balapitiya


Deposit: £150pp


Other Departure - Birmingham - £4299, Glasgow - £4315, Manchester - £4315


Hotels:
Kotugoda - The Wallawwa
Kandy - Santani Wellness Resort & Spa
Gal Oya - Gal Oya Lodge
Ella - Nine Skies Bungalow
Tangalle - The Last House
Galle - The Fort Bazaar


Special Amenities from NextStep Journey
· Tropical flower garlands on arrival
· 01 bottle of mineral water per person, per day
Room upgrade on availability
Wet wipes on arrival


Spa getaway:
☼ Accommodation, 3 gourmet meals (breakfast, lunch & Dinner), Non-alcoholic Beverages, Daily Morning and evening group Hath Yoga, Access to spa facility such as sauna, steam room, and thermal saltwater bath, Laundry facility.
☼ Daily spa treatment of 75 minutes
☼ Daily group nature walks with the resort naturalist


Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a lush, tropical island paradise, known to Arab traders as Serendib – hence "serendipity", meaning discovery by happy accident. Set in the Indian Ocean in South Asia, the tropical island nation of Sri Lanka has a history dating back to the birth of time. It is a place where the original soul of Buddhism still flourishes and where nature’s beauty remains abundant and un-spoilt. There are 8 world heritage sites in Sri Lanka. The 3 ancient and magnificent cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1982 followed by Galle, Kandy, and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in 1988. The Golden Temple of Dambulla in 1991 and finally
the Central highlands were added in 2010. These places of historical and natural significance are not to be missed for any visitor to Sri Lanka.


Itinerary:
Day 1: Colombo Airport / Kotugoda
Arrive at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport. Our airport representative will meet you on arrival and introduce you to the chauffeur guide who will accompany you throughout the tour. Transfer to accommodation in Kotugoda and check-in to the hotel. (Private Transfer – approximate driving duration 30-45 minutes) Overnight accommodation at The Wallawwa (Wallawwa Bedroom on Bed Breakfast)


Day 2: Kotugoda/ Kandy (Breakfast & Dinner)
After breakfast, transfer to accommodation in Kandy and check-in to the hotel. (Private Transfer – approximate driving duration 4-4 ½ hours) Overnight accommodation at Santani Wellness Resort & Spa (Mountain view Chalet on Full Board) Below package is included during the stay at Santani Wellness Resort & Spa Spa getaway:
• Accommodation, 3 gourmet meals (breakfast, lunch & Dinner), Non-alcoholic Beverages, Daily Morning and evening group Hath Yoga, Access to spa facility such as sauna, steam room and thermal saltwater bath, Laundry facility.
• Daily spa treatment of 75 minutes,
• Daily group nature walks with the resort naturalist


Day 3: Santani River Walk (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Today, indulge in a River Walk at Santani. This is somewhat of a casual walk through our own estate to the river that borders Santani. Our resident naturalist will guide you down a steep path to the shores of the river. Along the way, you can say hello to the people harvesting tea on our estate and observe the local flora and fauna. The river shore is calm and serene, a great place to relax and catch your breath before heading back up to the resort. On completion, return to the hotel and relax. Overnight accommodation at Santani Wellness Resort & Spa. (Mountain view Chalet on Full Board)


Day 4: Bird Watching around Santani (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Today, enjoy a Bird watching experience around Santani. Sri Lanka is a tiny country with a lot of biodiversities. Likewise, the birdlife of Sri Lanka is also very rich for its size with more than 500 species recorded throughout the country of which 34 are considered endemic – only found in Sri Lanka. Around Santani we are lucky to have noted 15 of the 34 endemic species. Join our naturalist with some binoculars and a field guide at 6 am (mornings are the best time for birding) and spend a couple of hours observing resident birds on this trail before breakfast. You are very likely to see a jungle fowl scuttling under a tea tree, a hornbill jostling with its mate, or a serpent eagle soaring an updraft. Overnight accommodation at Santani Wellness Resort & Spa. (Mountain chalet on Full Board)


Day 5: Leisure (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Enjoy the hotel amenities and relax. Overnight accommodation at Santani Wellness Resort & Spa. (Mountain chalet on Full Board)


Day 6: Kandy/ Gal Oya (Breakfast & Dinner)
After breakfast, check-out and proceed to Gal Oya and check in to the hotel. (Approximate drive duration: 3-4 hours) In the afternoon, proceed on a unique “Walk with Chief Vedda” experience. You may not be familiar with the word Vedda, but it’s an ancient word evocative of Sri Lanka culture and tradition. The Vedda are the forest-dwelling, indigenous people of central Sri Lanka. They have inhabited the island for hundreds of years, living off the land and being at one with nature. Our Gal Oya Lodge neighbors are one of the last remaining communities of the Vedda people. We can invite the village chief to take you on a walk through the jungles of his ancestors. The forest comes alive as he explains his tribe’s use of medicinal plants, the location of their ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings, as well as how hunter-gatherers
sustained themselves in the ancient jungles of Gal Oya. Overnight accommodation at Gal Oya Lodge (Bungalow Bedroom on Half Board)


Day 7: Gal Oya (Breakfast & Dinner)
Jungle Drive & Walk Through the Park Gal Oya National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s undiscovered natural treasures. We offer a jeep ride into the forgotten Nilgala section of the
park, once the protectorate of ancient royalty for the abundant medicinal plants and endemic birdlife unique to this ecosystem. Although shy and sometimes hard to spot, the park hosts most of the animals found on the island, some of the more likely species to look out for include herds of elephants, four species of deer as well as many bird species. Our more intrepid guests may also opt for the hike to the Makara river mouth with one of our expert naturalists, to further experience the jungle and for the chance of seeing wildlife on foot. On completion, return to the hotel and relax. Overnight accommodation at Gal Oya Lodge (Bungalow Bedroom on Half Board)


Day 8: Gal Oya/ Demodara (Breakfast & Dinner)
After breakfast, check-out and proceed to Ella and check in to the hotel. (Approximate drive duration: 3-4 hours) Overnight accommodation at Nine Skies Bungalow.
(Nine Skies Bedroom on AI)


Day 9: Ella Sightseeing (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Today, indulge in a sightseeing tour around Ella.
Some of the places you could see in Ella are the 9 Arch Bridge, the Ella Gap, Ravana Ella Falls, Little Adam’s Peak, and Bambaragala Peak among the other many varied pleasant walks with stunning scenery. The Nine Arches Bridge is one of the most beautiful landmarks of Sri Lanka and amongst the top places to visit in Ella. There is an interesting story behind this bridge. When the British stopped the construction of this bridge mid-way due to lack of steel during World War 1, the locals constructed it using stone and bricks. Little Adam’s Peak - Due to its natural landscape, Ella has many quaint and rustic hiking trails. Little Adam’s Peak is one such popular trail that should not be missed. It is a short 50-60 minutes trek that takes you through the world-famous tea plantations of the region. The greenery is a respite to the eyes and the intoxicating fragrance of the tea leaves further adds to the experience. Overnight accommodation at Nine Skies Bungalow (Nine Skies Bedroom on AI)


Day 10: Demodara/ Udawalawe/ Tangalle
After breakfast, check-out and proceed to Udawalawe and enjoy a Jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park. (Approximate drive duration 2- 2 ½ hours). Udawalawe National Park is located approximately 200 km south-east of Colombo city and is a major ecotourism destination in Sri Lanka. Another important habitat for the elephant (a herd of about 250 is believed to be permanently resident) and a recorded number of 12 amphibian species, 21 species of fish, 33 reptiles, 184 species of birds, and 43 mammals.
On completion, proceed to Tangalle and check-in to the hotel, and relax. (Approximate drive duration 1 ½ -2 hours) Overnight accommodation at The Last House (Na bedroom on Bed Breakfast)


Day 11 - 12: Tangalle Beach Stay (Breakfast)
Enjoy the beach stay and hotel amenities. There’s no shortage of beautiful beaches around the world, but not all beachfront hotels were created equally. Whether you’re after a private beach experience or one filled with adventure and activity, this is the gold standard when it comes to proximity to sand and sea. Overnight accommodation at The Last House (Na bedroom on (Breakfast) Chauffeur and vehicle services are not at your disposal.


Day 13: Tangalle/ Galle (Breakfast)
After breakfast, proceed to Galle and commence a sightseeing tour of Galle. (Approximate drive duration: 1-2hours)
First built by the Portuguese in 1588 and was fortified by the Dutch in 1600, Galle Fort presently is a UNESCO declared a world heritage site. Today this 90-acre fort is a compilation of various religions, architecture, and cultures. The whole area is filled with a fusion of restaurants from all around the world and quaint little boutique shops displaying beautiful collections of old and new. The roads are adorned with unique items such as classic vehicles, bicycles, and statues that scream the styles of a bygone era in Down South Sri Lanka. Galle Lighthouse which was built on the rampart of the landmark Galle Fort is Sri Lanka’s oldest lighthouse dating back to 1848. On completion, check-in to the hotel in Galle and relax. Overnight accommodation at The Fort Bazaar. (Bazaar bedroom on BB)


Day 14: Galle/ Colombo Airport (Breakfast)
Today you will be transferred to the Colombo Airport to catch your flight home accompanied with all the happy memories of the tropical isle, Sri Lanka. (Approximate drive duration 2-3 hours)


Above price excludes:
• Any expenses of personal nature.
• Tips & portages.
• Early check-ins & late check-outs.
• Entrance fees and services not mentioned above.
• Any other services not mentioned in the inclusions above.


GENERAL NOTES
Ø Visa
· All nationalities are required to obtain a visa to enter Sri Lanka.
· Visa could be obtained online via www.eta.gov.lk
· Nationals of Syria, Nigeria, and Pakistan have restrictions on entry to Sri Lanka.
· For more info on visa please visit www.immigration.gov.lk


Ø Check-in and checkout times
· Standard check-in time is 1400hrs and standard check-out time is 12:00hrs.


*This could vary from hotel to hotel.
· If the client requires a guaranteed early check-in or a late check-out, this could be offered at an additional cost


Ø The above offer is made without any obligation on the hotel rooms, until such time the tour is confirmed and availability is checked.
*If the offered hotel option is not available at the time of reporting the booking, an alternative option will be offered and confirmed based on client’s choice.


Ø As Sri Lanka is a tropical country there could be sudden changes in the weather patterns which is beyond our control. If any changes requested due to this reason on the program, additional charges may apply.


Ø Feel free to reach out to your Chauffeur / Guide for comfort stops and photo opportunities while on tour.



Offer Includes

  • Return flights from London Heathrow
  • Airport taxes
  • 13 nights accommodation as per the Itinerary
  • Air conditioned transportation with services of an English-speaking Chauffeur Guide (NA during the beach stay)
  • Santani River Walk
  • Bird Watching around Santani
  • Walk with Chief Vedda experience at Gal Oya
  • Jungle Drive & Walk Through the Park at Gal Oya
  • Ella sightseeing
  • Udawalawe National Park & 1 Jeep Safari
  • Galle sightseeing

Meal Plans

  • Bed & Breakfast