the most beautiful island in the world

Sri Lanka is a country with a rich cultural history. Buddhism,
brought here by the India Emperor Ashoka, remains a living faith,
and many of the ancient sites are still places of pilgrimage, where
temples and rock carvings attract great devotion.

Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as the most beautiful island in the
world, and other travellers have called it "the Island of Serendipity",
and "the Emerald Isle".

Your tour will include Sri Lanka’s most important historic and spiritual sites,
as well as some of the island’s natural wonders. The Rock Fortress at
Sigirya, for instance, rises a sheer 600ft out of the jungle, like the
"Lost World". To reach the summit you climb an elaborate staircase
constructed to resemble the features of an enormous lion!

Sri Lanka has a truly equable tropical climate, pleasant at all
times of the year. And with accommodation in Sri Lanka’s
best deluxe and heritage hotels, you will definitely want to return
again and again!




Day 1
Departure from Heathrow Terminal 4 on Sri Lankan Airlines flight.

Day 2
Arrival in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city. Stay in the historic Bay Wing of the
Mount Lavinia Hotel (4*).

Day 3
Visit the sites of the ancient and cosmopolitan trading city of Colombo.

Day 4
Drive to Dambulla, where five caves hold 150 Buddhist images dating back
to the first century. On to Habarana, where the 4* colonial grandeur of the
Lodge Habarana will be your home for the next four nights.

Day 5
Visit the spectacular Rock Fortress at Sigirya, perched 200m above the jungle.

Day 6
All day visit to the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, site of the sacred Bodhi
tree, temples and royal palaces.

Day 7
Visit to Polonaruwa, capital after the fall of Anuradhapura in the 10th century,
to see its extraordinary temples, statues and rock carvings.

Day 8
Drive to Kandy (92km), visiting a Batik craft factory en route. Stay at the
Citadel Hotel (4*).

Day 9
Morning visit to the Temple of the Tooth, in company with thousands of
pilgrims who have come to venerate the island’s most important Buddhist
relic. Afternoon visit to the Pinnawale elephant sanctuary.

Day 10
Drive to the hill resort of Nuwara Eliya, 77km south of Kandy, where the
best Sri Lankan tea comes from. Stay at the characterful Tea Factory Hotel
(4*), and visit its working tea farm.

Day 11
All day climb to the spectacular Adam’s Peak (2224m), or walk in
Horton Plains to the 700m sheer cliff drop of World’s End.



Day 12
Drive to the little town of Bentota on the coast, and stay in the luxurious
Saman Villas, or Taj Exotica (5*), close to the beautiful palm fringed beach.
Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 13
Day at leisure, on Bentota beach.

Day 14
75km drive to Colombo airport for return Sri Lankan Airlines flight.