Honeymooners Delight
Sri Lanka Holidays
Build a lifetime of magical memories with your loved one on this romantic honeymoon in Sri Lanka. Encounter playful elephants at the orphanage, visit Buddhas most sacred temple, spot exotic wildlife in their natural habitat, meet some of the old Vedda tribes’ people, experience one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and enjoy quality relaxation together on the golden sandy beach beside the calm Indian Ocean. This 15-night romantic Sri Lankan honeymoon is perfect for those wishing to experience all Sri Lanka has to offer – a wonderful culture with local traditions, Sri Lankan wildlife and stunning tropical beaches. This holiday has been designed especially for honeymooners wishing to explore this wonderful island between the months of April and November.
In addition to the special honeymoon courtesies provided by each of the hotels, we at Sri Lanka Holidays are delighted to include the following free upgrades as a way of celebrating your marriage:
- A special 3-course romantic ‘Jungle Dinner’ in Gal Oya with wine
- A couples 60-minute ‘Spa Treatment’ in Passikudah
- A ‘Honeymoon Gift’ as a memento of your special holiday
1
Day 1: International Flight
Depart from the UK on an international flight to Colombo, travelling overnight.
2
Day 2: City Stay
Upon arrival in Colombo, you will be met by your driver and escorted to a nearby city hotel in Colombo (approx. 1-hour drive time). You will be staying near the Colombo fort area, the perfect location from which to enjoy a relaxing stroll beside the sea along the Galle Face Green promenade. You might even wish to visit the Colombo Dutch Hospital, the oldest building in Colombo and now a heritage building, shopping and dining precinct before returning to your hotel to enjoy a local dinner and a refreshing overnight comfort stop.
3
Day 3: Hill Capital via Elephant Orphanage
Heading inland to Kandy today (total drive time approx. 3 hours) to the charming hill capital of Sri Lanka and its second largest city. Calling en-route for lunch at Pinnawela village, you will also visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, home to over 90 wild Asian elephants - this orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. Upon arrival in Kandy, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the hotels various facilities.
4
Day 4: City, Markets and Tooth Temple
The morning is completely free leisure time for you to enjoy the hotel amenities. The afternoon will comprise of a city tour of Kandy with an opportunity to browse the local markets before visiting the most sacred Buddhist temples of all, the Temple of the Tooth Relic, located in the royal palace complex. This golden-roofed Temple houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of Buddha.
5
Day 5: Waterfall, Tea Factory & Scenic train journey
The day starts with a drive to Nanu Oya (approx. drive time 2.5 hours), calling for lunch en-route at a quaint local café overlooking Ramboda Fall, the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. Here you will also have the opportunity to visit the tea factory and learn about the various varieties, processing methods and qualities of tea.
At Nanu Oya, board the scenic train to Ella and enjoy 2.5 hours of sensational scenery on one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. You will travel through stunning landscapes of lush tea plantations, mountains and small villages as you pass lovely old bridges, beautiful waterfalls and grazing cattle – you’re likely to be greeted by local kids running along the train tracks too! Arriving in Ella at 17.00hrs, you will have the entire evening to enjoy at leisure.
6
Day 6: Trek to Little Adams Peak and 9 Arch Bridge
A day to stretch your legs and experience Sri Lankan countryside starting with a trek from your hotel in Ella to the summit of Little Adams Peak for some sensational panoramic views. Once back at the base (about 2 hours later), you will hike cross-country through some woods to reach the impressive sight of Nine Arches, a beautiful bridge structure built just from rocks, bricks and cement (no steel) during the British Colonial Period to connect Demodara and Ella railway station.
7
Day 7: Evening Wildlife Safari
Today you travel to Gal Oya National Park (approx. 3-hour drive), one of Sri Lanka’s best kept secrets. Made up of mostly dry-zone forest and grassland, the park is a biodiversity hub, with some flora dating back to the Jurassic period. After a few hours relaxing at your hotel, you will be taken on an evening jeep safari into the park for some sensational views across the banks of the Makara river and hopefully some wildlife spotting too.
8
Day 8: Walk with Sri Lanka’s Indigenous People and Boat Safari
The Veddas, often referred to as ‘forest-dwellers’, are descendants of the aboriginal people of Sri Lanka and shrouded in secrecy, mythology and mystery. This walk with Gal Oya’s vedda chief provides an insight into their tribal existence and a culture which is rapidly disappearing. During the
jungle walk you will learn about medical plants, traditional methods of storing food and you may even be invited into the home of chief vedda.
In the evening, you will experience a boat safari on the Senanyake Samudra, the largest reservoir in Sri Lanka and home to huge herds of wild elephants. As an onlooker passing by boat, you might see some elephants shuffle out of the shades of the tree and stroll towards the water’s edge and as evening descends over the water, they are sometimes seen swimming between the shores.
9
Day 9: Head to the Coast
Today you will be driven to Passikudah (approx. 2.5 hours driving time), a small picturesque village on the East Coast. Famous for its 2km of golden sand and clear, shallow waters, you can easily wade 50 metres out to sea. Protected by a reef that runs across the bay, it is one of the safest and calmest stretches of coastline in the east and home to some lovely corals and schools of fish.
10
Day 10 - 12: Sun, Sea and Sand
The perfect location to spend the next few days relaxing on the beach, snorkelling, diving, enjoying a variety of water sports and exploring the local area. Your time is your own to do as you please!
11
Day 13: Coast to Coast Internal Flight
Today, you have a short 45-minute flight to Negombo on the west coast (total time door to door approx. 4 hours) for your final 2-night stay beside the stunning, palm-lined, wide, sandy beach.
12
Day 14: Soak up the Rays
A complete day to relax and soak up the rays or explore the local area at your leisure. Negombo has an interesting mix of things to see/do including a colonial-built canal, crumbled fort, a lively fish market and a wildlife-rich lagoon – you will be spoilt for choice how to spend your last full day in Sri Lanka.
13
Day 15: Fly back home
Sadly, all good things come to an end and today you will be driven back to Colombo (drive time approx. 20-30 minutes’ drive) for your return flight to the UK.
Make Your Own Memories
- Scheduled international flights (economy travel) from most of the major airports in the United Kingdom
- (13) nights’ accommodation at 3* standard hotels sharing a room
- Daily breakfast
- Travel in a private vehicle with your own chauffeur guide
- Entrance fees to all sites and experiences as specified on the itinerary
- Train tickets 1st /2nd class from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
- Domestic flight from Passikuda to Negombo
- Sri Lanka ETA visa
- All applicable taxes with no hidden charges
- You will be travelling in a private airconditioned vehicle with your own chauffeur. This means that morning departure times are flexible each day, as is the amount of time you wish to spend at each site/activity. Your guide will advise on suitable travel times to avoid peak congestion and recommended the best time of day to ensure maximum enjoyment of the activity.
- All travel time to/from locations are quoted in the itinerary, but please understand that these are only approximate to give a general guide. You will discover that Sri Lankan roads (and their users) are quite unique and appear somewhat chaotic – and it’s not just pedestrians, cyclists, bikers, tuk-tuks, dogs, slow moving heavy goods and agricultural vehicles that cause congestion. Don’t be surprised if you see the occasional elephant, monkey, land-lizard or cattle strolling across the road too! Consequently, ‘we expect the unexpected’ and work on anticipate travel times based on 30-40 kms per hour.
- Travel Insurance
- Lunch, Dinner and beverages throughout
- Any personal expenses