Honeymooners Whistle Stop
Tour of Sri Lanka
A lifetime of magical memories made together with your loved one during this romantic honeymoon in Sri Lanka – its fast and furious, full of adventure and delight. Encounter playful elephants at the orphanage, visit Buddhas most sacred temple, cycle around an ancient city, visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, experience one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, spot exotic wildlife in their natural habitat, release your own turtle into the ocean – but above all, create these experiences of Sri Lanka together with your nearest and dearest! This 10-night adventurous, romantic Sri Lankan honeymoon is perfect for those wishing to soak up a full Sri Lankan experience – the culture, the history, Sri Lankan wildlife and its stunning scenery. This holiday has been especially for energetic couples and honeymooners wishing to explore this wonderful island between the months of October and April.
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 couples 60-minute ‘Spa Treatment’ in Ella
- A ‘Honeymoon Gift’ as a memento of your special holiday
- A traditional ‘ROTI Dinner Experience’ at Paddy Island in rural Galle – nestled away in Yatagala, Paddy Island is situated in an acreage of paddy fields. Arriving at a beautiful garden adorned by candles and torches, you will be warmly greeted and served Ceylon Arrack Cocktails. After which, head to the kitchen and learn a few cooking tricks whilst actually participating in the food preparation, (or if you prefer, stay outside to enjoy the sunset). When the food is ready, enjoy a delicious traditional Sri Lankan Roti dinner in this delightful setting (please let us know in advance if you prefer an alternative, non-spicy dish).
Itinerary Highlights
- Experience Culture & History
- Scenic Train Journey
- Elephant Orphanage, Wildlife Safari and Turtles
- Roti Dinner Experience
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Day 1: International Flight
Depart from the UK on an international flight to Colombo, travelling overnight.
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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.
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Day 3: Hill Capital via Elephant Orphanage
Heading inland to Sigiriya today (total drive time approx. 4 hours) to the lush green centre of Sri Lanka, known as the Cultural Triangle. 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 Sigiriya, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the hotels various facilities.
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Day 4: The Lions Rock & Cycle Tour
Today we recommend an early start to avoid the midday heat.
The remarkable rock citadel of Sigiriya, known as Lions Rock, is one of the most famous landmarks in Sri Lanka and dates back to the 5th Century. Passing through the carved lion’s feet and bravely climbing the 1200 steps to the summit of this UNESCO World Heritage site, you will be rewarded with sensational 360-degree panoramic views for miles around as well as the beautiful gardens below. Return to the hotel for hearty breakfast and refresh.
After lunch, you will head to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa (approx. 1 hour each way) for lunch and a gentle guided cycle tour to explore the many well-preserved ruins of Ceylon; these include palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes.
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Day 5: Cave Temples
Fascinatingly built into and underneath the overhanging cliff, the UNESCO world heritage site of Dambulla Cave Temple is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka (only approx. 20-minute drive from your hotel). These five separate caves contain approx. 150 stunning Buddha statues and paintings, some of Sri Lanka’s most important and evocative religious art. From the caves there are superb views over the surrounding countryside with Sigiriya clearly visible in the distance.
You will then travel to Kandy (aprox. Drive time 2.5 hours) and enjoy a city tour 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.
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Day 6: 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.
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Day 7: 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.
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Day 8: Travel to Yala National Park & Safari
As you travel today to Yala National Park in the Southern Coast Region of Sri Lanka you will see that landscape starting to flatten out once more (total drive time approx. 3-hours). Yala National Park is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka and renowned for its huge variety of wild animals as well as its conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards (for which Yala has the highest density in the world) and aquatic birds. You will get to explore some of this huge area of forest, grassland and lagoons in the afternoon from the comfort of a 4 x 4 – be sure to have your camera at the ready!
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Day 9: Release a Turtle and Explore the Fort
Today, you head to the southwest coast to the historic city of Galle (approx. drive time 3 hours) where you will visit the famous Galle Fort, a world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers. In Galle, you will have the opportunity to browse the fascinating markets and purchase gifts/souvenirs to take home before later visiting the Turtle Sanctuary where we have arranged for you to release a baby turtle into the ocean.
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Day 10: The End of This Chapter
This is the end of this tour and today you will either be travelling home to the UK, travelling onwards to the Maldives for the next chapter of your honeymoon or extending your stay in Sri Lanka at a relaxing beach resort.
Make Your Own Memories
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- Return flights from all major airports in the UK
- Accommodation in a double room for 8 nights
- Daily breakfast & dinner
- Transportation in a private a/c car with an English-Speaking Driver Guide all throughout the tour (including return airport transfers)
- Entrance fees to sights & national parks
- Safari Vehicles at Yala National Park
- City tours mentioned on the itinerary including an English-speaking guide
- Train Tickets 1st/2nd Class (from Nuwara Eliya to Ella)
- All currently applicable taxes
- 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.
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- Lunch at the hotels throughout
- Camera and video permits at Kandy Temple and the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (US$2.00 per item)
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Services not mentioned above
- Optional excursions and sightseeing
- Vehicle whilst at leisure unless specified otherwise
- Visa fee (@USD35 per person) - please refer http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/ for more information and to obtain the ETA visa