14 Day Sri Lanka & Southern India

A warm welcome awaits you at the arrival lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport. You will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. Check in and relax after your international flight.

Please note - most flights arrive into Colombo after midnight. To maximise suitable rest time before the tour starts on Day 2, we suggest departing the day before Day 1.

Check-in: Passengers will be arriving at various times throughout the day from as early as 6am through to late evening. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary.

Today enjoy a late start, taking time to relax and prepare for an exciting first day of touring. We’ll leave the hotel around 9.30-10am, bound for Sigiriya, or Lion Rock. En route we'll spend the afternoon on a private jeep safari at either Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park to witness the unique phenomenon of elephant 'gathering'. During the dry season – from June to September – hundreds of elephants travel to ancient reservoirs located within the parks for water. Minneriya and Kaudulla are two of the best places in the country to see wild elephants. Outside of the dry season (and depending on the elephant migration patterns) the safari will be conducted in one of the surrounding parks.

This evening, enjoy a pre-dinner nip of arrack (a potent local spirit made from the fermented sap of coconut flowers), or a glass of something else to suit your taste.

This morning we'll climb the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, or Lion Rock – one of the highlights of any visit to Sri Lanka. A dramatic rocky outcrop that rises from the surrounding plains like a mirage, the 200-metre tall rock column is topped by the ruins of a 5th-century citadel. Reaching the top of the rock requires a little leg work, but is well worth the effort. The stunning stone facade has been weathered over many centuries and the panoramic view from the top is awe-inspiring.

On our climb we’ll explore the beautiful water garden, the boulder garden, the colourful frescoes and the so-called 'mirror wall'. Once we pass the lion's paws, hewn from solid rock, it’s a steep climb with plenty of steps and walkways. Those who don't wish to venture to the top can rest at the lion's paws until the rest of the group return.

This evening, enjoy another round of arrack before dinner.

This morning we leave for Kandy. En route, visit the Matale Spice Garden to learn more about Sri Lanka's agricultural heritage. We then continue on to the Sacred City of Kandy, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The second largest city in the country, and the capital of the central hill regions, Kandy remains a very peaceful place that's centred around a lake. It's home to a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), not to mention well-preserved ruins of the royal palaces.

Spend your afternoon in Kandy exploring or relaxing as you wish.

Late afternoon saunter around the Kandy Lake, the atmosphere alone will intrigue you to spend a few moments here. Visit the Temple of Tooth, with its guardian elephants is a deeply significant Buddhist site that contains a tooth of Buddha collected from his funeral pyre and this draws thousands of pilgrims from across the world.

After breakfast we bid farewell to Kandy and hop on what is widely recognised as one of the world’s most scenic train rides, winding around mist-shrouded hilltops, through vivid green valleys and past waterfalls, on our way to Nuwara Eliya. Apart from taking in the breathtaking scenery of tea country, this is a great opportunity to mingle with locals.

Often referred to as ‘Little England’, Nuwara Eliya, is a genteel highland community with a British country village feel to it thanks to the resident colonial-era bungalows, which come courtesy of its British roots.

Upon arrival to Hill Country, visit a tea plantation and factory. Here you will enjoy the absolute tea experience, taking you to the moment the young tea leaves are plucked from the plantation to being processed in the factory to make a steamy cup of tea. If you are interested, the tea factory is the best place to purchase good quality tea.

Please note: it is not possible to confirm the train ticket reservation due to the fact that Sri Lanka Railway has a manual system for reservations. Tickets can only be booked 30 days prior to departure. The 1st and 2nd class carriages are basic, but have air-conditioning. On the rare occasion that the train is fully booked we’ll travel by road instead.

This morning we make our way to Yala/Tissamaharama.

After checking in to your hotel spend your afternoon on a guided game drive spotting the abundant flora and fauna of Yala National Park. As one of the largest national parks in the country Yala is the ideal place to spot the rare Sri Lankan leopard.

Please note that Yala National Park closes for a period between the months of September and October. The exact closure dates are made clear closer to the time. The closure is due to the prevailing dry weather prior to this time and taking into consideration the well-being of the wildlife in the reserve. For departure dates that fall over this period (please refer to dates in Fine Print section under Yala National Park Closure), Yala National park will be replaced with a visit to Udawalawe National Park.

Although smaller in size to Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park is considered one of the world's best places to see wild elephants. Largely comprised of grasslands and bush forest, Udawalawe is also one of the best national parks in Sri Lanka for game spotting and being far less crowded than Yala, it makes for a more enjoyable experience for travellers and therefore, we believe is a more than suitable alternative.

This morning we leave for Colombo. En route we explore the Galle Fort and its fortifications. Galle is a carefully preserved colonial city, which features an interesting blend of European architecture (Portuguese, Dutch and English) as well as South-Asian traditions. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

As we continue on to Colombo we'll also visit a turtle hatchery. There are only seven species of marine turtles in the world and five of them are found in the warm, clear waters off Sri Lanka’s coast: the hawksbill, loggerhead, green, leatherback and olive ridley.

Today say farewell your Sri Lankan guide and get ready for the next leg of your journey as we fly to Southern India. On arrival in Kochi, your Indian guide will welcome you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. This afternoon, your guide will take you on a walk through the historic districts of the town. The walking tour will allow you to see the different cultural sides of Kochi, from the Jewish area including the Pardesi Synagogue to the Mattancherry Palace, known as the Dutch Palace to the locals. We will see Fort Kochi which is reminiscent of European streets and the famous Chinese Fishing Nets, used by the locals for hundreds of years. This evening, enjoy a Kathakali dance show, a traditional dance and costume show from the Kerala region.

After breakfast, we drive inland to the hill town of Munnar, some 1,600m above sea level in the Western Ghats Mountains. The landscape becomes progressively more beautiful as we climb higher. Enroute, we stop at the Athirapally Waterfalls on the River Chalakudy. The waterfall drops from a height of 25m. In the monsoon season, the falls are known as the “Niagara of India” due to the force and volume of water flowing down. From here we can also admire the view of the Sholayar hills before continuing on to Munnar.

This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of Munnar. The heart of a massive tea industry today, Munnar was a cool summer retreat for the British during colonial days. The hinterland around Munnar is dotted with English cottages amongst rolling hills and untouched forests. Visit the Tea Museum in the Nallathanni Estate to learn about the process of making tea and the old world machinery used in the 1800’s. We visit a local church built by the British before enjoying the afternoon at leisure or taking a stroll through the quiet pathways crisscrossing the endless tea plantations.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before driving to Kumarakom, located on the shore of Lake Vembanad and laced with majestic canals and streams. Kumarakom is a beautiful backwater fishing village and a local bird paradise offering a plethora of exotic sights. On arrival, check in and enjoy some time at leisure.

This morning we drive to Alleppey to board a houseboat for a scenic cruise through the famed backwaters. The houseboat is an adaptation of a kettuvallams boat which has been used for generations to transport rice and spices. Amazingly, not a single nail is used to hold these traditional boats together. The serene natural beauty and simple charm of the backwaters surprises at every turn. Enjoy sailing leisurely through canals which crisscross paddy fields and lagoons.

At the appropriate time you will be driven from Kumarakom to Kochi to board your homeward flight.

Arrive home today.