From tea hills to golden sands, Buddhist temples to safari parks: the Pearl of the Indian Ocean exceeds expectations
From tea hills to golden sands, Buddhist temples to safari parks: the Pearl of the Indian Ocean exceeds expectations
Uncover the highlights of Sri Lanka, a paradise of tea plantations, verdant mountains, safari parks and golden coastlines. Guided by a local tour leader, we see why this teardrop-shaped island is so special: ancient Buddhist temples, the mighty rock fortress of Sigiriya, hill towns of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, wildlife of Yala National Park (home to one of the highest concentrations of leopards in the world), and palm-fringed beaches of the south coast. As you will discover, Sri Lanka offers incredible variety, despite its small size, which is made extra special by a laid-back atmosphere, tasty cuisine and hospitable people.
Generally, you should expect rain at some time but with plenty of sunshine. On the plains, day and night time temperatures are warm to hot with Colombo having an average daytime temperature of 30C (86F). The temperatures drop as we go higher into the hills and especially at Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains where seasonally daytime temperatures can be a low as 12C-15C (53F-59F) and night temperatures will be about 8C-10C (46F-50F) minimum. If travelling between December and February, we recommend you pack a warmish jacket.
Please note, occasionally low cloud and rains over Horton Plains can be prohibitive to the day 10 walk to World’s End viewpoint. In case of inclement weather, your leader will make an alternative plan taking you through Ella Gap earlier in the day.
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
This is not a demanding trip, although there are a few long drives on bumpy, twisty mountain roads but regular stops help to break up the journeys. The buses we use are comfortable and air conditioned. Some included activities that are more on the moderate challenge side than easy. Walking up Sigiriya Rock on day 3 and Horton Plains walk on day 10 are enjoyable and a relaxed pace but may not be suitable for someone with reduced fitness or mobility issues. Your Leader can advise on the trip if you have any concerns.
When visiting Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion Rock) the final ascent to the top is on metal open stairs fixed against the side of the rock. There are handrails on either side but those with a strong fear of heights may prefer to stay on the lower level (where the lion “paws” are) and not continue to the rock plateau. You will be able to rejoin the group when they return to the plateau.
For Horton Plains, the walk unfolds in four distinct terrain phases. Phase one entails an easy initial walk followed by a brief uphill climb and then a descent along a rocky riverbed, where caution is advised, especially on wet days. Phase two transitions to a path of fine soil and peat, which may become slippery when wet, leading to Greater World’s End. Phase three involves an undulating walk with varying degrees of incline and descent which has been classed as easy/moderate challenge, including steep steps, culminating in a 45-degree uphill stretch. The final phase, four, continues with undulating terrain, featuring gravel and grass paths and moderately steep steps, ultimately leading to the exit point of the excursion. Trainers/trail shoes with good grip are recommended for this activity.
Occasionally there can be inclement weather which prevents a safe and pleasant walk at Horton Plains. If this occurs, your Leader will advise of a “plan B” where you will travel directly to Ella and visit the Nine Arch Bridge (approximately a 30-minute walk to the bridge), an iconic construction also known as the Bridge in the Sky. Following that, if time permits you will join the trailhead for Mini Adam’s Peak (also known as Little Adam’s Peak). The Mini Adam’s Peak route is a relatively easy hike (approximately 1.2mi/2km) but the final ascent includes about 10 to 15 minutes of steps – save energy for that!
April Departures, Sinhala and Tamil New Year:
A unique celebration to the people of Sri Lanka, this important New Year national festival, known as Avurudu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil, is not celebrated by any other nation. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities are observed by both Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus across Sri Lanka for two days on the 12 - 13 April 2024 and 13 – 14 April 2025 (may vary slightly year on year). If you are travelling in Sri Lanka over these dates you can expect to see religious ceremonies, family activities, traditional foods, colourful decorations and a general feeling of good will toward neighbours and friends. Parties can go on into the night and it can be quite loud during this period. Your Leader will be happy to show you some of the activities where your itinerary allows. Please note, during the New Year public holiday, most shops, monuments and attractions will be closed however, your Leader will modify the itinerary as required to ensure minimal disruption.
By accepting our offer in writing, you/you confirm that our terms and conditions have both been read and understood and that cancellation fees may apply if the trip is cancelled.
sdsd AVAILABLE DATES | PRICE (1 ADULT) | PRICE (1 CHILDREN) | Single room supplement | TRAVEL STATUS | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 / Sun, 01 Dec 2024 | NOK 32 680 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 01 Dec 2024 / Sun, 15 Dec 2024 | NOK 35 530 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 08 Dec 2024 / Sun, 22 Dec 2024 | NOK 32 680 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 15 Dec 2024 / Sun, 29 Dec 2024 | NOK 35 530 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 29 Dec 2024 / Sun, 12 Jan 2025 | NOK 35 530 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 26 Jan 2025 / Sun, 09 Feb 2025 | NOK 38 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Wed, 29 Jan 2025 / Wed, 12 Feb 2025 | NOK 34 815 NOK 33 080 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 02 Feb 2025 / Sun, 16 Feb 2025 | NOK 38 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 23 Feb 2025 / Sun, 09 Mar 2025 | NOK 38 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 02 Mar 2025 / Sun, 16 Mar 2025 | NOK 36 955 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 09 Mar 2025 / Sun, 23 Mar 2025 | NOK 34 815 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 / Wed, 26 Mar 2025 | NOK 34 815 NOK 29 590 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 16 Mar 2025 / Sun, 30 Mar 2025 | NOK 31 970 NOK 30 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 23 Mar 2025 / Sun, 06 Apr 2025 | NOK 31 970 NOK 30 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 30 Mar 2025 / Sun, 13 Apr 2025 | NOK 31 970 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 06 Apr 2025 / Sun, 20 Apr 2025 | NOK 31 970 NOK 28 780 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 13 Apr 2025 / Sun, 27 Apr 2025 | NOK 31 970 NOK 30 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 22 Jun 2025 / Sun, 06 Jul 2025 | NOK 31 255 NOK 29 690 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 13 Jul 2025 / Sun, 27 Jul 2025 | NOK 31 255 NOK 29 690 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 27 Jul 2025 / Sun, 10 Aug 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 10 Aug 2025 / Sun, 24 Aug 2025 | NOK 31 255 NOK 29 690 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 07 Sep 2025 / Sun, 21 Sep 2025 | NOK 31 255 NOK 29 690 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 28 Sep 2025 / Sun, 12 Oct 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 05 Oct 2025 / Sun, 19 Oct 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 12 Oct 2025 / Sun, 26 Oct 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 19 Oct 2025 / Sun, 02 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Wed, 22 Oct 2025 / Wed, 05 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 26 Oct 2025 / Sun, 09 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 / Sun, 16 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 09 Nov 2025 / Sun, 23 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Wed, 12 Nov 2025 / Wed, 26 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 16 Nov 2025 / Sun, 30 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 23 Nov 2025 / Sun, 07 Dec 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 / Sun, 14 Dec 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 07 Dec 2025 / Sun, 21 Dec 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 14 Dec 2025 / Sun, 28 Dec 2025 | NOK 32 680 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available | |
Sun, 28 Dec 2025 / Sun, 11 Jan 2026 | NOK 34 105 | On request | NOK 7 690 | Available |
AVAILABLE DATES | PRICE (1 ADULT) | PRICE (1 CHILDREN) | SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT | TRAVEL STATUS | |
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 / Sun, 01 Dec 2024 | NOK 32 680 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 01 Dec 2024 / Sun, 15 Dec 2024 | NOK 35 530 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 08 Dec 2024 / Sun, 22 Dec 2024 | NOK 32 680 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 15 Dec 2024 / Sun, 29 Dec 2024 | NOK 35 530 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 29 Dec 2024 / Sun, 12 Jan 2025 | NOK 35 530 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 26 Jan 2025 / Sun, 09 Feb 2025 | NOK 38 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Wed, 29 Jan 2025 / Wed, 12 Feb 2025 | NOK 34 815 NOK 33 080 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 02 Feb 2025 / Sun, 16 Feb 2025 | NOK 38 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 23 Feb 2025 / Sun, 09 Mar 2025 | NOK 38 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 02 Mar 2025 / Sun, 16 Mar 2025 | NOK 36 955 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 09 Mar 2025 / Sun, 23 Mar 2025 | NOK 34 815 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 / Wed, 26 Mar 2025 | NOK 34 815 NOK 29 590 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 16 Mar 2025 / Sun, 30 Mar 2025 | NOK 31 970 NOK 30 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 23 Mar 2025 / Sun, 06 Apr 2025 | NOK 31 970 NOK 30 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 30 Mar 2025 / Sun, 13 Apr 2025 | NOK 31 970 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 06 Apr 2025 / Sun, 20 Apr 2025 | NOK 31 970 NOK 28 780 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 13 Apr 2025 / Sun, 27 Apr 2025 | NOK 31 970 NOK 30 375 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 22 Jun 2025 / Sun, 06 Jul 2025 | NOK 31 255 NOK 29 690 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 13 Jul 2025 / Sun, 27 Jul 2025 | NOK 31 255 NOK 29 690 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 27 Jul 2025 / Sun, 10 Aug 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 10 Aug 2025 / Sun, 24 Aug 2025 | NOK 31 255 NOK 29 690 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 07 Sep 2025 / Sun, 21 Sep 2025 | NOK 31 255 NOK 29 690 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 28 Sep 2025 / Sun, 12 Oct 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 05 Oct 2025 / Sun, 19 Oct 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 12 Oct 2025 / Sun, 26 Oct 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 19 Oct 2025 / Sun, 02 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Wed, 22 Oct 2025 / Wed, 05 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 26 Oct 2025 / Sun, 09 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 02 Nov 2025 / Sun, 16 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 09 Nov 2025 / Sun, 23 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Wed, 12 Nov 2025 / Wed, 26 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 16 Nov 2025 / Sun, 30 Nov 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 23 Nov 2025 / Sun, 07 Dec 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 / Sun, 14 Dec 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 07 Dec 2025 / Sun, 21 Dec 2025 | NOK 31 255 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 14 Dec 2025 / Sun, 28 Dec 2025 | NOK 32 680 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request | |
Sun, 28 Dec 2025 / Sun, 11 Jan 2026 | NOK 34 105 | On request | NOK 7 690 | On request |
We will get back to you with an offer on the requested trip / package within 48 hours. All offers are non-binding and are usually valid for 7 days. Please note that reserved services can be canceled within these 7 days and that price may change until a final order is received.
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