Dambulla is located 72 km north of Kandy, within Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle’. It is...
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The Enchanted Island
Group Tour
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General Interest
14 Days & 12 Nights
Lead-in price: £1895
The island nation of Sri Lanka has a wealth of cultural, archaeological and natural treasures. This comprehensive tour visits both the popular and some of the lesserknown sites in northern, central and southern Sri Lanka.
The Cox & Kings signature experiences
- Visit the impressive Dambulla caves & Sigiriya rock fortress
- Witness a Puja ceremony at the Temple of the tooth
- Stay in an authentic converted tea factory
- Finish the tour with relaxation on the beach
- Stay in 4- & 5-star accommodation
- Small group size - average 14 people (maximum 18)
Tour variations
Superior Private Tour in brief
Day 1: Fly to ColomboOvernight flight from London (regional connections available) to Colombo with Sri Lankan Airlines. (N)
Day 2: ColomboAfternoon arrival and transfer to the Cinnamon Lakeside for 1 night. Enjoy afternoon tea at the iconic Galle Face Hotel. (N)
Day 3: DambullaIn the morning transfer to Dambulla. Stay 3 nights at the Heritance Kandalama. (B)
Day 4: Anuradhapura - MihintaleDrive to the ancient city of Anuradhapura. For 1,400 years this city was Sri Lanka’s capital and contains fabulous Buddhist shrines and relics. Afternoon visit to Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. (B)
Day 5: Sigiriya - PolonnaruwaMorning visit to the rock fortress town of Sigiriya. Continue to the 11th-century capital of Polonnaruwa. (B)
Day 6: Dambulla - KandyMorning visit to Dambulla, home to Asia’s most impressive cave temples. Continue to the beautiful hill station of Kandy and stay 2 nights at the Earls Regency. Afternoon city tour. This evening, take time to watch a traditional Kandyan dance performance and visit the Temple of the Tooth for the evening puja. (B)
Day 7: KandyKandy is set on the shores of a beautiful man-made lake and the area abounds with rich and varied plant life. Morning visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day 8: Nuwara EliyaEarly morning drive to Nuwara Eliya hill station via a tea plantation. Situated at 2,000 metres above sea level, Nuwara Eliya attracted the British in the 18th century and their legacy is still visible. Stay at the Heritance Tea Factory for 2 nights. (B)
Day 9: Horton PlainsEarly morning visit to Horton Plains, situated on Sri Lanka’s highest plateau (this excursion involves a 2.5-hour walk*). Horton Plains is inhabited by large populations of monkeys and sambar deer. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day 10: Ella - YalaTransfer to Ella; the view through the Ella Gap – a break in the hills – is one of the finest in Sri Lanka. Visit the Rawana Ella Falls and impressive Buduruwagala statues before continuing to Yala. Stay 2 nights at Cinnamon Wild (Jungle Chalet). (B)
Day 11: YalaMorning wildlife safari in Yala National Park. Covering 1,300 sq km, the park encompasses a diversity of jungle habitats, including scrub, brackish lagoons and riverside locations. Creatures that may be seen include elephants, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild pigs, jackals, marsh crocodiles and a great variety of birdlife. (B)
Days 12-13: Galle - AhungallaDrive to Ahungalla, stopping for a visit to the Elephant Transit home and tour of Galle Fort. Stay 2 nights at Heritance Ahungallaor upgrade to the Taj Bentota Resort & Spa(Superior Charm Seaview room) from £85. Following day at leisure. (B)
Day 14: Fly to LondonTransfer to Colombo and fly to London with Sri Lankan Airlines. (B)
Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.
TOUR EXTENSIONS
Maldives extension: 5 days & 4 nights from £1,695 The Maldivian archipelago of 1,190 islands stretches across the Indian Ocean. These tropical hideaways offer pure relaxation in exquisite surroundings. This extension price is based on a short flight from Colombo to Malé and a seaplane to the charming Fushifaru, which offers an idyllic stay on a beautiful island surrounded by verdant foliage and a tropical house-reef.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
* Accessibility: Due to high altitude and uneven terrain, the Horton Plains walk requires a good level of fitness. Visits to certain ancient monuments in the Cultural Triangle require quite a bit of step climbing. In some cases, this is in excess of 1,800 steps and in other instances somewhere between 800 and 1,200 steps.
Private & tailored travel: This itinerary can be taken privately, for which guideline prices are shown. Alternatively, it can be tailored to your exact requirements.
Superior private tour accommodation
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Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo
Set in the heart of Colombo, on the edge of the Beira Lake, the Cinnamon Lakeside is set among 2.8 hectares of lush landscaped gardens. With elegant interiors and a modern design, the hotel features 349 air-conditioned rooms and suites, which overlook Colombo's skyline or Beira Lake. The hotel has an eclectic range of food and beverage outlets ranging from a Chinese restaurant to casual al-fresco dining by the pool, and other facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, spa and a library.
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Heritance Kandalama
The Heritance Kandalama stands on the shore of an ancient manmade lake, at the foot of a rocky outcrop, which once was the home of hermits who sought isolation for meditation in its caves. Designed by leading Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, the hotel has been designed to blend perfectly with the natural environment and is surrounded by forest. The main building, with more than 152 rooms, stretches out for more than a kilometre with the terraced building giving the appearance of being built into the cliff, while the overhanging jungle foliage is now an integral part of the hotel design. The hotel strives to be a model for sustainable development in south Asia, and became the first in Asia to be awarded the prestigious environmental 'Green Globe 21 Certification' award.
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Earls Regency Hotel
The Earl's Regency hotel is set in the Dumbara valley, overlooking the lush Knuckles mountain range and the Mahaweli river. Each of the 104 en suite bedrooms have their own private balcony overlooking the countryside. The Earl's Regency has two excellent restaurants with dining options ranging from local favourites to international feasts. Features: 104 rooms, 2 restaurants, bar, swimming pool, Wi-Fi. Room amenities: Air conditioning, television, desk, tea & coffee making facilities.
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Heritance Tea Factory
Set over 2,000 metres above sea level, The Heritance Tea Factory was built as the Heathersett Tea Factory in the days of the British Raj. The conversion combines much of the original building's style and machinery with a range of modern innovations. The views are entrancing, with a wide panorama to the front and gentle pastoral scenes to the rear. One of the hotel's restaurants is set in a train carriage.
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Cinnamon Wild Yala
Cinnamon Wild Yala is situated at Kirinda, bordering the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary and the Indian Ocean. Spanning 4 hectares of jungle and endless miles of beach, Cinnamon Wild Yala is truly a nature resort of untamed beauty. The property has a total of 76 rooms which include eight beach chalets. All rooms are air conditioned and equipped with cable television, minibar, telephone and Wi-Fi access. The hotel's restaurant serves a variety of international cuisine while the bar is an ideal location to enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Other hotel facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and souvenir shop.
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Heritance Ahungalla
This five-star property is situated in Ahungalla, a former fishing hamlet. The setting is idyllic: a long stretch of unspoilt palm fringed beach on the southwest coast beside the Indian Ocean. The air conditioned guestrooms offer stunning views of the ocean and the property has two sprawling swimming pools. Within the Heritance Ahungalla’s extensive premises, understated luxury complements an atmosphere of tranquillity and seclusion. Features: 152 rooms & suites, 2 restaurants, cafe, 4 bars, infinity pool, green pool, gym, spa, tennis court, kids club, library, WiFi. Room amenities: Air conditioning, tea & coffee making facilities, private balcony, cable television, minibar, safe, hairdryer, rain shower.
Dates & prices
CEJ2022
Guideline Prices
Low season from £2045 per person
High season from £2195 per person
Vaccination Travel Policy
All clients must be fully vaccinated before travelling with us on a Cox & Kings (C&K)
group tour. This means that a customer must have received their full two doses of the
COVID‑19 vaccination at least 14 days before travelling with us. This does not apply
to our private tours or tailor-made travel. If you have any questions please call us
or visit our FAQs page on our website here
Flexible Prices & Itineraries
For a quote based on alternative accommodation standards or flight options, or to tailor this
itinerary, please call 020 7873 5000
or
send an email enquiry
Guaranteed Departures Where a tour date has ‘yes’ listed, this tour is guaranteed to run.
For all other departure dates, once the minimum number of people booked has been reached, this tour is also guaranteed to run. Our sales consultants will be able to advise how many people are booked for your chosen date at the time of enquiry, giving you the confidence to book safe in the knowledge your tour will go ahead.
Terms & Conditions Guaranteed departures will run except in the circumstances where travel to the destination is advised against by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or entry restrictions relating to COVID-19 preclude travel.
Additional InformationPlease call 020 7873 5000 for more information or to make a booking.
Prices above are per person in pounds sterling (£), based on two people sharing a twin-room. The prices which were valid at the time of publication, may be subject to change, particularly as a result of variable flight costs. You will be informed of any such changes prior to booking.
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- * International flights (and domestic flights if applicable)
- * UK departure and overseas airport taxes
- * Accommodation, itinerary & meal basis as described
- * Local Transfers in a private chauffeur-driven vehicle
- * The support (if required) of an English speaking local representative
- * Local guides and entrance fees where applicable
Destinations on this tour
© Cox & Kings 2021