Escorted Tours 2022-23

12 Visit our website or call 0800 954 9329 to book or for further details Southern Asia Day 1: UK to Colombo Depart the UK on your scheduled, overnight flight. Day 2: Colombo to Dambulla D On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Dambulla which will take approximately four hours. Enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure. Day 3: Dambulla B/L/D Depart in the morning to explore the stunning Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 5th century A.D. As a sole reminder of the vast brick lion that gave the rock its name, step behind the colossal claws engraved into the rock face and soar 200 metres above the jungle, to uncover a flat summit where the ruins of an ancient fortress lay, more than 1,500 years ago. Following lunch, continue on to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa which dates back over 1,000 years. Positioned advantageously to safeguard against possible attacks from the southeast, this former royal capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom supposedly has fewer mosquitos, as well as a vast assortment of archaeological treasures, so it is no surprise that Polonnaruwa has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site! During this afternoon’s tour, admire some of the city’s most revered relics including the crumbling remains of the Royal Palace and the distinctive Gal Vihara. Day 4: Dambulla to Kandy B/L/D After breakfast, explore Sri Lanka’s largest and best-reserved temple complex which astonishingly dates back to the 1st century B.C.; the impressive Dambulla Rock Temple contains over 2000 square metres of intricately painted walls and ceilings, once embellished by former Kings as a way to mark their place of worship. Centred around a striking fifteen-metre-high reclining Buddha, hewn directly out of the cave wall, wander around a mere section of these exquisite wall paintings and stunning Buddha statues before departing for Kandy. Make a stop in a spice garden to enjoy the aromatic scents that Sri Lanka is world-famous for. Next, continue on your journey to Kandy and enjoy lunch at your hotel before discovering Sri Lanka’s most significant religious relic at the sacred Temple of the Tooth; this golden-roofed shrine famously houses one of the holiest monuments in the Buddhist world – a tooth of Buddha, protectively concealed within an ornate gilded casket. After dinner, relax whilst watching an eclectic cultural show, where performers will dazzle you with elaborate costumes and traditional dances. Day 5: Kandy B/L/D Today, discover the verdant landscape of Sri Lanka’s largest and most impressive Botanical gardens in Peradeniya; boasting more than 4,000 Tour highlights ✔ Explore the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sigiriya Rock Fortress ✔ Marvel at the incredible Dambulla Rock Temple ✔ Uncover the Buddhist relics at the Temple of the Tooth ✔ Watch elephants being bathed and fed at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage ✔ Wander the beautiful botanical gardens of Peradeniya ✔ Spot exotic wildlife on a safari through Yala National Park ✔ Embark on fascinating city tours of Kandy and Galle ✔ Experience the hustle and bustle on a tea plantation tour in Nuwara Eliya ✔ Enjoy an overnight stay in the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel Jewels of Sri Lanka P R I V A T E T O U R U P G R A D E S F R O M £99 Visit ancient temples of past civilisations, wander the beautiful botanical gardens in Peradeniya, meet the elephants at the Pinnawala Orphanage and take a safari through Yala National Park to spot an elusive leopard.  Colombo Mount Lavinia Pinnawala Galle < <     Yala Nuwara Eliya Kandy Dambulla  Coach Air Nuwara Eliya