Escorted Tours 2024 - 2025

vibrant collection of orchids before travelling to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage for an unforgettable encounter. Established in 1975 to care for a growing number of abandoned and wounded elephants, witness these magnificent creatures in close quarters being fed and bathed by experienced wildlife authorities. On a city tour of Kandy this evening, weave through the bustling market stalls of the arts and crafts centre which lavishly displays a wealth of antiques, paintings and wood carvings, and later, meander through a labyrinth of glistening jewels within Kandy’s extravagant gem museum. Day 6: Kandy to Yala B/L/D Departing Kandy this morning, breathe in the divine scent of Ceylon tea on a morning tour of a sweeping tea plantation, before participating in a walking tour of Nuwara Eliya, whose idyllic mountainside setting strikingly overlooks its neighbouring valleys, meadows and peaks. A truly tranquil district often referred to as the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, take in vistas of misty hillsides, peppered with brightly dressed tea pickers en route to your hotel near Yala. Day 7: Yala B/L/D After a morning at leisure, an exhilarating Jeep safari in the nearby Yala National Game Park awaits; covering a vast 1200 square kilometres, Yala is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka, boasting a unique oceanfront position. Home to an extensive range of flora and fauna, listen out for the tuneful chanting of migratory and indigenous birds, whilst darting around the park’s rocky pathways, zigzagging past towering trees and swampy lagoons in search of roaming elephants, sloth bears, buffaloes and leopards. Day 8: Yala to Colombo B/L/D Journey to the sleepy fortified city of Galle to embark on a city tour of the former chief port of Ceylon and centre of the 17th century Dutch regime. Famed for being Asia’s largest remaining fortress built by European occupiers, discover the majestic Galle Fort and surrounding buildings, whose distinctive appearance serves as a reminder of the Dutch heritage which once ruled the country. Within the walled city of Galle, uncover a mix of boutique art galleries and shops infused with the authentic scents of traditional Sri Lankan spices, before travelling north for your final night at the world- famous Mount Lavinia Hotel. Positioned on a rocky headland overlooking the Indian Ocean and exuding colonial charm, this 200-year-old hotel was once the Governor’s Residence when Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was under British rule. Day 9: Colombo to the UK B Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK or continue on to your chosen extension. PLEASE NOTE: Yala National Park may be closed for 30 to 60 days each year commencing around the month of September. The tour will visit Udawalawe National Park instead. Galle Yala National Park Nuwara Eliya What’s included ✔ Return flights Heathrow to Sri Lanka with Sri Lankan Airlines. See p132-133 for regional flights ✔ Where you’ll stay Dambulla, 4 H Occidental Paradise Kandy, 4 H Radisson Hotel Kandy Yala, 5 H The Chaarya Resort and Spa by Chandrika Colombo, 4 H Mount Lavinia Hotel ✔ 20 meals ✔ 11 excursions ✔ Expert local tour guide Tour pace: Intermediate Kerala Extend your tour Sri Lanka beach stay, 4 nights, All-Inclusive, 4 H from £299 or 5 H from £369 Maldives beach stay, 4 nights, 4 H All-Inclusive from £829 Highlights of Kerala, 4 nights, B&B from £389 Colombo city stay, 2 nights, 4 H from £199 No Single Supplement Rooms with no single supplement are available. Once sold, supplement starts from £359 Departures & from prices Mar 24 £1,999 Feb 25 £1,999 Apr 24 £1,999 Mar 25 £1,999 May 24 £1,599 Apr 25 £2,449 Jun 24 £2,249 May 25 £1,699 Jul 24 £2,149 Jun 25 £1,849 Aug 24 £1,999 Jul 25 £2,249 Sep 24 £1,799 Aug 25 £2,249 Oct 24 £1,799 Sep 25 £1,899 Nov 24 £1,999 Oct 25 £1,899 Jan 25 £1,999 Nov 25 £1,999 • Lead-in price based on 9 May 24 • Tipping paid locally £56 pp per tour Save £100 on selected departures with code TOUR100 13 Visit our website or call 0800 954 9329 to book or for further details Southern Asia