Off The Beaten Track – Discover Sri Lanka

Luxury Sri Lankan Experience

Day 01 – AIRPORT / KOTUGODA

Welcome to Sri Lanka, the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’!

On arrival in Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, you’re met by your private chauffeur-guide and driven to your hotel ‘Wallawwa’ in Kotugoda, a beautifully renovated country house hotel set amongst tropical gardens and just 15 minutes from Colombo airport.

Note: Buddhism is extremely respected in Sri Lanka, any disrespectful words or acts may cause deportation or denial of entry, e.g. Buddha tattoos, kissing/climbing/riding Buddha statue, drinking inside a temple, etc.

Check into Wallawwa.  Overnight stay.

 

Day 02 – NEGOMBO / ANAMADUWA

Breakfast in the hotel.

Check-out from your hotel and proceed to Anamaduwa. Spread throughout a large expanse of forest on the outskirts of a small village in Sri Lanka lies The Mudhouse – a private and seductive retreat, far away from the beaten track. Flanked by lakes and blessed with abundant birdlife, wildlife and natural beauty.

Check-in to Mud House for overnight stay.

 

Day 03 – ANAMADUWA

Breakfast in the hotel. Your day is at leisure and can be as active or relaxing as you wish.

There’s a range of activities to participate in during your stay, including nature walks, bike riding &

helping prepare traditional Sri Lankan dishes. You can easily while away a couple of hours exploring the different habitats in and around The Mudhouse, on foot or by bike, keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife.

On the subject of food, cooking lessons are possible in the open-air kitchen, where under the watchful eye of one of the chefs you will assist with the preparation of lunch or dinner. Or if this all sounds a little too busy, simply find a hammock and relax with a book

Overnight stay at Mud House.

Day 04 – ANAMADUWA

Breakfast at the hotel. Your day is at leisure and can be as active or relaxing as you wish.

There’s a range of activities to participate in during your stay, including nature walks, bike riding &

helping prepare traditional Sri Lankan dishes. You can easily while away a couple of hours exploring the different habitats in and around The Mudhouse, on foot or by bike, keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife.

On the subject of food, cooking lessons are possible in the open-air kitchen, where under the watchful eye of one of the chefs you will assist with the preparation of lunch or dinner. Or if this all sounds a little too busy, simply find a hammock and relax with a book

Overnight stay at Mud House.

Day 05 – ANAMADUWA/ ANURADHAPURA

Breakfast at the camp.

Check-out from your hotel and proceed to Anuradhapura.

Check-in to Forest Rock Garden & have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 06 – ANURADHAPURA

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning visit to the ancient Sacred City of Anuradhapura, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and Sri Lanka’s capital back in the 4th century BC. Your tour of the city’s UNSECO-protected ruins will include its gigantic Stupas, second in size only to the Pyramids of Egypt, and the Sri Maha Bodhi, said to be the oldest documented tree on earth. Buddhists from around the country come to pay pilgrimage by offering lotus flowers at this most sacred of places.

Return to Forest Rock Garden for overnight stay.

Day 07 – ANURADHAPAURA/ KANDY

Breakfast in the hotel.

Today, get started with the famous Dambulla Cave Temple, home to many magnificent Buddha images and rock painting dating back to 2nd century BC. Then head for Ceylon’s old capital of Kandy (approx. 3 hours by road).

Upon arrival in Kandy, you will proceed to your hotel to check-in.

Check-in to Taylor’s Hill and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight stay at Taylor’s Hill.

Day 08 – KANDY

Breakfast in the hotel.

You will  have the day at leisure to enjoy activities at the property.

Overnight stay at Taylor’s Hill.

Day 09 – KANDY/ GAL OYA

Breakfast in the hotel.

Morning departure from Kandy, driving south to Gal Oya National Park. Inaccessible for years

due to civil war, Gal Oya has been dubbed ‘Sri Lanka’s forgotten National Park’ and is home to a wide variety of bird life as well as elephants on occasion. The park has the largest lake in Sri Lanka, and so unlike many of Sri Lanka’s other National Parks your wildlife spotting experience will by boat as well as jeep. If you are lucky you may see elephants swimming from island to island.

Upon arrival, check-in at your lodge. Relax by the pool or join one of the resident naturalists for a nature walk before heading back into the park once again, after dinner for a night jeep safari.

Return to Gal Oya Lodge for overnight stay.

Day 10 – GAL OYA

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart your lodge and head into the National Park for a unique boat safari on the Senanayake Samudra reservoir. You will be accompanied by a naturalist who will identify the many species of birds you are likely to spot. Keep a look out for elephants that come to the banks in search of water. During the dry season, when the levels in the reservoir are low, elephants have occasionally been seen wading between the islands in search of food. The boat is open top so we recommend taking a hat and sun block with you for the morning. Return to the lodge where there is time to relax by the pool or join one of the resident naturalists for a nature walk, before heading back into the park once again for an early evening jeep safari.

Return to Gal Oya Lodge for overnight stay.

Day 11 – GAL OYA / ELLA

Breakfast at the hotel.

Checkout from your hotel and transfer to Ella. You will check-in to the Ambar Estate and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Over night stay at Ambar Estate.

Day 12 – ELLA

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will have the day at leisure to enjoy activities at the estate.

Overnight stay at Ambar Estate.

Day 13 – ELLA/AHASPOKUNA

Depart after breakfast, heading deep into Sri Lanka’s hill country to Ahaspokuna, following windy tarmac roads through small towns and villages. At a designated roadside spot you will be met by a guide from Ahaspokuna Bushwalks Camp, who will lead you to the camp which is only accessible by foot. It’s a 2km trek along a narrow track, crossing streams and rock pools to the remote, undisturbed setting of the Bush Camp. Ahaspokuna Bushwalks Camp is hidden away in a large clearing of protected forest, and was so-named in reference to the nearby lake that is only fed by rainwater: in Sinhalese ‘Ahas’ means ‘Sky’ and ‘Pokuna’ means ‘Pond’.

On arrival in camp you will be welcomed and shown to your luxury tent, built on stilts and accessible by wooden steps, where you can settle in and freshen up before a traditional style lunch is served.

After lunch you are free to relax in and around the camp or join the experienced naturalist and a local tracker for a bush walk. The trackers are essential as they know the area well and there are hardly any discernible paths through the grassland and forest. They will also keep an experienced eye out for the signs of wildlife that make this region their home: sloth bear and leopard can be found in the area, but are shy animals and the chances of you spotting them is minimal; elephants also frequent these parts but the tracker will have knowledge of their whereabouts ensuring your safety at all times. The walk will focus more on the plentiful birdlife, the pristine scenery and the history of the region. These bush walks are designed for the more experienced walker: the trek can be steep in places and the terrain tough-going, but the scenery is rewarding, the guides are patient and you have an enormous sense of being away from it all, surrounded by nature.

Back in the camp there is time to freshen up before enjoying sundowner drinks and a delicious four-course dinner with wine. Following dinner there is an opportunity for a night walk around the camp site or choose to relax beside the campfire before retiring to your tent.

Overnight stay at Ahas Pokuna.

Day 14 – AHAS POKUNA

Breakfast at the hotel.

The programme for the day offers the opportunity of morning and afternoon bushwalks, accompanied again by the naturalist and tracker, or a challenging full day trek for those who are keen to explore further. You are free to participate in any of the bush walks, it is entirely up to you. Alternatively you can enjoy an easy walk to visit a nearby village, or simply relax in and around the camp, watching the birds, reading a book and enjoying the day bed. The day is punctuated by delicious traditional meals and following another plentiful dinner, you can (if you wish) enjoy an evening walk before a final night in your plush tent.

Overnight stay at Ahas Pokuna.

Day 15 – AHAS POKUNA/ KOGGALA

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning departure heading south to Koggala.

A stop will be made en-route to visit a turtle hatchery. The beaches of Sri Lanka are prime nesting grounds for five species of marine turtles, however these creatures are sadly facing extinction and turtle hatcheries have been established to monitor sea turtle activity and conserve the local nesting sites. You will learn about the conservation work that takes place at the hatchery and have the opportunity to see tanks filled with new born turtle hatchlings that, after 2-4 days, will be released into the sea (usually during the safer hours of darkness.)

After your visit, continue on to your hotel in Koggala.

Tri is Sri Lanka’s first truly contemporary sustainable luxury design hotel. Not far from Galle Fort, on the shores of Koggala Lake (Sri Lanka’s largest natural lake) and within easy reach of the best beaches in the south, 11 suites spiral a six-acre hill of outstanding natural beauty. Ecotourism has never been so inspiring.

Check in to Tri Lanka for overnight stay.

Day 16 – KOGGALA

Breakfast at the hotel.

You have day at leisure to enjoy the hotel and its soundings.

Overnight stay at Tri Lanka.

Day 17 – KOGGALA

 After an early breakfast, transfer to Unawatuna for a morning of cycling.

After a short briefing and having chosen your bike, saddle up and set out, following your local guide.

The tour stays primarily on side roads and gravel tracks, passing a lagoon and mangroves; paddy fields, temples and villages. It’s a great opportunity to witness the daily life of the local people and explore the scenic landscape.

After 2.5 to 3 hours of leisurely cycling return to base.

Return to Tri Lanka for overnight stay.

Day 18 – KOGGALA / AIRPORT

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Amentities & Facilities