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Comprehensive Sri Lanka

HOME > Sri Lanka > Car & Driver > Comprehensive Sri Lanka

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1 - Depart
Fly from Heathrow to Colombo, arriving the next day. Other departure points including Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow are also available.

Day 2 - Habarana
You’ll be met on arrival at Colombo airport by your Car & Driver and taken to Habarana, where you’ll check in to your hotel for a two night stay. We have a selection of hotels available in the Habarana area.

Habarana is a great base from which to explore much of the Cultural Triangle as it is roughly central within easy reach of Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. It is also an ideal gateway to safaris in both the Habarana Jungle and the Minneriya Sanctuary, home to a great many Sri Lankan elephants as well as the leopard, loris and sloth bear.

Day 4 - Habarana to Anuradhapura

Continue with your Car & Driver to the ancient city of Anuradhapura, perhaps travelling via the spiritual location of Mihintale en route, although there are quite a few steps involved so it’s best to arrive earlier in the morning. Check in to your Anuradhapura hotel for an overnight stay.

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient cities of Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An ideal addition to any itinerary, Anuradhapura was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 4th Century B.C. and offers well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. It sits on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya, and is surrounded by Buddhist monasteries and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Whilst some of the ancient buildings are little more than rubble, many are still almost intact and wandering around them is breathtaking, so make sure to leave some time in your itinerary to really explore.

Day 5 - Anuradhapura to Trincomalee

Continue east through the North Central Province, towards the East Coast, for a few days by the beach. Travel  to the resort town of Trincomalee, on the shores of the Indian Ocean, for two nights at your chosen hotel. There’s an increasing number of hotel options along the East Coast.

The East Coast is one of Sri Lanka’s most up and coming areas and with beautiful swathes of beach giving way to the calm shallow waters, it’s easy to see why. Relatively undiscovered by visitors until recently, it’s still charming and relaxed. Not only that but it’s also home to some of the best beaches in Sri Lanka and its popularity is only going to increase, so now is the time to visit.

Day 7 - Trincomalee to Polonnaruwa

Return inland to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, perhaps travelling via Minneriya National Park, renowned for its elephants. On arrival in to Polonnaruwa check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

For three centuries Polonnaruwa was the royal capital of both the Chola and Sinhalese kingdoms, and its 1000 years of history is easy to explore and experience. Highlights include the buildings of the Royal Palace, and the Quadrangle, a compact group of fascinating buildings that are raised up and bounded by a wall. Hire a bicycle to explore the area.

Day 8 - Kandy
Drive from Polonnnaruwa to Kandy, perhaps travelling via the Rock Temple at Dambulla en route. On arrival in to Kandy check in to your preferred hotel for a two night stay. We have a range of hotel options available in Kandy.

Sri Lanka’s second largest city, Kandy is famed for not only its history, artefacts and temples, but also for its tea, stunning scenery and lush botanical gardens. The most visited site is the famed Buddhist Temple of the Tooth, home to the tooth relic, said to be a piece of Buddha himself. There are also a number of temples including the Lankatilaka Temple and the Gadaladeniya Temple as well as some beautiful gardens such as the Royal Botanical Gardens. Surrounding Kandy are rolling tea plantations and mountainous, thickly forested hills that offer fantastic walking and hiking opportunities.

Day 10 - Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Continue by road to Nuwara Eliya, perhaps travelling via the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage. On arrival check in to your preferred hotel for a one night stay - we have a selection of hotel options in and around Nuwara Eliya.

Rolling hills and deep valleys shrouded in early morning mist are often the first things to greet travellers entering the hill country, an area that was nicknamed Little England due to its capacity for hosting English pastimes including hunting, fishing, boating golf and of course, tea drinking. While here you can also visit non-working factories and enjoy tea making demonstrations to learn the history of the process. Nuwara Eliya is also the gateway to the Horton Plains National Park famed for its stunning flora and fauna as well as the sheer precipice of World’s End and the Baker’s Falls.

Day 11 - Nuwara Eliya to Udawalawe National Park
Continue through the spectacular countryside of Southern Sri Lanka to Udawalawe National Park, perhaps travelling via the Horton Plains and World’s End. On arrival, check in to your preferred hotel for a two night stay.

Udawalawe is known for its Elephant Transfer Home. Established in 1995 it helps rehabilitate orphaned elephants so they can be released back into the wild. At the home you can watch the elephants, but not interact with them as they need to remain as independent and wild as possible, to give them the best chance when released back into the park. The home is also supported by Born Free. The national park itself is home to vast herds of elephant, as well as an amazing amount of other mammals, birds and reptiles.

Day 13 - Return or Beach Extension
Return to Colombo airport by road, where your Driver will say goodbye and you will return to the UK.

Alternatively, extend your Sri Lanka holiday with a stay in one of the wonderful beach hotels - we have a wide selection available. Your Driver will say goodbye when you arrive at your beach hotel, and pretty much any duration is possible on the beach. You’ll then be transferred back to Colombo airport for your flight home. It’s also possible to extend your Sri Lanka itinerary with a stay on the beaches of the Maldives or elsewhere.

HABARANA, ANURADHAPURA, TRINCOMALEE, POLONNARUWA, KANDY, NUWARA ELIYA & UDAWALAWE by CAR & DRIVER

Take in the best of Sri Lanka’s history, scenery, culture and wildlife on one incredible journey, with this flexible multicentre holiday, with your own private Car + Driver taking you wherever you want to go!

You'll be met at Colombo airport on arrival by your Car & Driver, and your Driver will be with you until you return to the airport at the end of your trip. You can take in and sights that you wish at your own pace - all you need to do is pay entrance fees locally. There’s no mileage limitation and your Driver will discuss your itinerary to create the perfect trip - they’re full of local knowledge and will have plenty of suggestions for you! If you’re extending your stay in Sri Lanka at one of the beach hotels then your Driver will say goodbye when you arrive there, and we’ll arrange a transfer back to the airport for your flight home.

Car & Driver
holiday prices

2019 package holidays Sri Lanka Car & Driver holidays Prices are per person based on two sharing.

Prices include flights, transfers and accommodation, and are subject to availability. Flights from Heathrow - other departures also available, call for details.

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