Classic Sri Lanka & The Maldives: Bespoke Holiday Itinerary Suggested Holiday Itinerary

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This holiday explores the culture and natural beauty of Sri Lanka incorporating some of the “must-see” sites with some of our best insider secrets. It’s a fantastic way to experience the island and get a feel for how it ticks.

It’s just a 1-hour flight from Sri Lanka to The Maldives, so after eight days of discovery, you’ll hop over to the atolls for five days of relaxation in paradise.

Highlights include

Explore the magnificence of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle – Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla
Discover a beautiful and less-explored corner of the hill county with amazing views and ambience
Experience the cultural heritage of Kandy
Relaxing in the Maldives. Swimming, snorkelling, diving and beach-time in paradise

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Fly from the UK to Colombo overnight.

DAY 2 GAMPAHA

On arrival meet your chauffeur guide and transfer to your nearby hotel in rural Gampaha. This rural area with its coconut farms and pineapple plantations is the perfect base to recover from jet lag and relax into Sri Lanka.

DAY 3-5 THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE

Your chauffeur- guide will drive you to the Cultural Triangle today where you’ll begin your exploration of its many exciting and magnificent sites. Your hotel is a great base.

You’ll explore the famous historical sites of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave temples. These are, with good reason, a must when visiting Sri Lanka. However, we will also take you to some of our favourite secret sites along the way too, such as a local farm for a home-cooked lunch.

DAY 6-8 The Knuckles Mountains – Tea & Kandy

You’ll travel from the Cultural Triangle towards the edge of the Knuckles Mountain Range. Here you’ll stay at Ashburnham Estate which is off-the-beaten-track, surrounded by hills and waterfalls with amazing views. Despite the rural location, you’re within proximity of both Kandy (Sri Lanka’s second city) and the tea country.

During your stay, you will explore Kandy’s Botanical Gardens and hidden temples, enjoy a tea experience with the estate manager of Ashburnham and there will be plenty of time to relax and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings.

DAY 9 Colombo

Drop out of the hills down to Colombo. The journey is a scenic one – passing from the tea clad hills to the jungle-covered lowlands and finally coming out to the verdant paddy fields below.

Your last night in Colombo will give you a chance to experience first-hand this vibrant city. Our walking tour of Colombo is a great way to explore the histories and sites of this rapidly changing city.

DAYS 10 - 15 THE MALDIVES

Transfer to the airport this morning for the short flight to Male. On arrival, you will transfer by speedboat to your island resort - home for the next five days. Enjoy!

The indicative price for this holiday includes all-inclusive accommodation at Adaaran Club Rannalhi in the Maldives as it complements the Sri Lanka tour well. However, all Experience Travel Group holidays are tailor-made, so please feel free to discuss your Maldives requirements with your travel expert who will ensure the accommodation is suited to you.

DAY 16 FlY HOME

Today you depart The Maldives for your flight home.

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, two-week holidays range from roughly £2,500 to £8,000 per adult, with an average price of £3,300. We also offer substantial child and seasonal discounts.

Fill in our Quote Request form to get your quick, no-obligations proposal.

Since every traveler is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 or use the quote request form below for your personalised vacation itinerary.

Inclusions

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

International Flights (we can omit if you prefer)
Accommodation as described
Privately guided tours and transfers
Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
24-hour in-country backup while away
Your dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

Adaaran Club Rannalhi, South Male Atoll

A good quality mid-range resort with great facilities and all the Maldives must-haves without the hefty price tag.

Aliya Resort & Spa, Sigiriya

A spacious and modern resort with views of Sigiriya Rock and a great swimming pool and spa.

Ashburnham Estate, Elkaduwa

Set in the midst of a working tea plantation on the edge of the Knuckles mountain range.

Ceilao Villas, Colombo

A small boutique hotel with just six rooms in bustling Colombo. Ceilao Villas is a converted family home creating an oasis from the energetic city.

Villa Green Inn, Negombo

A refurbished colonial villa, close to Colombo's International Airport and only 10 minutes from the beach.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...

Dambulla Cave Temples, Dambulla

Beautiful and decorative cave temples hidden into rocks and ccaves at Dambulla

Minneriya National Park, Sigiriya

Jeep safari for elephant spotting around Minneriya Lake and surrounding National Park

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy

Beautiful, historic gardens

Polonnaruwa, Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka's third ancient captal, home to some of the finest stone carvings and monuments

Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sigiriya

One of the unofficial wonders of the world - a spectacular, must-visit ancient site full of mystery and intrigue

Tea Factory Visit, Nuwara Eliya

See the inner-workings of a tea factory and follow the process from plucking the bud to brewing a cup

Temple of the Sacred Tooth, Kandy

Former royal palace turned temple - home to Sri Lanka's most sacred religious relic

Train through the hill country, Kandy

One of Asia's great train journeys, with spectacular views from start to finish.

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Customer Protection

The air holiday packages shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9324. Please see our booking conditions for more information.