Family Sri Lanka & Undiscovered Maldives

DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Colombo.

DAY 2 – 3 RURAL GAMPAHA 

Upon arrival at Colombo airport, be greeted by your private chauffeur guide and get in your air-conditioned vehicle to your first hotel.  Situated North-East of Colombo, this rural area known as Gampaha is incredibly beautiful and is home to countless coconut farms and pineapple plantations. 

After settling in, enjoy a number of optional activities including a tour of a coconut estate, exploring local nearby villages or take a ride on the leisurely bullock cart. You may rather swim in the idyllic pool or relax with cool drinks, the choice is yours. 

DAY 4 - 6 CULTURAL TRIANGLE 

Explore the Cultural Triangle, roughly the area between Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. With the world famous rock fortress of Sigiriya and the cave temples of Dambulla in the centre, we've especially designed our experiences in this region to get you away from the crowds where possible. This region is also famous for its abundance of artificial tanks that were built by civilisations over 1000 years old. How's that for ingenuity?

Cycle past majestic elephants of Minneriya National Park, and if you're on holiday between August and September - you'll be able to experience the biggest gathering of wild elephants in the world – appropriately named 'The Gathering.'

Visit local farms and learn about the life of villagers. Have a go at traditional farming practices and enjoy a home-cooked lunch made nearly entirely from the home-grown produce you've seen earlier. Ride on a tuk-tuks, tractors and explore the rural paths with your guide on foot. 

DAY 7 - 9 hill country/kandy

Spend three-nights at a family-run estate house in the lush tea plantations. Spend your time exploring the beautiful countryside on bike trails and splashing around in the pool. You’re not too far from Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second city, so there will be a chance to visit for the day with your guide and taking a scenic train ride en route.

DAY 10 – 11  the maldives - LOCAL ISLAND 

Transfer back to Colombo where you'll hop on a one hour flight to the extraordinary city of Male, capital of The Maldives. Enjoy a quick tour of this high-rise city erupting out of the ocean. Gain a better insight into the unique heritage of Maldivians and see the Moroccan design Mosques that date back to King Charles I. 

Hop on a speedboat to Guraidhoo Island where you'll experience Maldivian everyday life on this local island. Have time to settle in, have a swim in the idyllic waters and enjoy dinner with a local family. 

After breakfast with the locals, enjoy a coral reef trip and a spot of snorkelling. With local Maldivians joining you, they'll be able to let you know about the various fish that call the coral their home and you'll be in with a good chance of spotting turtles. 

After lunch, have a short tour of the local island including the Mosque and a boat yard where they make the iconic curved fronted Dhoni boats. Stop by a local cafe to sample traditional 'hedikaa' served with black tea or non-alcoholic beer. In the evening, enjoy a performance of boduberu drumming and join in if you're feeling brave.

DAY 12 – 14  the maldives - RESORT 

Transfer back to Male and onward to your resort to indulge. Your all-inclusive stay will include plenty of relaxation time by the pool or in the ocean. Kids and adults alike will particularly enjoy snorkelling and swimming, discovering the colourful array of marine life around the island as well as the variety of watersports on offer.

DAY 15 DEPART FOR THE UK

Return home from Male.

Your bespoke proposal with Experience Travel Group will include:

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