Sri Lanka: Secrets of the Spice Island – A Limited Edition Small Group Journey (2024)

Welcome to Sri Lanka, arriving in the charismatic capital of Colombo where you are met with a warm A&K welcome, fast tracked through arrivals and privately transferred to your boutique hotel. Colombo boasts a rich colonial heritage, and is a melting pot of religion and cultures with a wide array of Buddhist and Hindu temples, mosques and churches reflecting the various beliefs. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Uga Residence

This morning, meet with your Resident Tour Director and fellow travellers for a tour briefing before exploring the island’s capital like a local — by tuk tuk. Weave your way through the city’s bustling bazaars and past landmark monuments before finishing at Galle Face Green, to soak up the Indian Ocean views.

Wander back to your hotel for a breather before meeting Colombo local, and passionate photographer, Mark Forbes, your escort on a captivating walk through the old town bringing the city’s multifaceted history to life. See the 17th century Dutch Hospital, Colombo Fort, charming colonial mansions and wind up at a speakeasy for arrack-themed cocktails.

Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner where a culinary curator introduces you to Sri Lankan home cooking.

Uga Residence | Meals: BD

Before leaving the city, make a short stop at No.11 Bawa Residence, designed and built by the great Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa in the 1960s. An essay in architectural bricolage, the house was built from four smaller bungalows that Bawa bought and combined over a period of years.

Continue your journey to the Cultural Triangle in the centre of the country where ancient World Heritage sites abound and your secluded island sanctuary accommodation awaits. Settle in before enjoying dinner accompanied by special guest Dr. Shanti Jayewardene, an Oxford-educated Sri Lankan architect, historian and critic. She will provide an incredible understanding of Sri Lanka’s anthropology, architecture, history and politics in an accessible way.

Ulagalla Resort | Meals: BD

Start the day with a visit the organic garden to pick fresh produce for use in a cooking demonstration at the resort’s traditional hearth kitchen. Watch as your fresh ingredients are transformed into Sri Lankan delicacies which you’ll savour over lunch. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities:

• Travel like a local on a village tuk tuk. Enjoy an afternoon discovering the best the city has to offer, immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and day-to-day goings-on.
• Take to the waters of the Wannemaduwa Tank in a kayak to experience the breathtaking wildlife of the forest up close at a time when it’s most active as the sun goes down.
• Under the guidance of a local, learn how to craft, launch and fly a bamboo and paper kite of classic Sri Lankan design.

Ulagalla Resort | Meals: BLD

Discover a world of ancient ruins today in the Cultural Triangle. Start at one of southeast Asia’s most impressive sites — Anuradhapura — the country’s first ancient capital which dates from the 5^th century BC. Marvel at giant stupas, a vast statue of Buddha and receive a blessing near the sacred Bodhi tree, the oldest recorded, planted in 236 BC. This afternoon climb up to the spot where Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka — at the summit of Mihintale — and admire the religious monuments and views.

Return to the hotel for time at leisure before enjoying a special barbecue dinner by the pool at the hotel.

Ulagalla Resort | Meals: BLD

Delve further into the Cultural Triangle at World Heritage listed Polonnaruwa, an interesting blend of Buddhist and Hindu archaeological monuments. Don’t miss the famous Gal Viharaya or “Rock Temple”, which comprises four colossal statues of Buddha cut into the stone.

This afternoon, visit Minneriya National Park for a game drive with a local tracker for a chance to see elephants and, if lucky, the purple-faced langur and toque macaque which are endemic to Sri Lanka. Afterwards, travel to your hotel and settle in with a group dinner at the in-house restaurant.

Water Garden | Meals: BLD

Rise early for an exhilarating hot air balloon ride over the surrounding landscape, glimpsing Sigiriya from above (additional cost, paid locally). Then, climb the steep stairs 200 metres up through the Lion Gate to the top of the imposing fifth century rock fortress admiring the water gardens, moats and ancient frescoes on the way. Soak up the unparalleled 360-degree views of the surrounding jungle and hills before returning to the hotel.

This afternoon, meet a farmer and his family to enjoy a home cooked Sri Lankan lunch, indulging in delicious traditional fare and savouring the locally grown ingredients.

Water Garden | Meals: BLD

An early start to visit the extraordinary World Heritage listed Buddhist cave temples at Dambulla, with statues and murals dating back to the first century BC representing Sinhalese Buddhist art at its best. Continue south to Kandy, the country’s cultural capital with sundowners and a traditional Kandyan cultural performance this evening with an opportunity to meet the dancers afterward.

Jetwing Kandy Gallery | Meals: BD

Join well known botanist Bandara Palipana at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya for a guided walk through the extraordinary botanical collection, comprising over 4,000 plant species, including a priceless collection of 300 varieties of orchids.

Relax for the remainder of the day before a pooja ceremony this evening at the sacred Temple of the Tooth, the city’s most famous landmark. Amid scents of lotus and jasmine, join monks and pilgrims who gather to make offerings to the Buddha. Afterwards, enjoy VIP entry to the inner “Shrine Room” where the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is kept.

Jetwing Kandy Gallery | Meals: B

Travel through the misty highlands into hill country, past lush tea estates and scenic waterfalls. Lunch in Nuwara Eliya before an afternoon “Tea Experience”. Visit tea plantations and a factory to learn from an expert about the journey from planting and plucking, to manufacturing, grading and processing, and finally a tasting. This evening indulge in a delicious tea-themed dinner at your luxurious hotel, a converted tea factory.

Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya | Meals: BLD

Today, choose your own adventure with Design Your Day activities:

• Spot sambar deer, mammals, reptiles, as well as endemic monkeys and birds, and take in the breathtaking view from World’s End on a trek in Horton Plains National Park.
• Take a scenic train ride through the heart of tea country to the hill station of Ella, Considered one of the most beautiful railway journeys through the highlands of Sri Lanka.
• Ramble through the tea fields on a plantation tour led by a knowledgeable guide to gain an in-depth understanding of how tea is grown, plucked and the processed.

Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya | Meals: BD

Journey south to the colonial seaside city of Galle arriving in time to savour the sunset at the ramparts of the heritage listed Galle Fort. Dine in a local home for an evening of Sri Lankan family cuisine and warm hospitality.

Le Grand Galle | Meals: BLD

Join local archaeologist and heritage expert, Tharanga, on an absorbing walking tour of the Galle Fort. Built by the Dutch in 1663, the fort is the largest remaining European fortress in Asia.

Refuel on refreshments at an old Dutch house and meet the family who have lived there for generations. Seek out local arts and crafts, textiles, jewellery, homewares and Sri Lankan delicacies as you wander the cobbled streets. In the afternoon meet traditional mask makers and admire the skill of their carving before trying your hand at this age-old craft. A farewell dinner is planned this evening at your hotel.

Le Grand Galle | Meals: BD

Transfer to Colombo for your departure flight.

Meals: B

This journey contains some active elements.
Minimum age is 10 years.
First group event: welcome briefing at 9:00 a.m. on Day 2.
Last group event: farewell dinner at 7:30 p.m. on Day 13.
Departures are guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 guests.

Included with every Limited Edition Small Group Journey

• All accommodation as detailed with private facilities
• Meals as specified in itinerary, including welcome and farewell dinners
• Internal flights as mentioned in itinerary
• Services of English speaking A&K Resident Tour Director
• Airport welcome
• Porterage
• Group transportation by private air-conditioned vehicle
• Bottled water during transfers and touring
• Wine & beer during lunches and dinners (selected by Resident Tour Director)
• All entrance fees
• Planning, handling, operational and communication charges
• All tipping

Talk to one of our expert Journey Designers or your travel agent about booking this tour as a private journey for your own small group with family or friends. Or, if you would prefer to travel privately, find out more about creating the perfect bespoke tailor-made journey based on this itinerary.