Description
No matter how hardy the children may be, travelling can be exhausting, so after your direct flight from Heathrow, we suggest you spend your first night relaxing at the wonderful Wallawwa, an antique colonial manor house set only 20 minutes from the airport, designed to get your juices flowing for what Sri Lanka has in store for you. Strategically located close to the Dambulla, highway, the Wallawwa the is the perfect setting to help you relax after your flight and before your first journey up to the Cultural Triangle to following morning.
On your way to Ulagalla, we suggest you stop at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage where bathing time in the river, although a strong tourist attraction, is certainly worth a close encounter for the children.
You’ll then move on to Tirrapane and your home at Ulagalla for the next three nights. This fabulous new property comprises 25 chalets, each with their own pool and has an abundance of activities on offer, including horse riding, archery, kayak and canoe rides and many more.
Outside the property the Cultural Triangle is home to the World Heritage cultural sites of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, the Ancient Cities of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla and the Sacred City of Kandy. We suggest you take a cycle tour of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and climb the Sigirya Rock Fortress and up to the Dambulla Cave Temples, early in the morning to avoid the midday heat. Children will also adore the opportunity to ride an elephant at Habarana.
Moving on, you will head south to the beautiful tea country. On your way it’s definitely worth a stop at some local spice gardens and the fabulous city of Kandy where the Temple of the Tooth and Botanical Gardens are a feast for the senses. If you travel in August you may also be lucky enough to witness the Festival of the Tooth or ’Perahera’, a Buddhist festival consisting of cultural dances and fantastically decorated elephants adorned with lavish garments.
In the tea country you will stay at the faultless Ceylon Tea Trails, charmingly restored tea estate managers bungalows, set within the green hills dotted with the sparkling colours of the tea pickers sari’s. While a beautiful place to relax, here you also have the opportunity to hike and bike through the glorious tea plantations between the bungalows and visit local the factories to learn about the tea making process from start to finish. Kayaking and rafting are also available on request and you can even use this as a great base from which to climb the sacred slopes of Adam’s Peak.
Upon leaving the hills you’ll head to the National Park of Ude Walawe where you will be hosted by Kulu Safari’s in large luxury tents, complete with queen size beds, hot water, showers and loos. Ude Walawe is famous for its large herds of elephants, Painted Storks, Raptors, spotted deer, barking deer and wild buffalo and even the elusive leopard.
Finally you’ll end your tour just outside Galle at the contemporary Fortress, a hotel forging historic Dutch and Portuguese styles with the motifs of Sri Lanka. The resort itself features a freeflow swimming pool, wine cellar and even the Little Adventurers Zone, designed especially for children. From the hotel you can explore the fascinating city of Galle and a Turtle Hatchery where you can see several species of turtles. If you’re itching to get into the water, all myriad of watersports are on offer at Mirissa, a quiet fishing village lo
Guide price
£10,770 Per family
£10,770 For a family of four for 17 nights, based on 4 people sharing including international flights and private transfers.
Itinerary
Location and directions
Sri Lanka
