Sri Lankan Ceylon Tour
- Colombo to
- Nuwara Eliya
- 6 days
- From $2099
Our Ceylon tour, named after a historic name for Sri Lanka explores the beautiful tea country areas of Sri Lanka and the stunning Horton Plains National Park. We trace the British origins of tea plantations in Sri Lanka from Kandy through to Nuwara Eliya. On our short tours of Sri Lanka allow you to explore each of the different landscapes, cultures, history and wildlife of this beautiful island nation in more detail. Our short tours can be taken individually or joined together to give you the experience you desire. These experiences depart any day and include the exclusive use of a guide who will ensure you and your travel companions receive an experience that is all about you.
We include multiple-night stays in destinations to ensure you aren’t rushed off your feet. This allows you to add your own adventures to the already very generous inclusions list. To allow you to tailor the holiday to your level of comfort, we offer a choice of hotels in each destination from luxury resorts to boutique hotels. Our itinerary is a starting point, which we will customise just for you during the booking process. As our short tours are just for you, if you book, we will deliver with guaranteed departures. Our guarantee means you can book your holiday in the confidence it will go ahead.
Experiences
This Ceylon tour of Sri Lanka’s tea country includes such a great variety of experiences that it is bound to appeal to people with a wide range of interests. It’s for anyone who loves learning about the origins of tea in Sri Lanka and those who want to experience the seemingly endless rolling hills of stunning tea plantations.
Many of the experiences are outlined in the day-to-day program below, with further details on separate pages for each tour day. For a quick overview, here is a snapshot of what is included in the program:
- Visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Entry and guided tour of the major sacred sites at the Temple of the Tooth Relic.
- Tea museum tour experience, including a cup of local tea.
- Entry to the Botanical Gardens outside Kandy.
- Rail journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.
- Tea factory tour, tasting and opportunity to pick your own tea leaves.
- High Tea experience with a Sri Lankan twist.
- Horton Plains National Park admission fees.
- Visit to Lipton’s Seat
- Rail journey from Haputale to Nuwara Eliya.
Sri Lanka Ceylon Tea Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Journey to Kandy
Our first morning starts with a journey from the beachside resorts of Negombo or Colombo to the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka and the start of our Ceylon experience in Kandy. On our journey we visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, a home where orphaned elephants and raised to health. We arrive in Kandy in the afternoon and have time to explore the last Kingdom at your leisure.
Hotel: Cinnamon Citadel or The Kandy House
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Kandy – the last kingdom of Sri Lanka
As Sri Lanka’s last kingdom, Kandy resisted both the Portuguese and Dutch before falling to the British empire in 1815. The capital of each kingdom before Kandy protected the Buddha’s tooth relic within the palace complex. As the last kingdom, Kandy remains home to the Buddha tooth relic, a most precious and sacred site in Sri Lanka. We explore the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy’s most visited site, during morning offerings before the crowds become too intense.
The afternoon and evening are open to guests to discover some of the British contribution to the region or the remains of the Kingdom of Kandy. Colonial experiences include visiting a tea museum and having lunch in the nearby botanical gardens. Historical experiences include exploring the rainforest above Kandy and viewing the ancient town from the hills above. Whatever your adventure, your guide will help you to get the most out of your visit to Kandy.
Detailed Itinerary: Kandy, Sri Lanka’s Last Kingdom
Hotel: Cinnamon Citadel or The Kandy House
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 3: Tea Country Train Journey
Train travel in Sri Lanka is one of the best ways to get off road and see parts of the countryside that are inaccessible by car. Our Sri Lanka train journey takes place on one of the most scenic sections of railroad in Asia: the line between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. Our day starts on the outskirts of Kandy, from where we climb 1,300m into the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country. Although we travel less than 100km, the four-hour journey takes in some breathtaking scenery that can only be seen from the rails. Riding in second class, we feel the temperature drop with fresh burst of air flowing freely through open windows. The train weaves its way along hillsides covered in tea plantations towards Sri Lanka’s high tea country. On arrival in Nuwra Eliya, guests have the afternoon to explore the small colonial town or organise their own adventure in what we think is one of the most beautiful parts of Sri Lanka.
Detailed Itinerary: Sri Lanka Railway to the Sky
Hotel: Jetwing St. Andrews or Heritance Tea Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Ceylon Tea
We slow the pace down and relax in what was once the destination for the colonial empire’s Ceylon tea trails. The name Ceylon was given to Sri Lanka while the British controlled the country, which is why Sri Lankan tea is often called Ceylon tea. We find out the British influence remains strong to this day as we explore one of the finest tea plantations Sri Lanka has to offer in Nuwara Eliya. During the day, we visit Lovers Leap, explore the Pedro tea estate and enjoy a high tea. To experience the life of a local, there is an opportunity to pick your own tea leaves and discover the effort that goes into making the perfect cup of tea.
Detailed Itinerary: Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Tea Trail
Hotel: Jetwing St. Andrews or Heritance Tea Factory
Meals: Breakfast, High Tea, Dinner.[/tg_accordion]
Day 5: Journey to Worlds End
Horton Plains National Park is the destination of today’s trip for our early morning hike to World’s End. Once the hunting grounds for the elite, these plains are now a national park perched over 2,100m above sea level. Hiking to World’s End takes us across grassland plateau and through jungle to the breathtaking precipice dropping 1,200m to the valley below. The view extends to tiny towns surrounded by tea plantations. On clear days, you can see Sri Lanka’s south coast from here. Heading back, we pause at the beautiful Bakers Falls before descending to the town of Haputale and once again riding the railway back to Nuwara Eliya. If you feel like relaxing, grab a book and watch the day go by in this relaxing little village.
Detailed Itinerary: Horton Plains National Park Worlds End
Hotel: Jetwing St. Andrews or Heritance Tea Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Tour Concludes
Although the tour program of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle is complete, your trip doesn’t need to end just yet. For those wishing to explore Nuwara Eliya or the surrounding high country further, we can arrange add-on accommodation. Return transport to Colombo is provided by private car if required. For those who wish to experience the Sri Lankan railways again we can also add a rail transfer to Colombo.
Meals: Breakfast.
Inclusions
What’s included and not included in this tour of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon country is pretty clear, we think. We like to keep things simple, so you won’t find page after page of terms and conditions (although we are required to have some to protect both you and us).
For this program, we include 5 nights’ accommodation at the hotels chosen by the guests at each destination. If we say we include an activity in the itinerary above, then we include it. Optional activities or what we suggest you could do in your free time are just that – optional and not included – although we have tried to include as much as possible so you get the best experience possible.
We do not include airfares to and from Sri Lanka. If you require airfares, please contact us and one of our partners will be happy to assist you.
Book your Travel Consultation
ONLINE APPOINTMENTS
Every holiday starts with an idea or a dream. Start the process of turning that idea into a plan today by making booking for an online travel consultation. You’ll get a 30min Zoom call to start planning your next holiday. No need to go anywhere to get the best travel advice at home. We’ll discuss where you want to go, what you want to do, what kind of bed you’d prefer to sleep in and everything you want to get out of your next holiday. After the consultation I’ll do the research to pull your holiday together and then you’ll receive a quote for your holiday.
INITIAL CONSULTATION FREE UNTIL UNTIL 30 NOVEMBER 2022 (NORMALLY $59)
Contact us for more information
FAST RESPONSE FOR QUERIES OR BOOKINGS
Have a question about one of our tours? Want to start the process of customising the trip to suit your travel needs? Sounds like it is time to reach out to us for some support. Fill in the contact form and we’ll be in touch with you soon to start working on your perfect holiday.
If you want to chat about our tours or your holiday, book a consultation using the calendar above. For all other enquiries, feel free to give us a call on:
