The teardrop shaped island in the Indian Ocean is a truly magical place. The legacy of its position on the sea route to the East is evident for all to see; from the Moslem fishing villages which saw the passing of early Arab traders, to the several common surnames which tell of Portuguese occupation and the neat hill villages left by the British. This cultural crossroads has much more besides - all crammed into an area less than one third the size of Britain. There are ruined cities and rock-top forts to explore, strangely colourful birds, encounters with elephants and other wildlife and some of the world’s best beaches. Sri Lanka has something for everyone and never fails to enchant visitors.

Anyone in good health should be able to take part in this busy itinerary. Most days are filled with a variety of sightseeing activities, but there is free time built into the programme. The heat and humidity can be tiring and the limitations of the road network means there will be some long journeys. Please note that waves and undercurrents can be strong and special care should be taken when bathing in the sea: children should be supervised by an adult at all times. We use 2/3 star properties in Sri Lanka. These are generally standard, no-frills hotels with adequate amenities, although some will have added facilities such as air conditioning, a swimming pool, bar or restaurant. Minimum age: 7 years.

The contrast in temperature between the hot and often humid lowlands and the “tea country” around Bandarawela is quite marked. Don’t be tempted to leave your warm fleece or jumper behind!

SOME INTERESTING READING:
Your Child’s Health Abroad - Matthew Ellis & Jane Wilson-Howarth
Travel with Children – Maureen Wheeler
Running in the Family – Michael Ondaatje
Monkfish Moon - Romesh Gunesekera

SOME USEFUL PHRASES:
Ayubowan – Greetings
Sama venna – Excuse me
Karuna kara – Please
Es thu thee– Thank you
Mage nama Sam – My name is Sam

Alongside our Sri Lankan agent we employ local guides, drivers and of course the Group Leader. Money from our visit also reaches a wide range of people from local hoteliers to restaurateurs.

The Adventure Company donates £5 per person travelling to Sri Lanka to the Uda Walawe Elephant Transit Home, which is also supported by our charity partners, Born Free. You will have the opportunity to visit the centre on this trip to see the elephants at feeding time!

Below is a suggestion of what you might find useful to take on this trip. It is not an exhaustive packing list. If you need further advice, please call us or consult your nearest specialist outdoor clothing and equipment store.

Although western standards of dress are becoming more accepted, the Sinhalese in general remain very traditional in what they wear. Out of respect (even though you may see other travellers dressed otherwise) both men and women should dress conservatively - no sleeveless/halter-necked tops please. Whilst shorts are acceptable in tourist centres they should be modest and reach to just above the knee. Arms and legs (and, occasionally, heads for women) should be covered when in religious buildings.

• Lightweight cotton clothing – T-shirts and baggy trousers. Shorts are generally only acceptable whilst on the beach
• A couple of long-sleeved shirts to guard against sunburn
• Brightly coloured clothing is not appropriate in Uda Walawe NP as it is easily seen by the animals; wear muted tones in natural colours
• Waterproof jacket
• Warm mid-layer (fleece or wool)
• Lightweight trail boots / trainers with grip for walks at Kithulgala
• Sun-hat and swimsuit
• Trainers/sandals for relaxing

• Sunglasses, sunscreen, waterbottle and lipsalve
• Binoculars for wildlife viewing
• Personal First Aid kit and Insect repellent

For your comfort we recommend you travel as light as possible; many airlines impose a maximum weight limit of 20kg – we advise you to take 10kg as you will be on the move a good deal! For domestic flights using light aircraft the usual weight limit is 15 kg.
One main piece (a soft bag or rucksack, not a hard suitcase).
A daypack (25-30 litres), large enough to carry what you need for the day including camera, water, etc.

Rooming at hotels
Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put
into a twin room.

Family of three - Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room.
Please be aware that in some places triple rooms are in short supply.
This means that, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin
room with a mattress on the floor or a further bed squashed in. Where it
is impossible to provide a triple room, you will have to decide which of
your party takes the single room.

Family of four or more - Wherever possible we will put you in a quadruple room.
For larger families, we will provide twin/or quadruple rooms
as standard, with a triple room if there is an odd number.
Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close
together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t
guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we
sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You
need to come prepared for this.

Single Accommodation
There may be instances when you specifically want a single room.
Perhaps Granny needs one or parents of a family of three or five want to
ensure they get a bit of space! You only need to pay for this if you want
to ensure a single room.

After your flight, you make the short 20 minute transfer to your first night’s accommodation at Negombo. Here as elsewhere up and down the coast, a wide variety of fish are caught by local fishermen in the clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Coastal lagoons yield a rich harvest of prawn, crab and lobster and all are on the menu. Your hotel here is on the beach and makes an ideal location to watch the sun go down. Hotel - 1 night

NB: Although most Sri Lankan Airlines' flights arrive in the early afternoon, schedules sometimes dictate arrival in the very early hours. A hotel room and breakfast will be provided in these instances.

November - April: Leaving early in the morning, you’ll arrive at the dolphin watching base by 0730 hrs and be met by your local Dolphin Specialist who will guide you on board the cetacean watching vessels. We use nineteen foot boats powered by outboard engines. The boats have a seating capacity of six-eight persons depending on sea conditions. You’ll then take a two-three hour boat excursion to see Spinner Dolphins. If you are lucky you may have a school of over two hundred dolphins spinning and jumping out of the water to give you an official welcome to Sri Lanka! Several species of whales too have bees spotted in the area, though sightings are rare. There is almost no wind during the months of November through April and the surface of the sea is often calm enough to allow an amazing view into the azure depths beneath. It’s possible to peep over the side of the boat and see several layers of dolphins gliding along below.

Please note: dolphin watching is subject to prevailing weather and sea conditions at the time.

May - October: You'll take a tour of the bustling town of Negombo and it's fantastic fish market. Used by the Portuguese, Dutch and British as the main export harbour for cinnamon, its colonial past is still evident today.

Leaving Negombo behind you head inland to Dambulla. The rest of the day is left free for you to relax or explore at will. Why not take an optional cycle around a local lake, or perhaps relax by the pool. Hotel - 2 nights (swimming pool) (B)

Driving the short distance from Dambulla this morning, you’ll have the opportunity to climb to the summit of Sigiriya’s famous Lion Rock using a series of steps and walkways which zig-zag their way up the seemingly impenetrable rock cliffs. The site was occupied long before the citadel was built at the end of the 5th century, and it later became a monastery before falling into disrepair. From the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens, you’ll ascend 200m, passing an overhanging rock under which superb portraits of native maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the rock wall. Crowning the flat-topped summit of the rock are the extensive remains of King Kasyapa’s summer palace from where there are breathtaking views.

This afternoon, you mount elephants for an exciting elephant-back ride! Sitting in a howdah – an open basket fitted with safety rails and padded cushions - you roll gently from side to side as your elephants ramble lazily through the bush. In the late afternoon you will return to your accommodation. (B)

Very early this morning you make the one and a half hours drive (complete with packed breakfast) to Parakrama Lake. You will drive via Minneriya National Park arriving at dawn, a very mystical way to start the day as the plains are covered in mist! Parakrama Lake is known as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest man-made lakes and you can watch the changing hues as the light comes up. It’s a fun, friendly experience as you wait alongside the wives and young children of fisherman, who’ve gone out to retrieve their fishing nets laid out the night before - a great way to get to know the locals!

After the fishermen have sorted their catch, it’s time to head out on a catamaran across the lake; a real adventure! You may even be able to spot white bellied fish eagles, brahmini kites, ibis, cormorants and other native birds as you travel. In the middle of the lake is a small island, a rocky outcrop that provides great 360° views of the lake and forests beyond.

NB – The catamaran ride is subject to water levels and not usually available from June to September.

Bidding the fishermen and their families’ farewell, you continue to Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa was the capital from the 10th – 12th centuries, following the decline of Anuradhapura. Here you can explore many monuments which pay great testimony to the city’s important role in Sri Lanka’s history, such as the Royal Palace complex and the Gal Vihare complex, with four impressive Buddha images cut from a single slab of granite. In the late afternoon you will transfer to your accommodation in Polonnaruwa. Hotel - 1 night (Swimming pool) (B)

This morning you visit Dambulla, 30 minutes or so away, to learn its fascinating history. The Sinhalese King, Valagam Bahu, took refuge here when he was ousted from his capital. He transformed the five caves of this granite outcrop into a rock temple, decorated by statues of Buddha and frescoes, some of which are over 2000 years old. The steep 150m ascent to the top of the rock rewards you with more magnificent views. You then travel southward along the main trunk road to Sri Lanka’s second city, Kandy, a journey of around two hours. You'll pass through a fertile spice-growing area and plantations where coffee, cacao and rubber are cultivated.

This evening you’ll visit the Dalada Maligawa, the famous Temple of the Tooth. This is the major shrine where pilgrims have revered Buddha’s tooth since the 16th century; its gilded roof seems to act as a beacon to visitors throughout the day and into the evening. Your accommodation for the next three nights will be in Kandy. Hotel - 3 nights (Swimming pool) (B)

The royal city of Kandy is pleasantly set on the edge of a lake surrounded by hills. It was once the capital of a kingdom, and managed to resist European dominance for hundreds of years - long after the coastal areas surrendered.

During your time in Kandy you will visit the magnificent Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, with their immense fig tree and exquisite orchid collection. You will also take in the sights of Kandy including a visit to the bazaar area and a visit to the citadel in time for sunset over the lake.

The rest of your time here is free to explore. You may wish to take a nature walk at Udawattakele Sanctuary, close to Kandy, which offers the chance to see flowers, birds and monkeys amid 160 acres of tropical rainforest. Kandy is perfect for those who enjoy walking - the town has many hidden corners to explore and views from walks around the lake are spectacular. You will return to your hotel in Kandy for accommodation. (Bx2)

Leaving Kandy you take a bus journey through the green ranks of tea bushes which cover the higher hillsides on your way to Kitulgala. Your journey takes around two and a half hours and you travel accompanied by exceptional all-round scenic views of the tea plantations as you head further into the hill country. You continue your drive through this beautiful landscape, descending to Kitulgala, to arrive around lunchtime.

Located amidst thick forest on Sri Lanka’s second-longest river, the Kelani, Kitulgala is rapidly becoming something of an adventure centre and is a great place for a variety of activities. The river, setting for the epic film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ is an ideal location for swimming and other water-based activities. The surrounding forests with their wide variety of flora and fauna offer you a variety of spectacular walks, with some stunning views over the valley. This afternoon you will enjoy a dugout canoe ride across the Kelani River and a jungle walk in the forest reserve, where you may be able to spot various endemic bird species. Tonight you will stay in rustic accommodation in Kitulgala. Resthouse - 1 night (B)

After a free morning, with the chance to enjoy white water rafting on the Kelani River (optional) you set off through the hills once again, this time bound for Bandarawela. Along the way you’ll see tea pickers deftly plucking the tips of the plants and throwing them into the baskets carried on their backs. Today's journey will end at Bandarawela, another hill town once popular with British plantation managers. Today the twisting roads of the hill country make for one of the trip’s longest road journeys (5 – 5½ hours drive). There’s plenty of interest along the way however, including a stop at some waterfalls, and the added benefit of a shorter journey tomorrow. You can relax in the evening with an overnight’s stay in Bandarawela. Hotel - 1 night (B)

After a short walk around Bandarawella and the vegetable gardens that surround it, you set off on your way down out of the mountains towards your campsite, nestled in a clearing cut into the side of a tea mountain which overlooks a beautiful valley.

This fantastic hillside location is a climatically transitional area, linking both the dry and wet zones and the hill and low country at an altitude of less than 1500m. As a result, the vegetation consists of moist semi-evergreen forests, tropical savanna forests, dry patana grasslands and montane temperate forests, making it one of the richest biodiversity spots in Sri Lanka- a perfect location for nature lovers.

The camp site provided an ideal opportunity to experience nomadic style camping where your camp will be set up almost exclusively for Adventure Company groups, with all services being provided by our camp crew. The tents are very spacious, clean and modern and guests will drift to sleep listening to nature’s very own orchestra!

You’ll have the afternoon free for leisure activities before taking an early evening visit to the tea factory where you’ll see every step of the tea making process, from bush to cup! Campsite - 1 night (paddling opportunity in nearby stream) (BLD)

This afternoon you'll continue south where you'll visit the Dyaluma Falls, one of Sri Lanka's most spectacular waterfalls, before venturing into Uda Walawe National Park, for a jeep safari. The 308km sq park has an amazing array of animal and birdlife; herds of wild elephant are more numerous here than anywhere else in Sri Lanka. If you are really lucky you may also catch glimpses of macaque and larger monkeys, leopard, spotted deer and crocodile. This is a real safari experience; kids will love the thrill of coming across a herd of wild elephants; it’s nothing like a zoo or safari park!

You will visit the nearby Elephant Transit Home. Run by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation and set up in 1995, it provides shelter for 30 orphaned or abandoned baby elephants, releasing them to the wild when they are strong enough to survive in their natural habitat. You will visit the Elephant Transit Home at feeding time and see the elephants from a viewing deck approximately 10m away; a great chance to learn more about Sri Lanka’s national animal.

This afternoon you continue your journey south to reach the coast at Nonagama. Here you’ll take a short drive along the coast road west and soon arrive at the small fishing village of Tangalle. You can relax with the sunset overnight in Tangalle. Hotel - 3 nights (B)

Sri Lanka is justifiably famous for its exquisite beaches, washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. At Tangalle you have plenty of time to unwind on the white sandy beach listening to the lapping of the waves after the previous day’s travelling. With a history stretching back through the Dutch colonial period, laid back Tangalle is the perfect place to relax. Your time is your own here and you can either relax on the palm-fringed beach, or explore further afield. You return to your beach resort for accommodation. (Bx2)

Please note that the seas along the south and west coast of Sri Lanka can be rough, with undertows. Whilst on the beach children should always be supervised by an adult.

After your time on the beach it's time to head north back to Negombo. As you head out along the coast you reach the town of Galle. Here you can walk the walls of the famous Dutch fort or explore the maze of backstreets and market stalls. En route you can pay a visit to the turtle hatchery at Kosgoda. Turtles are kept here for the first few days of their lives before being released into the sea and the project does much to help safeguard the welfare of these endangered animals. The remainder of your journey to Colombo is by train. This is an ideal way to travel along the coast as the leisurely pace of the train provides outstanding views of the surrounding area. On arrival at Columbo you'll transfer by minibus to Negombo. Before you return home your Group Leader will probably arrange a final ‘last supper’ where you can reflect on the kaleidoscope of wonderful things you have seen. Hotel– 1 night (Swimming pool) (B)

The trip ends for Land Only clients at the hotel whilst those on group flights are transferred to the airport for the flight back home. (B)