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| An Elephant in a Tea Cup |
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Our Elephant in a Tea Cup itinerary combines the romance and nostalgia of Sri Lanka's tea plantations with a few days in one of Sri Lanka's bountiful national parks.
NOTE: This trip is done perfectly in combination with short stays at the Maldives or Dubai |
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| Day 1 Colombo Airport - Horathapola |
| We will meet you at Colombo airport and transfer you to Horathapola Estate, an hour’s drive north of the airport. Unwind and relax in their beautiful gardens and enjoy what many have described as Sri Lanka’s best rice and curry dinner! |
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| Accommodation; Horathapola Estate |
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Built in the early 1920ies by the then British owner of the property, this grand planters mansion has maintained its charm of a bygone era. Surrounded by a large lawn and tall flowering trees, it is hidden from the still functioning estate belonging to the Fernando family since the 1940ies, where coconut, rice, pineapple and other fruits, as well as spices and hardwood trees are cultivated.
The bungalow has 3 large suites and one two-bedroom family suite. All rooms in the main house are furnished with antique four-poster beds and furniture of the epoch, while in the dependence, a slightly more modern room has been added with an in-built cement bed with ebony lining. The bathrooms are splendidly redone and very spacious. Each of the rooms has a private veranda or balcony. |
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Room type: Deluxe Room
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
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| Days 2, 3 & 4 Horathapola – Tea Country |
| Your next stop is the hill country, also known as the tea country. The trip from Horathapola to the tea country is a scenic drive into the heart of the country. The journey takes approximately 4 hours. On route we stop for a snack at the site of the filming of the legendary “Bridge Over The River Kwai”. Tea Trails consists of 4 classic colonial bungalows built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj and we believe it is one of the most exquisite experiences to be had in Sri Lanka, with butler service and fine cuisine. |
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| Accommodation; Tea Trails |
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In central Sri Lanka lies the Bogawantalawa Valley, known as the Golden Valley of Tea and home to old Ceylon, replete with rolling green hills, plantation bungalows, high tea and exquisite service. Here in solitude lies Ceylon Tea Trails, 4 luxurious colonial bungalows, built over 100 years ago for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj and sympathetically restored by the owners of Dilmah Tea. Experience life on a working tea estate, unchanged for over a hundred years. Of course we now provide the little luxuries denied to the planters of yore.
Unwind in the beautiful gardens, visit a tea factory for gentle education in the art of making the world’s finest tea, or spend an adventure filled day trekking, biking or white water rafting. |
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Room type: Garden Suite
Meals: Full Board |
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| Day 5 & 6 Tea Country To Uda Walawe Natioanl Park |
| After breakfast we travel out of the hills and head south to Uda Walawe, one of the island's most popular wildlife sanctuaries, which is mainly open parkland traversed by streams and is best known for its herds of wild elephant. Go for a game drive in the morning before travelling onto Yala, another national park in the southeast corner of the island. |
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| Uda Walawe National Park – Kulu Safaris |
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| Kulu Safaris present mobile Safaris that combine professional naturalists, luxurious facilities and exclusive surroundings deep inside the National Park. Photograph wild elephants and an abundance of wildlife. Return to your camp for a swim, watch the wildlife at sunset ambling along the water’s edge. Uda Walawe National Park is best known for its large and very visible herds of elephants, often visible even at mid day. The resident population of elephants is in excess of 350. |
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Room type: Tented Camp
Meals: Full Board |
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| Day 7 Uda Walawe National Park To Colombo |
| After a lazy breakfast we travel west to Colombo. |
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| Colombo |
A final stop in Colombo will not disappoint. A glimpse beneath the chaotic façade of this metropolis on the banks of the Indian Ocean will reveal a treasure of delights and surprises to the inquisitive visitor. We always encourage our guest to experience Colombo for at least a day or two. Colombo is not a city where crowds of tourist are shoved from one monument to the next. It is not a city of shopping malls or gigantic plasma screens pumping out advertisements night and day. It is a city with charming little hideaways waiting to be discovered. We have carefully handpicked the best shops and galleries, and the best restaurants. Sri Lanka In Style offers a personalized shopping tour of Colombo for those interested. |
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| Accommodation: Park Street Hotel |
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| This beautifully restored 250-year-old colonial bungalow was once the abode of Colombo entrepreneur Sheikh Salehbhoy Moosajee and his second wife Begum Zarina, a flamboyant artist, fashion and social icon of the time. It was the third of lifestyle guru Taru's impeccably stylish properties to open, and her graceful renovation has carefully retained the elegant colonial ambience of this ancestral home whilst bringing it firmly into the 21st century. Ornate chandeliers, Dutch-period furniture and magnificent antiques provide plenty of interest while as a personal touch, Begum Zarina's portraits and paintings liberally adorn the crisp white walls. Located on a quiet leafy side street The Park Street is a solace in a busy city and its high level of personalised service makes it incomparable with the city's large five star properties. |
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Room type: Luxury Suite
Meals: Breakfast |
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| Day 8 Colombo – Colombo Airport |
| Depart in good time for your flight back home. The journey to the airport will take approximately 1 hours although it can take 1.5 hours during peak traffic hours. |
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| What's included : |
* Air-conditioned car and English-speaking driver for tour and transfers
* First-class train tickets from Kandy to Hatton
* Entrance fees: Entrance Fees to Uda Walawe National Park.
* Airport meet and greet
* 1 night at Horathapola on half board
* 3 nights at Tea Trails on full board
* 2 nights at Uda Walawe National Park
* 1 night at the Park Street Hotel on bed and breakfast
* Local taxes |
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| What's not included : |
* Scheduled international & domestic flights
* Comprehensive travel insurance
* Optional tours & activities
* Entry fees where applicable
* Gratuities and expenses of a personal nature |
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