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| Ancient Cities and Colonial Splendor |
| (12 Nights / 13 Days) |
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| Ancient Cities and Colonial Splendor takes you on an fascinating journey across the country from north to south and past to present. The journey begins with the exploration of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities and UNESCO world heritage archeological sites. We travel inland to experience the tradition and pageant of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s mediaeval capital and onto the hills and the southern coast to experience the romance of bygone colonial days. We end in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s modern yet unsophisticated capital. |
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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 – Cultural Triangle |
| Sri Lanka's famous cultural triangle offers plenty to see and do over the next three days. The trip from Horathapola estate takes approximately 3 hours. |
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| The Cultural Triangle |
We will arrange a visit to the 5th century rock fortress of Sigiriya, also known as the "Lion Rock". The best time to visit is 7.30 AM. If you are lucky you might have the site all to yourself. We will also visit other sites of important historical and cultural significance including either Anuradnapura or Pollonaruwa, the first and second capital of the ancient Singhalese civilization.
Anuradnapura was the first royal capital flourished for 1300 years. This sacred city is thought to have been established around a cutting from the 'tree of enlightenment', the Buddha's fig tree, brought there in the 3rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta, the founder of an order of Buddhist nuns. Hidden away in dense jungle for many years, the splendid site spans over several miles with its palaces, monasteries and monuments.
Polonnaruwa became Sri Lanka’s capital in 10th century AC at a time when Sri Lanka achieved its triumph as a civilizations with an ingenious network of hydraulic engineering -- the construction of water tanks and irrigation canals. In 1411, an invasion from Southern India forced the Sinhalese to abandon the city. Pollonaruwa is well maintained and makes for a great half day visit. |
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| Accommodation: The Kandalama |
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Conceptualised by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s world renowned architect, the Kandalama Hotel is not a building to look at, but a building to look from, described by one as a giant belvedere.
Built in a minimalist and contemporary style, the hotel sits on a rocky outcrop on the edge of an ancient reservoir and enjoys sweeping views of the surrounding countryside including two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the 1st Century BC Dambulla rock temple the 5th Century AD Sigiriya Rock Temple. The hotel itself is surrounded by beautiful natural landscaped gardens and is a heaven for over 160 species of migratory birds.
The hotel is a good base from which to explore Sri Lankas Cultural Triangle. Sigiriya Rock, visible in the distance from the hotel, is a short 30 minute drive. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and the Minneriya wildlife sanctuary are approximately one and a half hours drive to the north. A combined visit to Minneriya and Pollonaruwa make for a great day out. Anuradhapura deserves a entire day on its own. |
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Room type: Luxury Suite
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner |
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| Days 5 & 6 Cultural Triangle - Kandy |
| The journey from Horathapola to Sri Lanka's hill capital - the small lakeside city of Kandy will occupy most of the day. On route we will visit a spice garden. The following day a city tour includes the fabulous Botanical gardens and the Temple of the Tooth, in which a sacred relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined. Another option is to see Kandy’s sites on the first day in Kandy and on the second day head over to Victoria Reservoir for a round of Golf and lunch, colonial style, at the club house overlooking the Victoria Reservoir. |
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| Kandy |
| Kandy is known for its mild climate, colonial architecture, its spectacular festival - The Kandy Perahera which takes place in August. The Perahera is a procession of the sacred Buddha relic through the streets of Kandy, accompanied by dancers, musicians, entertainers and elephants. Kandy is also well known for being home to Sri Lanka's holiest temple, the Temple of the Tooth. Victoria Reservoir, a short half hour ride from Kandy is home to Sri Lanka’s best golf course, the Victoria Golf Club, regarded by many as one of the most scenic golf courses in Asia. |
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| Accommodation: The Kandy House, Kandy |
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| The ancestral home of one of Kandy's most influential aristocratic families, Ratwatte Walauwa was built by Chief Minister Ratwatte Adigar in 1804. Relive some of the regions traditional pageant and custom in this beautifully restored manor house which retains the atmosphere of a private country home while its colonial influence, providing seclusion and serenity in its countryside setting only a short distance from Kandy. Dine in style in the original dining-room surrounded by ancestral portraits or less formally on the verandah overlooking the Kandyan hills. |
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Room type: Luxury Suite
Meals: Breakfast |
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| Days 7 & 8 Kandy – Tea Country |
| Your next stop is the hill country, also known as the tea country. The train ride from Kandy to the heart of Sri Lanka’s Tea Country is one of the most scenic train rides in Asia. There is an observation carriage at the end of the train with large windows to enjoy the views. There are two trains daily and the travel time is approximately 2.5 hours. The train stops in Hatton where your driver will await at the station to drive you to the Tea Trails bungalow of your choice. Tea Trails consists of 4 classic colonial bungalows built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj, one of the most exquisite hotels in Sri Lanka, with private butler service and the finest 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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| Days 9, 10 & 11 Tea Country to Galle |
| After breakfast, perhaps a plateful of steaming string hoppers with potato and coconut milk curry, we travel along the south coast towards Galle. |
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| Galle |
Old Galle is a UNESCO world heritage site; a unique example of a preserved 17th C colonial Fortress. The Galle Fort itself is still a living monument with a bustling community within the great ramparts, massive bastions, pepper pot towers, while narrow streets display its Dutch heritage with beckoning pillared verandas and fretwork facades. Walking around is best so you can peep through frangipani filled courtyards at houses, galleries or shops selling antiques, spices, pictures, nouveau-boule and hand-woven sarongs. Boutique hotels incongruously cheek by jowl with postage-stamp size cafes, so you are never far from a perfect sun-downer. Pondicherri meets Cadaques! |
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| Accommodation: Amangalla, Galle |
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| Even though this historic hotel in the heart of Galle Fort has had a complete refit since becoming an Aman resort, it remains true to its magnificent past when it comfortably and popularly accommodated 140 years of guests in its time as the famous New Oriental Hotel. Many of the expansive Burmese teak floorboards have seen the tread of over 300 years of history while much of the building including the beautiful facade, verandah and Zaal (Great Hall) as well as a huge amount of original antique furniture have been carefully, painstakingly and cleverly restored. The result is a unforgettably classic colonial hotel that offers guests every contemporary luxury such as spacious bedrooms, modern bathrooms, a beautiful swimming pool and ‘The Baths' - a stunning spa complete with luxury ayurveda centre and marble-walled candlelit hydrotherapy room – without detracting from the ambience of its magnificent past. |
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Room type: Deluxe Room
Meals: Breakfast |
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| | Day 12 |
| After a lazy breakfast we travel north up the west coast 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: All Sites in the Cultural Triangle, Temple of the Tooth, Cultural Show in Kandy
* Airport meet and greet
* 1 night at Horathapola on half board
* 3 nights at Kandalama on bed and breakfast
* 2 nights at The Kandy House on bed and breakfast.
* 2 nights at Tea Trails on full board
* 3 nights at the Amangalla on bed and breakfast
* 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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| Contact us |
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| Guest Comments... |
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"Many thanks for organising a truly brilliant and memorable holiday. Your service was really superb from beginning to end. ."
"We did not expect the very high standard of service that you personally and your company provided. "
"We have you to thank for such a seamless and wonderful experience.
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"Sri Lanka In Style, thank you for all the pampering and attention to detail, it really was a fantastic experience."
"Sri Lanka exceeded all our expectations. We loved everything about the trip. We want to go back and experience more." |
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