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| Wilderness As Necessity |
| (7 Nights / 8 Days) |
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The philosophy behind this one week holiday is that going into wilderness is going home and that nature is a necessity. The journey is designed to experience the wild and pristine jungles and beaches of the deep south of Sri Lanka and stimulate and reconnect you to yourself and the environment. Your trip is anchored at an elegant hideaway on a secluded beach – the Kadju House – the private retreat of the ecologist Vikrom Mathur. The experiences into the wilderness areas have been personally designed by Vikrom and Saman, a naturalist from the local village in partnership with Sri Lanka in Style.
Peacocks leave wet foot prints on the floor of the Kadju (Cashew) House pavilion and parrots, fishing eagles, monkeys, mongooses and monitor lizards frequent the grove. The house is also ideally situated for day trips to six remarkable nature reserves where wildlife can be encountered in its natural habitat. These are: Yalla National Park – with the highest leopard density in the world; Uda Walawe park with elephant herds of up to 100 animals (with as many as 20 calves); the beaches of Rekewa, nesting ground for five species of marine turtles; the deep seas off the coast from Mirrisa frequented by blue whales, sperm whales and long-snouted spinner dolphins; Bundala wetlands where flamingos flock during the winter months, and the Kalametiya lagoon home to many species of waders. |
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| Day 1 Colombo Airport - Tangalle |
We will meet you at Colombo airport and transfer you to the Kadju House. The Kadju House is located in Tangalle about 190 km from Colombo. During the day, the drive from Colombo takes approximately 5 hours via the southern coastal road. But the route, along alluring beaches and through bustling villages, is very picturesque. The journey time can be reduced by at least an hour in the early mornings or late evenings. There are interesting spots and diversions along the way. We particularly recommend a stop in Galle for a stroll through the Dutch Ancient Fort and a lunch. (depending on the hour of arrival at the airport).
A helicopter flight from the international airport to Tangalle is 1¼ hours can also be arranged for upon request. |
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| Accommodation; Kadju House |
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| Kadju House is serene, relaxed and intimate. Overlooking a pristine crescent-shaped beach, the house offers four en-suite bedrooms, an Ayurvedic spa and an infinity pool with sweeping sea views. The design blends a simple tropical aesthetic with modern luxury. The four full-time staff includes a gourmet chef. The house is located in a cashew grove just outside the fishing village of Tangalle. Only a handful of private homes have direct access to the picture-perfect Seenimodera beach, with its soft white sand and swaying palms. The warm, clear waters of the Indian Ocean are ideal for body-boarding and swimming all year round. Fishing boats land in the morning and fresh fish can be bought directly from the boats. |
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| Day 2 visit to the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary |
After a late breakfast and a swim in the pool, we recommend you to start your day by exploring the surroundings of the house and Tangalle. The breathtaking views of the ocean, a walk or swim at the pristine beach or spotting the peacocks, monkeys and parrots from the veranda of the house while reading some interesting literature about the island, its people and nature.
The chef can give you some recommendations for lunch and it might be a nice occasion on your first day at the Kadju House to try some of the local Sri Lankan dishes.
A late afternoon trip to the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary which is about 30 minutes away can be arranged. This sanctuary is a diverse area of wetland with brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps, open grassy areas and pockets of scrub jungle. It is an important site for migrant waders and provides an important refuge for the smaller mammals of Sri Lanka. A vast array of wetland birds can be seen here. Sought after species include Slaty-breasted Crake, Watercock and Black Bittern. During the winter months Glossy Ibis may be present among the thousands of waders.
The Kalametiya lagoon is also perfect for punting around in flat bottom boats. We can arrange for sundown drinks on the nearby Taragala Rock.
Dinner options: Kadju House or Amanwella. |
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| Day 3 Leopards of Yala |
After an early breakfast we leave for The Rahuna National Park. Which is approximately a 2 hours drive depending on the traffic.
This is the most popular wildlife safari destination in Sri Lanka. Ruhuna National Park is divided into five blocks, of which Block 1 (Yala West) is open to the public. The park is home to the highest leopard density in the world, and sightings of elephants, crocodiles, wild buffalo, bear, and wild boar are also frequent. It has wide range of habitats from scrub jungle, lakes, brackish lagoons to riverine habitat. The flora is typical of dry monsoon forest vegetation – grassy plains interspersed with pockets of forest. The park is also one of the best places to see the rare Black-necked Stork. During winter months a day of birding in the park can yield up to a 100 species. At the end of the North-east Monsoon (February), the park is also very good for butterflies.
After visiting the park we recommend a refreshing bath in the river and a picnic lunch on the way back to the Kadju House where the rest of the day is spent idly on the beach or the house.
Dinner optional. |
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| Day 4 Aunty Minnerva Spice Secrets and Turtle watch at Rekewa |
Authentic Sri Lankan cooking is best experienced in the village style. Most Sri Lankan’s will recount stories of aunts in a village somewhere who cook indigenous red rice and an array of exotic curries using farm fresh vegetables, fragrant spices, wild herbs and fresh sea food. For a taste of authentic Sri Lankan cooking, we suggest you try aunty Minerva’s course on traditional village cuisine. Assisted by chef Anton she will share with you her family’s secret recipes! Learn how to make a delicious kadju curry (from cashew nuts harvested from Kadju’s own garden), a sweet and sour pineapple curry, spicy prawn curry, an array of vegetable dishes (curried or “devilled”) and some spicy, hot relishes called sambol. Sample your efforts for lunch!
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure and a swim in the pool or a spa treatment might work really well after spending so much of your energy in the morning…!
Dinner is optional.
After dinner we can take you on a short drive to Rekewa’s beaches. These are well known breeding grounds for Sri Lanka’s 5 species of indigenous marine turtles. The Turtle Conversation Program runs nightly turtle watch program where visitors can watch turtles lay and hatch their eggs. The peak turtle season runs from February to July. Turtles make their slow, deliberate journey up the beach. As soon as the eggs hatch, the baby turtles act on their instincts, scuttle for their lives, and swim out to sea. The vigil requires patience! The turtles take their time and the whole process of nesting can take up to 3 hours –it can involve ‘false crawls' or non-nesting emergence. There is also no certainty that they will emerge at all – but just sitting on an empty beach on an impossibly bright starry night with a mug of arrack and chocolate is well worth it. |
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| Day 5 Whale & Dolphins in Mirrisa |
After breakfast we will depart for Mirissa, about 1.5 hours drive from Tangalle for a unique a whales and dolphin watching trip.
The South of Dondra in Sri Lanka may turn out to be one of the best locations in the world for seeing blue whales. Furthermore, it may also be the best for seeing both blue whales and sperm whales together. Due to the calm seas, between December and April, there are is an outstanding window of opportunity for observing Blue Whales and Sperm Whales close to shore. Sightings peak in December and April due to a migration of the whales. The period between January and April is also a good time for dolphins. We have often been accompanied by pods of spinner dolphins on our trips. We are in close contact with the company that operates the dolphin and whale watching tours and can advise the best time for a 3 or 6 hour trip.
This will be a full day trip so lunch will be enjoyed in Mirissa while dinner can be served at the Kadju House or a restaurant of your choice in Tangalle. If whale watching is not an option due to the season then we can opt for Udawale National Park. |
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| Udawale National Park |
We recommend an early start for a game drive in the park at the crack of dawn – just as the jungle is waking up. The park is a paradise for elephant lovers (it boasts a population of 400 pachyderms, including six tuskers) and also offers excellent bird watching opportunities. It is primarily open park land traversed by the river Walawe Ganga and numerous streams -- which makes elephant sightings particularly accessible. Other animals frequently sighted include spotted deer, langur monkeys, jackal, wild boar and water buffalo.
A picnic breakfast will be waiting for you on the banks of a nearby stream.
If you are not up for an early rise then sundown is also a good time to visit the park. You can also float over Uda Walawe in a hot air balloon – a dramatic way to view the pachyderms from above.
Dinner optional. |
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| Day 6 Flamingos of Bundela |
After a lazy morning we depart for The Bundela park, with open scrub forests around sand dunes bordering the sea. With around 150 reported species, the coast offers great opportunities for bird watching, as well as the occasional sighting of elephants and crocodiles. The salt pans attract a vast number of migratory shore birds, making this 6,216 hectare park one of the most important wetlands in Sri Lanka. The best time to visit Bundala is between November and March when the winter migratory birds arrive. Migrants include Golden and Kentish Plover, Large and Lesser Sandplovers, Marsh and Curlew Sandpiper, Curlew, Flamingos and Greenshank. Rarities include the Broad-billed Sandpipper and Red-necked Phalarope. The park’s beaches are an important nesting site for turtles.
We can organize for a picnic lunch and we aim to be back at the Kadju House before sunset.
Dinner is optional. |
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| Day 7 Tangalle to Colombo |
| After breakfast we travel back to Colombo where we can make a stop on the way for a late lunch in Bentota at the River House arriving in Colombo in the afternoon. |
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| The River House, Bentota |
| This is a spectacular villa set on the banks of the Madhu Ganga river, a haven for naturalists and ultimate relaxation. |
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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
* Airport meet and greet
* 7 nights at Kadju House, Tangalle on bed and breakfast.
* 1 night at the Park Street Hotel on bed and breakfast
* Local taxes
* Virtuoso EXCLUSIVE: Virtuoso clients will receive a special gift
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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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"I have never received such excellent service ...and I travel an awful lot. Sri Lanka In Style were incredible! "
"Sri Lanka is a beautiful lush paradise. Highlights of this trip is visiting Lunugangga and releasing a baby turtle into the sea."
"Probably the most pleasurable and relaxing travel planning experience I have ever had... "
"Outstanding. A beautify country and a great tailor made holiday. The helicopter transfer was perfectly organised and very smooth."
"Our itinerary was assembled quicky and efficiently, taking full account of our requests. We both agree that our visit to Sri Lanka was one of our most fascinating holidays..." |
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