| Day 01 |
Arrival at the International Airport, we are warm and hospitable welcome awaits you. |
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Private transfer to Mount Lavinia, a beach resort approximately 20 mins from the Commercial Capital – Colombo. |
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Check in at the Mt.Lavinia Hotel - A legacy of Sri Lanka 's Colonial Heritage. It stands as a monument to the forbidden love of a Governor General and a local mestizo dancer who cast a spell on his heart. |
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Time stands still in the corridors of this grand old building that whisper legends of love and adventure. Step back in time to experience old Ceylon and enjoy grandeur and mystery, her intoxicating beaches and most of all the enchantment of her people at this premier heritage hotel. |
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Overnight : Mt.Lavinia Hotel |
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| Day 02 |
After breakfast, enjoy the sand and sea at the Mt.Lavinia private beach. |
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Late morning : Introduction to Sri Lankan Cuisine by Chef Dr. T. Publis Silva The most well known Chef for Sri Lankan cuisine today, joined the Mount Lavinia Hotel in 1957 and was promoted to the post of cook in 1960 after an extensive training in all the sections. Dr. Publis Silva has been the cook for the late Sir Oliver Goonatileke, the then Ex-Governor General of Ceylon , and the late Sir John Kotalawala, one time Prime Minister of Ceylon. |
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After the preparation, sit down with the chef to enjoy the efforts of your culinary labour. |
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Evening : Brief Tour of Colombo. |
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Overnight : Mt.Lavinia Hotel |
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| Day 03 |
After an early breakfast, drive up to Kandy, en route optional stop in Pinnawela to see the Elephant Orphanage. |
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Arrive and check in at the Kandy House, a 200 year old manor house built around a cool courtyard and its garden a manicured jungle. |
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Evening : Visit the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic, a Gem Lapidary. |
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Late Evening : Witness a Cultural Dance Performance. |
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Dinner : Earls Regency |
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Overnight : The Kandy House |
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| Day 04 |
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to Matale – “Home of Spice Gardens” |
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10:00 am – 17:00 pm: Village Cuisine with Ena De Silva Taste of authentic Sri Lankan cooking, hosted by the hugely knowledgeable Ena De Silva at the Aluvihare Kitchens located at the Matale Heritage Centre. |
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The course lasts a day and as well as giving you an experience of savouring a feast of 25 Kandyan dishes. |
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Return to Kandy for a quite and relaxing evening. |
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Overnight : The Kandy House |
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| Day 05 |
Amidst the greenery and cascading waterfalls enjoy a scenic drive to Hatton and check in at the Tea Trails Bungalow - 4 classic colonial bungalows built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. These historic houses have been restored by Dilmah Tea with the co-operation of Bogawantalawa Tea Estates, to offer guests the unique experience of life on a working tea estate. |
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Arrive in time for a fabulously aromatic, authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry for lunch -- a definite harbinger of the afternoon siesta. |
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Traditional English afternoon tea is an intrinsic part of plantation life, a much-appreciated ritual served on the bungalow lawns by immaculately sarong clad “apoos.” High Tea comes replete with a traditional tea service, dainty cucumber sandwiches, scones, fresh cream and strawberry jam. |
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Overnight : Tea Trails Bungalow |
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| Day 06 |
The day at Tea Trails starts with that wonderful colonial institution, Bed Tea. Served by your butler as part of a gentle wake-up call, this must be the most civilized way to start the day. An early morning walk followed by an English breakfast-with-everything is a must at least once during your sojourn at Tea Trails. A perfectly brewed cup of tea accompanies eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, marmalade, butter, toast, freshly squeezed juice… and anything else you may care to add. |
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After breakfast, drive to Belihul Oya and start the Kinchigune / Hulan Ella Falls trail. Start the trail from the Eco Lodge at the small village of Kinchigune, overlooking the famous Samanalawewa Reservoir. |
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The trail goes through paddy fields, past vegetable plots, forest patches and even a Buddhist temple. Beyond the temple, it goes through a very small village into a completely uninhabited area, characterised by intermittent patches of forest and savanna, eventually leading to the Walawe River. The river marks the 8km point of the trail, but to continue on we cross it at ‘Mulgammankada’ and hike through the Riverine Forest, alongside and down the river. During this next part of the trail, one will not come across any human habitation, and apart from an occasional small group or two of gem miners, who come to this desolate area and camp out here to mine for gems, one will not meet other humans on the way. After another 2km walk, we come to a beautiful rocky area where there is a waterfall of about 40 ft in height. This waterfall is called ‘Hulan Ella’ or the ‘Walawe Ganga Falls (West)’. The beautiful, serene, and ever-changing forest next to the river and waterfall is home to an abundance of varying flora and fauna. The flora and fauna in this area consists of the occasional migratory Elephant, Sambhur Deer, Indian Munjak, Flying and Giant Squirrels, many birds (Changeable Hawk Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Stork Billed kingfisher, Gray Hornbill etc.), Lizards (3 endemic), Geckos, Skinks, Snakes, Amphibians, Snails, Butterflies and Fishes. |
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This will be camping on a “participatory basis” where guests will assist the staff in setting up the Camp and in the cooking. |
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Overnight : Camp at Hulan Ella |
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| Day 07 |
Breakfast at the Camp and decamp. Leave for Galle and check in at the hotel – Kahanda Kanda. Built in 2000 as a private villa, Kahanda Kanda sits on top of a ridge, surrounded by a 12-acre tea estate. Here a member of staff, with a refreshing fruit drink and chilled hand towel, greets you, and the KK experience truly begins. |
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Rest of the day will be at leisure. |
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Dinner : Dining under the Stars
Enjoy a meal consisting of vegetables and herbs grown on the estate along with a selection of the freshest local produce to create simple, fusion dishes and classic Sri Lankan curries to pamper your palates with good health. Both the two resident chefs have been trained in Thailand, and offer a mouth-watering range of Thai dishes, as well as western fusion specials. |
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Overnight : Kahanda Kanda |
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| Day 08 |
After breakfast visit the Dutch Fort- “A World Heritage Site” and visit the Old Dutch Church c. 1752 constructed as a thanksgiving by the wife of the Commandeur Casparous de Jong, for the gift of a child. |
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Visit the Bastions including the Sun, Moon, Star, Zwart (with the old water-gate and hidden entrance identified as the Santa Cruz Bastion of the Portuguese), Akesloot (where the first Breadfruit tree was planted by the Dutch), Old Gunpowder Magazine, Aeloes, Triton, Neptune and other Bastions. |
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Walk in the narrow streets, including the Lighthouse Street (Zeeburg Street), Leyn-Baan Street (Lijnberg meaning rope walk), and Modarabaay Street (Modder-baai meaning Mud bay) see the Old Dutch Houses, private Museum where Dutch period antiques could be seen and part of the Old Sewer system that emptied to the sea with the high/low tide. |
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Dinner : The Aman Experience – Dining with a colonial accent
Dine at the luxurious Amangalla - The Dining Room provides an intimate setting for dining with a colonial accent. The Dining Room is furnished with period chairs and tables, crisp white linen and antique silverware, with many of the original pieces being returned to their rightful place in the room. The Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and provides a choice of traditional Sri Lankan curry and home-cooked dishes. |
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Overnight : Kahanda Kanda |
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| Day 09 |
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to Colombo with an en route visit to the Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda. |
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Arrive and check in at the hotel. |
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Shopping in Colombo and return to the hotel in order to freshen up for Dinner. |
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Dinner : Curry Leaf
Dine under the stars at Colombo Hiltons richly decorated, romantic restaurant. You can enjoy a sumptuous seafood buffet with a wide selection of fish, prawn, crab and squid dishes cooked to all tastes including grilled, Thai, Chinese style and Sri Lankan. Relax in the landscaped gardens by a lotus pond or in the thatched dining area. |
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Overnight : The Park Street Hotel |
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| Day 10 |
Transfer to Airport for departure |
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