Compare Sri Lanka Express by G Adventures vs On the Leopard's Trail in Sri Lanka by Audley Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 16 days |
| Price From | $ 1,249 | $ 5,828 |
| Price Per Day | $ 125 | $ 364 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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N/A |
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners | N/A |
| Description |
Discover Sri Lanka's incredible cultural and natural highlights on this eight-day tour. Explore a spice plantation, look for elephants on safari in Udawalawe National Park, and visit a stunning tea plantation. Wrapping up in Unawatuna, this tour is designed for add-on beach time to complete your vacation. |
The cultural triangle, neatly tended tea estates, rose-gold beaches... On a tailor-made holiday to Sri Lanka with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our Sri Lanka specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook. |
Day 1 Negombo
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.
Day 2 Negombo/Kandy
Drive to Kandy, visiting a spice plantation en route. Enjoy lunch at G Adventures-supported Sthree Craft Shop and Café. Later, explore Temple of the Tooth.
Day 3 Kandy
Explore Kandy with a free day.
Day 4 Kandy to Ella area
Travel by private vehicle to the historic town of Nuwara Eliya and enjoy some free time. Continue the journey to the rolling green valleys of the Ella area and spend 2 nights at the G Adventures-supported AMBA estate, an organic farm and guest house.
Livelihood opportunities in the valley of Bandarawela, Sri Lanka are limited for low income community members. Many rely on agricultural work, especially in the tea plantations, which can be arduous with little financial gain. Amba Estate came to the area with the purpose of promoting economic growth through their organic tea plantation, paying fair wages, sharing their profits with their workers, and creating opportunities for growth. Having established its place in the travel market, Amba is now ready to support community cooperatives as a means of better spreading the income of tourism throughout the valley. Planeterra is working alongside Amba Estate by supporting the initial investment for the first community-led microenterprise that will work in partnership with Amba. Planeterra’s catalyst grant covers the equipment, training and setup costs for a group of six women to formally become a chutney co-operative. The chutney will be sold back to Amba Estate for travellers to consume, as well as sold to guests and in markets throughout Sri Lanka. G Adventures travellers began visiting Amba in July 2018. They now have the opportunity to eat the delicious chutneys, meet the women and see how it’s made!
Day 5 Ella area
In the morning, enjoy a tour through the tea plantation and learn about one of the nation's most popular exports followed by a tea tasting. After enjoy free time to soak in the stunning scenery, opt to hike to Ella Rock, or visit Ella town by tuk tuk. This evening, enjoy a cooking demonstration of classic homestyle Sri Lankan dishes, a delicious mixture of savoury and sweet.
Day 6 Ella/Udawalawe National Park
Depart Amba Estate in the morning after enjoying a delicious home cooked breakfast. Begin the journey to Udawalawe National Park and visit the Elephant Transit home before enjoying an afternoon wildlife safari through Udawalawe National Park. Afterwards, head to a tented camp by the lake on the boundary of National Park and relax with a BBQ dinner around the campfire.
Day 7 Udawalawe National Park/Unawatuna
After breakfast transfer from Udawalawe to Galle for a tour of the fort and city. Later, head to Unawatuna, on the south coast.
Day 8 Unawatuna
Depart at any time.
The Colombo airport can be reached by taxi or there are train and bus connections from nearby Galle for much less. Your CEO can help you arrange a transfer.
Day 1 : International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Colombo.
Day 2 : Dambulla
On arrival in Colombo you will be met by one of our representatives and introduced to your chauffeur driver who will then take you to the Cultural Triangle.
Day 3 : Dambulla
This morning you will visit Sigiriya Rock accompanied by your chauffeur guide, who will be able to provide you with the history of the area as you admire the views from the top of the rock. Later in the afternoon you will have a jeep safari, giving you the chance to see a variety of wildlife including elephants, sambar deer, monkeys as well as bird life.
Day 4 : Dambulla
Enjoy another morning jeep safari, followed by a visit to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second capital. The now ruined city has a mix of both Buddhist and Hindu influence, and is a great place to learn more about the history of Sri Lanka.
Day 5 : Kandy
Today you travel to Kandy, en route you will visit the Dambulla Caves, dating back to the 1st century. All of the caves contain varying sizes of statues of Buddha. Additionally several of the caves have impressive ceiling frescos.In the evening you will visit the famous Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
Day 6 : Kandy
Explore Kandy - the beautiful botanical gardens, the famous and impressive Temple of the Tooth as well as experiencing a traditional Kandyan dance performance.
Day 7 : Nuwara Eliya
You will be collected from your hotel and taken to the train station in Gampola. You will then board the train for the approximately four hour journey up to the tea country. The rail route rises slowly through the changing countryside. From Hatton the scenery is the most spectacular passing waterfalls and many tea plantations. You will be collected by your driver from Nanu Oya and taken on a tea factory tour on route to your hotel.
Day 8 : Nuwara Eliya
An early morning start is recommended for your trip to Horton Plains as the views tend to be at their best in the morning. The 8km circular route takes you past firstly Little World's End and then World's End view points before passing Baker's Fall, a 20m high waterfall, on your return to the car. You will have the rest of your day at leisure to relax.
Day 9 : Yala National Park
Today you will take the drive down from Nuwara Eliya to Yala National Park. It's a long drive that tends to last all day, but there are plenty of places to stop along the way to enjoy some local food.
Day 10 : Yala National Park
Morning and afternoon jeep excursions in the park in search of leopards and other wildlife. In-between, you'll have time to enjoy the hotel's pool and take a walk on the beach.
Day 11 : Uda Walawe
You will leave Yala and head for Uda Walawe National Park this morning. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Udawalawe National Park - hopefully you will spot some of the park's elephants.
Day 12 : Sinharaja
Visit the elephant transit centre this morning, close to Uda Walawe, before taking the drive over to the Sinharaja Biospheric Reserve.On arrival you will have some time to take a walk in the local area, or simply relax by the pool.
Day 13 : Galle
Morning excursion in the Sinharaja Biospheric Reserve, before travelling down to the coast to Galle.Galle is full of small cafes and shops, making for a wonderful place to stroll in the evening.
Day 14 : Galle
This morning you will be taken on a guided tour of Galle Fort. The ancient city of Fort Galle has a real colonial feel given the previous Portuguese, Dutch and British presence there. The sleepy streets are dotted with some interesting colonial buildings.Your afternoon is at leisure on the coast.
Day 15 : Galle
Your day is at leisure to relax on the coast. You might like to take a tuk tuk to a nearby beach for a swim or do some shopping in Galle's boutiques.
Day 16 : International return flight
You will be driven from Galle to Colombo airport today for your international onwards flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.
