SRI LANKA: CULTURAL TRIANGLE + YALA SAFARI + GALLE in Sri Lanka

Facilities available

Wheelchair access

Description

12 Nights

From £2995 per person sharing (Flights quoted separately)

From October to March, our wheelchair holidays to Sri Lanka allow you to explore the cultural highlights of this beautiful island, travelling with your own private guide & staying in accessible hotels. Also view wild Asian elephants at Udawalawe & enjoy a safari in Yala, before relaxing on the Galle coast. You need upper body strength & the ability to transfer into a regular car for this holiday.

Highlights:

• Colombo
• Kandy temple of Tooth
• Wheelchair holidays Sri Lanka
• Elephants Foundation
• Nuwara Eliya Tea Plantations
• Accessible Hotels
• Sigiriya Rock
• Yala national park
• Polonnaruwa
• Galle Fort

Day 1

You will be met at Colombo Airport and taken on an orientation tour of this city, which is the commercial and industrial centre of Sri Lanka. The city was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and today consists of an eclectic mix of grand colonial buildings, modern offices and bustling local shops.

We visit the vibrant Pettah Market and the National Museum, with its fine collection of antiques and Sri Lankan art. We also visit a Buddhist temple and a Hindu Temple, to experience the diversity of religion and customs of the people of Sri Lanka.

Then check into your hotel and relax in this harbour city, situated on an ancient trading sea route.

Day 2

This morning your driver/guide will collect you from your Colombo hotel and introduce you to the beauty of Sri Lanka, as we travel 5-hours to Sigiriya in the heart of the Cultural Triangle, sightseeeing along the way.

Our first stop is at the Munneswaram Temple at Chilaw. This important regional Hindu temple complex has been in existence since at least 1,000 AD and legend has it that it was here that King Ayodyha prayed to Shiva following his war with the demon king Ravana.

Our next stop is the sacred city of Anuradhapura - founded in the 4th century BC and the first kingdom in Sri Lanka. It was the capital of the island for many centuries and is now a World Heritage site. Anuradhapura is surrounded by temples, monasteries and the well-preserved ruins of the great Sinhala civilisation. The ancient remains on the mountain peak of Mihintale is a pilgrimage site regarded as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, as it was here that the monk Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa and introduced him to it. We view several ancient royal palaces and some of the tallest 'stupas' in Sri Lanka (commemorative monuments with a circular base, supporting a massive dome). We also visit the Jayasiri Maha Bhodhi (Sacred Bo Tree) which is over 2,200 years old and was grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment – making it the the oldest historically documented tree in the world.

Afterwards we continue to our hotel in this historic region.

Note: Please dress appropriately when visiting sacred sites, with shoulders and knees covered.

Day 3

This morning we visit Sigiriya Rock - also known as Lion's Rock -  a massive 5th century fortress and palace ruins surrounded by extensive gardens and reservoirs.

This amazing fortress in the sky has 1,200 steps to the top and is now a World Heritage Site. You can view this mighty rock from the gardens below and visit the small museum near the entrance. Afterwards we visit Hiriwaduna Village to observe the lives of the local people.

After returning to your hotel for lunch, enjoy an afternoon private jeep safari in Minneriya National Park, where you can hope to see wild Asian elephants. The elephants are particularly numerous in August and September, when they migrate along a corridor from neighbouring parks to feed on the fresh grass on the lake bed - an annual event known as "The Gathering". Birdlife is also prolific in this park.

Note: In Minneriya you will need to be lifted into the front seat of your game viewing vehicle. Please expect the park to be very busy, with many vehicles.

Day 4

This morning we drive 1-hour to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa - the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th centuries following the fall of Anuradhapura and today a World Heritage Site.

Here you can explore these magnificent ruins, which contain some fine examples of Buddhist statues and marvel at this ancient civilisation, before returning to Habarana.

The afternoon is free to relax at your hotel.

Note: Not all the ruins are accessible, but your guide will do his best to give you sufficient access to appreciate this historic site. Please dress appropriately when visiting sacred sites, with shoulders and knees covered.

Day 5

This morning we travel 3-hours to the bustling hill capital of Kandy, stopping at a spice garden along the way.

We visit the Royal Palace, before checking into our hotel in this religious and ancient capital of kings.

In the evening enjoy a Cultural Show, with dancing and fire walking.

Note: Not all areas are accessible, but your guide will do his best to give you good views.

Day 6

Today we visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth, that houses a tooth relic of the Buddha. Religious pooja ceremonies, when the golden casket containing the tooth is revealed, are held daily at 05.00, 09.30 and 18.30 - so this is the best time to visit.

Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site partly due to this temple. Its principal Buddhist complexes have considerable importance – the high priests of the two best known, Malwatte and Asgiriya, are the most important in Sri Lanka and the Asgiriya Maha Vihara has a large reclining Buddha image.

Afterwards we visit the beautiful Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Dating back to colonial times, this magnificent property has abundant birdlife, including a bat colony. It also has a rare collection of indigenous tropical flora, including an Orchid House. We suggest you ask your hotel to pack a picnic today, so that you can enjoy it in these gardens.

Note: Please dress appropriately when visiting the temple, with shoulders and knees covered. Not all areas of the temple are accessible, but your guide will do his best to give you good views.

Day 7

This morning we leave Kandy and drive 5-hours through the mountains of Sri Lanka to Yala National Park.

Along the way we view the beautiful Ramboda Falls. We also visit a Tea Factory where you can see the stages of tea production and gain an understanding of why certain teas taste as they do.

We continue towards Yala National Park which is the premier game reserve in Sri Lanka, covering an area of nearly 400 square miles (1,000 square km). It is famous for having the highest density of leopards in the world, but sightings of these magnificent animals are not guaranteed and you need to take at least 2 or 3 jeep safaris for a good chance of a sighting. Check in to your lodge situated near this protected wildlife sanctuary.

Day 8

Rise early today to explore the wildlife of Yala National Park by private jeep safari. Yala is home to over 40 different species of mammals and also known locally as Ruhuna National Park. Whilst famous for its over 35 leopards, you can also see water buffalo, elephants, spotted & barking deer, wild boar, sambar, crocodiles, jackals, monkeys and mongoose. Sloth bears are also present but are rarely seen.

Birdlife is particularly rewarding including excellent raptor sightings, many aquatic birds, wild peacock, jungle fowl (the national bird of Sri Lanka), hornbills, orioles, pelicans and the rare black-necked stork. Over 200 different bird species can be seen, including many that migrate to escape the northern winter such as white-winged black terns, curlews and pintails.

Early morning and late afternoon is the best time to track leopards, but be aware that it is very difficult to find them in the wild and sightings are never guaranteed. Best viewings are generally at the end of the dry season (January to April), when the leopards search out the waterholes.

Two private jeep safaris per day are included - one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon.

Note: You need some upper body strength for this safari, as you will need to be lifted into the front seat of the game viewing vehicle. Please be aware that although Yala National Park offers a wonderful wildlife experience, it is a very different experience from a traditional African safari as the park is extremely busy. Be prepared for some rough roads, with the park being especially busy over weekends and festivals. Yala is closed during September and early October, but neighbouring Block 5 (Lunugamvehera) is open all year.

Day 9

Today we leave from Yala and travel 5-hours through the beautiful landscapes of southern Sri Lanka to your hotel on the Galle Coast.

Along the way we stop at Udawalawe for a private jeep safari in this wildlife reserve that was created to provide sanctuary for animals displaced by the Udawalawe Reservoir and offers the best sightings of wild Asian elephants in Sri Lanka. It is an important habitat for many water birds, as well as water buffalo, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, sambar, jackal, mongoose and jungle cat. The nocturnal fishing cat is also found here, but is rarely seen.

We also visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home that cares for orphaned calves and re-introduces them into the wild, where you can observe these youngsters coming in to feed.

We then continue to the fortified town of Galle. Galle Fort has a colourful history, as it was originally built by the Portuguese and later heavily fortified by the Dutch. It is today a World Heritage Site, with a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population living within its walls. After visiting the town, you will be dropped off at your hotel situated on this beautiful coast.

Days 10 To 11

At leisure to relax on the beautiful Galle Coast or explore further with your guide (pay any entrance fees locally).

You can suntan around the swimming pool or indulge yourself with a spa treatment, as this region is renowned for its Ayurvedic remedies that cleanse body, mind and spirit. Enjoy the local culture and food, as well as miles and miles of wide sandy beaches, framed by coconut palms.

You can explore more of fascinating Galle Fort or visit the old Kathaluwa Buddhist Temple. You can also visit a turtle hatchery, as sea turtles nest on these beaches from December to April.

A full day excursion is also available to Udawalawe National Park and the Elephant Transit Home (this should be booked in advance).

Day 12

Transfer 2.5-hours from Galle to the fishing town of Negombo, conveniently situated near Colombo Airport.

Check into your hotel and relax in your warm tropical surroundings.

Day 13

Transfer to Colombo Airport for your flight home.

Information last updated: 07/12/2023 12:49:58