SRI LANKA: COLOMBO + MIRISSA (TWIN CENTRE) in Colombo

Facilities available

Wheelchair access

Adapted transfer

Description

10 Nights

From £2195 per person sharing (Flights quoted separately)

Our Sri Lanka disabled holidays & wheelchair tours can be adapted to your needs. If you have upper body strength, use a manual wheelchair & can transfer into the front seat of a regular vehicle, this twin centre holiday explores the cultural sights of modern Colombo & the ancient capital of Kandy, before heading south to Galle Fort, Mirissa beach & wildlife of Udawalawe & Yala National Park. All transfers & specified sightseeing included.

Highlights:

• Sri Lanka wheelchair tours
• Botanical gardens
• Yala National Park safari
• Colombo
• Galle fort
• Sri Lanka disabled holidays
• Millenium elephant foundation
• Mirissa
• Kandy + temple of tooth
• Elephants at Udawalawe

Day 1

You will be met at Colombo Airport and transferred to your hotel in the commercial, industrial and cultural centre of Sri Lanka.

Check in and relax in this harbour city, situated on an ancient trading sea route.

Note: As all transfers are in a regular saloon car, this holiday is only suitable if you can transfer into the vehicle and travel with a fully collapsible manual wheelchair.

Day 2

Today enjoy an orientation tour of Colombo, which is the commercial and industrial centre of Sri Lanka. This 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.

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

Day 3

Today enjoy a full day excursion travelling 3-hours to the bustling hill capital of Kandy, a religious and ancient capital of kings.

Along the way we stop at the small Elephant Freedom Project that shelters captive Asian elephants. As they have only a few elephants, this offers a very personal experience - including the opportunity to walk with one of the elephants.

On arrival in Kandy 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. 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.

Time permitting, we can also visit the beautiful Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Dating back to colonial times, this magnificant property has abundant birdlife, including a bat colony. It also has a rare collection of indigenous tropical flora, including an Orchid House. We then return to Colombo.

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 4

This morning transfer 2.5-hours from Colombo to the small town of Mirissa, situated near the southern tip of Sri Lanka and renowned for its whale watching.

Along the way we stop at Galle Fort which 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 driving through the fort, continue along this beautiful coast to your hotel in Mirissa, where you can relax on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean.

Day 5

Today enjoy a full day excursion to see Asian elephants in the wild, as we travel 2-hours to Udawalawe National Park.

Enjoy a private jeep safari in this national park that was created to provide sanctuary for animals displaced by the Udawalawe Reservoir. It is also an important habitat for water birds, water buffalo, spotted & barking deer, wild boar, sambar, jackal, mongoose, leopard, jungle and fishing cats.

Afterwards we visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home that cares for orphaned calves and re-introduces them into the wild, where you can get close to these gentle giants.

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 prepared for some rough roads.

Day 6

Rise early today to transfer 2.5-hours each way to Yala National Park to explore its wildlife by private jeep. 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 are included - one in the morning and one in the 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.

Days 7 To 10

At leisure to relax independently on the shores of the sparkling Indian Ocean.

You can swim in the sea, relax by the swimming pool or indulge yourself with a spa treatment, as Sri Lanka is renowned for its yoga and Ayurvedic spa remedies that cleanse body, mind and spirit. Enjoy the local culture and delicious food, whilst relaxing on a sandy beach framed by coconut palms.

Day 11

Transfer 3.5-hours to Colombo Airport for your flight home.

Information last updated: 04/12/2023 14:10:19