Sri Lanka Highlights & Mountain Wellness

2023 & 2024 dates coming soon

SEE BELOW FOR TOUR DETAILS

Overview

• Negombo ( The Wallawwa in Kotugoda - Boutique hotel - Wallawa bedroom )
• Sigiriya ( Wild Grass Resort - Deluxe villa )
• Kandy ( Water Garden - Luxury resort - Superior room )
• Santani ( Santani Luxury Resort & Spa - Mountain view chalet )

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival / Colombo  VIP Silk route service at the airport. On arrival meet your local national guide for the Sri Lanka tour. Arrive in Colombo, this trade and commercial capital has long been the traditional gateway to the Orient. Sri Lanka’s largest city is located on the west coast and draws together many cultures, religions and influences from foreign trade, creating a kaleidoscope of sounds and colour. These original traders who include Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers have left behind churches, monuments, names, costumes, food and parts of their languages. Check in to the hotel. Explore and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Free time for dinner. Overnight at The Wallawwa in Kotugoda hotel.

Day 2

Colombo / Sigiriya Early morning visit to the fish market in Negombo, watch the local fishing trade and see the amazing variety of fish and seafood that is offloaded and sold from the boats. Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Sigiriya and check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at Wild Grass Resort.

Day 3

Sigiriya Breakfast time. Visit the world heritage site built in the 5th century as a bastion and palace of King Kasyapa. The complex has geometrically laid water gardens, frescoes of beautiful maidens and a mirror wall. The whole face of the hill appears to have been a gigantic picture gallery. It’s around 1,200 steps to the summit of the Rock Fortress which reveals a spectacular panorama of the surrounding jungle and Sigiriya village. Return to hotel and have the rest of the day at your leisure to enjoy spa and pool activities. Overnight at Wild Grass Resort.

Day 4

Sigiriya / Kandy Breakfast at the hotel. Journey to Dambulla world heritage site known for its richly painted cave temples. Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here that King Valagam Bahu took refuge from invasions in the 1st century BC, later turning the caves into a rock temple. Some of its frescoes are over 2,000 years old. The highlight is a colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of living rock some 15 meters long. The caves have a mixture of religious and secular paintings and sculptures with ceiling frescoes depicting scenes from Buddha’s life and Sinhalese history. Drive onto Kandy, with lunch stop en-route, this hill station is remarkable for its peaceful natural beauty and wooded valley overlooking a vast lake. The palace, shrines and British period buildings give it a special defining character and ‘Buddha’s Tooth Relic’ holds a religious importance for the historic highland capital. Check in to the hotel. Early evening town tour and visit to the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the sacred tooth relic of Buddha, encased in seven caskets and adorned with a large number of gold ornaments. For evening ‘Puja’, we will provide you with white temple clothing, incense sticks and oil lamps. Dinner and overnight at Thilanka Hotel.

Day 5

Kandy / Santani Resort After breakfast drive 1 hour to Santani resort & Spa, a luxury wellness retreat. Upon arrival check in then meet with your doctor for your wellness consultation. Santani Wellness Resort is named for the Sanskrit word meaning “in harmony with,” to bring oneself into balance with nature. Santani Wellness Programs specialise in Ayurveda, detox, yoga and spa treatments, offering a bespoke menu, pampering and rejuvenation with enlightened learning for a healthy living lifestyle long after you leave. Enjoy gourmet lunch and dinner. Overnight at Santani Resort & Spa.

Day 6

Santani Resort Breakfast time. Immerse yourself in complete wellness and pampering luxury, as you enjoy daily 75 min spa treatments, yoga and meditation, thermal salt-water pools, lifestyle discussions and guided group walks. Enjoy gourmet lunch and dinner. Overnight at Santani Resort & Spa.

Day 7

Santani Resort Breakfast time. Immerse yourself in complete wellness and pampering luxury, as you enjoy daily 75 min spa treatments, yoga and meditation, thermal salt-water pools, lifestyle discussions and guided group walks. Enjoy gourmet lunch and dinner. Overnight at Santani Resort & Spa.

Day 8

Santani Resort / Colombo / Departure Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before driving to Colombo and check in for day use at the airport hotel before your international departure flight. Special VIP silk route service for departure assistance at the airport.

Prepare for your trip

 Sri Lanka’s aromatic past

Sri Lanka is the capital of a rich variety of spices that determined its history, being the cause of many an invasion. Fragrant Clove, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Mace, Pepper, Cocoa and Vanilla amongst others account for a diversity of cooking styles and applications.  

Given that it's such a lush country, it's no surprise that Sri Lanka grows many of its best goods. Tea is an obvious purchase; all manner of spices are another. In addition there are various handicrafts and a growing range of designer items.

Colombo is full of stylish designer boutiques, galleries and markets galore sell just about anything, with plenty of surprises on offer.

The island may be small, but the animals are big, especially the herds of Asian elephants that live inside and outside the national parks. Leopards and water buffaloes are just some of the other creatures you might spot.

‘Ayubowan’ is the word used in Sri Lanka to greet someone. It means ‘Long Life’. One is Generally greeted by joining two hands in prayer-like manner and saying ‘Ayubowan’. This phrase can be used any time of the day. However, in the city it is more common to be greeted with a hand shake, while the village folks still greet you in the traditional way. Thank you very much is ‘Bohoma Istuti’ and Please is ‘Karunakara’.

All tours include accommodation, transport, air-conditioned mini coach with refreshments, sightseeing entrance fees, special tour events and activities, local guides, most meals and tipping (including national guide). Prices may be subject to currency fluctuation or surcharges. Sri Lanka visa required.

As part of a conscious initiative to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles, TIKKA TOURS ground operator now provides alternatives to plastic bottled water. Re-usable metal water bottles with re-filling facility are part of our guest’s vehicles.

TOUR PRICE

8 Days /7 Nights
2023 details coming soon
On request ( twin share per person )*
On request ( single supplement )*
Fully escorted by founder of TIKKA TOURS, Claudia Wolf
( Based on 8–12 passengers )

8 Days /7 Nights
2024 details coming soon
On request ( twin share per person )*
On request ( single supplement )*
Fully escorted by founder of TIKKA TOURS, Claudia Wolf
( Based on 8–12 passengers )