HOLIDAY OF SRI LANKA (USD-1699)

(14 days / 13 Nights) - WALK & TRACK HOLIDAY OF SRI LANKA (USD-1699)

Day 01

Meet at the group hotel in Anuradhapura. A single timed transfer from Colombo Airport is provided.

Meet at the group hotel in Anuradhapura. A single timed transfer from Colombo Airport is provided and the drive will take around 4-5hrs. After checking into

our comfortable hotel, the rest of the day / evening is free to relax and recover from the long journey. Though the transfer is long, Anuradhapura is worth the journey. As a center of great historical and religious significance it is the perfect place to begin our time in Sri Lanka. 

  • ACCOMMODATION – Hotel
  • MEALS – Dinner
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Day 02

Wildlife spotting at Wilpattu NP and discover the ancient city of Anuradhapura.

After breakfast we make the 30min drive to the Wilpattu National Park, where we can hope to have our first experience of Sri Lanka’s abundant wildlife. We will have a

morning game drive in private jeeps where we will be on the lookout for wild buffalo, wild boar, fishing cats, sloth bears, leopard, sambar and spotted dear, monitor lizards and hundreds of bird species including rollers, bee-eaters and king fishers! Wilpattu translates as ‘Land of Lakes’ and it is these natural sand-rimmed water basins that make it great for wildlife spotting. The park is larger and quieter than Sir Lanka’s other national parks and so offers a more relaxed safari experience. In the afternoon we return to Anuradhapura where we have the chance to fully explore this UNESCO World Heritage site. Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka’s first city from the 5th century BC through to the 9th century AD and during this period it was the center of the island’s Buddhist civilization. It is home to the oldest historically documented tree on earth (over 2,200 years old), the Sri Maha Bodhi, reputedly grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The city also contains some of the world’s oldest Buddhist shrines, dating back to the 3rd century BC, as well as stone carvings, pleasure gardens, ponds, reservoirs and canals. After spending some time at this endlessly fascinating place we return to our hotel in the early evening and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Hotel
  • MEALS  – Breakfast & Dinner
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Day 03

Visit the UNESCO listed ancient capital, Polonnaruwa, and the magnificent fortress at Lion Rock.

This morning we drive for around 2 hours to Polonnaruwa, a stunning example of ancient Sri Lankan art and culture

 and another ancient capital city! Following the decline of Anuradhapura in the 10th century AD, Polonnaruwa arose as the new first city and remained Sri Lanka’s capital for the over 200 years. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the entire area is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or the ‘Sea of Parakrama’, which is bigger than Colombo harbour! The monuments here are well preserved and give a clear picture of the glory of Sri Lanka’s ancient architecture. Highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite. We drive to our hotel in Sigiriya where we’ll take lunch. In the afternoon we can climb to the top of the amazing fortress known as Lion Rock, which is close to our hotel. This spectacular natural stronghold is another UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with its ancient graffiti and the Lion Platform. We can climb up to the summit of the rock, which extends to 1.6 hectares and which was completely covered by buildings during Sigiriya’s glory period. We return to the hotel in plenty of time to freshen up for dinner. Drive time: 3hrs

  • ACCOMMODATION Hotel
  • MEALS – Breakfast & Dinner
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Day 04

Explore the cave temples of Dambulla. Drive to Kandy. Visit the famous Temple of the Tooth.

We begin the day exploring the magnificent cave temples of Dambulla, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. There are more than 80 caves in the

surrounding area, we will try and visit the five main caves, which are crammed full of statues and paintings of the Lord Buddha and other religious iconography. After wards we drive south through a varying landscape of rice paddies and jungle, passing small farms and bustling towns. The plains eventually give way to rolling hills as we enter the ‘tea country’ and complete our 2.5hr drive to the charming town of Kandy where we check into a hotel. An absolute must-see here is of course the famous ‘temple of the tooth’ where the Buddha’s tooth, known simply as ‘the relic’ is kept. We should have some time this afternoon to explore this bustling town encircled by hills and tranquil lake at its centre at our own pace. In the evening we will head out with our guide to visit the ‘Temple of the Tooth’ and enjoy a Kandyan dance performance.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Hotel 
  • MEALS – Breakfast & Dinner
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Day 05

Transfer to our eco-lodge accommodation. Afternoon walk through the Kandyan Jungle and cookery demonstration.

After breakfast, we transfer to our eco-lodge accommodation, where we will be surrounded by nature.

The lodge is set amongst a pristine environment, surrounded by nature. Wild boar, deer, porcupine, giant squirrels, monkeys, butterflies, bats, fire-flies, insects and over 60 species of birds, including 15 endemics, dwell in the surrounding jungle; making this a paradise for bird watchers. On arrival, we will meet the owner of the lodge who will give an introduction to the history of the area and the surroundings. We will then have the chance to take part in a traditional Sri Lankan cooking demonstration, using a firewood oven amid the jungle. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a 2hr walk to a nearby village where we will visit a traditional Kandyan Forest garden belonging to one of the villagers where we can learn about all the vegetables, fruit and spices grown used in cooking traditional dishes. We will also get to see how treacle and ‘jaggery’ (syrup and sugar blocks made from the sap of the palm tree) are made. We will be able to taste some of them at tonight’s dinner, which will consist of local dishes prepared on a hearth in clay pots.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Eco lodge
  • MEALS – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • TIME – 2 hrs walking
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Day 06

Circular trek through the Kandyan Jungle, tea-plucker’s villages and tea plantations.

Today’s walk begins at the lodge; our trail lead us up through a variety of jungle, forests, tea-pluckers villages and tea plantations. Today we will also be accompanied

by local guide who will help us try and spot some of the endemic birds, such as the Yellow-eared Bulbul and the distinctive looking Greater Flame back, which can often be found in the forest. We will also learn about the trees we will pass on the way, such as cloves, pepper, nutmeg, coffee, cocoa, jack, bread-fruit, mango, passion-fruit, rambuttan, banana, papaya etc. We will come across several waterways and may need to ford some streams along the way! As we climb slowly up we’ll enjoy some fantastic views of the mountains, jungle and valleys and we will make sure to find a good scenic spot to sit and enjoy our picnic lunch. In the afternoon we circle around to head back towards the lodge.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Ecolodge
  • DISTANCE – 12 km
  • MEALS – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 
  • TIME – 5 hrs walking
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Day 07

Transfer to Maskeliya.

After a relaxed breakfast we set of on 3-4hr drive to Maskeliya. Our accommodation here is at the base of Adam’s Peak and we’ll have an early dinner and some time for rest before our very early start tomorrow!
  • ACCOMMODATION – Guesthouse 
  • MEALS – Breakfast & Dinner
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Day 08

An early start to climb of Adam’s Peak. Drive to Nuwara Eliya. Afternoon high tea at the Grand Hotel.

Standing alone from the central mountain massif of southern Sri Lanka, the dramatic 2243m high Adam’s Peak

would present an irresistible challenge, even without its religious significance. However, the mountain, also known as Sri Pada (The Holy Footprint) is sacred to 4 religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. From the full moon in December to the full moon in May, streams of pilgrims make the ascent at night, as we will, climbing the rough trail and 3306 steps to the summit. During this time the trail is illuminated by street-lights and stalls are set up along the way selling tea, snacks and breakfasts, and there is an air of festival throughout the climb. Outside of the pilgrim season we will climb the peak by the light of our head torches and possibly alone. Either way, the aim is to be on the summit at dawn to witness the sunrise and we must start shortly after midnight! The climb takes anywhere from 3 to 5 hours. At the summit is a Buddhist temple, which encloses the 5-foot long footprint of Buddha / Adam / Shiva – depending on your belief. In the light of dawn, we descend from the peak in just a couple of hours and have a welcome breakfast at the guesthouse before we make the 3hr drive to Nuwara Eliya, the very heart of the Sri Lankan hill (and tea) country. It is the home of the famous Ceylon Tea and most of the lower slopes of the mountains present a rolling carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. The British tea planters turned a section of Nuwara Eliya into a replica of home and some of the houses here would not look out of place in a Sussex Village. We check into our guest house accommodation. Those tired from the morning’s climb might want to take some rest. This afternoon we have a real treat as we head to the glamorous colonial Grand Hotel to take high tea. High tea is served either outside on the lawn or in the open-sided tea lounge. Waiters in white livery will serve you buffet of triangular sandwiches and dainty cakes, which are all accompanied with a selection of different Sri Lankan teas. The rest of the day is free to relax and we may want to take the opportunity for an early night after what has been a jam packed day.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Hotel 
  • ASCENT – 1000m
  • DISTANCE – 11km
  • MEALS – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • DESCENT – 1000m
  • TIME 5 – 7 hrs walking
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Day 09

Visit Tea Plantation. Trek across Horton Plains National Park to World’s End, Baker Falls and Thotupola Peak. Train journey to Bandarawela.

After an early breakfast we have the option to visit a tea plantation and factory to witness the process of turning

raw green tea leaves into the familiar black/brown finished product. Afterwards we drive up onto the plateau of the Horton Plains National Park and set off on our trek to ‘World’s End’ and the beautiful Bakers Falls. Horton Plains is Sri Lanka’s highest plateau, some 2200m above sea-level and located in the central mountain country. Known locally as ‘fen’, the landscape hereabouts is spectacular, with an astounding variety of scenery from mountains to grasslands, from marshes to trout streams. Sri Lanka’s best flavoured high-grown teas are found growing in the surrounding area. The dramatic drop-off at the edge of the plateau is particularly well demonstrated at ‘World’s End,’ where there is a 300 metre precipice. With a cool and bracing climate, this is excellent hiking country, with a distinctive flora, colourful butterflies and rare highland birds. Then proceed to Pattipola Railway station to a scenic train journey to Bandarawela (railway station which is situated in the highest elevation and 25 minutes from the entrance of the Horton Plains). Seats are not reserved and Sri Lankan trains are usually crowded (and sometimes late!), but the experience is well worth the inconvenience as this is a real opportunity to gain an insight to local lifestyles and culture! Arriving into Bandarawela we check into our overnight accommodation.

  • ACCOMMODATION -Hotel 
  • ASCENT 225m 
  • DISTANCE 8km  
  • MEALS – Breakfast & Dinner 
  • DESCENT 225m 
  • TIME 3 – 4 hrs walking
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Day 10

Trek through ‘Tea Country’ into the Namunukula Range.

This morning we have a 1.5hr transfer into the Namunukula Range where we enjoy a wonderful day of trekking starting out high on the lush green slopes of Sri Lanka’s ‘tea

country’. Walking mostly downhill we descend through grassland, villages and farms all the way down to the ‘dry zone’ at Hingurukaduwa in Uva Province where our vehicles will be waiting for us. This region is home to many Sri Lankan spice crops as well as medicinal fruit. As we walk we will see first-hand how the mountain people have found ingenious ways of farming the mountainous terrain. We’ll stop en route for lunch and we may also want to take a refreshing dip in the river. After the trek, we transfer to Udawalawe, a National park that guarantees elephant sightings around the year! The drive will take around 2.5hr. We check into our hotel in time for dinner.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Hotel 
  • ASCENT 800m 
  • DISTANCE 16km  
  • MEALS – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 
  • DESCENT 950m 
  • TIME 5 – 6 hrs walking
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Day 11

Visit Elephant Transit home. Jeep Safari in Udawalawe National Park. Transfer to the coast.

Leave after breakfast to visit the Elephant Transit Home. The Elephant Transit Home is an admirable initiative, which is sponsored by the Born Free Foundation. Baby elephants

that are injured or orphaned in the wild are brought to the Transit Home where they are cared for an rehabilitated in a natural setting. Once the elephants are old enough and strong enough they are radio collared and released in to the National Park in small groups. The first group to be released in to the park successfully reproduced in the wild back in 2008! Next we head to the Udawalawe National Park, which is the best place on the island for seeing wild elephants. This impressive reserve area has enjoyed protected status since 1972 and is home to a large herd of elephants, several species of deer, wild boar, wild buffalo, jackal and the elusive leopard. Surrounded by mountain ranges, the terrain of the park is a mixture of grassland (rather like the savannah of Africa) and shrub jungle. Teak plantations, water holes, the large Udawalawe Reservoir and the Walewe River make this place special. Our exploration of the park by jeep should allow us to get close to wild elephants. Afterwards we transfer 2.5hrs to the south coast, not far from Mirissa, where we will enjoy two nights in a beach front hotel.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Hotel 
  • MEALS -Breakfast & Dinner
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Day 12

A free day to relax at the beach.

This is the perfect place to recharge our batteries and relax after a busy couple of weeks discovering the wonders of Sri Lanka and so we have included a full free day here. You are free to take a walk along the beach, go

snorkelling, or just lie back in a hammock with a good book and a fresh coconut. Bliss. When it is whale and dolphin season (Dec-Apr), nearby Mirissa is a great spot to see these amazing creatures and you may want to take the option of a whale watching excursion on this day.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Hotel 
  • MEALS – Breakfast 
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Day 13

Sightseeing in the walled city of Galle. Transfer to Katyunayake.

For our final full day we head up the coast to the old colonial Dutch port of Galle, about a 1 hour drive. This stunning fortified town was built on a square-shaped

promontory jutting out into the ocean by the Dutch in 1663, though there have been a few changes since then, walking round the old town we will still feel transported back in time. Bathed in history and incredibly atmospheric, Galle is like no other place we have visited so far and is a great place to end our journey. We will have some time here to explore, browse the boutique shops for last minute souvenirs or enjoy a beverage at one of the small sidewalk cafes. Later we continue on to our hotel at Katunayake on Sri Lanka’s west coast, not far from the international airport, a drive of around 2 hrs. After check in we can relax by the hotel pool or enjoy the excellent gardens.

  • ACCOMMODATION – Hotel 
  • MEALS – Breakfast 
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Day 14

Departure day. A single timed transfer to the airport in Colombo is provided.

After an early breakfast, we transfer to Colombo airport, where KE Land Only package services end.
  • MEALS – Breakfast
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The aim of this holiday is to get out on foot and see the ‘real’ Sri Lanka and also to enjoy the best of the varied hiking the island has to offer. We will be walking on good jungle tracks and trails through tea plantations, forests and between villages. We may encounter some slippery conditions, and some tree roots, on the forest trails! There are 5 days when we do a reasonable amount of walking, averaging about 5 hours on each of these days. The ascent of Adam’s Peak involves 4 hours up and 2 hours down on a challenging series of more than 3000 steps! In order to catch the sunrise most of this ascent is made at night. During the Pilgrim season (December to May) the entire trail is lit with electric lights. Outside of this season we will make the ascent by the light of our head-torches. In order to see as much of Sri Lanka as possible a reasonable amount of driving is unavoidable; the transfers are however generally short (2-3hrs) and scenic.

DATES

USD

2020

 

Mon 17 Aug – Sun 30 Aug

1699.00

Mon 31 Aug – Sun 13 Sep

1699.00

Mon 21 Sep – Sun 04 Oct

1699.00

Mon 26 Oct – Sun 08 Nov

1699.00

Mon 16 Nov – Sun 29 Nov

1699.00

Mon 07 Dec – Sun 20 Dec

1699.00

Mon 21 Dec – Sun 03 Jan

1699.00

2021

 

Mon 18 Jan – Sun 31 Jan

1699.00

Mon 08 Feb – Sun 21 Feb

1699.00

Mon 22 Feb – Sun 07 Mar

1699.00

Mon 29 Mar – Sun 11 Apr

1699.00

Mon 25 Oct – Sun 07 Nov

1699.00

Mon 15 Nov – Sun 28 Nov

1699.00

Sun 19 Dec – Sun 02 Jan

1699.00

2022

 

Mon 17 Jan – Sun 30 Jan

1699.00

Mon 07 Feb – Sun 20 Feb

1699.00

Mon 21 Feb – Sun 06 Mar

1699.00

Mon 28 Mar – Sun 10 Apr

1699.00

 

What’s Included

  • A qualified tour leader
  • Single-timed Colombo Airport group transfer at the beginning and end of the trip
  • All land transport involved in the itinerary
  • All accommodation as described
  • Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan
  • Guided sightseeing and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
  • A full service when trekking including food and all equipment (not personal equipment)

What’s not Included

  • Travel insurance
  • Colombo Airport transfers (other than group transfers)
  • Tips for local staff
  • Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan
  • Miscellaneous expenses – soft drinks and souvenirs etc.
Joining Arrangements & Transfers

There will be a single group transfer arranged on Day 1. This transfer will normally depart from the airport at approximately 0900 am. Anyone may use this transfer regardless of which flights they use but if you are not on the group flight you should check the timings of this transfer prior to departure. Independent airport transfers can be arranged to meet clients arriving prior to Day 1 at an additional cost. On the final day there will be a single transfer to Colombo Airport to meet the check in for the group flight. This transfer will normally arrive at the airport by 0700 am. If you are departing later the hotel can arrange an airport shuttle for a cost of around $10. Detailed joining instructions along with an emergency number and hotel contact information will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Meal Plan

All breakfasts, 4 lunches (3 packed lunches and one ‘late lunch’ of high tea at the Grand Hotel on Day 8) and 12 dinners are included in the holiday price. You will pay directly for other dinners and lunches. Dining out is not expensive in Sri Lanka and we suggest a budget of £50 – £75 should adequately cover none included meals.

Food & Water

Sri Lanka’s rich history includes several periods of colonization and this has helped create an exotic cuisine, which includes influences from India, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malaysia and a host of other world flavours! The staple food of Sri Lanka is rice, which is boiled or steamed and served with a variety of curries ranging from very mild to extremely fiery. A typical Sri Lankan meal would consist of a main curry of fish, beef, chicken or mutton, accompanied by several other side dishes made with vegetables or lentils, pickles, chutneys and ‘sambols’ – a spicy condiment made of ground coconut or onions mixed with chilli, dried fish and lime juice. Other Sri Lankan foods include Hoppers – rice pancakes commonly eaten for breakfast and lunch, and lamprais – a dish of Indonesian / Dutch origin comprising of rice cooked in a meat stock and slowly baked in a banana leaf with a variety of meat and vegetable sides. In the majority of hotels and restaurants  it is also usual to find several international dishes offered on the menu, so there will be something here for everyone.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. You should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

Special Diets

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot provide special diets.  Due to the nature of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your diet with food/snacks from home.  If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice.  Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

Accommodation

We will spend 2 nights near Anuradhapura and 1 night near Sigiriya, in hotels w set in gardens, with swimming pools. In Kandy we will have 1 night a well located standard hotel, close to the Temple of the Tooth. We will spend 2 nights at the comfortable Polwatha eco-lodge, set in the heart of the Kandyan Jungle where we will be surrounded by nature. The night before our early hours approach to Adam’s Peak will be spent at a simple guest house close to the start of our walk, where we can take a few hours rest ahead of our early morning climb. At Nuwara Eliya we stay in a well located and comfortable Mountain Inn and Bandarawela we will use a simple hotel. In Udawalawe we spend 1 night in a comfortable hotel, in picturesque surroundings, just 10mins from the park gates. Our base for 2 nights near Marissa will be a stunningly located hotel right on the sea front. Our final night will be spent in a comfortable hotel in Katunayake, near to Negombo Lagoon, and Colombo (Bandaranaike) International Airport. All accommodation is on twin share basis. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Depending on availability it may be possible to book a single room for some of the hotel nights. For additional hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website.

Accommodation standards in Sri Lanka can vary widely, we will use good hotels wherever possible, but please note that in some of the smaller towns and villages or in remote areas, where there are fewer options, it is necessary to use basic accommodation and small hotels/guesthouses.

Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be led by a qualified tour leader.

Altitude

The altitudes on this holiday are not extreme and the maximum altitude attained is no more than the equivalent of a pressurised cabin on an international flight. You may ‘feel’ the altitude the first time you trek above 2000 metres but all that is required is a slower pace to compensate. You should pay particular attention to your hydration levels while trekking above 2000 metres.

Spending Money

Approximately £200 (or equivalent in US dollars, Euros etc) changed into local currency (rupees), should be allowed for tips, soft drinks, snacks, non-included meals and miscellaneous expenses. Alcoholic drinks and souvenirs are additional so you may wish to budget for these. It is not necessary to obtain local currency (the Sri Lankan Rupee) prior to departure. You can choose to take your money in pounds sterling, dollars or euros. There will be the opportunity to change money into local currency on arrival at the airport and your local leader can advise the best places to change money en-route. Additionally, you will be able to get currency from ATMs at the airport and in many of the towns that we will visit. Credit cards are useful and it is a good idea to carry one in case of emergency. When changing your travel money you should obtain a quantity of small bills for tips to hotel staff.

Guidance on Tipping

Tips are the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your local support staff. Tips do not form part of their wages. I always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. For your local staff we recommend that you give a tip if you feel that their services have met your satisfaction. We recommend that tips to local staff are presented from the group as a whole and suggest a contribution of approximately £50 changed into local currency will provide a sufficient pool to provide good tips to all your local staff. If you are part of a small group you may wish to contribute more to the general pool.

Group Size & Holiday Status

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

Equipment List

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.

YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

  • Hiking boots
  • Trainers or similar for traveling, sightseeing etc.
  • Sandals for the beach
  • Socks
  • Walking socks (2 or 3 pairs)
  • Spare laces
  • Trekking trousers pants
  • Lightweight waterproof overtrousers
  • Underwear
  • Shorts
  • Thermal base-layer shirts
  • T-shirts and/or casual shirts
  • Fleece jacket or warm jumper
  • Lightweight waterproof jacket
  • Sunhat
  • Warm hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Warm fleece gloves
  • Daypack: c. 30 litres
  • Torch or headtorch
  • Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
  • Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
  • Water purification tablets
  • Washbag and toiletries
  • Insect repellant – (DEET)
  • Personal first aid kit, including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Immodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment and re-hydration salts (Dioralite), glucose tablets, and multi-vitamin tablets are a good idea.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE OPTIONAL:

  • Trekking poles
  • Antibacterial handwash
  • Small towel
  • A smarter top (not complusary, just for those wanting to dress up a little for high tea at the Grand Hotel!)
  • Travel clothes
  • Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
  • Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
  • Small padlock (to lock your luggage)
  • Camera
  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

NOTES

When visiting temples/sacred sites it is respectful to have your shoulders and knees covered. Please consider this when packing.

During sightseeing tours you will also be required to to go barefoot at many sites, so it is wise to pack some footwear that can remove easily.

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with NIO Adventure that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

Passport & Visas

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit.

Visa information is changing all the time. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel.

VISA SRI LANKA

UK and USA passport holders  require a visa/ETA. The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) fee is US$35 (free for children under 12yrs) if you apply for it online prior to departure at www.eta.gov.lk

Health & Vaccinations

 

SEVERE ALLERGIES

If you have a severe allergy please inform the NIO Adventure staff before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on NIO Adventure trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as ‘adrenaline auto-injectors’ are not carried as standard by NIO Adventure staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

VACCINATIONS

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transitted for more than 12 hrs through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

DENGUE FEVER

Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Currency

The unit of currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee.

Electricity Supply & Plug

We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

Preparing for your Holiday

Getting some additional exercise before coming on an active holiday makes a lot of sense. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience.

You should be aerobically fit and comfortable with walking 3 to 6 hours for consecutive days. Hill walking, with a good amount of ascent and descent, is the best training. Running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

Climate

Sri Lanka has a typically tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 27°C at sea-level. It is, of course, cooler at higher elevations, with annual average temperatures of 20°C in Kandy, dropping to 16°C at Nuwara Eliya. Year round, the conditions in the hill country are perfect for trekking with pleasantly warm days. At lower elevations and at the coast it can get quite hot around the middle of the day and evenings are generally pleasantly warm. Sri Lanka is subject to two monsoonal influences. The south-west monsoon brings rain from May to July to the western, southern and central regions, while the north-east monsoon brings rain to the northern and eastern regions in December and January. However these monsoons are not as pronounced as the Indian Monsoon and bright, sunny, warm days are common even during the height of a ‘monsoon’ season. From the point of view of the visitor, Sri Lanka has no ‘off season’.

Single Use Plastic

NIO Adventure do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them.

Books
  • Sri Lanka. Lonely Planet Guide.
  • Footprint Sri Lanka.Footprint Guides.
  • Sri Lanka: The Bradt Travel Guide.
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