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F ew islands in the world offer the

diversity that exists in Sri Lanka, from ancient cities, to rich

religious festivals, to colonial

memories, to rolling tea

plantations, to the best beaches in

the Indian ocean, to an

astonishing variety of bird and

animal wildlife, and a bustling

and chaotic way of life. The

island intoxicates its visitors with

its potpourri of cultures, religions, races, customs, its

sheer natural beauty and its way

of life. Sri Lanka In Style shows

With the kids 13 nights/14 days

Sri Lanka with the Kids is a trip that brings you the highlights of Sri Lanka: its inland history and coastal beauty, in a holiday with carefully selected family friendly high-middle range hotels that will satisfy the whole family. Day Place Hotel Room/Suite

Day 1 Arrival TBC Day 1 Kotugda Wallawwa Garden Suite BB Day 2 Wilpattu Leopard Safaris Tent FB Day 3 Wilpattu Leopard Safaris Tent FB Day 4 Cultural Triangle Ulagalla Chalet HB Day 5 Cultural Triangle Ulagalla Chalet HB Day 6 Kandy Ellerton Standard Room HB Day 7 Kandy Ellerton Standard Room HB Day 8 Hatton Tea Trails Garden Suite FB Day 9 Hatton Tea Trails Garden Suite FB Day 10 Galle Why House Double Room BB Day 11 Galle Why House Double Room BB Day 12 Galle Why House Double Room BB Day 13 Colombo Galle Face Hotel Deluxe Room BB Day 14 Departure TBC *H B = Half Board | BB = Bed & Breakfast | F B = Full Board | R O = Room Only NOTE: The type of room depends on availability.

IN C L USI O NS / E X C L USI O NS Includes: Accommodation and M eal Plan:

Accommodation on Bed & Breakfast basis at the Wallawwa (1 night), Why House (3 nights) & Galle Face Hotel (1 night)

Accommodation on Half Board basis Ulagalla (2 nights), Ellerton Bungalow (2 nights)

Accommodation on Full Board basis at Leopard Safaris (2 nights) & Tea Trails (2 nights)

Logistics:

Transport in a luxury micro van with the services of an English Speaking Guide. (For 8 or more guests a National Guide is mandatory).

Train Tickets from Kandy to Hatton

Guided V isits and Excursions: 4 Game drives at Wilpattu National park Sigiriya Rock Fortress Traditional Village visit and lunch Hiriwadunna Village Minneriya National Park visit Lunch at the home of Ena de Silva Royal Botanical Gardens visit The Temple of the Tooth and Cultural show. A Tea Factory with a Resident Planter. Canoeing on the Ginganga river Galle Fort visit Surf Control with Coach Tharanga + lunch

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Yatigala Tea and Temple Tour Colombo city walk

SL IS Exclusives: (Include)

The Royal Botanical Gardens with Professor Bandara Palipana Treasures of Galle Fort with Juliet Coombe Yatigala Tea and Temple Tour with Daniel Francis Colombo City Walk with Mark Forbes. Private lunch at the home of Ena de Silva.

Complementary Amenities:

Special gift from Sri Lanka in Style. Complementary SIM card on request.

Services:

VIP Fast Track VIP Arrival Bandaranaike International Airport. VAT (Value Added Tax) &Tourism Tax.

Excludes:

ETA Mandatory VISA on Arrival International or domestic flights. Travel insurance. Paid optional excursions Expenses of any personal nature. Tips/gratuities and porter age. Any other services not specified above.

Day 1: Arrive in Sri Lanka (Dinner included)

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport you will be met and assisted by our Airport Representative who will hold a board with your name as you exit the aircraft. You need to lookout for a lady in a red or green sari. You

he will be standing just outside the aero bridge or entrance to the terminal. She will then accompany you through passport control, customs, baggage collection and money changers, all the way to the arrival lounge where we will meet you, address any last minute questions you have about the itinerary and introduce you to your chauffer guide who will take you to The Wallawwa to begin this exciting family journey. You will travel on back roads through rice fields, villages and the occasional coconut plantation. Arrive at the hotel, unpack and relax in the gardens.

T ravel T ime: Approx. half an hour Dinner & Overnight: The Walawwa.

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ACCOMMODATION The Wallawwa

Built over 200 years ago in a traditional Dutch warehouse colonial design, The

Wallawwa is the most ancient manor house in the province and was the ancestral

home for many years of the Dias-Abeysinghe family Maha Mudaliyas originally

from Galle.

Day 2: To the wild! (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

A M : Family Game Drives After breakfast, we head to Wilpattu for a safari experience. The normal routine is to arrive at the park at midday and do a small game drive before returning to the campsite. On arrival at the campsite, you are shown your tents and one of the team will explain how to keep it zipped up, as well as how to use the enclosed outdoor shower. T ravel T ime: 3 ! hours

PM: Settle down to a delicious lunch and enjoy a short rest before setting off for an afternoon game drive. You will drive along red earthy paths, through forests and scrub to stunning openings where villus (lakes) lie full of white lotus flowers and trees with nesting painted storks, famous for their pink and black tail plumage. You may be lucky enough to spot leopards and sloth bears as well as other mammals and numerous bird species. When you return from the drive, which normally lasts at least three hours, enjoy a drink and some snacks in the outside seating area. Then, have dinner under the stars next to a small bonfire. Dotted with small gas lamps, the camp is stunning at night.

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Cecile Rodrigo arrived in Sri

Lanka just three years ago, after

finishing her Bachelor studies in

Cologne. The plan was to set off again for her Masters in Austria,

but that was before getting love

struck in the wild! She's

fascinated by all things leopard, and confesses to having an entire

wardrobe filled with leopard

prints. Together with her husband

Noel, she runs Leopard Safaris

and her love for the different landscapes comes through in

charcoal drawings and acrylic

paintings she does in her spare

time.

OPT I O N: A private art class with Cecile of Leopard Safaris (not included, price upon request) Private art classes in the Wilpattu or Yala National Parks for kids is a great way to keep kids occupied and entertained while parents relax or when they want to venture out into the wild, leaving the kids behind. Dinner & Overnight: Leopard Safaris Wilpattu.

ACCOMMODATION Leopard Safaris Wilpattu

Camping with Leopard Safaris on the borders of the park is a wonderful way to

experience a true safari. The customized Toyota jeeps that the company uses are

ideal as they are equipped with camera support points, binoculars, monopods, sandbags and battery charging facilities for photographers. The engines are quiet, therefore perfect for wildlife spotting.

Day 3: Spotting the elusive leopard (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

A M : Game Dr ives at the B reak of Dawn You will be woken at about 5am, have some freshly squeezed juice and jump in the jeep for a morning safari. Witnessing the sunrise and amazing dawn chorus whilst you look out for elusive leopards is something not to miss! Back at the camp, you will have breakfast and then enjoy some downtime to read up on birds and wildlife, or just delve into your holiday book. The rest of the day is yours at leisure. Special animal spotting walks can be arranged for the kids.

Dinner & Overnight: Leopard Safaris Wilpattu. Day 4: To the Cultural Triangle (Breakfast & Dinner included)

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After breakfast this morning, we will travel to the Cultural Triangle, along roads that run through cashew, pineapple, coconut and rubber plantations, stopping en route to try a refreshing king coconut. The Cultural Triangle is a land of mystic treasures and stories of legendary Kings and Princes that the kids will love. We will arrive at the beautiful Ulagalla Resort in time for lunch. T ravel T ime: 3 ! hours. PM : C limb the UN ESC O World H er itage Site of Sigir iya

Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, built on top of a huge boulder in the 5th century. A palace. A rock fortress. The hidden castle of King Kasyapa. A Buddhist monastery from the 14th century. Similar to the cosmic mountain of Meru? The eighth wonder of the world? No place in Sri Lanka has generated as many theories and legends as the 180m monolith, set amidst stunning scenery. OPT I O N A L : UN ESC O World H er itage Site of Sigir iya by hot air balloon. (not included, price upon request) This hour long balloon ride makes for one of the most luxurious and thrilling experiences a discerning traveller can get. It is extremely popular among and families and accommodates children over seven years of age. It makes for the perfect holiday treat, and one the kids will talk about for years to come. Dinner & Overnight: Ulagalla.

ACCOMODATION Ulagalla

Ulagalla is a triumph of eco-friendly design that manages to blend genuine

environmental practices with luxurious, fully-facilitated interiors meaning that comfort is not forgotten. Accredited with a silver LEED certification from the

US Green Building Council, this brand new resort south of Anuradhapura

encompasses 58 acres of working paddy fields, organic vegetable plots and

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ornamental gardens that play host to 25 chalets, a sensitively-restored ancient wallauwa (manor house), a 30m swimming pool, a gym and a sensual sunken

surroundings not one tree was felled during construction whilst a mere

1,000 were planted gives it a village atmosphere that along with concerted

efforts of the hospitable staff team make you feel at home the moment you

arrive.! Day 5: Bullock Carts and Elephants (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

A M : Today we will enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then travel to a nearby farming village in Habarana for a typical farming experience would love: long walks through an ancient forest, bullock cart rides, boat rides

Enlightening and exhilarating, this village safari gives you a glimpse of a uniquely interlinked Sri Lankan village life which begins on a bullock cart through the backwoods of Hiriwadunna village

-110 AD). The ride will lead you to an inland along to a much larger lake brimming with lotus fronds, where wild elephants sometimes stop for a drink during drier seasons. You will witness a lunch prepared in the old ways and eaten in the old ways too, with your fingers! Served up on lotus leaves, and under a thatched roof hut, the lunch is can be made spicey or moderately spicy to your kids liking, and is a fun meal for the whole family. PM : M inner iya National Park Jeep Drive:

The park covers 8,890 hectares and consists of a mixed forest of evergreen

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shrubs, a favourite habitat for animals, which include leopards, deer and wild elephants. The park's main feature is the former reservoir or tank built by King Mahasen in the third century AD. During the dry season from June to September, this is a fantastic place to watch herds of elephants come to graze and bathe. It has recently been discovered that the park witnesses the largest elephant gathering in the world during these months. You can also see huge flocks of birds, including cormorants and painted storks that come to fish in the shallow waters. Dinner & Overnight: Ulagalla. Day 6: Caves, Batiks and Spices (Breakfast Lunch & Dinner included)

N O O N: Lunch at the Workshop of Ena De Silva After breakfast we set off for Kandy, stopping en route at the home of Ena de Silva for lunch. We will learn about the craft village that she has established as well as the art of batik, which she has perfected. Her pieces adorn the walls of the rich and famous around the world.

T ravel T ime: 2 hours From here we travel to Ellerton, a very child friendly space with a large garden and many walks and bike rides to enjoy in the surrounding area. A day trip to Kandy is a good idea meet the elephant and learn about Buddhism at the Temple of the Tooth and learn about the different plants in the Botanical Gardens, many are medicinal and some of the orchids carry scents of coffee and vanilla. On arrival, relax and unpack before enjoying early evening drinks and the dinner a la carte. T ravel T ime: 1 hour Dinner & Overnight: Ellerton.

ACCOMMODATION Ellerton

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Bandara Palipane has dedicated

the better part of his life to the

study of botany and is a graduate

of the University of Peradeniya in

the subject. He has led tours to all

and is now a specialist and the

local authority on the Royal

Botanical Gardens of Kandy, having conducted tours here for

the past 31 years and is a

published author, having written

a past to present account on

Gardens.

Having a spectacular hilltop location, Ellerton is a refurbished plantation

bungalow originally built over 100 years ago for the manager of a major tea

estate. Enveloped by a rich tropical garden and benefitting from magnificent views over the Mawanella Mountain Range, the house is set within nine acres

of an organic tea and spice estate, only a half hour drive from Kandy.

Day 7: Kandyan Delights (Breakfast & Dinner included)

A M : Botanical Wonders with Bandara Palipana Following breakfast, we will have a guided tour of the Botanical Gardens with the animated Bandara Palipana. The animated Palipana will take you and the kids around what was once a , and a

The gardens are vast and provide a great space if the kids want to launch into a sprint! Walking around these tranquil, immaculately-designed lawns, borders, pavilions and plant houses, you could easily think you are in England but the heat and extraordinary diversity of the tropical plants give the game away. The Botanical Gardens are as popular with Sri Lankans and travelers alike, and they are large enough to guarantee that there is shady seating available for each visitor. Easy to visit by foot. We recommend a casual lunch at the Botanical Gardens café. (not included)

PM : V isit the Sacred Temple of the Tooth and Witness a Cultural Show One of the most sacred buildings in the Buddhist world, The Temple of the Tooth is a must-see while in Kandy. Break for tea at the Empire Café for delicious home-made ice creams and smoothies that the kids will go crazy over! Our time in Kandy will come to a close as we watch the magnificent cultural show before the lake at sunset.

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A planter of over 40 years in the

trade, Andrew Taylor hails from a

family of planters. His tour of the

tea journey includes the process

from plucking to packaging as

one of few

aspects of the country that remains unchanged.

Dinner & Overnight: Ellerton. Day 8: A Journey through Tea (Breakfast Lunch & Dinner included)

A M : Scenic T rain Rides Following an early breakfast, we will check out of Ellerton and take the morning train to Nuwara Eliya. The journey is one of the most scenic in Asia through jungle, into cloud forest, past waterfalls and then into acres of rolling tea hills.

We will be met at the Nuwara Eliya by our driver before checking into Tea Trails, settling in and having lunch. In the afternoon, take a walk or trek through the hills, return for high tea and watch the sun go down over the mountains as you tuck in to some traditional afternoon cream tea (scones, clotted cream, jams, cakes). Dinner & Overnight: Tea Trails

ACCOMMODATION Tea Trails

Trees punctuate the vista, majestically rising above a sea of green tea plants

while the lake shimmers below both you and the bungalow gardens. Welcome

to Tea Trails... The setting is some 4,000 feet above sea level in the heart of Sri

Southern Highlands.Tea Trails comprises of four classic colonial bungalows

built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. Each bungalow is

different combining both classical and contemporary styles. The effect is

quintessentially luxurious and colonial; a stroll back in time but entirely

resplendent in modern amenities.

Day 9: Tea Bliss (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)

After a delicious breakfast, we will visit a tea factory where the kids can learn about the tea-making process, as well as the health benefits. Spend the afternoon walking, cycling or trekking through the trails, before settling back in at the hotel for dinner.

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Dinner & Overnight: Tea Trails. Day 10: To the Tropical South (Breakfast included)

This morning we will leave Tea Trails after breakfast and begin the drive to Galle on the south coast. We drive through Kitulgala, the setting for the 1950s film, The Bridge on the River Kwai and stop for lunch at the Avisawella Rest House. (not included)

We will arrive in Galle in the late afternoon and settle in at the Why House hotel. T ravel T ime: 5 hours PM: We recommend a swim and dinner at Wijeya Beach just 5 minutes away from Why House. This little restaurant one of the best swimmable beaches in the area. Overnight: Why House

ACCOMMODATION Why House

!A luscious tropical garden, two acres of privacy and a striking swimming pool

House is a gorgeous eight bedroom hotel that you can rent either by the room

or as a whole as an exclusive fully-staffed house.

Day 11: Exploring the Galle Fort (Breakfast included)

A M : Canoeing on the G inganga river with Galle resident Jeff of Idle Boats. This excursion takes place at break of day. A great way to spend a morning with the kids in Galle is to enjoy a canoeing adventure on the Ginganga River. You

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Juliet is a travel writer and novel

publisher based in Sri Lanka, full

time international

photojournalist, and member of BBC Lonely Planet and Getty

career has included working for

News Limited Worldwide, which

took her from Antarctica counting

king penguins to covering a gun

and bomb festival in Yemen.

will start from the banks of the sweeping gardens of a beautiful colonial hotel, and travel up-stream passing villages, gnarled mangroves and coconut groves. You will see a wealth of bird and animal life including monitor lizards and possibly even a python. Paddle along at your ease and enjoy the water nature trail and its own brand of Sri Lankan wildlife.

Make your way back to Why House for late breakfast. The rest of the day is yours at leisure. We recommend lunch at Why House and the afternoon by the pool. PM : Secrets of the Fort with Juliet Coombe. The best time to explore Galle Fort in the afternoon. The 16th century Galle Fort is a world heritage site, and no one knows it better than the animated author and your host for the evening Juliet Coombe. In this walk tailor made for children, Juliet will share some of the most exciting secrets of largest surviving fort, built by European occupiers. During the walk, make stops for fresh ice cream and sample street food. Let the kids go on a treasure hunt through the fort, on a one hour circuit that is most enjoyable at sunset when the air is cool and the light is long and low. The real allure is found in simply wandering through its warren of narrow alleys and side streets, replete with colonial homes with original archways and verandas, 18th century churches, mosques, museums and impressive art galleries and clothing boutiques.

We recommend dinner at Crep-ology, a beautiful roof top restaurant and lounge on top of Carrousel de Galle. The kids will relish the range of delicious, sweet and savory crêpes, wraps, and its wide variety of refreshing Italian sodas and smoothies, and a daily selection of fresh baked cakes and quiche. The restaurant has a separate family dining room with a couch, dining table and play area for the kids to give mum and dad a break. Overnight: Why House

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Coach Tharanga conducts

personalised and intimate surf clinics for kids and adults

alike at Surf Control, an

establishment he founded over

a decade ago in his home

town Hikkaduwa. A champion

the waves kicked in as a boy

waves ever since.

Daniel F rancis is an English

expat reputed for her excellent baking and all round cooking

skills. A long term resident of Galle, Daniel was inspired to

cook from an early age by the

renowned English cook Joceline

Dimbleby.

Day 12: ! (Breakfast & Lunch included)

A M : Surf Control with Coach Tharanga After Breakfast, head to Hikkaduwa with the kids, or if you want a day away from the kids, let them be chaperoned off to Surf Control, for a half day surf

ing specialist. (Lunch included)

PM : Yatigala Tea and Temple Tour with Daniel F rancis

Homemade chocolate cake, jam tarts and savoury sandwiches are spread out at the lush Talpe paddy island in a classic English tea. After tea, take a leisurely, bumpy bullock cart ride to the Yatagala temple and marvel at a massive 40-foot boulder carved Buddha statue and beautiful views of paddy fields and village hamlets. Overnight & Dinner : Why House Day 13: To the Capital (Breakfast included) Following a relaxed breakfast, we head to the capital city of Colombo. Check in at Galle Face Hotel and have the first part of your day at leisure. W e recommend lunch at Barefoot Café. (not included) T ravel time: The drive from Galle to Colombo is approx. 2 ! hours

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German, and British descent, but today he classifies himself as a

- He is very

much Sri Lankan and speaks the

three languages of the island:

English, Sinhalese and Tamil. His

-trips

left in Mark a love for out-door

adventure, making friends, and

sharing the stories of his

adventures.

"

PM : C ity Walk with resident M ark Forbes.

Mark will take you right into the birthplace of what is modern day Colombo, a busy and vibrant city and the largest of Sri Lanka, with a mixture of modern life, colonial buildings and ruins. Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago. It was made the capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815, and its status as capital was retained when the nation became independent in 1948. For the kids, Mark will make stops at the wide open spaces of the Galle Face Green, adjacent to the legendary Galle Face Hotel, for kite flying and ice cream, as well as samplings of street food and walk-

Following the walk, head to Santore, an outdoor Italian restaurant that boasts .

Overnight: Galle Face Hotel

ACOMMODATION The Galle Face Hotel

can enjoy superior levels of comfort whilst revelling in the elegant and sophisticated

ambience of a bygone era. Its position at the

main attractions have given it an unrivalled location in the capital since its

establishment in 1864.

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Day 14: (Breakfast included)

You will be driven to the airport at the time suggested by your chauffeur. Departure on TBC at TBA

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M AP !

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T rip Notes:

- We designed this trip for a family with kids starting from about 4 or 5 years old upwards. They need to be able to climb Sigiriya Rock at least which is 1000 steps. Sounds a lot some of the most kid friendly hotels in Sri Lanka.

T ravel T ips:

- Bring cool, light summer clothes preferably cotton or linen as these are most comfortable for kids, and a jumper/cardigan for when you are in the Hill Country.

- Change foreign currencies into Sri Lankan rupees at Colombo airport and vice versa. - Mosquito repellent is important. Citronella oil, which is readily available in Sri Lanka often work best. - Hats and sun lotion is recommended for while in the Cultural Triangle, the South and Colombo - Always carry lots of water on you.

Country Information:

- Sri Lanka is a teardrop shaped tropical island off the south coast of India. It has been famous with travellers for centuries, for the riches that it holds, which include gems, spices and hard woods. It is a diverse country with four major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Unfortunately, it was troubled by a civil war for thirty years. This ended in May 2009 and the country is now at peace and seeing a huge increase in tourist numbers who come to visit the ancient cities, the tea country, the religious sites, and the stunning coastline.

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