Sri Lanka & India – 13 Night/14 Days Special Private Tour including Wildlife, Spices, Tea Plantation, Houseboat and Beaches

Enjoy a tour in the morning and discover what an interesting mix and blend of cultures Kochi is home to. Chinese, Judaism, Portuguese, Dutch and of course the British have all left their mark on this tropical port of the Malabar coast. It makes for a wonderful city to explore. Some of the main sights covered will be the Chinese fishing nets, the Vaniar Dhobi unit, the Dutch Palace*, the Paradesi Synagogue* (the oldest in India, built in 1568) and the vibrant spice markets, still going strong after hundreds of years.

The quaint Old Dutch houses around Jew Town are now home to boutiques and antique shops. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. In the evening see a Kathakali dance performance, the ancient pantomime dance drama of Kerala. Arrive a little early to see the performers applying their make-up and preparing for the performance.

Optional extra: This evening, rather than having the usual dinner, you can choose to partake in a cooking demonstration followed by dinner with a local culinary expert where you will learn the intricacies of cooking Keralan cuisine. The cost of this is AUD $50 per person.

*Please note: The Dutch Palace is closed on Saturdays and the Paradesi Synagogue is closed on Fridays and Saturdays. We recommend starting this tour any day of the week except for Thursdays and Fridays.

Overnight in Kochi.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Today you will be driven inland to Periyar (around 4 hours). Along the way enjoy the gorgeous views of the surrounding tea fields.

In the afternoon visit a spice plantation and learn all about how spices are grown. Enjoy the aromas of cinnamon and discover the beauty of the cardamom flowers and the pepper plant leaves.

Overnight in Periyar (Thekkady)

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

Periyar National Park is a thick forest located in the Cardamom Hills of Thekkady. Discover the many birds and watch out for elephants, sambar, Malabar giant squirrels and wild boars all of which are common sightings.

The area is also home to tigers but sightings of these are more rare. This morning enjoy a nature walk in the park with a guide from a local tribe. Spot squirrels, birds and other wildlife as you explore this magnificent wildlife sanctuary.

You will need long pants and enclosed shoes for this walk. In the afternoon take a boat ride on Lake Periyar. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the National Park this boat trip is a great way to spot more wildlife and take in the scenery at the same time.

Overnight in Periyar (Thekkady)

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

Drive down the hills of the Western Ghats (mountain range) for around 4 hours to the backwaters of Alleppey. Set on Vembanad Lake, this is one of Kerala’s most beautiful spots and where you board your Houseboat.Enjoy cruising in the labyrinthine waterways and see local village life as it has been for years - fisherman casting their nets, children coming home from school by canoe, and ‘toddy tappers’ men who can scale the tallest coconut palms in order to extract the sap.A note on the houseboats or kettuvallam as they are called: These are traditional boats made out of wood, bamboo, coconut fibre, jute, coir etc. and have air-conditioned rooms with an ensuite toilet and shower.

They are 1 - 5 bedrooms depending on the size of your group. Each boat has a kitchen where the cook prepares the meals, plus an open area with a dining table and sitting area with sofas and chairs. After you board the boat there is usually a short cruise before the boat is moored and lunch is served.

After lunch continue cruising through the narrow canals. Around sunset the boat is moored again and dinner is prepared and then served. Overnight the boats stay moored in the same place to give you a restful night’s sleep. In the morning after breakfast cruise back to where your car and driver will be waiting for you.

Overnight in Alleppey.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After a leisurely breakfast cruise through the narrow backwater canals towards your boat jetty. Along the way watch the locals go about their daily activities, with villagers working in the rice fields, ferries plying their trade and local fisher folk fishing.

When you reach the boat jetty disembark your boat. You will be driven to the airport in Kochi for your flight to Colombo (approximately 2 hours drive). Your Sri Lankan Airlines flight departs Kochi at 4:15 pm and arrives into Colombo at 5:30pm.

On arrival, you will be meat at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Negombo.

Overnight in Negombo.

Meals included:Breakfast.

Day 7: SRI LANKA ~ The city of Kandy and Buddha's tooth. Set on a plateau amongst the rainforest with mountain views from every angle, the city of Kandy is a lovely place to visit.

Enjoy a city tour including the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - allegedly home to a tooth of Buddha (you won't actually see the tooth as it is kept in a golden casket).

In the evening, if you wish, attend a cultural dance show. *For certain departures in July & August, enjoy the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival (supplement applies for these dates).

It is also known as the Festival of the Tooth and is one of the grandest Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka.

It is an annual procession that pays homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. It's a colourful and lively festival with traditional dances and costumes, firedancing, great food and more.

Overnight in Kandy.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

After breakfast at your hotel you will be collected and taken to the train station in Kandy for a scenic and famous train ride to Nanu Oya*. In Nanu Oya, you will be met at the train station and driven on to Nuwara Eliya.

Along the way, visit a tea plantation and tea factory where you will learn all about the process of manufacturing tea and how it is graded.

Translating to "City of Light".

Nuwara Eliya is also called Little England as the effects of colonial days are evident and the climate is somewhat cooler. Home to the famous Ceylon Tea, some of the world's best tea comes from this area. The mountain slopes are a spectacular sight covered in the bright green tea plantations.

*Please note: We do our best to book the trains and the majority of the time we can arrange either First Class or Second Class seats.

At times we may not be able to book the train for you as there are some government controls and regulations around the booking process. If we are not able to book you on the train we will arrange your transfer by car - the journey by road is also picturesque and you can stop at various points along the way including some waterfalls.

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

Today set off early for a trek in Horton Plains National Park. Your hotel can prepare a packed breakfast for you.

Horton Plains National Park is a 1.5 hour drive from Nuwara Eliya and is on a plateau in the central highlands near the village of Ohiya. The plateau is at an altitude of 2,100 - 2,300m and the views of the surrounding grasslands and cloud forest are spectacular. The trek today is 9km and can take around 3 hours depending on each individual. A reasonable level of fitness is required and we recommend good walking shoes.

On the way back to your hotel visit Gregory Lake, Strawberry Farm and the local bazaars.

If you would prefer not to do the hike we can arrange a visit to the Seetha Amman temple and for you to have high tea at the Grand, or you may simply prefer to relax and spend the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

After breakfast you will be driven to Yala National Park - Sri Lanka's most famous National Park (a 6 hour drive). Enjoy the countryside and scenery of Sri Lanka along the way. Upon arrival you will be taken to your hotel.

Yala was a former hunting ground under British rule and is now protected with National Park status and has been since 1938. It is said to have the world's biggest concentration of leopards as well as being home to elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, peacocks, sambars, jackals, spotted deer, colourful birdlife and more. Before the rainy season (starting around May), the low water levels bring the animals into the open making it a fantastic time to visit. The best months are between February and July.

In the evening you will be taken on a jeep safari in the park to spot wildlife.

*Please note that parts of Yala National Park can sometimes close in September. If this is the case we will arrange a wildlife tour in a different section of the park for you.

Overnight in Yala.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

This morning you will be driven to your beach resort in either Wadduwa or Bentota (depending on your choice of accommodation).

The drive is approximately 6 hours. Along the way visit the seaside town of Galle - an old fortified city founded by the Portuguese.

It is now an Archaeological Reserve and has been identified as a living World Heritage Site.

Continue on to Bentota/Wadduwa where you will be taken to your hotel. Known for their golden sands and palms, this is a great spot to relax.

Overnight in Bentota/Wadduwa.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

Enjoy your time at leisure on the beach and at your beach resort.

Overnight in Bentota/Wadduwa.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

Today after breakfast you will be driven to Colombo (approximately 2 hours drive). If time permits your driver will take you on a sightseeing tour of Colombo visiting the highlights of the city and also some local shopping areas - the length of the tour will depend on the time available to coincide with your departure flight.

When it is time for your flight you will be taken to the airport.

Meals included: Breakfast

*Optional: Additional nights can be booked - please contact us for rates.