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14 Days 13 Nights
Kerala and Srilanka
Cultural and Wildlife Tour, Special Tour
Group & Private
01 Pax onwards
From elephants to houseboats, tea plantations to tropical beaches, Buddha’s tooth to an old fort town – this tour is a fantastic mix of Southern India and Sri Lanka. Enjoy the sights, the spectacular scenery, the lovely people, yummy food and more… A fantastic 14 day holiday.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:-
NOTE:- This is a Private Tour with your own private vehicle and personal guides and drivers. We can also book it for couple family or group of friends as per your request. Please raise a request for the same to us and we will revert to you.
Your journey begins in the port city of Kochi, also known as Cochin. On arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check in. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight in Kochi
Meals included: Dinner
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.
13 nights' accommodation
Check-in & check-out time: generally, check in is after 2 pm and check out before12 pm. Early check-in
and late check-out FOC are subject to room availability at the discretion of hotel. Guaranteed early
check-in and late check-out may generate additional charges .
26 meals as per itinerary - 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 11 dinners.
All airport transfers - by private vehicle.
Assistance by rep/driver at the airport during International arrival and departure
All transportation throughout the tour in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The vehicle used will depend on the size of your group and will range from an air-conditioned car for groups of 2, a Toyota
Innova for groups of 3, a minivan for groups of 4-10 people and for groups over 10 a coach will be used.
In India you will have local English speaking guides for sightseeing and in Srilanka the driver will also be the guide. For large group of 8 pax or more will have an accompanying guide/escort for the trip .
Entrance and sightseeing fees as stated in the itinerary.
Flight from Kochi, India to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Free wifi available at the hotel lobby or room (as per availability in hotels).
Mineral water on tour days with our compliments.
Taxes and service fees.Upon purchase of your tour online you will immediately receive a receipt and order confirmation. Travelbay will contact the tour operator to confirm availability for all accommodation and transportation for your tour. As soon as we have confirmed the dates (usually within 48 hours sometimes a little longer at weekends) we will email you your booking confirmation. We will request further information from you to ensure that all your personal preferences are taken care of. This will include details such as your accommodation preferences, dietary requests, allergies, health issues, emergency contact and any special requirements. We will also request a copy of each traveller’s passport.
Capital City: New Delhi
Population: 1.366 billion
Languages: There is no national language in India. Hindi and English are both official languages. India has over 1,000 spoken languages. The languages with the most number of speakers are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi and Tamil.
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
Time Zone: (GMT+05:30) Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi
Dialling code: +91
Religion: Hinduism is the predominant followed by Islam, Christianity, Sikh, Buddhism and Jainism
The best time to visit India is from October through to March. At this time, the weather across India is mostly warm and dry.
India is a large country with a huge range of varying climates. Most of the country is sub tropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Below is a very general overview to give you some idea of what to expect.
North India
South India:
How to get there
This tour starts and ends in Delhi.
Flights from Australia to India are approximately $900 – $1,200 per person return. The actual price varies depending on departure city, time of year and luck of the draw!
Travelbay works together with an excellent corporate flight booking company and we would be happy to provide you with a free quote.
If you choose to book your flights with Travelbay, we charge a $50 booking fee for this service.
Most nationalities require a visa when travelling to India. You need to apply for and receive your visa before you depart.
You can apply for an e-visa online or you can apply for your visa via VSF Global who works in conjunction with the Indian embassy. For more information you can visit our visa information page.
To find out the visa requirements for India, you can also check here with Visalink.
Please note: We attempt to provide you with the latest information and links. However, please be aware that it is each traveller’s responsibility (and not Travelbay’s) to ensure that you have a valid visa if required for any country you visit.
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