SRI LANKA: TEMPLES, TEA & WILDLIFE
JANUARY 14-25, 2017
ITINERARY
Day 1
COLOMBO (D)*
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included. We will have a welcome dinner at the hotel.
Day 2
COLOMBO (B)
After breakfast, we will have a photography talk then we will be doing a driving tour of the city in the afternoon and a walking tour in the evening.
Day 3
PINNAWALA – HABARANA (B, D)
After breakfast we will travel to Habarana (190km / 4 hrs. 30 mins) with a stop en route to visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the perfect place for photographing these gentle giants.
Day 4
SIGIRIYA – POLONNARUWA – HABARANA (B, D)
After an early breakfast proceed to Sigiriya and climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress – a world heritage site – built by King Kashyapa (473 – 491 A.D). The “lion rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. After lunch, we will visit Polonnaruwa, the 2nd capital of Sri Lanka. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries A.D, also a world heritage site. Return to our hotel in Habarana.
Day 5
MINNERITA – HABARANA (B, D)
After an early breakfast proceed to Minneriya and visit the Minneriya National Park or Kaudulla Eco Park – a famous bird and elephant sanctuary. Upon our return to the hotel, enjoy an Ayuruveda massage (included).
Day 6
KANDY (B, D)
Depart for Kandy after breakfast (approx. 100km / 02 hr 30 min), stopping en route to visit Dambulla. Dating back to the 1st Century BC, The Dambulla Rock Temple is the most impressive cave temple in Sri Lanka. Continuing with our journey to Kandy, we will stop in Matale, a town in the hill country of Sri Lanka. Here we will visit a spice garden and enjoy a cooking demonstration. Finally, we will arrive in Kandy which is the English name for the city of Maha Nuvara . It was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Later this evening we will enjoy a cultural show.
Day 7
NUWARA ELIYA (B, D)
After an early breakfast at the hotel we will visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO world heritage site. According to Sri Lankan legends, when Buddha died in India, his left canine tooth was retrieved from the funeral pyre by a spiritual practitioner who brought it back and gave it to King Brahmadatte. Continue to the Peradeniya Station and board our train to Nanu Oya. En route to Nuwara Eliya (95km /02 hrs 30min) we will visit a tea plantation. Nuwara Eliya is a mountain station set an elevation of 6200 feet, making it the highest in Sri Lanka. Surrounded by lush green tea plantations, its beauty is breathtaking. We will also visit the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, famous for its orchids and roses!
Day 8
HORTON PLAINS – NUWARA ELIYA (B, D)
Afer breakfast we will visit Horton Plains National Park in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The plateau at an altitude of 2,300 metres above sea level and is rich in biodiversity with many species found here are endemic to the region. The sheer precipice of World’s End and Baker’s Fall are among the other attractions of the park. Return to Nuwara Eliya for dinner.
Day 9
YALA (B, D)
Today we will drive to Yala National Park. (160 km / 04 hr).
After some downtime at the hotel, we will enjoy an evening safari inside the Yala National Park – the heartland of wildlife in Sri Lanka and home to herds of elephant, sloth bear, spotted dear, jackal, extensively populated birdlife as well as the highest density of leopards in the world.
DAY 10
GALLE – BENTOTA (B, D)
After an early morning safari in Yala National Park and breakfast, we will visit Galle – the epic Southern capital. Galle is the intersection where classic Dutch architecture meets a tropical setting creating a vivid atmosphere in beauty. Visit the Galle Fort was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. Next we will visit The Japanese Peace Pagoda. This attraction makes for an excellent trek and also offers mesmerizing views from the top of the double-storey structure. After arriving at our hotel in Bentota, we will have time to share and critique our images.
DAY 11
BENTOTA (B, D)
Today we will visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. This is operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka and was established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka’s turtles from extinction. Then we will head to the estuary of the Madu Ganga River, a complex coastal ecosystem of mangroves and islands, for a boat trip to see some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals, including monkeys, water monitor lizards, cormorants, egrets and kingfishers.
DAY 12
COLOMBO (B)
After breakfast we will head back to Colombo so you can catch
your flight home or choose to extend your trip.
*Meals included: B = Breakfast, L= Lunch, D = Dinner
YOUR HOST:
Vanessa Dewso is an Ottawa-based professional photographer who began hosting photo tours in 2012 and loved it so much she founded Focus on Photography Tours. She is an accredited member of the Professional Photographers of Canada, recently earning her Craftsman of Photographic Arts as well as several awards for her travel photography.
INCLUDED
• 4-star accommodation with private bathroom
• Land transportation in air conditioned motorcoach and train
• Park entrance fees & specified meals
• Professional photographer host
• Local guide and driver
COST (LAND ONLY)
$3500 CAD per person (includes all taxes)
Based on Double occupancy
Based on a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 16
Single supplement $1650 CAD
DEPOSIT AMOUNT:
$250 per person (non-refundable)
FINAL PAYMENT:
November 4, 2016
AIR TRAVEL is not included but we are happy to help make arrangements for you.
CANCELLATION POLICY
More than 71 days prior to departure = loss of non-refundable deposit
Between 70-46 days prior to departure = 75% loss
45 days or less prior to departure = 100% non-refundable
It is mandatory for all of our travellers to have Emergency Medical insurance that covers for both emergency evacuation and repatriation to the sum of $200,000 USD. We also strongly recommend purchasing an all-inclusive plan that covers cancellation/interruption insurance as well. Please contact us for a quote.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK YOUR SPOT CONTACT:
Vanessa Dewson, CPA
Focus on Photography Tours*
[email protected]
Ottawa: 613-859-9584
Toronto: 416-367-8264 x2651
803-55 York Street, Toronto, ON M5J 1R7
www.focusonphototours.com
*a division of Romance & Foodie Travel
TICO #50021282