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Sri Lanka
The Land of Serendipity
TOUR OVERVIEW
Sri Lanka, Serendip, Ceylon – this little tropical island has many names and many facets. Explore this Pearl of the Indian Ocean, F5 style. Join us as we travel across this beautiful country, experiencing its traditions, lore, wildlife and natural beauty. Enjoy the famous Ceylon tea as we hop across the hill country, hike through the Horton Plains, and walk around the Little England that is Nuwara Eliya. Enjoy the balmy beaches and azure waters at Unawatuna, exploring the sea on a cruise ship and walking through the erstwhile Dutch colony of Galle fort. Interact with the elephants, watch the turtles, explore the mangroves and meet some amazing individuals. Adventure beckons!
Single Occupancy Surcharge – INR 32,500 + 5% TCS + 5% GST
Arrive in Colombo by 4PM on 28th April. Depart anytime on 5th May
GALLERY
Day 1 - 28 Apr 2024
Arrive at the Colombo International airport, latest by 4PM. Check in and relax. In the evening go for a night tour in Colombo city and have a nice local dinner. Overnight at Colombo
Day 2 - 29 Apr 2024
After breakfast, visit some of the landmarks of Colombo in a city tour. Check out and start your journey towards Unawatuna. On the way, stop at Bentota for lunch and go for a boat ride on the Madu Ganga river. This boat ride provides access to one of the last remaining pristine stretches of mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. Visit a turtle hatchery and conservation centre. Reach Unawatuna and enjoy the pristine blue waters. Overnight at Unawatuna.
Day 3 - 30 Apr 2024
Have an early start of the day and drive to Mirissa with a packed breakfast. Go for a cruise to spot the whales. Sri Lanka has the world’s largest colony of Blue Whales. Here’s hoping we get lucky!
On the way back to the hotel, visit the stilt fishing community of Sri Lanka, a slowly disappearing way of fishing.
Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day lazing around the beach. Visit the Galle Fort in the evening. Built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century, Galle FortIt is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance.
Day 4 - 01 May 2024
If you wish to snorkel or go for a tandem dive, you can do that today morning. After breakfast, we move from tropical beaches to cooler climates today. Start your journey to Nuwara Eliya. On the way stop at a tea garden and some other points of interest. Visit the Seetha Amman temple and Ashok Vatika where, as the lore goes, Sita was held by Ravana.
Check into your hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Walk around the locality called Little England for its architecture and layout. Overnight at Nuwara Eliya
Day 5 - 02 May 2024
Today will be an early start with packed breakfast as we drive towards Horton Plains National Park. A protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, the national park is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 metres (6,900–7,500 ft) is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. Hike to the World’s End, a sheer cliff, with a drop of about 4,000 feet, located within the park.
Return to Nuwara Eliya and have a hearty lunch. Go shopping, visit the lake and walk around the picturesque town straight out of an English fairy tale. Overnight at Nuwara Eliya.
Day 6 - 03 May 2024
Start our journey towards Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Visit Sri Dalada Maligawa, commonly known as the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic. Housing Buddha’s tooth since 4th Century AD, this is one of the most revered places in Sri Lanka. Witness the cultural dance performance. Overnight at Kandy
Day 7 - 04 May 2024
Check out after breakfast and visit the craftsmen making masks that have their place in history, medicine and mythology. Also, visit the shops for gems. Meet a local women’s self help group and have lunch with them. Proceed to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, a conservation institute of Asian elephants. Interact with the elephants and shop for the famous poo paper!
Proceed to Negombo. Overnight at Negombo.
Day 8 - 05 May 2024
Catch the flight back after breakfast. Trip ends.
Inclusions
- Accommodation on double sharing basis for 7 nights
- Road transportation in an AC Vehicle
- Airport transfers in smaller cars
- Three major meals of the day starting from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8
- Entrance fee as per the itinerary
- Whale watching cruise at Mirssa
- Visa fee
- Guidance of an F5 Tour Lead
- Tolls and Parking
Exclusions
- 5% GST
- TCS – 5% – 20% depending on your international expenditure in the financial year
- Flights to Colombo from your city of residence and return.
- Meals other than mentioned
- Tips and other expenses of personal nature.
- Accommodation/Stay/Food during Transit.
- Camera Charges for monuments
- Any expenses arising out of natural or man-made contingency. We will make arrangements to deal with the contingency, at extra cost.
- Alcohol and other beverages
- Anything not specifically mentioned in inclusions
Terms & Conditions
- 15% of the trip cost if cancelled 90 days or more in advance.
- 25% of the trip cost if cancelled 89 – 60 days in advance.
- 50% of the trip cost if it is cancelled 59 to 16 days in advance.
- Last 15 days – no show – the entire amount will be forfeited.
- If you use our services to book flights, cancellation charges will apply
Disclaimer
- All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveler in getting medical attention.
- F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.
- F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions – in such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.
Arrival & Departure Timings:
This trip is Ex- Colombo
Arrive in Colombo by 4PM on Day 1. Depart anytime on Day 8
Passport validity and Visa
This trip is for Indian passport holders. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure.
We will be applying for your Electronic Travel Application (ETA) on your behalf. We will need the copy of your passport and valid return air ticket as well as your bank statement.
You can read the ETA conditions online here – https://eta.gov.lk/etaslvisa/etaNavServ
Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for foreign travel
The government has levied a tax for expenditure on foreign travel. The tax rate is 5% upto INR 7 lakhs for an individual. The rate is 20% to travel expenditure for INR 7 lakhs and above. We will be collecting 5% TCS on the package, alongwith your PAN, as the responsibility of collecting TCS is on the travel organiser. If your expenditure on foreign travel exceeds INR 7 lakhs in the financial year, please consult your accountant to file advance tax.
Note on weather:
Sri Lanka is a tropical island. The coastal area will be hot during the day (going up to 31 degrees C), and pleasant in the mornings and evenings. The hill country will be cool throughout the day (ranging from 14 to 25 degrees)
*Please note that now a days, climate/ weather is dependent on many factors and unpredictable hence above information might be subject to change during your actual travel days
NOTE ABOUT SMOKING & ALCOHOL:
Everyone joining is an adult and we realise that we cannot dictate the behaviour on how you should enjoy the trip. All we ask is to drink responsibly. Hangover delays are going to cost a lot, and will not be tolerated at all. So please do not test your limits and enjoy in moderation. Also, do respect your roommate’s comfort levels with the alcohol smell and avoid drinking in the room if she is not comfortable.
If you smoke, please do so outside the room, even if the rooms have ashtray.
About your stay:
Colombo – A boutique hotel
Unawatuna – A beach facing resort
Nuwara Eliya – An English-barn style hotel
Kandy – A well reviewed hotel with great views of the valley
Negombo – A beautifully located hotel around the Negombo lagoon.
Note on double sharing – Most places of stay in this circuit will have double beds instead of twin beds. We will ensure that you have separate blankets to sleep in.
Food!
We will try local cuisine as much as possible. Breakfast would have local dishes as well as bread/toast and omelette. Fruits would be available at most places.
Note > Prepare > Accept > Embrace:
- The trip has some early starts. Please maintain timings
- This trip will see different weather conditions from humid to cool
- For visiting temples and other sacred places, please wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders. Sleeveless dresses can be covered up using a shawl or stole.
‘F5 Escapes’ is a Bangalore-based, experiential travel company, with a focus on redefining the way women travel in India. The premise of F5 is an ambitious dream – to put India on the global travel map as a preferred destination for women from across the globe.
F5 Escapes offers fixed departure all-women group tours, customized itineraries for families, groups and solo travellers. We also do in-city engagements which include #JustGo travel meetups, workshops to educate women on travel safety, sustainable menstruation, motorbiking etc.