Flavours of India & Sri Lanka
Itinerary
- Itinerary:Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Jodhpur - Udaipur - Delhi - Colombo - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Yala NP - Unawatuna
- Duration:18 days / 17 nights (flexible)
- Price:From £ 2,759.- per person (excluding flights)
Days 1-2 – India: Arrival in Delhi
After your international flight, you’ll arrive in the heart of India, Delhi. Our driver will collect you from the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the Karol Bagh area. You can freshen up at your hotel and then head out to visit the local area, either by foot or by utilising the local metro station.
Days 2-4 – India: Sunrise at the Taj Mahal
Today it’s time to experience the famous Indian Railway! You’ll be transferred from your hotel to the station where you’ll board the train to Agra. This day train is comfortable, and the journey is relatively short (approx. 2 hours). Visit mystical monkey temples and ghost cities en route to sunrise at the Taj Mahal. A real wonder of the world, it’s a building that will take your breath away. India’s Golden Triangle is the stuff of legend, with the ethereal Taj Mahal at its pinnacle. This trip will take you from Delhi to Agra, where you’ll watch dawn break over the Taj Mahal.
Days 4-6 – India: Exploring Jaipur
Your driver will collect you and transfer you to your hotel in Jaipur (approx. 5 hours away), where you’ll stay in a boutique, family-run hotel with a charming courtyard and a swimming pool to cool down in. The next day you’ll take a guided tour of this remarkable city, visiting the City Palace, the Observatory and the fairy-tale Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal). In the afternoon, you’ll visit Amber Fort before heading back to central Jaipur which is jumble of colours, camel carts, elephants, beggars, rickshaws, temples, forts and palaces.
In the morning you’ll pack your bags and get ready for a new adventure.
Days 6-10 – India: Camels and castles in Rajasthan
Soak up the romance of Rajasthan, from mystic lake palaces to desert forts as you spend five nights travelling across this legendary state. Begin by travelling to Pushkar, built around a beautiful holy lake where you’ll see pilgrims bathing and singing softly. Next, you’ll travel to Jodhpur, also known as ‘The Blue City’ and home of the dramatic Mehrangarh Fort, one of the most impressive Mughal forts in India.
Next is Udaipur and on the way, stop to visit the striking Jain temple of Ranakpur, nestled in a green valley. Udaipur is one of the most romantic cities in India and home to the Lake Palace. The legendary Lake Palace floats on an island in the centre of the glassy lake, lending the town a rich, fairy-tale feeling. Enjoy a guided tour to explore this magical city.
It’s now time to leave Rajasthan and head back to Delhi. You’ll board a domestic flight from Udaipur back to India’s capital city.
Days 10-11 – India: back to Delhi
You’ll spend one more night in Delhi before heading over to the heart of the Indian ocean. It’s a good time to wander around the old town, try some exciting street food and test your haggling skills at one of the markets. The next morning you’ll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport in time for your international flight across to Sri Lanka.
Days 11-13 – Sri Lanka: At home in the curry kitchen
Get a real taste of Sri Lanka during a comfortable homestay experience, where you can learn to cook up a storm at home in the curry kitchen. You’ll stay in your own private room and after a good night’s sleep, explore the local area before heading to the market to do the shopping for your lunch. Learn the secrets to making an authentic curry and how to use herbs to enhance the flavour. Delicious!
Days 13-14 – Sri Lanka: Tea hills and trails
Next, you’ll head into the tea hills of Nuwara Eliya by private car with an English-speaking driver. The journey takes about 2 hours. With the unmistakable air of a quintessential English town, Nuwara Eliya is affectionately known as ‘Little England’ and it won’t take you long to see why. Colonial style buildings, rose scented flower gardens, red telephone boxes and even a church, all surrounded by a blanket of rolling tea plantations; this is a totally different side of Sri Lanka. You’ll stay in a centrally located hotel right in the heart of the country. Watch tea pickers in the fields, visit an old English tea factory and walk along the picturesque plateau at Horton plains to take in the sweeping views of World’s End.
Days 14-16 – Sri Lanka: Explore the emerald valleys of Ella
Next, you’ll travel by train from the tea hills in Nuwara Eliya to the mountains of Ella. We’ll buy 3rd class tickets for you so you have the chance to travel with the locals. The journey takes roughly 3 hours and when you arrive at the station, your driver will already be there waiting. You’ll walk with him along the track to the hotel. Known for its breathtaking mountain views and endless rolling hills, Ella is a peaceful village nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country. You’ll arrive by train as you pass scenic landscapes, and stay in a cosy hotel with sweeping views. Take a challenging four hour hike to Ella Rock, or a more gentle trek to Little Adam’s Peak.
Next, you’ll drive towards Yala National Park stopping off en route at the Elephant Transit Home where injured babies and orphans are cared for. You’ll visit around feeding time and watch as the young elephants wait patiently at the gate and tease each other for the first sip of milk. Your travelling time today is roughly 4.5 hours.
Days 16-17 – Sri Lanka: The wild heart of Yala National Park
Yala National Park is one of the most famous National Parks in Sri Lanka. During this trip, you’ll head out on a jeep safari where you can spot a kaleidoscope of colourful birds, monkeys, crocodiles, buffaloes and of course, elephants. If you’re really lucky, you might even spot a leopard sneaking past, so make sure you have your camera ready! After an exciting day of wildlife spotting, you’ll head back to your simple yet unique accommodation, located on the edge of the park. Your comfortable tent comes equipped with a bed, toilet and sink! In the evening, you can fall asleep to the sounds of the wild – an experience to make your Sri Lanka wildlife trip complete!
Days 17-19 – Sri Lanka: Turquoise bay at Unawatuna
Next, you’ll head towards the nearby Tissa Kataragama Temple, an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Here, you can see all these religions melt together in one place. After your temple visit, you’ll continue on to Unawatuna. Your journey today should take around 3 hours. Enjoy a tropical beach break at the bay of Unawatuna for a dose of sunshine, sea and sand. Soak up the rays, sample freshly caught fish and perfect your downward facing dog with a little yoga. You’ll stay in your own characterful room just a few minutes walk from Unawatuna’s tropical bay.
Next, it’s time to travel back to Colombo and the journey time today is around 3 hours. Your driver will drop you at the airport where you’ll catch your international flight home.
