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Flavours of India & Sri Lanka
Best of India & Sri Lanka - 3-Week Holiday Itinerary
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Prices from £2,665 pp
All prices exclude international flights at the start/end of your trip. Let us book flights for you.
18 days / 17 nights (flexible)
Daily
Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Jodhpur - Udaipur - Delhi - Colombo - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Yala NP - Unawatuna
Overview
This itinerary encompasses all the highlights of both India and Sri Lanka. You’ll begin in Delhi and head west to Rajasthan, the land of palaces, forts, Maharajahs and romantic cities. Of course, you’ll also be stopping to visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise before you leave India. But then it’s time to head south to the teardrop isle. Here you’ll learn to cook curry, spot elephants on the grassy plains, trek past emerald tea hills to lofty mountains, and take a break on a tropical beach.
What's included
- Accommodation – price based on 2 people sharing
- Breakfast
- Transport as described
- Excursions as described
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Location map
Your day-by-day itinerary
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.
Onward transfers
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)
India: Sunrise at the Taj Mahal
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.
Onward transfers
Your driver will collect you and transfer you to your hotel in Jaipur (approx. 5 hours away).
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.
Onward transfers
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.
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!
Onward transfers
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.
Sri Lanka: Tea Hills and Trails
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.
Onward transfers
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.
Sri Lanka: Explore the Emerald Valleys of Ella
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.
Onward transfers
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.
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!
Onward transfers
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.
Sri Lanka: Turquoise Bay at Unawatuna
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.
Onward transfers
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.
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