A two week, small group tour of the Golden Triangle to the glistening wildlife, staying at comfortable hotels and traveling by public and private transport. And bikes.
DambullaSigiriyaGiritale TankBirdwatchingPolonnaruwaKandyKitulgala rainforestNuwara EliyaOption to climb Adam’s PeakHorton PlainsWorld’s End viewpointBandarawelaElla GapGame drive Yala National Park or Udawalawe National Park depending on seasonAhangamaGalleOption for whale watching
Sri Lanka came to the world’s view in 1975 with Paul Theroux’s hit travel journal, The Great Railway Bazaar: “Galle was a beautiful place, garlanded w...
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, traveling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. Those with a two-week vacation, a small group tour will save valuable planning time.
The most memorable part of the vacation was Adam's peak, white water rafting, the "incidental"/smaller activities such as the visit to the coconut house.Read full review
Reviewed on 23 Feb 2019 by Tessa Bruce-Lockhart
We did have lunch with a local farmer which was delightful, and I hope it helped them.Read full review
Reviewed on 25 Mar 2018 by Ian Raven
The most memorable moment was at Kaudulla National Park when we saw about 150 elephants.Read full review
The breadth of activities from walking through wilderness to cultural visits and swimming in the Indian ocean was the most memorable.Read full review
Reviewed on 02 Mar 2017 by Elizabeth Devery
For me it was really the whole thing, as seeing the country where my mother and aunts were born and grew up was very interesting. I particularly enjoyed the puja at the Temple of the Tooth as our tour leader managed to get us to the front and we were also able to see the Tooth reliquary and another shrine not normally open.Read full review
Reviewed on 09 Oct 2012 by Dianne Williams
Excellent variety, well run and an excellent guide... Take a good camera, you will want to photograph almost every thing you see, the island is fantastic!Read full review
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
We are very conscious of the environment and try to limit our impact on our surroundings as much as possible. All of our vehicles used on this tour are subject to annual eco testing and we monitor this closely in order to reduce our carbon footprint. We do believe in leaving no more than footprints, although this tour actively encourages guests to talk to local people, visit local cafes and restaurants and use markets to purchase traditional crafts. We also leave a positive impression by visiting important National Parks, ruins and museums- our entrance fees to which contribute to their upkeep. For example, our game drives in Yala N.P. promote animal welfare and financially contribute to conservation projects in the area.
Accommodation and Meals All of the hotels we stay in are dedicated to hiring local staff and using freshly sourced produce wherever possible. This helps to benefit the surrounding community by providing employment opportunities and income alternatives where they may be otherwise hard to come by. We also try to select accommodation which has strong environmental policies. Where meals are not provided, we suggest that clients spread their commerce to small local businesses and try some authentic food. The local cuisine is predominantly vegetarian, with lots of rice. You can enjoy everything from traditional spicy curries to stalls selling tasty sweets and deserts. We stop for local delicacies whilst cycling and visit a farmhouse for lunch.
People
Charity We have financially co-sponsored a local Tsunami relief project, which has enabled 25 families to be rehoused and for two schools to be equipped with toilets, running water and outdoor swings. In collaboration with a German operator and the village temple, we have helped towards 10 large water tanks and an eye clinic in a remote village with a donation of 200 pairs of glasses. We also assisted a principal agent of Unicef in development of day care and education of school children of the estate sector labourers in the hill country. Whilst visiting the Back to Life project we stay at a hotel re-built by our local operator after the original building was demolished by the Tsunami.
Local Craft and Culture There are plenty of opportunities to engage with local culture on the several visits to towns, villages and historically important sites and events. During the summer months our visit to the Temple of the Tooth may coincide with the Buddhist Kandy festival, which is a long honoured celebration of a relic thought to be found on the island. We may be able to see a performance of traditional Kandian dancing and fire walking here. There are many places to buy handcrafted souvenirs along the way (e.g. Polonnaruwa & Sigiriya) but one of the best places might be the Gem Museum at Kandy. Here clients can learn about the traditional methods of gem extraction.
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