Botanical Histories in Sri Lanka

Travel in the company of botanical expert, Carolyn Fry, to discover Sri Lanka’s botanical treasures.

Learn about Sri Lanka's spice trade and production, both historical and contemporary, with practical applications in a cooking demonstration. Discover the significance of the Bo-tree and lotus flower at Dambulla Caves and walk through the Popham Arboretum, Sri Lanka’s only dry zone arboretum. Visit the impressive botanical gardens in Peradeniya and Nuwara Eliya, as well as Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya for the Annual Flower Show, with which the tour coincides.

A cultural programme includes visits to mystical ruins, jungles, tropical beaches, spice plantations and gemstone markets, national parks with huge herds of elephants and vivid green mountains. You will also stay in some stunning hotels and savour mouth-watering local cuisine.

Price (sharing a room)

per person

Price (room to yourself)

per person

Reference:

SRI0325-1

At a glance

What you need to know

Type of tour

Cultural

Profession

Botanical History

Nights

Countries

Tour grade

Moderate

Remaining places

Dates and places

Itinerary at a glance

Colombo

Saturday

March

Arrive in Colombo and transfer to the hotel to settle in before dinner.

Colombo

Sunday

March

Visit the Thalangama Wetlands. Continue on to the flower market at Diyatha Uyana. In the afternoon, explore the old town of Colombo around the old Dutch Hospital and learn of the spice trade and the history of Colombo. Return in time for sundowners and a welcome dinner.

Colombo / Kandalama

Monday

March

Drive to Habarana via the Ceylon Kingsmen Garden at Negombo. Arrive and check into Kandamala Hotel, a stunning hotel designed by Sri Lanka's famed architect Geoffrey Bawa, surrounded by jungle. Explore the hotel and grounds on a tour in the late afternoon before dinner at the hotel.

Kandalama

Tuesday

April

Early start to visit the legendary sky citadel of Sigiriya, famous for the ‘Lion Rock’ and its frescoes of ‘Celestial Maidens’. The site has some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. Visit a local village with a small school and continue on to a village house, where you will take part in a cookery demonstration followed by a delicious local lunch with locals in the house.

Kandalama

Wednesday

April

Option to visit the ancient site of the monastery of Ritigala, an ancient Buddhist site set within the Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve. The site includes a historic Ayurveda herbal medicine hospital. Later in the afternoon visit Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park and see large herds of elephants and flocks of birds. Local dinner at the Tropical Village in Dambulla.

Kandalama / Kandy

Thursday

April

Drive to Kandy via Dambulla and take a walk through the Popham Arboretum, Sri Lanka's only dry zone arboretum. Continue to the Cave Temple Complex of Dambulla. Learn of the Bo tree and the lotus. Continue on to Matale and visit a spice plantation. Watch a cookery demonstration using many spices, followed by a delicious Sri Lankan lunch.

Kandy

Friday

April

Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradaniya, visit the plantations of coffee, tea, rubber and cinchona and the orchid house along with medicinal herbal section. Visit the city of Kandy and the gemstone market and gem workshops. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, followed by the evening ceremony in the temple. Dinner in a local restaurant in Kandy.

Kandy / Nuwara Eliya

Saturday

April

Take the scenic train journey through the beautiful tea country and high country to Nuwara Eliya. Take part in a Sightseeing of the colonial hill station including the golf course, race track, gentlemen’s clubs, British cemetery and the Holy Trinity Church. Check into the Grand Hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Nuwara Eliya

Sunday

April

Visit the Somerset Tea Estate and visit the plantation and tea factory. Visit Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya for the annual flower show. Farmers take advantage of this occasion to display their farming skills and also talk about their new techniques. Dinner at the historic private Hill Club.

Nuwara Eliya

Monday

April

Visit Hakgala Botanic Garden near Nuwara Eliya a contrast with Peradeniya. It was established to grow cinchona and has a dramatic setting. At leisure with an option to return to the Flower Show. Enjoy a high tea in the Grand Hotel.

Nuwara Eliya / Galle

Tuesday

April

Travel from Nuwara Eliya to Galle via Mattala and the southern expressway. Arrive in the evening and check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Nuwara Eliya / Galle

Wednesday

April

A leisurely start and explore the old City of Galle and hear of the stories of Dutch and Portuguese trading history. At leisure.

Galle

Thursday

April

Full day at leisure on the coast with options to go whale watching. Sri Lanka is the best place in the world to see blue whales. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Galle / Colombo

Friday

April

Visit Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga Estate. Continue to the Brief Gardens, the home of Bevis Bawa, before returning to the Galle Face Hotel for a farewell dinner.

Colombo

Saturday

April

Morning at leisure and depart the hotel after breakfast.