Ceylon Tea Scented Honeymoon

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival at the airport, you will be picked up and escorted to the hotel in downtown Colombo by your private driver guide. The rest of the day will be left for you to have a good rest to prepare for the following pleasant itinerary, or stroll around on your own.

➤ Useful Information:
1. You may purchase a SIM card at Dialog’s counter in the airport. Dialog is the leading network operator in Sri Lanka, offering various travel plans including LKR 1,400 (about USD 5) with 20 GB of data and LKR 1,800 (about USD 6) with 30 GB of data, both valid for a month. Please ensure that the card can work normally before you leave the counter.

2. The most convenient means of transport in Sri Lanka is tuk-tuk, a kind of three-wheeled rickshaw. If you want to explore the city by yourself, you could take a tuk-tuk. But note that there might be rip-offs, so it’s better to fix the price before the ride. Or you can use the mobile phone app PickMe to hail a tuk-tuk.

3. A lot of shops, restaurants or stalls in Sri Lanka accept cash only. If you want to buy small items, it’s better to carry some cash with you.

Accommodation: The Kingsbury Colombo (5 stars) or similar

After breakfast, the guide will accompany you on a walking tour of Colombo Fort and Sea Street. Colombo Fort is home to former British administrative establishment and military garrisons during the colonial period. A large number of centuries-old colonial buildings have been preserved here. Today, it has developed into the busiest commercial and political center of Colombo. Walking from the fort to Sea Street, you could see Kayman’s Gate, which is also a colonial architecture with an old clock on the top. There are many jewelry shops on both sides of Sea Street, where locals often come to buy jewelry for newlyweds or newborns. Visit the three adjoining Hindu temples on the street, which look bright gold, red and blue, with tall gopuras carved with numerous mythical figures or Buddha statues. Walking east from Sea Street, you’ll see an old Protestant church - Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka. Built in 1749, it is also one of the few remaining Dutch colonial buildings in Colombo. Traces of history can be seen from its mottled white walls and red roof.

Next, go to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce where the weekly tea auctions have been conducted since 1883. It is the oldest and largest tea auction in the world. Ceylon tea is classified into High Grown, Mid Grown and Low Grown, and the auctions are held in three corresponding halls from 08:00 to 17:00 every Tuesday and 14:00 to 17:30 every Wednesday. Every 10 seconds, a tea transaction is completed here. About 4 to 8 tons of tea is sold every week.

Then, proceed to visit Colombo National Museum and the Natural History Museum. On the ground floor of the National Museum, there are masks, statues, etc. from the Kingdom of Anuradhapura (437 BC-1017 AD) and the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (1055-1232). On the second floor are the cultural relics such as ancient paintings and textiles excavated from all over the country, as well as weapons from the colonial times. After that, continue to visit Independence Square. In front of the square is a statue of the first prime minister of the country - Don Stephen Senanayake. Behind the statue is the Independence Memorial Hall, which is modeled after the royal audience hall of the Kingdom of Kandy. The stone pillars of the hall are carved with panels that depict Sri Lanka’s history. There are 60 stone lions guarding the hall, each of which represents a monarch of Sri Lanka. Walk southeast from the square, you could see the 14-meter-tall (46 ft.) majestic Replica of Aukana Buddha Statue. It is a full-size duplicate of the original Aukana statue constructed in the 5th century AD in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, which is considered one of the highest and best standing Buddha statues in the country. Opposite the statue is Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), which was a gift from China. It’s a convention center for hosting a variety of events, such as international conferences, exhibitions, graduation ceremonies, cultural performances, and even wedding ceremonies. Afterwards, the guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Kingsbury Colombo (5 stars) or similar

This morning, we’ll drive to Kandy and visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on the way. It provides a shelter for orphaned and injured elephants. These elephants unable to live in the wild are taken good care of here. They are led to bathe in the river twice a day, and you could interact with the baby elephants or watch them suck water with their trunks.

After arriving in Kandy, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa). The temple, which houses the most precious national treasure - the tooth relic of Lord Buddha, is one of the must-go pilgrimage sites in Kandy. The white clothes of the locals echo with the white walls of the temple, creating an atmosphere of piety and solemnity. The interior of the temple is intricately decorated with splendid murals, carvings and ivories. If you come here during July or August, don’t miss the lively scene around the temple because the whole city will be celebrating the annual Esala Perahera, “the Festival of the Tooth”, during which the casket of the tooth relic will be carried by an adorned elephant in a procession.
➤ Tips: To enter the temple, you need to take off your hat and shoes, and wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders. You could bring a pair of cotton socks to protect your feet from hot or dirty surfaces.

Next, your guide will lead you to watch a wonderful Culture Dance Show. The historic Kandyan dance is a symbol of Sri Lankan art and culture. Feast your eyes on the exotic mask dance, tea-picking dance, or fire dance and fire walking. After the show, you’ll be escorted back to the hotel.

➤ Recommended Activities on Your Own
In the evening, it could be enjoyable to walk around the peaceful Kandy Lake and explore the stores by the lake. For dinner, you can go to Hideout Lounge (52 Sangaraja Mawatha, Kandy 20000) which is located near the east shore of the lake. The restaurant serves western food and local cuisine that meet different tastes, as well as cocktails and other drinks. Roasted pumpkin salad, chicken spaghetti and curry rice are the top picks. The average cost per person is about USD 10.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Kandy (4 stars) or similar

Today, you’ll first be led to visit Ceylon Tea Museum in Kandy. Located in a former tea factory on the hill, the museum shows a collection of old tea processing machines from the colonial period. You may learn a detailed introduction to the tea planting history and processing methods in Sri Lanka. Taste a cup of fragrant black tea or white tea while enjoying the pleasant view of the surrounding valleys and hills.

Next, we will travel to Nuwara Eliya by 2 hours’ drive and pay a visit to Labookellie Tea Lounge in midway. Labookellie is a part of Damro Tea Factory, which is Sri Lanka’s first and oldest tea brand. In the tea lounge, you could enjoy the scenery while sipping a cup of tea and taking some photos of the Hollywood-style “DAMRO Tea” sign on the hillside. Maybe try a tea cake if you like, which is LKR 450 per piece (about USD 1.5). You could also see how the tea is processed by large machines in the factory.

After reaching Nuwara Eliya, you’ll be guided to visit some popular sites of the city. First, go to Victoria Park which is a typical English style park named after Queen Victoria. Local people usually take a leisurely stroll around the paths, gardens and ponds here. Take a breath of the refreshing air and explore the different theme gardens. Then, visit the Post Office - Nuwara Eliya near the park. Built by the British in 1894, the striking pink architecture is still in use. The red bricks, white cement and verdant trees seem to bring you to the world of fairy-tales. Take some photos in front of this beautiful building, or you may send postcards to your family and friends. Next, let’s go to Gregory Lake in the center of Nuwara Eliya, from which you can admire the rolling hills around. After the visit, you’ll be escorted to your hotel.

➤ Dinner Recommendation in Nuwara Eliya (at your own expense)
From your hotel, you could get to Salmiya Italian Restaurant by a 10-minute taxi ride. It serves Italian pizzas as well as traditional Sri Lankan food like curry or roti.
Average Cost per Person: USD 6-8
Address: 122 Badulla Rd Start of lake gregory, Nuwara Eliya 22200

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Blackpool Resort & Spa, Nuwara Eliya (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, let’s visit Brookside Tea Factory and walk into the tea plantations. As a century old tea factory, it produces high quality black tea by following the principle of manual picking one bud and two leaves. Most of the tea pickers here are Indian Tamils. That is because in the early 19th century, many workers were recruited from India to meet the large labor demands in Sri Lanka. They once suffered exploited and discriminated in the country, and worked hard to struggle for their rights and settle in Nuwara Eliya. Maybe talk to them as you visit the plantation and learn some of their stories.

★ Special Experience: A Scenic Train Trip from Nuwara Eliya to Bandarawela

Around noon, you’ll be transferred to Nanu Oya Train Station in Nuwara Eliya for a 2-hour train to Bandarawela. Traveling by train like a local could be a unique experience. Appreciate the splendid mountain scenery and the large areas of tea trees during the journey. Escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, and get immersed in the scent of lush forests and the relaxing atmosphere of nature. The open windows and doors of the train make it easy to enjoy the view and take photos, but do not lean out of the window because you may get hurt by the branches or signs along the tracks. Upon arrival, your private driver guide will pick you up at the train station and escort you to the hotel.

➤ Tip: Sometimes the train may be delayed without a notice. So if the wait is too long, we can send you to Bandarawela by private car.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bandarawela Hotel (3 stars) or similar

This morning, leave for Haputale by 1 hour’s drive and pay a visit to Lipton’s Seat. Located on the top of a 2,000-meter-high (6,500 ft.) mountain in Dambetenna Tea Factory, it is the favorite scenic spot of Sir Thomas Lipton, the founder of the world-famous Lipton Tea. He visited Sri Lanka in the 1990s and did a business with James Taylor who introduces the tea gardens into the country. The company of Lipton purchases tea from Sri Lanka and distributes it to Europe and America. If it’s sunny and clear, you may overlook Uva, Sabaragamuwa, South, Central and Eastern provinces from the spot. Sit by the statue of Sir Lipton and enjoy the serene and breathtaking beauty of the surroundings. Please note that there may be strong winds atop the mountain, so you may take a coat in case it’s cold. After that, we’ll drive for 4-5 hours to Colombo and check in at the hotel. For the rest of the day, you are free to explore the capital city.

➤ Recommendations for the Evening in Colombo
You may walk south from your hotel to Galle Face Green, a seaside park facing the Indian Ocean. It’s a place to relax for both local people and tourists, with grassland and street food stalls. For dinner, you can go to & Co Pub and Kitchen (The Steuart by Citrus, No 45, Hospital Lane Off Chatham Street, Colombo 00100), a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Seafood and Western food are served. There are also entertaining band performances every night. The cost per person is about USD 12. If you are interested in Sri Lankan oil massage, you can go to Spa Ceylon Royal Heritage Spa - Chatham (62/1 Chatham St, Colombo) after dinner. It offers various traditional massage packages that can help you recover from fatigue.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Kingsbury Colombo (5 stars) or similar

Today marks the end of your Sri Lanka honeymoon tour. Your driver guide will transfer you to the airport and see you off according to your departure flight. We wish you a smooth journey home!

➤ For Your Information:
If you want to extend your tour to more cities in Sri Lanka, such as the Northern ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, or visit the beautiful beaches in Galle and Bentota, or if you want to explore the nearby India or Maldives, please feel free to contact our travel consultants to tailor an itinerary for you.

Meals: Breakfast