Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY: 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL 101
The storied isle of Sri Lanka has always
charmed travelers, and it teems with treasures,
from rainforests where elephants roam and
emerald-green tea estates
to 2,000-year-old ethereal
royal cities (and eight
World Heritage Sites!). On
our grand adventure, you’ll
explore the glorious legacy
of an early Buddhist
civilization, visit with tea
planters and orange-robed
monks, sample fragrant
curries, and view the wildlife of Yala National
Park, with its extraordinary birdlife and
herds of elephant. Colorful festivals are a
wonderful part of Sri Lanka’s heritage,
and in Colombo, you’ll witness a vibrant
Buddhist Poya Festival, celebrated around
the full-moon day of each month.
Days 1-5 Colombo / Poya Festival / Dambulla /
Anuradhapura / Polonnaruwa / Sigiriya
In Colombo, we attend the Poya Festival, a
spectacular pageant of elephants, dancers,
torch-bearers, drummers, and acrobats. At an
elephant sanctuary, we accompany these gentle
creatures to the river for their daily bath. After
exploring the ancient cave temples at Dambulla,
we see the island’s oldest Buddhist shrines
at Anuradhapura and visit Polonnaruwa, Sri
Lanka’s lovely medieval capital, and the famed
rock fortress of King Kashyapa at Sigiriya.
Days 6-10 Eco-Park Safari / Kandy /
Pilimatalawa / Nuwara Eliya / Ella Sri Lanka
has incredible biodiversity and we enjoy
it on a jeep safari in a nearby eco-park, set on
the edge of the vast Hurulu Biosphere Reserve.
Heading to Kandy, we explore its golden-roofed
16th century Temple of the Tooth and visit the
14th century temples near Pilimatalawa. From
our charming tea-factory-turned-hotel above the
lovely colonial town of Nuwara Eliya, a walk
brings us through velvety green tea plantations
and we learn the fine art of “tasting” tea and try
to identify the subtle differences in flavor.
A cooking demonstration of Sri Lankan curry and
a pooja ceremony are some of the highlights of
our visit to the lovely hill-country town of Ella.
Days 11-13 Yala National Park / Galle Heading
to Yala National Park, we search for painted storks,
troops of monkeys, and elephant herds (Sri
Lanka is home to the last of the world’s wild
Asian elephants). Explore the ancient trading
post of Galle, a World Heritage Site, before
departing on Day 13 via Colombo.
Sri Lanka beckons with its glorious ancient cities, flamboyant festivals, lush scenery, and remarkalbe wildlife. PHOTO: RICHARD MASCHMEYER
“How lucky we
were! Annie loves
the country, and
knows it as well.
An amazing mix
of culture, nature,
and history.”
Lisa T., Hamden CT
BARTOSZ HADYNIAK
JAN WLODARCZYK
HIGHLIGHTS
• Full-moon Poya Festival in Colombo,
complete with processions of colorfully
caparisoned elephants and percussion
bands
• Accompany elephants to the river for
their daily bath at an elephant sanctuary
• Evocative Anuradhapura, where Buddhist
shrines date to the 3rd century BC
• Colonial Nuwara Eliya and the highland
tea estates
• Visit six World Heritage Sites, including
the cave temples of Dambulla
• Wonderful accommodations, from seaside
hotels to a resort overlooking
the rock fortress of Sigiriya
DETAILS
• 13-day trip begins and ends in Colombo
• 12 nights hotels
• All meals included except 1 lunch
DATES
Jan 10-22, 2017 Duruthu Perahera Festival
Feb 10-22 Navam Perahera Festival
TRIP COST
$6295 (11-16 members)
$6795 (7-10 members)
Single supplement: $1450
TRIP LEVEL
1 2+ 3 4 5 6 7
A mix of easy to moderate walks and hikes,
cultural explorations