WT18 catalog single pgs

The teardrop-shaped island of Sri Lanka in the blue Indian Ocean brims with delights, from

rainforests where elephants roam to emerald-green tea estates and 2,000-year-old royal cities.

On our grand adventure, we visit Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s atmospheric medieval capital,

hike up the stone steps of the 5th century fortress of King Kashyapa at Sigiriya, and watch

a private demonstration of Sri Lanka’s traditional martial arts. We’ll also explore the cool,

verdant mountain country where British tea estates once held sway, sample a cuisine flavored

with curry and coriander, meet tea planters and orange-robed monks, and

look for wildlife in tropical Yala National Park, with its wild elephant herds

and fabulous birdlife.

Days 1-5

Anuradhapura / Polonnaruwa / Sigiriya

Our journey brings us to three magnificent

World Heritage Sites: the Buddhist shrines and

gardens of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s capital for

1,300 years and one of the greatest cities of its

age, 10th century Polonnaruwa, with its graceful

pagodas, and King Kashyapa’s impressive citadel

at Sigiriya. We also visit a martial arts school to

watch students perform

anganpora,

the graceful

and ancient Sri Lankan fighting art.

Days 6-10

Dambulla / Kandy /

Nuwara Eliya / Ella

We climb up

to the great cave-temple complex

at Dambulla, enjoy a private lunch

in the home of a local professor

and art collector, and head into

Sri Lanka’s famous tea country,

with a walk through fragrant spice

gardens. In Kandy, Sri Lanka’s

cultural heart, we visit the 16th century

Temple of the Tooth, and from

our heritage hotel above colonial

Nuwara Eliya, we walk through

manicured tea plantations and learn

the fine art of “tasting” tea. A scenic

rail journey through hill country

brings us to the peaceful mountain

village of Ella, where we enjoy a

bike ride and a lesson in preparing

Sri Lankan cuisine.

“Such a wonderful

experience on

an incredibly

diverse island.”

Nancy B., Charlestown MA

Sri Lanka

A CULTURAL ODYSSEY ON A TROPICAL ISLE

BRUNO MORANDI

Days 11-13

Yala National

Park / Galle

Yala, a dune-

covered scrub landscape on

the south coast, is home to

throngs of painted storks and troops of monkeys

chattering in the trees. Wild elephants can be

seen in the park’s open, undulating terrain. After

exploring the ancient seaside trading post of

Galle, a World Heritage Site, depart on Day 13

via Colombo.

Our cultural adventure includes peaceful tea plantations, ancient pagodas, and the wild elephants of

Yala National Park.

PHOTO: BRUNO MORANDI

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy lunch in a local home, ride bikes in

the village of Ella

• Explore Anuradhapura, where Buddhist

shrines date to the 3rd century BC,

colonial Nuwara Eliya, and the Buddhist

cave temples of Dambulla

• Charming accommodations, from seaside

hotels to a resort overlooking the rock

fortress of Sigiriya

• Meet monks, tea planters, artists, and

students, and learn about Sri Lanka’s

ancient traditions

DETAILS

• 13-day trip begins and ends in Colombo

• 12 nights hotels

• All meals included except 1 lunch

DATES

Jan 12-24, 2018

Feb 12-24

TRIP COST

$6495 (14-16 members)

$6795 (10-13 members)

$7195 (4-9 members)

Single supplement: $1495

TRIP LEVEL

1 2

3 4 5 6 7

A mix of easy to moderate walks and hikes,

cultural explorations