On the roads of Ceylon with your family
Activity
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 2365.00 €
About the trip On the roads of Ceylon with your family
A country of a thousand facets, Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, offers the best of Asia: sandy beaches, rolling hills and lush forests, incredible biodiversity and a rich cultural heritage.
Stunning for the beauty and variety of its landscapes, the island is also renowned for the kindness and smiles of its inhabitants. An ideal destination for family travel, with quality accommodation, a variety of enriching activities and a warm welcome.
You will leave with :
Pierrick
Trekking Guide
“The most important thing for me is to allow walkers to discover new places, new cultures and to exchange with the locals.”
Photo gallery of the trip On the roads of Ceylon with your family
On the roads of Ceylon with your family itinerary
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- Return international flight and international airport taxes
- Travel by private minibus, train and boat as described in the program
- Hotel or B&B accommodation
- Supervision by an English-speaking Sri Lankan driver-guide throughout your stay
- Meals mentioned in the program
- Entrance fees with local guides for visits indicated in the program
- Tips for local guides
What's not included in the package
- Visa fees
-
Meals in town and indicated as free
- Soft drinks in general
- Personal travel equipment (first-aid kit, etc.)
- Single room supplements in accommodations
- Guide-driver tip
- Cancellation and repatriation assistance insurance to be taken out on registration.
-
Anything not mentioned in “included in the package”.
Day 1: Flight to Colombo
Meals at your expense
It’s the big day! Departure from Paris for Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo.
Day 2: Arrival in Sri Lanka
20 minutes drive – Overnight in hotel – Meals at your own expense
Ayubowan (“welcome” in Sri Lankan) on the island whose name means “island where you get happiness”!
As soon as we set foot on Sri Lankan soil, our driver gave us a warm welcome. After a short transfer, p lace yourself with relaxation and rejuvenation on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
Day 3: Lion Rock ascent
3 hours drive – Overnight in hotel – Meals at your expense
This morning, we’re off to discover Negombo’s fish market. It’s one of the liveliest and most colorful on the island.
Later, we head for the cultural triangle, stopping first at Sigiriya: the Lion Rock, one of Sri Lanka’s most important sites. The ruins of the citadel are perched atop a rocky outcrop 370 m high. The view of the surrounding jungle from up here is breathtaking.
Day 4: The temple caves of Dambulla
2 hours drive – Overnight in hotel – Meals at your own expense
This morning, you set course for Dambulla. Discover the city’s renowned vegetable market. The colors, aromas and liveliness permeate the city.
Then off to one of the country’s one of the country’s most beautiful sanctuaries, set around a rocky outcrop of cave temples and the Golden Temple.
Finally, the superb Sri Muthumariamman Hindu temple welcomes you. A day rich in Sri Lanka’s religious diversity.
In the late afternoon you return to your accommodation in Kandy, the Sinhalese capital.
Day 5: In contact with the refuge's elephants
Overnight in hotel – Meals at your own expense
This morning we’re off to the Millennium Elephant Foundation. Here we e invite you to discover the protection missions of this refuge and to experience magical moments among the elephants who are cared for and pampered there. Spending time with them will be a highlight of our trip to Sri Lanka.
After these beautiful encounters, we visit a surprising paper mill that recycles elephant dung to produce small notebooks.
Back in Kandy, we’ll visit the Temple of the Tooth. It is a sacred place of pilgrimage for all Buddhists.
Day 6: To the tea plantations
3-hour drive – Overnight in guesthouse – Meals at your own expense
This morning we climb up to Nuwara Eliya via a winding road lined with hills and waterfalls. These green hillsides are mainly planted with tea bushes. We take the opportunity to visit a tea factory, observe the manufacturing methods and taste the subtle aromas.
On the way, we admire the superb Ramboda Water Falls and the region’s magnificent, lush landscapes.
Day 7: Train to Ella
2 hours by train – 2 hours by road – Overnight in hotel – Meals at your own expense
This morning, we take the train to Ella for an immersiveersion guaranteed on this rail tour. In direct contact with the local population, we take full advantage of the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.
From Ella, we drive back to Udawalawe. On the way, we stop to admire Rawana Water Falls, with its 100-metre-high waterfalls.
Day 8: Wildlife exploration
3 hours drive – Overnight in hotel with dinner – Lunch at your expense
This morning, we visit Uda Walawe National Park, a natural treasure renowned for its varied wildlife. We explore these lands on a jeep safari, where we’ll come across herds of elephants, bears, wild buffalo, as well as a multitude of birds and multicolored butterflies.
We then stop off at the Elephant Transit Home, where we observe elephant calves taken in and cared for at the refuge before being released back into the wild.
Finally, we leave Udawalawe for Bentota on the south coast. On the way, we may catch a glimpse of stilt fishermen.
Day 9: Mangrove boat trip
Night in hotel with dinner – Lunch at your expense
We start the day gently on the waters of the Bentota River, discovering the mangrove swamps. We’ll spot crocodiles, bats, monitor lizards and birds of all kinds.
We then set off for Kosgoda, where we visit a turtle sanctuary. Sri Lanka is a veritable sanctuary for sea turtles, home to no less than 5 of the world’s 7 species of marine turtle.
Day 10: Relaxing on the beach
Overnight in hotel – Meals at your own expense
We settle down on the west coast and breathe inthe sea air. Long ribbons of fine sand unfurl beneath our feet, and pretty walks in shades of gold and turquoise await us.
Day 11: End of stay
2 hours drive – International flight – Meals at your expense
It’s already the end of your stay. Our driver takes us to Colombo international airport for our flight.
Day 12: Arrival in France
International flight – Meals at your expense
An unforgettable journey comes to an end!
Highlights of the trip
General information
SAFETY
You can find the Quai d’Orsay’s position on these countries on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: diplomatie.gouv.fr in the “Conseils aux voyageurs” section.
The information contained on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is subject to change and is given for guidance only. Please note that no region of the world or country can be considered safe from the risk of terrorism.
REGISTRATION
By post:
Ask us for a registration form
- by phone: 06 65 93 29 29
- or e-mail: contact@watse.fr
Send us your registration with a copy of your passport, your postal address, telephone number and e-mail address, together with a deposit of 30% of the cost of the trip.
Also, if you wish to take out a Comfort or Comfort Multirisk cancellation insurance policy, this must be paid at the same time as the deposit when you register. You can consult our insurance contracts on our website.
By internet:
Book your holiday directly on our website: directly on the holiday page, choosing your dates and insurance options.
ATTENTION: air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you book during this period.
ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY
We strongly advise you to take out assistance insurance for the duration of your trip.
We offer two different types of insurance: Comfort Cancellation and Comfort Multirisk, to be taken out when you register for your trip.
Details of this insurance are available on request or can be viewed by by clicking here.
Other offers include Mondial Assistance, your own insurance company or Club Alpin Français. Check that your trekking activity is covered.
Make sure your insurance covers all medical expenses in the event of an accident.
You must make sure that you are covered for mountain rescue costs. If this is the case, you must provide us with the following information before you set off on your trek:
- a certificate from the insurance company covering mountain rescue costs.
- the contract number and telephone number of the assistance center
Beware of restrictive clauses in certain insurance policies (particularly those linked to Visa Premier, Gold or other cards), such as mountain insurance limited to snow activities, or altitude sickness not recognized as an illness requiring repatriation, which will be refused.
Please check the actual content of your insurance and take the necessary steps if necessary.
Health & climate
JET LAG
– 4.5 hours ahead of France during winter time
– 3.5 hours ahead of France during summer time
CLIMATE
Situated just above the equator, Sri Lanka has a tropical climate characterized by high temperatures all year round, with alternating rainy and dry periods. However, the climate varies according to altitude and season.
The mountainous interior of the country has a temperate climate with cooler temperatures of around 20°C, while the other regions have a variable climate depending on the season. The island experiences two monsoons a year, the first affecting the south-west coast from May to October, and the second from October to January on the east coast. Although humidity levels and rainfall are more frequent, these monsoons are much less marked than in neighboring South Asian countries.
Alternating climates make it possible to travel to Sri Lanka all year round.
HEALTH AND VACCINES
No compulsory vaccination.
But yellow fever vaccination becomes compulsory if you have previously stayed in or transited through a country located in an endemic zone.
Make sure your regular vaccinations are up to date.
In addition, we recommend personal protection against mosquito bites (repellent, loose-fitting clothing).
We recommend that you have a check-up with your dentist before you leave.
IFREMMONT
No specific indications.
Transport and conditions
Ground transportation is by private vehicle with driver, train and boat for the Bentota safari.
AIR
Air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you register during this period.
LUGGAGE
Your personal belongings are transported from stage to stage in a private vehicle.
The stay
MEALS
Breakfast is provided in the accommodation. Meals during international flights and free meals are at your own expense.
Please let us know if you have any food allergies when you register.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in hotels or B&Bs as indicated in the trip description.
TRAINING
Supervision by an English-speaking guide-driver throughout the trip. The guided tours included in the program are conducted by local English-speaking guides.
Practical info
ELECTRICITY
Alternating current 230 Volts, 50 Hertz. Use an adapter compatible with D and G type plugs.
FORMALITIES AND VISA
For French, Belgian, Luxembourg and Swiss nationals
– Your valid passport
– For travel to Sri Lanka, an electronic travel authorization (ETA) is mandatory. ETA allows you to stay on the island for a fee of US$ 36 per traveler (December 2022). For children under 12, electronic travel authorization is required. free of charge but compulsory.
As these formalities may change, please check with the country’s consular authorities. All travelers are responsible for complying with entry requirements in the countries they visit. Watse cannot be held responsible for changes in formalities.
BUDGET, CHANGE AND TIPS
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
The indicative rate is : 1 € = 390 LKR in January 2023
Cash: you can take both euros and dollars. Exchange is available at the airport or during your stay at exchange offices or hotels.
Although not obligatory, it is customary in Sri Lanka to tip guides according to your level of satisfaction. Don’t hesitate to ask us for advice on tipping your guide for the week.
Gratuities for local guides on site tours are included in the price.
Watse added value
DEDICATED MANAGEMENT
Throughout your stay, you’ll be accompanied by an English-speaking Sri Lankan guide-driver. Site visits are conducted with English-speaking site specialists.
A TRIP DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES
A superb itinerary specially designed for an immersive and complete trip to share with the whole family. From accommodation to the types and duration of activities, nothing is left to chance.
TOTAL IMMERSION
The choice of activities offers you a unique immersion in the heart of this small country with so much to offer. From temples to tea plantations, wildlife to train journeys, you won’t miss a thing of the island’s treasures.