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Christmas in Sri Lanka

Operated by Wendy Wu

Tripcode: HSX2302_AU

Overview

Destination:

Sri Lanka,

Duration:16 days

Type:Group tour (max 28)

Travel Period

December 2027 - December 2027

Marvel at magnificent temples, see the World Heritage Rock Fortress at Sigiriya, search for elephants and other wild animals at Yala National Park, discover the fascinating caves at Dambulla and explore the ruined cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.

Start your Christmas celebrations with a High Tea in a beautiful gardens of The Grand Hotel. Spend Christmas Day in Sri Lanka's gorgeous tea country, Nuwara Eliya, where you'll take part in an exclusive tea plantation experience wearing a traditional, handmade silk saree dress which you'll get to take home as a memento. After the experience enjoy a scrumptious Christmas Day lunch.

Tour highlights:

Tea Plantation Experience, Spend Christmas morning at a beautiful tea plantation plucking the leaves and tasting the produce dressed in a handmade silk saree
High Tea at the Grand Hotel, On Christmas afternoon, visit the iconic Grand Hotel to enjoy High Tea in their beautiful gardens
Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Explore the UNESCO-listed historic ruins atop this 600ft rock and admire the fabulous views below
Elephant Transit Home, Visit Udawalawe's elephant care centre and participate in curd making

Tour experiences:

Kosgada Turtle Hatchery, Tour the wonderful conservation project at Kosgada, where a specialist turtle hatchery works tirelessly to protect Sri Lanka's native sea turtle species, and meet its residents.
Yala National Park, Enjoy two opportunities to spot wildlife with a morning and afternoon safari in Yala National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for sloth bear, hyena and the elusive leopard!
Visit Dambulla Cave Temple, Venture inside the Dambulla Cave Temple to explore the huge collection of Buddha statues, including the 14-metre long reclining Buddha. This is one of the most popular religious cultural sites in Sri Lanka.

Places visited:

Colombo (1N)
Dambulla (3N)
Kandy (2N)
Nuwara Eliya (2N)
Yala National Park (2N)
Hikkaduwa (3N)
Colombo (2N)

Price notes:

Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 June 2025. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
Customary tipping amount of approximately US$150pp (AU$230pp) is paid locally in Sri Lanka.
Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
Price subject to change.

Highlights:

Standard inclusions

International flights and current taxes (excluded if a land only option is selected)
All Meals (refer to itinerary)
Domestic transportation
Touring with guides and entrance fees
3 – 4 star accommodation
Visa fees for Australian passport holders

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Colombo

On arrival to Colombo airport, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel, where you have the rest of the day at leisure to settle in, relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Day 2: Travel to Dambulla

After breakfast you will travel to Dambulla, visiting Sigiriya rock fortress late this afternoon. This impressive landmark is regarded as the world's eighth wonder amongst the locals. Enjoy magnificent views, colourful frescos and beautiful gardens when you reach the top.

Day 3: Polonnaruwa

Today you visit Hiriwaduna for a local village experience, enjoying a boat trip on the lake, a tuk-tuk trip to a local home and learning to prepare an authentic dish. Next is Polonnaruwa, an ancient capital and UNESCO World Heritage site, full of well-preserved stupas, statues and frescoes.

Day 4: Anuradhapura

Set off for Anuradhapura, exploring this magnificent ancient city on foot. Visit the massive Buddhist shrines, splendid palaces, parks and pavilions of this sacred city, dating back to the 5th century BC.

Day 5: Dambulla

This morning after breakfast you will be taken to visit Dambulla Cave temple. En-route to Kandy stop at the spice garden in Matale, boasting incredible views of the Aluvihare Mountains. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic followed by an amazing cultural dance show in the evening.

Day 6: Kandy

After breakfast take a boat ride on Kandy Lake, giving you breathtaking views of the picturesque city, and from where you can observe a variety of bird species such as the Indian cormorants, wood storks and pelicans. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at your hotel before heading out this evening for a walk in Udawattekele rainforest.

Day 7: Christmas Eve - Nuwara Eliya

Today after breakfast you will be taken to Nuwara Eliya by train. Train journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya) is approximately 4 hours. You will be transferred from the station and taken to the hotel in Nuwara Eliya, to check in relax. Later on, enjoy a fabulous High Tea at the Grand Hotel before your Christmas Eve dinner.

Day 8: Christmas Day - Nuwara Eliya

Merry Christmas! After breakfast you will be taken for a tea plantation experience dressed in handmade, traditional silk sarees which you'll then get to take home with you. Your experience starts in the plantation itself with the tea puckers, giving you the opportunity to learn how to pluck tea then visit the factory where ancient machines pre-dating the industrial revolution wither, roll and dry the tea, followed by learning how to taste different variety of tea. There is normally a little time at the end of the tour for a tea tasting, either of one specific type of tea or occasionally of the various specialties of that factory. Much like a wine tasting, a traditional tea tasting would involve drinking tea (without milk), swilling it around the mouth to get the taste. Return back to the hotel and celebrate the festivities with a scrumptious Christmas day lunch.

Day 9: Udawalawe

After breakfast proceed to Yala, with a stop at Udawalawe Elephant Sanctuary before participate in the process of curd making. Though buffalo curd is a quintessential favourite in the Sri Lankan pantry, its arduous journey, from teat to table, is often unheeded. Enjoy a fresh sip of milk after trying your hand milking a buffalo and end this experience by relishing a fresh pot of curd sweetened with treacle.

Day 10: Yala National Park

Early morning, and later this afternoon, you will be taken for a jeep safari at Yala National park, where you will embark on an adventure safari.

Day 11: Hikkaduwa

Today you will travel the 3 hours to Hikkaduwa with the rest of your day free to go explore your surroundings.

Day 12: Galle Fort

After breakfast you will be visiting Galle Fort, and the journey will take about 1 hour. During the tour of Galle, you will have the opportunity to visit Galle Fort, Old Dutch Church and walk along the Rampart.

Day 13: Kosgoda Turtle Sanctuary

A visit to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is a must. Travel to the Hatchery, visiting a cinnamon plantation on the way, Learn all there is to know about the uses and benefits of cinnamon and try your hand with the tools of the trade in an Ambalama. Go on to witness the exceptional sight at the Turtle Hatchery and see the eggs hatching or the turtles being returned to the sea, moving towards the water as they flap their tiny flippers.

Day 14: Travel to Colombo

After breakfast and checking out of the hotel you travel the 2.5 hours to Colombo. You have some time to relax, before your city tour around this amazing city. Enjoy the the celebrations of New Year's Eve with a dinner at the hotel.

Day 15: Colombo at Leisure

New Year's Day at leisure, discovering the many gems of Colombo. Depending on the time of your flight tomorrow, you may be transferred to the airport after dinner in time for your flight scheduled to depart very early tomorrow morning.

Day 16 - Depart Colombo

Fly back to Australia, arriving the same day.

Day 16 - Depart Colombo

Fly back to Australia, arriving the same day.

Dates

Select a date or submit general enquiry

Operator

Wendy Wu

Wendy Wu Tours is Australia's leading touring specialist, offering extraordinary tours throughout Asia, Latin America, Eurasia, the Middle East – and most recently, Australasia. Since Wendy sent her very first tour to China in 1994, we've grown from strength to strength and are proud of the multiple awards we've won throughout the years and the unique travel experiences we offer to an expanding range of destinations.

Important Information

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*Terms and conditions

Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use

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Price from

$10,080 $9,576 *

Member price from

$9,576*

per person twin share

15 nights