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Day 01 |
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Arrival at the International Airport, we are warm and hospitable welcome awaits you. |
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Private transfer to Mount Lavinia, a beach resort approximately 20 mins from the Commercial Capital - Colombo. |
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Check in
at the Mt.Lavinia Hotel - A legacy of Sri Lanka 's Colonial Heritage. It
stands as a monument to the forbidden love of a Governor General and a
local mestizo dancer who cast a spell on his heart. |
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Time
stands still in the corridors of this grand old building that whisper
legends of love and adventure. Step back in time to experience old
Ceylon and enjoy grandeur and mystery, her intoxicating beaches and most
of all the enchantment of her people at this premier heritage hotel. |
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Overnight : Mt.Lavinia Hotel |
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Day 02 |
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After breakfast, enjoy the sand and sea at the Mt.Lavinia private beach. |
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Late
morning : Introduction to Sri Lankan Cuisine by Chef Dr. T. Publis Silva
The most well known Chef for Sri Lankan cuisine today, joined the Mount
Lavinia Hotel in 1957 and was promoted to the post of cook in 1960
after an extensive training in all the sections. Dr. Publis Silva has
been the cook for the late Sir Oliver Goonatileke, the then Ex-Governor
General of Ceylon , and the late Sir John Kotalawala, one time Prime
Minister of Ceylon. |
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After the preparation, sit down with the chef to enjoy the efforts of your culinary labour. |
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Evening : Brief Tour of Colombo. |
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Overnight : Mt.Lavinia Hotel |
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Day 03 |
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After an early breakfast, drive up to Kandy, en route optional stop in Pinnawela to see the Elephant Orphanage. |
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Arrive and
check in at the Kandy House, a 200 year old manor house built around a
cool courtyard and its garden a manicured jungle. |
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Evening : Visit the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic, a Gem Lapidary. |
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Late Evening : Witness a Cultural Dance Performance. |
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Dinner : Earls Regency |
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Overnight : The Kandy House |
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Day 04 |
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Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to Matale - "Home of Spice Gardens" |
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10:00 am -
17:00 pm: Village Cuisine with Ena De Silva Taste of authentic Sri
Lankan cooking, hosted by the hugely knowledgeable Ena De Silva at the
Aluvihare Kitchens located at the Matale Heritage Centre. |
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The course lasts a day and as well as giving you an experience of savouring a feast of 25 Kandyan dishes. |
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Return to Kandy for a quite and relaxing evening. |
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Overnight : The Kandy House |
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Day 05 |
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Early morning leave Kandy by train to Nanu Oya. |
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On arrival
at Nanu Oya the driver will pick you up at transfer to Tea Factory - A
hotel of character and star-class, set in an emerald teascape 6,800 feet
above sea level, only six degrees from the Equator. In the mountain
range, which gave the world Pure Ceylon Tea, the hotel began as a
factory built in the days of the British Raj. It has been converted so
that much of the original style and machinery remains, a reminder of the
past in perfect blend with innovations of the present. |
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The tea
packing room is now the hotel's popular bar. Where tea was sifted and
graded is the hotel's fine restaurant of class; its modern kitchen used
to be the engine room. The cuisine is definitely "my cup of tea",
whatever your preference. |
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Dinner :
Rail Carriage - Meals on Wheels The food, personally selected by the
guest, could be prepared with an infusion of Western class with Eastern
aromas. The gourmet adventure begins with a scrumptious starter that
whets the appetite. Here the range could vary from orange smoked salmon,
to the most delectable dish of duck you've ever had in your life. |
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Next in
line is the main course that's bought in with a great deal of pageantry,
and 'whistle blowing' - in typical train style. Here, one would get
anything between a hefty portion of traditional Australian lamb,
asparagus tips with honey glazed ham or a tropical lobster thermidor.
One could even select a combination of items, depending on the mood they
are in, and a sure guarantee is that it would leave you asking for
more. However, one must not forget the most important part of the meal -
the dessert |
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Overnight : The Tea Factory |
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Day 06 |
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Amidst the
greenery and cascading waterfalls enjoy a scenic drive to Hatton and
check in at the Tea Trails Bungalow - 4 classic colonial bungalows built
for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. These historic
houses have been restored by Dilmah Tea with the co-operation of
Bogawantalawa Tea Estates, to offer guests the unique experience of life
on a working tea estate. |
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Arrive in
time for a fabulously aromatic, authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry for
lunch -- a definite harbinger of the afternoon siesta. |
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Traditional
English afternoon tea is an intrinsic part of plantation life, a
much-appreciated ritual served on the bungalow lawns by immaculately
sarong clad "apoos." High Tea comes replete with a traditional tea
service, dainty cucumber sandwiches, scones, fresh cream and strawberry
jam. |
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Overnight : Tea Trails Bungalow |
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Day 07 |
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The day at
Tea Trails starts with that wonderful colonial institution, Bed Tea.
Served by your butler as part of a gentle wake-up call, this must be the
most civilized way to start the day. An early morning walk followed by
an English breakfast-with-everything is a must at least once during your
sojourn at Tea Trails. A perfectly brewed cup of tea accompanies eggs,
bacon, sausages, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, marmalade, butter, toast,
freshly squeezed juice. and anything else you may care to add. |
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Tea
Experience at the Tea Trails - Follow the trail of the planters of old
Ceylon, as they trekked through the dense jungle looking for the best
slopes on which to plant tea. Then on to watch the tea pluckers pick two
leaves and a bud with deft hands. A tea factory visit is a must to see
the care with which the leaves are dried and processed for the "single
origin tea" that Dilmah is famed for. |
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Scrumptious afternoon high teas in gardens curiously English and exotic at the same time. |
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Dinner :
The Planters Palate A four-course dinner that is at once contemporary
and colonial with its garden-fresh ingredients married with good wines,
best shared in good company. A unique aspect of Tea Trails' cuisine is
the use of fresh, home grown vegetables, herbs and teas from the
surrounding gardens. Crunchy baby carrots, luscious purple beetroot,
green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, deep red cherry tomatoes, green and
yellow zucchini, celery, crisp cucumbers, radish, rhubarb and red, green
and yellow peppers. Salad greens - iceberg lettuce, roquette and local
red and green varieties -- are freshly picked from the bungalow gardens. |
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Fresh
home-grown herbs such as basil, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, sage, parsley
and mint inspire and enliven the chef's menus every day: Broccoli with
roasted almond soup with blue cheese. Keemun tea and fresh tarragon
infused roasted chicken with braised curly cabbage and baby carrot.
Oyster mushroom soup with garden fresh basil pesto. Moroccan mint tea
crusted lamb rump steak with grilled herb polenta and roasted peppers in
tamarind sauce. Zucchini and pumpkin frittata with rocket and pine nut
salad. |
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Desserts
are unashamedly luscious: Orange and lime cheese cake with cinnamon
rhubarb. Apple tart with Assam tea cream anglaise. Cinnamon tea poached
pears with butter scotch ice cream. Passion fruit pannacotta with minted
citrus fruit salad. Banana and sultana compote served with Hibiscus
sorbet. |
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Overnight : Tea Trails Bungalow |
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Day 08 |
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After
breakfast, check out from Tea Trails and drive to Rathgama and check in
at Aditya Resort -A small all-suite luxury boutique hotel on a hidden
stretch of beach in southwest Sri Lanka. Aditya offers more than just
luxury on the beach. It arouses the senses, stimulates the intellect,
and draws the soul into a truly transcendent experience |
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Dinner :
Sea Food on the Beach Sri Lanka has an outstanding supply of seafood and
some of the best sea fish in the world. After discussing and finalizing
the menu with the chef, enjoy a sumptuous sea food extravaganza set
among a private dining area on the beach. |
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Overnight : Aditya Resort |
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Day 09 |
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After
breakfast proceed to the Dutch Fort- "A World Heritage Site" and visit
the Old Dutch Church c. 1752 constructed as a thanksgiving by the wife
of the Commandeur Casparous de Jong, for the gift of a child. |
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Visit the
Bastions including the Sun, Moon, Star, Zwart (with the old water-gate
and hidden entrance identified as the Santa Cruz Bastion of the
Portuguese), Akesloot (where the first Breadfruit tree was planted by
the Dutch), Old Gunpowder Magazine, Aeloes, Triton, Neptune and other
Bastions. |
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Walk in
the narrow streets, including the Lighthouse Street (Zeeburg Street),
Leyn-Baan Street (Lijnberg meaning rope walk), and Modarabaay Street
(Modder-baai meaning Mud bay) see the Old Dutch Houses, private Museum
where Dutch period antiques could be seen and part of the Old Sewer
system that emptied to the sea with the high/low tide. |
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Dinner :
The Aman Experience - Dining with a colonial accent Dine at the
luxurious Amangalla - The Dining Room provides an intimate setting for
dining with a colonial accent. The Dining Room is furnished with period
chairs and tables, crisp white linen and antique silverware, with many
of the original pieces being returned to their rightful place in the
room. The Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and provides a
choice of traditional Sri Lankan curry and home-cooked dishes. |
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Overnight : Aditya Resort |
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Day 10 |
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After breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to Colombo with an en route visit to the Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda. |
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Arrive and check in at the hotel. |
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Shopping in Colombo and return to the hotel in order to freshen up for Dinner. |
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Dinner :
Curry Leaf Dine under the stars at Colombo Hiltons richly decorated,
romantic restaurant. You can enjoy a sumptuous seafood buffet with a
wide selection of fish, prawn, crab and squid dishes cooked to all
tastes including grilled, Thai, Chinese style and Sri Lankan. Relax in
the landscaped gardens by a lotus pond or in the thatched dining area. |
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Overnight : The Park Street Hotel |
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Day 11 |
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Transfer to Airport for departure |
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