~ 15 Day Tour ~ 17th April - 1st May, 2018

“Friends to travel with....”

2121 Point Nepean Road, Rye Vic 3941 www.oshannessys.com.au

Email: enquiries@oshannessys.com.au

Toll Free: 1800 354 352

O’Shannessy’s Sorrento Travel Pty Ltd T/A:

Surrounded by bountiful waves and exotic beauty all round, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean is true paradise on Earth

Sri Lanka

Price per person twin share $ 6,995 Repeat clientele twin share $ 6,895

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $ 960

Tour Departs: Tuesday 17th April, 2018 Tour Returns: Tuesday 1st May, 2018

Non - Refundable Deposit: $1,000 per person upon booking  Balance due on invoice approximately 70 days prior to departure

Single travellers who are prepared to twin share will be matched with another passenger (of the same gender), HOWEVER, if this is not possible, you will need to pay the

Single Supplement. Please note: If you have chosen to share a room, compatibility with your room mate cannot be guaranteed.

Tour Price Includes: Pick up from and return to your home - Greater Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat,

Geelong, the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, Phillip Island and some areas of Gippsland.

SRI LANKA AIRLINES: Return economy flights. Quality ensuite motel accommodation. Maximum participants on tour 30. Tour Escorted from Melbourne by our O’Shannessy’s representative. Local English speaking guides. Quality air-conditioned touring coach. Local SIM card provided if required. Bottled water provided. All gratuities for Driver & Guide, venues and porterage at accommodation whilst

travelling with the group. All tours and interest venues as per itinerary. Meals: 13 full breakfasts, 2 in-flight, 13 dinners, 8 lunches.

(5 Lunches at own expense as per itinerary) Tour cost does not include: Items of a personal nature and any optional extras. Travel Insurance Tips and personal incidental charges - Tipping is not obligatory in most places. It is at

the discretion of the guest whether they want to give tips or not. A valid national passport is needed for all holidays, with minimum validity of 6 month

after return. Please check visa requirements with your local consulate; responsibility for obtaining

visas rests with the traveller- for non Australian Passport Holders. Sri Lanka Travel Visa (Approx. Cost is $50pp) The following cancellation fees apply for this tour:

Deposit is non-refundable 69 to 45 days BEFORE DEPARTURE 75% Refund of Tour Cost 44 to 31days BEFORE DEPARTURE 50% Refund of Tour Cost

WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DEPARTURE - NO REFUND No refunds on any unused portions of the itinerary.

All passengers are required to co-operate with the seat rotation program determined by O’Shannessy’s Tour Directors.

TRAVEL INSURANCE IS NOT COMPULSORY HOWEVER IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND IS AVAILABLE FROM OUR OFFICE.

The Proprietors reserve the right to vary any accommodation, price or other features of the tour at any time at their own discretion.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Colombo

Bentota - Turtle Hatchery

Ambalangoda - Mask Carving

Galle Fort

Yala National Park - Safari Drives

Ella - Waterfalls, Mountain Village

Nuwara Eliya - Tea Plantations

Kandy Train Ride

Kandy Dancers

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

Temple of the Sacred Tooth - Relic of Lord Buddha tour

Spice Garden tour

Dambulla - Cave Temple

Polonnaruwa - World Heritage Site

Visit to a Local School

Sigiriya Citadel Rock

FITNESS OF TRAVEL

Whilst the tour is comfortably paced to suit most people; we recommend participants have a reasonable level of fitness as there are stairs, uneven surfaces, extended sightseeing on foot and boarding on/off 4WD vehicles on the safari’s.

Welcome to our exciting tour to Sri Lanka - formerly known as Ceylon. Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, near South East India. It is shaped like a pearl so is often referred to as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”! It has had a rich and diverse culture - having been occupied by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British rule which lasted until 1948. It became known as Sri Lanka in 1972.

Day 1: Tuesday 17th April, 2018

Melbourne to Colombo

With all the packing done and excitement levels high, we begin with personal pickup from home, and transfer to Melbourne airport to board our direct flight to Colombo. On our arrival, we will be welcomed by our local guide, and transferred to our hotel which is approximately an hour drive. We check in to our delightful accommodation and head straight to bed for a restful night. (In-flight meals)

OVERNIGHT: Cinnamon Grand, Colombo

Day 2: Wednesday 18th April, 2018

Colombo sightseeing

We have a chance to sleep in this morning and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Late morning we board the coach for a sight-seeing tour of the country’s capital - Colombo. This port city has a rich colonial heritage with a potpourri of races, religions and cultures. With these diversities comes understanding and tolerance -

being one of the stand-out features of its people and consequently the whole country. We’ll see Colombo is a colourful place with a diverse range of new buildings, old Colonial buildings and street markets. Returning to the hotel we have a lovely buffet lunch waiting for us. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel facilities, including the beautiful swimming pool. OVERNIGHT: Cinnamon Grand, Colombo

Day 3: Thursday 19th April, 2018

Colombo to Galle

Our travels today see us heading south to the beach area of Bentota. The distances are short but it does take awhile to drive a short way. However, the travel is part of the experience in Sri Lanka! One of our visits is to a Turtle Hatchery where eggs are kept safe from predators and released after hatching for a better chance of survival. Sri Lanka has five breeds of turtles calling it home. Next we head to Ambalangoda, an area famous for mask carving and puppets. There is quite a history attached to this tradition of carving and performing with the masks which we will learn about today. OVERNIGHT: Jetwing Lighthouse, Galle

Day 4: Friday 20th April, 2018

Galle

Our day begins with an adventure through the Mangrove swamps of the Madu River. This boat trip is not only picturesque, but informative. There will be an opportunity to see how an industry has been carved out in this area by making cinnamon sticks. This process is quite involved and very interesting. Our main visit today is to Galle Fort.

This fort was built by the Portuguese in 1588. Recognised by UNESCO for its cultural heritage makes this a very interesting place. We have lunch here, sampling some of the best Sri Lankan street food. We are sure to have a really fun day.

OVERNIGHT: Jetwing Lighthouse, Galle

Day 5: Saturday 21st April, 2018

Galle to Yala

Today, we make our way across the southern end of Sri Lanka to Yala National Park. Our guide will choose a lunch venue along the way. Upon arrival at our hotel, we check into this beautiful accommodation with time to freshen up and put

on our safari gear! Make sure your eyes are peeled and cameras are charged as we take our safari jeeps into the Yala National Park. This is leopard country, and they are the Lords of the Jungle! With a leopard density that's higher than anywhere else on this planet, these menacing predators’ prowl majestically in Yala, although

spotting them is still a rare occurrence. Elephants roam in larger numbers with cautious deer scampering by their side. There is a multitude of birds to keep an eye out for and our guide will explain anything else we come across throughout the drive. We make the most of our stay in this magnificent establishment by settling in for two nights. Dinner on the deck gives a surreal ambiance (weather permitting). We will want to soak up every minute of the privilege of being in this beautiful part of Sri Lanka. OVERNIGHT: Jetwing Yala, Yala National Park

Day 6: Sunday 22nd April, 2018

Yala National Park

Time to slow down today and relax! We can enjoy a morning game drive which showcases the park quite differently to the afternoon drive. The rest of the day has been left free to enjoy the hotel and the facilities - the gorgeous swimming pool, the spa and wellness centre - or a stroll along the beach and perhaps spot some of the playful monkeys who live here.

Lunch own expense / arrangement today

OVERNIGHT: Jetwing Yala, Yala National Park

Day 7: Monday 23rd April, 2018

Yala to Nuwara Eliya

We go from low, flat terrain on the coast, through ever changing scenery as we meander through the picturesque mountains. We make stops along the way to admire some of the many waterfalls dotted throughout the area. Once again our guide will choose an appropriate lunch venue for us to pick up something light. (own expense) This afternoon we make our way towards Nuwara Eliya where we will begin to see some of the tea plantations this area is renowned for. Arriving in Nuwara Eliya, we could easily make the mistake of thinking we are in a small English village. Nuwara Eliya's climate lent itself to becoming the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. Called Little England, this hill country retreat is where the British colonialists immersed in their pastimes such as fox, deer and elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket. We take a look around the small town before we arrive at The Grand Hotel for a very English High Tea!

Lunch own expense / arrangements today

OVERNIGHT: Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya

Day 8: Tuesday 24th April, 2018

Nuwara Eliya to Kandy

It’s only fitting that this morning we take a tour of a tea factory, explaining the process of tea plucking and production, right to the stage of the tea getting into our cups. Sri Lanka provides a large segment of the worlds’ tea, so it is a very important industry for this country. It is surprising how much labour goes into the process, but the scenery from here is just divine so the tea pluckers seem to always have a smile on their faces! The rest of the afternoon will be

spent getting to the metropolis that is Kandy. The journey, by train, remains one of the world’s most stunning train rides, weaving through the tea plantations and small villages. This will be a wonderfully exhilarating trip. We will travel in a first class cabin, but its not what we may expect! Disembarking in the central province, Kandy is the second largest city in the country after Colombo. Dominating the town is Kandy Lake. This is an artificial lake created in 1807 by the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy.

The city of Kandy is known for its performers that dance and play music. This evening we are treated to a performance by Kandy dancers. This type of dancing cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The costumes are specific to the Kandy area also. Finally we make our way up the mountain through the narrow streets to arrive at our lovely accommodation. Once we check in, we meet together in the restaurant for an extensive buffet dinner. If the weather is good, we will sit outside.

OVERNIGHT: Earl’s Regency, Kandy

Day 9: Wednesday 25th April, 2018

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Today will incorporate some real highlights. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in the morning has to be seen to be believed. We will not only have a chance to watch a baby elephant being fed, but see some of the 100 resident elephants of the orphanage wander down the village street to their bathing area! It is definitely a site to behold. There is time to enjoy an early lunch here while watching the elephants revel in the water for their favourite time of the day - bath time!

Early afternoon, we return to Kandy for a visit to the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens where we can take a leisurely stroll through the wonderful varied floral displays. Then, one of the most pleasant areas surrounding Kandy Lake is at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, housing Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic - a tooth of the Buddha. The temple is located in the royal palace complex, which has played an important role in local politics because it is believed, whoever holds the relic, holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. Today is sure to be one we will remember for a long time.

OVERNIGHT: Earl’s Regency, Kandy

Day 10: Thursday 26th April, 2018

Kandy to Dambulla

We travel further north today, still in the centre of Sri Lanka. A large part of the unique experience of being in Sri Lanka has to do with the food. Today we travel through the area of Matale where most of the spice gardens are located. The Sri

Lankans believe these spices help people “live a long and healthy life” and we will be given an educational spice tour at a spice garden to see how some of the more unusual items are grown. This is also the perfect place to watch a cooking demonstration to show how easy it is to use the spices to make some delicious food. We will look at lunch in a different light after today. With the food made, and the smells wafting around us we

enjoy lunch. We make a brief stop at the Dambulla Cave Temple where the Golden Temple is situated. This is the largest and best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. Our hotel is in Dambulla, situated on the lake, right in the midst of what is known as the “Cultural Triangle”.

OVERNIGHT: Jetwing Lake, Dambulla

Day 11: Friday 27th April, 2018

Polonnaruwa

Setting off after breakfast, we visit Polonnaruwa today, which was once the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to the 13th century. The site is now listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO as the ancient remains consist of a walled inner and outer city, surrounded by monasteries and temples, with palaces, gardens and a manmade lake in its midst. This fascinating place will be explained to us

throughout our tour. As we make our way back to Dambulla, we stop at a local restaurant for lunch. This afternoon we have been invited to a local school to meet some of the children who take education seriously. They are sure to be happy to see us, and the smiles come so readily in Sri Lanka, so it should be a joy for us to visit them too. This is a lovely way to end an interesting day of learning.

OVERNIGHT: Jetwing Lake, Dambulla

Day 12: Saturday 28th April, 2018

Sigiriya option

The day has been left free for us to choose how we wish to spend it. 1. One option is to relax at the hotel and enjoy the wonderful facilities it offers.

Take a swim in the magnificent pool, or simply read a book with a cool drink in hand, beside the pool. Book in a spa treatment at the wellness centre, or use the gym for a bit of exercise.

2. Sigiriya Citadel Rock is an iconic attraction which is a plateau formed from magma of an extinct volcano, 200 metres higher than the surrounding jungles. On the top of the rock is a fortress complex which required advanced architectural and engineering skills, but was constructed 1600 years ago! It is possible to climb the rock, but this is not for the faint hearted, so speak to the guide if you consider this option.

3. Oxen cart and village tour will give us a diverse experience with a cart ride, then a small water vessel across the lake to see how the locals in rural village areas live, and if we are lucky - take a tuk-tuk out of the area. This is great fun and very popular, so decide quickly if you choose this!

All activities, including lunch are at your own expense today. Meet our fellow passengers for dinner to hear stories of today’s adventures.

Lunch own expense / arrangement today

OVERNIGHT: Jetwing Lake, Dambulla

Day 13: Sunday 29th April, 2018

Dambulla to Negombo

Leaving this area, we head back to the coast, making our way to Negombo. We take our time, stopping at sites of interest and eventually arriving at our final hotel destination late afternoon. There will be time to look around the grounds and settle in before we meet together again for dinner.

Lunch own expense / arrangement today

OVERNIGHT: Heritance Hotel, Negombo

We thank you for travelling with O’Shannessy’s Tours and look forward to your patronage again in the future!

Day 14: Monday 30th April, 2018

Negombo

The Fish Market is a must see experience whilst in Negombo, so this will be one of our stops during the city sights tour of the area. Negombo is about two metres above sea level, and the geography is a mix of land and water. The Dutch style canal flows in the heart of the city, while the lagoon is one of the most scenic landmarks. There are over 190 species of wildlife and plenty of birds in its mangroves. After our tour, there’ll be an opportunity for some last minute shopping today. If you haven’t taken a Tuk-Tuk ride yet, why not hail one and take a trip wherever you like? This is a cheap and exciting way to get around. Our guide will suggest venues for lunch, but most of the day has been left free to do our own thing. Our tour has come to an end, so we farewell Sri Lanka, leaving with memories of a wonderful time spent in a beautiful part of the world. We have arranged to have a memorable farewell dinner this evening. We are transferred to the airport after dinner for our overnight flight home.

Lunch own expense / arrangement today

DAY TIME USE: Heritance Hotel, Negombo OVERNIGHT: In-flight

Day 15: Tuesday 1st May, 2018

Heading Home

We arrive back to Melbourne around mid-afternoon. After clearing customs, our chauffeurs will be awaiting our arrival to take us safely home. In-flight meals

We trust you arrive home safely with memories of a fascinating and rewarding tour.

For details of other tours available Phone toll free on 1800 354 352

DISCLAIMER: O’Shannessy’s:

Advises the airline reserves the right to amend their schedule and airfares without notice

Advises price is effective for the dates specified but may be subject to change without notice

Advises passengers require a current Passport to travel to Sri Lanka with minimum validity of 6 months after return

Advises non-Australian Passport holders to check re-entry Visa requirements

Advises passengers require a Visa. (approx. Cost is $50)

Reserves the right to vary the itinerary in any way at any time deemed necessary.

Accepts no responsibility for damage or loss of personal belongings and suggests that suit-able Insurance be effected for protection of the same

Accepts no responsibility or liability for delays, accidents, injury, irregularity or damage caused by other transport/touring companies used as part of this tour

Reserves the right to change accommodation at any time without notice

CONDITIONS OF TRAVEL

Any special passenger requirements must be notified to O’Shannessy’s Tours at the time of booking. No passenger will be permitted to embark or continue on the tour while their mental or physical condition is, in the opinion of any representative of O’Shannessy’s Tours, such as to render them incapable of caring for themselves, or whereby they become objectionable to other passengers, or they become a hazard to themselves or other passengers. O’Shannessy’s Tours will not be responsible for expenses resulting in such persons being precluded from completing the tour for any such reason.

It is also a requirement of O’Shannessy’s Tours that each passenger is able to negotiate coach steps without the aid of the coach crew or other passengers.

Any passenger who requires assistance for any of the above is required to travel with a companion capable of providing all necessary assistance.

If you are willing to twin share but are a smoker or have a CPAP machine or snore, you will need to pay a single supplement for a sole use room.