Sri Lanka & The Maldives

Sri Lanka & The Maldives

When it comes to holidays that include both cultural explorations and some time in the ultimate relaxation destination, you can't beat a combo of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The pair are popular with honeymooners looking for more than just a beach break (it is the perfect adventure vs fly-and-flop compromise), and families looking to create everlasting memories: the joy of spotting elephants or leopards in the wild, exploring age-old ruins or the revelling in the achievement of scaling Sigiriya Rock together are all moments not to be missed. It's only an hour and a half's flight between the two and SriLankan Airlines operate a couple of flights a day from between the two capitals, Colombo and Malé.

Kuoni's Highlights:

• Room & Breakfast (Sri Lanka) & Full Board (Maldives)
• 3 nights Aliya Resort & Spa - Sigiriya
• 1 night Earl's Regency Hotel - Kandy
• 2 nights Jetwing St Andrews - Nuwara Eliya
• 1 night SENTIDO Heritance Negombo
• 5 nights Kurathmathi Maldives (Beach Villa)
• Includes 6 days private chauffeur guide and vehicle in Sri Lanka
• Return speedboat transfers between Male airportand Kuramathi Maldives

Aliya Resort & Spa Facilities

Restaurants & Bar:

The culinary focus at Aliya’s three restaurants is firmly on local flavours, with a nod to other cuisines from further afield.

Alaka At the resort’s main restaurant, simple but wonderfully flavour-filled Sri Lankan, Asian and international dishes are served buffet style with superb views towards Sigiriya.

Nagula On the veranda of the resort’s paddy museum, you can lunch or dine on traditional dishes cooked in clay pots in a simple village-style kitchen and presented to you in leaf bowls.

Migara Open from 10am to 10pm, this coolly contemporary coffee shop/bar serves up hot and cold drinks, cocktails and western snacks against a backdrop of jazz or live local music and elephant-inspired décor.

Spa & Wellness:

At AyurVie, an Ayurvedic spa situated in thatched buildings close to the surrounding rice paddies, you can enjoy a range of holistic treatments including herbal oil massages, facials and herbal baths.

Earl's Regency Facilities

Restaurants & Bar:

Whether you're looking to enjoy Sri Lankan cuisine or international dishes, the dining options at Earl’s Regency do not disappoint.

Royal Pavilion The main restaurant is where an extensive buffet breakfast is served. Lunch here is à la carte while at dinner you can enjoy various themed buffets from Sri Lankan to international.

Mountbatten Lounge For a more laidback atmosphere head to the lounge-with-a-view, which is open until late for snacks and hearty pub-style meals such as burgers, pizzas and steak.

The Dip ‘n’ Dive Bar Enjoy a cold drink or hot snack without straying too far from your sun lounger at the hotel’s poolside bar.

The Tapp Bar Stop by for a pre-dinner house cocktail – with names such as Elephant’s Kiss or Arrack Blossom – or a relaxed post-dinner digestive.

Spa & Wellness:

The intimate Ayu Spa has three treatment rooms, a steam room and hot tub, and a menu of therapies including Ayurvedic massages. A Yoga Master holds classes in a dedicated yoga room.

There’s a reasonably well-equipped gym with a selection of cardio and multifunction machines.

Jetwing St. Andrews

Restaurants & Bar:

There’s a restaurant with an extensive menu, a snug and welcoming bar and somewhere to enjoy the finest local teas.

Old Course Restaurant A buffet breakfast and à la carte lunch and dinner are served at the main restaurant. Start the day with a traditional English breakfast, continental far or authentic Sri Lankan dishes. At lunch and dinner, both local and international cuisine is served à la carte. You can dine inside, or on warm days out on the terrace or in the pretty gardens.

Road Hole Bar At the cosy old-world bar, you can enjoy a range of wines, beers and spirits as well as a selection of cocktails and mocktails until late.

The Tea Terrace When nothing will do but a cuppa, this intimate space offers views through the floor-to-ceiling windows or the terrace and a range of artisanal teas.

Spa & Wellness:

At the hotel itself, there’s nothing more strenuous on offer than a game of snooker on an antique table, but there are bicycles for hire for exploring the hilly surroundings and there are some fabulous hiking trails in the area.

Sentido Heritance Negomo

Restaurants & Bars:

There’s an extensive choice of cuisines at the main restaurant, a second eatery with eclectic dining options and two bars, one of them by the pool.

Bluetan - The ground-floor main restaurant is the venue for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enjoy dishes from around the world in the spacious interior or overlooking the sea on the terrace.

B-Bums - This al fresco pool bar dishes up an extensive menu of international hot-weather bites and a tempting list of made-to-order cocktails from 10am to 7pm.

See Lounge - Savour the best sunset views in the top-floor lounge bar, accompanied perhaps by a signature cocktail, glass of fizz, malt whisky and something from the snack list.

Banyan - The inspired options at this almost-all-day eatery (11am to 11pm) cover the ground from seafood, pizza and fusion tapas to afternoon tea.

Spa & Wellness:

The rooftop Coco Spa takes full advantage of its location, with dreamy ocean views from its aromatherapy suites and hot tubs. There’s a short but carefully curated menu of therapies, which includes Sri Lankan herbal massages based on Ayurvedic principles, toning coffee body scrubs and facials for men. There is a modern, well-equipped fitness room, which is open from early until late.

Kuramathi Maldives Facilities

Restaurants & Bars:

You’re allocated one of the three buffet restaurants determined by the location of your villa. We recommend upgrading to Select All Inclusive for the full choice of nine à la carte restaurants – including the popular Island Barbecue on the beach, Siam Garden serving up authentic Thai dishes, and fine dining at La Belle Vie in the verdant heart of the island. Of the bars, favourites include the Sand Bar, where you can sink into a comfy beanbag with a cocktail and bury your toes in the sand, and the chic Champagne Loft. It's worth noting that children need to be over 6 to dine at Kobe, La Belle Vie, Island Barbecue, The Reef and Inguru.

Haruge, Malaafaiy and Farivalhu - These three main restaurants are buffet style, and you’ll automatically be allocated one of these depending on where your villa is located. If you choose Full Board or All Inclusive, this is what’s included.

La Belle Vie - At the heart of the island, La Belle Vie serves up a curated menu with an array of traditional bistro style French food accompanied by a laidback atmosphere.

Siam Garden - Siam Garden offers Thai cuisine with views of the lush vegetation outside.

Tandoor Mahal - A traditional Indian restaurant.

Palm - As the name suggests, this restaurant serves up Mediterranean dishes under a canopy of palms.

The Reef - For fresh seafood, The Reef – newly reopened and now overwater – sits at the tip of the island.

Island Coffee Shop - At the open-all-day (9am to midnight) coffee shop where you can enjoy an international menu and afternoon tea with a view of the infinity pool.

Inguru - Inguru serves up light bites during the day and Asian-fusion dishes for dinner.

Kobe - This restaurant offers an intimate overwater teppanyaki dining experience.

Island Barbecue - A popular dinner venue that is located close to the beach and serves up flambé and charcoal grilled dishes accompanied by veggies grown on the islands and typical barbecue side dishes.

Laguna Bar - The views from the Laguna Bar’s outdoor deck at sunset are stunning.

Champagne Loft - Looking out to the Indian Ocean, the Champagne Loft focuses on a wide range of Champagnes, sparkling wines and white spirits.

Sand Bar - You’ll love drinking fruity cocktails while perched on a comfy beanbag with your toes in the sand at the Sand Bar.

Havana Wine & Cigar Bar - A sophisticated lounge where wines from around the globe and a selection of beverages are served until the early morning.

Fung Bar - A beachside, open-air bar where tunes are played and drinks are served late into the evening.

Dhoni Bar - Sea views, shisha and tropical cocktails are available at the partly overwater Dhoni Bar.

Spa & Wellness:

The Spa at Kuramathi is set amidst lush vegetation and offers a selection of carefully curated treatments designed to meet all guests’ needs. From locally sourced Maldivian ingredients to exotic products from Europe and the Far East, each treatment harnesses powerful therapeutic and healing properties. The body massages and wellbeing rituals blend Dhivehi Beys - ancient Maldivian healing traditions - with globally inspired wellbeing practices. There’s a focus on couples – as well as seven beachside couples’ treatment rooms, there’s a couples' water pavilion massage room and a private herbal bath treatment room. Before your treatment, relax in the Spa Lounge and enjoy a specially blended herbal tea.

Diving & Watersports:

Diving here is particularly impressive, with the Rasdhoo Atoll featuring more than 20 sites that can be reached in just five to 45 minutes. Dive sites vary between channels, walls, reefs, thilas and even a couple of wrecks.

The marine life is diverse and abundant, including different types of sharks (and you will see sharks on almost every dive), eagle rays, stingrays, manta rays (November to April), turtles, barracuda, tuna, Napoleons, morays, schools of jacks and trevally, leaf fish and even the occasional whale shark.

Rasdhoo Divers operates a dive school on the island (PADI/SSI). The multi-lingual team offers an excellent diving experience for both beginners and advanced divers.

The dive program for certified divers includes early morning dawn dive at Shark Point, morning and afternoon dives, night dives, half-day and full-day safaris.

Trips depart on purpose-built 15m diving dhonis. Group size for certified divers is usually maximum 6 divers per guide and experienced divers with a minimum of 50 logged dives can dive unguided if they wish. Courses run with max. 4 students per instructor. Kuramathi also features a fully-equipped medical centre with hyperbaric chamber.

Aside from diving, there is a whole array of watersports activities available at the resort for you to get involved in. There's windsurfing, stand-up paddle surfing and kayaking, or for the adrenaline seekers there's water skiing, banana rides or fun tubes. You can even head out into the lagoon on a snorkelling safari with the resident marine biologist who can give you insights into the diverse underwater world. There are high chances of getting a closer look at some species in these excursions including Manta Rays, turtles and whalesharks. Don't forget to pack your underwater camera to capture these once in lifetime moments.

Please note all watersports activities incur an extra cost.

Accommodation

Aliya Resort & Spa

• Air-conditioning
• Terrace
• King-size bed
• Living area
• Television
• Wi-Fi
• Bathtub and walk-in shower

Earl's Regency

• Air-conditioning
• Kingsize bed or twin beds
• Balcony
• Television
• Telephone
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Minibar*

Jetwing St. Andrews

• Heating
• Television
• Telephone
• Tea and coffee making facilities

Sentido Heritance Negombo

• Air-conditioning
• Balcony or terrace
• Television
• Bathroom with rain shower
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Wi-Fi
• Mini fridge

Kuramathi Maldives

• Air-conditioning
• Fan
• Kingsize bed
• Tea and coffee facilities
• Minibar*
• Telephone
• Flat-screen television
• Terrace

*Denotes local charge

Itinerary

Days 1-3: Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle

Within the three points of Sri Lanka's famed Cultural Triangle (Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to the north and north east respectively, and Kandy to the south), you'll find four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, stunning natural landscapes and incredible wildlife. We recommend basing yourself at one hotel for at least a few nights and heading out each day to see sights such as the iconic Sigiriya Rock (head here early if you wish to climb to the top), the cave temples at Dambulla and the ruined archaeological wonders of the island's ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. A game drive in Minneriya National Park will give you the best chance of spotting wild elephants in huge herds. Stay for 3 nights at Aliya Resort & Spa.

Day 4: Kandy

Kandy, the third and last former capital of the Sinhala Kingdom is a treasure trove of temples, sacred relics and tropical gardens. Its most popular pilgrimage spot is the lakeside Temple of the Tooth Relic, which as the name suggests is said to house the tooth of the Buddha. The city is also home to a trio of other temples: Embekke, Lankathilake and Gadaladeniya. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya are a must visit for those green fingered folk; they were established on once-royal land over 150 years ago with cuttings imported from London's Kew Gardens, and today are home to over 4000 species of plants, including an extensive orchid collection. A joy of Kandy is its beautiful surrounding countryside so be sure to ask your private chauffeur guide to head off the beaten track a little to experience the very best of it. Stay for 1 night at Earl's Regency Hotel.

Days 5-6: Tea Country

From Kandy, continue your ascent into the hills of central Sri Lanka, a land of mist cloaked tea plantations, lush forests and colonial-era towns. Nuwara Eliya is the region's most famous town, and has an air of familiarity about it - there's good reason it's nicknamed Sri Lanka's 'Little England'. You can't come to the region without visiting a working plantation. The rolling hills are covered with emerald tea plants and dotted with pickers who together can pluck over 15 tonnes of leaves each day. The Hill Country has exceptional growing conditions with other crops such as strawberries, potatoes, carrots and beetroot; you'll eat and sip Ceylon tea like royalty while you stay in this beautiful area. For tea-cloaked hills and more active adventures head to Hatton where mountain trails pass through draw-dropping scenery; equally as beautiful is the town of Ella, the closest town to Nine Arch Bridge; ask your private chauffeur guide to take you to see this wonder of engineering and icon of the Hill Country. Stay for 2 nights at Jetwing St. Andrews.

Day 7: Negombo

Take your head out the clouds and head back down to sea level, stopping for a night in Negombo. This beach resort is close to the airport so you'll be well placed for a rejuvenating post-tour night and your flight to the Maldives the following day. Stay for 1 night at SENTIDO Heritance Negomo.

Days 8-12: Maldives

This scattering of atolls plays host to idyllic islands that seem to have been made exclusively for R&R. But there's plenty to do between lounging sessions; you can snorkel right off the talcum sands on the house reef, head further afield on diving expeditions, enjoy romantic destination dining on the beach or remote sand bars, drink and dine to your heart's content or become a regular at the spa. Within our range of handpicked Maldives resorts, there are perfect-for-family sanctuaries, romantic hideaways, ultra-luxe retreats and budget-conscious options; our Personal Travel Experts are here to help you single out your perfect island. Stay for 5 nights at Kuramathi Maldives.

Day 13: Depart to London Heathrow

Depart back to London Heathrow.