Catamaran Beach Hotel

209, Lewis Place

Negombo

Sri Lanka

Tel:  031 222 8801

Negombo. Members of our tour group will be arriving at different times throughout the day. An airport transfer is included, so please ensure that you provide us with your arrival details, to enable us to organize your transfer from the airport to the joining hotel. Once you have arrived in Negombo and checked into the hotel, the day is free for you to spend as you wish.

We suggest you might like to take a look at some of the local areas of interest. Negombo is a busy town with an interesting historical past. It stretches along the west coast shoreline of Sri Lanka and one of the main things it is known for is fishing. The fisherfolk - known as Karavas - take out their oruvas/canoes onto the Indian Ocean for their catches. These are then sold in the local markets. You can walk along the coastline to visit the old Dutch fort, which was built in the 17th century. Nearby is a green where cricket is played. Dutch colonisers built canals in the area and if you feel energetic, hire a bicycle for a ride along the towpaths. But if you feel like taking things easy today you can laze on the beach.

The tour leader will give a Pre Departure briefing on your trip at 18.00pm. After that there is time for dinner.

Bike Tour of Polonnaruwa and Elephant Back Safari at Minneriya National Park. After breakfast at the hotel we leave for Polonnaruwa, the Medieval Capital of Sri Lanka in the 11th-13th Centuries AD.

Polonnaruwa rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. The city was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many shrines. A unique irrigation complex watered the city as well as the surrounding plains helping in agriculture which made the island "the Granary of the East". The largest of the man made reservoirs, the huge Parakrama Samudra (the Sea of Parakrama), is larger in size than the Colombo Harbour. Polonnaruwa is home to two magnificent World Heritage Sites and numerous other sites of archaeological and historical interest, some of which depict the influence that Hinduism had on the Buddhist Civilisation during that period of history.

We take a bicycle tour to visit many of the archaeological and historical places of interest. These include the Grate Statue, Quadrangle, Royal Palace, Vatadage, Hatadage, Siva Devalaya, Gal Viharaya, Alahana Pirivena Complex, Kumara and Lotus Ponds, Thuparamaya, Rankoth Vehera, Pabalu Vehera, Thiwanka Image House and the Museum. 

We stop in to a Wood Carving Factory to see the skills of Sri Lankan Craftsmen.

Later in the afternoon we undertake an Elephant Back Safari into the dry zone jungles, crossing a water way, before returning to our hotel in Giritale.

Minneriya National Park gives you the opportunity to spot an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, including wild elephants. Minneriya is situated around the reservoir of the same name in the south central area of the island. This park is comprised of grasslands, thorny scrubs and many valuable species of trees. Large herds of elephants, species of deer, wild boar, water buffalo and jackals are some of the wild animals found, along with a variety of avifauna that abounds the park. The park has become synonymous with the annual “Elephant Gathering”.

If numbers interest you, there are 9 species of amphibians, 24 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish (three of which are endangered), 75 species of butterflies and 160 species of birds.

Making your way through the park, you will see elephants, and maybe Spotted Deer, Sambar, (a deer with no spots) or even a leopard. Other creatures you may not care to meet include the Sloth Bear, Indian Python and the Mugger Crocodile, also known as Tank Crocodile. Sri Lanka, home to over 400 species of birds, has long been a birdwatcher’s paradise, and in Minneriya National Park alone, 160 species crowd the trees or strut the banks.

Kandy - City Tour, Botanic Gardens, Kandy Cultural Performance.  After breakfast we enjoy a City Tour of Kandy. This includes the Upper Lake Drive, with its bird’s eye view of the city below, and the Royal Botanical gardens. Here there are more than 5000 species of different varieties of flora. It was also the Headquarters of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during the 2nd World War.

We visit a Gem Museum - to see how the valuable gems that you see on a shop shelf are turned out from a raw stone with the background history on gem mining.

Kandy means literally the "City on the Hills". It is so named as it was protected by the nature - water, rocks and jungles and it is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures up a vision of splendour and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive.

The centre of attraction is the golden roofed Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. The Kandy Lake built by the last King Sri Wickramarajasinghe in 1806 holds a prominent view of the City. It is a City for arts and crafts as well as culture and history.

In the evening we watch a Cultural Performance by traditional Kandyan Dancers and Drummers including devotional "Fire Walking". Then we walk across the star lit night to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha - by far the most important place of worship for Buddhists the world over.

Nuwara Eliya to Belihuloya - Walk to Lamp Flame Waterfalls, Cooking Demonstration. After breakfast we set off towards Belihuloya.  The scenery is again beautiful.

We stay at a small hotel in Belihuloya. From here we can take a walk to Lamp Flame waterfalls. We can also have a cooking demonstration to learn more about Sri Lankan foods and how they are prepared.

Galle, River Canoeing, Bentota. After breakfast we visit the Galle Dutch Fortress - a World Heritage Site. Galle is a port city, standing on one of the main sea routes in the southern part of the country. It has a unique charm among the many historic places in Sri Lanka. The Dutch built the first Protestant church in Sri Lanka here, and it is also famous for its Dutch Fort.

We then drive along the coast towards to Bentota and on the way we visit a Mask Museum and a Turtle Hatchery.

We have l lunch at our riverside campsite, before we transfer to the starting point for our river canoeing. We have a briefing session, before we paddle along the river looking for wildlife. You may spot kingfishers and different types of monkeys. 

After our afternoon of canoeing, we head to Bentota on the coast for the next few days or rest and relaxation!

To Colombo and Negombo. After another free morning, we set off after lunch for the drive to Negombo via the capital Colomobo.

Colombo is the Commercial Capital of Sri Lanka. Here we have a City Tour, which includes the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, Dutch Wolvendhal Church, a Hindu Temple, Town Hall, BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall) and Cinnamon Gardens.

Colombo is a fascinating city, not only for its comfortable blend of East and West, but also for its mixture of the past and the present. It is the Commercial Capital of the country, and is only 35 km south of the country's only International Airport. There are many attractions, opportunities for shopping, and wide rage of foods making it an interesting city.

We continue on to coastal Negombo for our last night.

Catamaran Beach Hotel

209, Lewis Place

Negombo

Sri Lanka

Tel: 031 222 8801

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY of the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel. Your Tour Leader will leave a notice at reception on the first day of departure with information as to where he/she can be contacted and you should inform him/her that you have arrived.

PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy.

In most of the hotels in Asia you may be required to deposit your passport at Reception. This is a perfectly normal practice and nothing to be concerned about. Just make sure that you retrieve it before when you check out of the hotel.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are compulsory in Asia, but we do recommend you are covered for *diphtheria & TB, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *malaria, typhoid, polio and tetanus.

NB* A Yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from infected areas. Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

You may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information. Please consult your doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations, anti-malarial requirements and any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst travelling in Asia.

We also recommend:

- A dental check-up prior to travelling.
- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.
- That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.

You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.

Medical Supplies:

We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items:

Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.

A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

• Do not take unnecessary valuables with you.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room in Asia, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at the individuals’ risk.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care.
• Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.

We suggest passengers budget for between US$15-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evenings out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

For security you are advised to carry most of your money in Traveller’s cheques - small denominations are preferable.

It is often a good idea to have a small amount of the currency of the country you are visiting prior to arrival. This will cover you for any initial expenses at or from the airport.

Banks are generally open Monday to Friday and some are open on Saturday morning. In the main cities travellers’ cheques can be exchanged at banks and some exchange bureaux, but this can be very difficult in small towns.

Some Hotels will also change money.

How much should I take?

• Please bring lightweight walking shoes or sandals, and a day sac. Pack essentially for hot conditions: days are hot and humid. Lightweight rain gear is essential at all times.
• Because of limited luggage space on transport, we must limit each passenger to ONE main suitcase or frameless backpack and one day bag. Your main bag must not weigh more than 20 kg’s.
• A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions. We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers checks etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installation

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. It will always be clean, comfortable and of a very high standard. All accommodation is in comfortable tourist class accommodation. Depending on the tour, this ranges from overnight sleeper train or cruise boat through to delightful lodges and excellent hotels (generally 3 star or above).

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you. If you would like to book accommodation to stay additional nights after the tour ends, we will be more than happy to arrange this for you as well. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable.

In most of the hotels in Asia you may be required to deposit your passport at Reception. This is a perfectly normal practice and nothing to be concerned about. Just make sure that you retrieve it when you check out of the hotel.

Kumuka endeavors to advertise a compliment of optional activities available locally during tours with selected ground handlers to make your tour more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners are selected for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. Although Kumuka has developed a travel insurance policy to cover all activities offered during your journey, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by a third party.

Below is a list of optional excursions available at your expense on your Asia tour. Please note that these are intended as a guide only and prices and availability cannot be guaranteed.

Your tour leader will be able to organise any optional excursions on your behalf. The list below is by no means comprehensive. There will be many other optional activities available. All activities are undertaken at passenger’s own risk.

All costs are in US$

             - Deep Sea Fishing-Half Day US$ 235.00

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

KUMUKA WORLDWIDE

UK OFFICE

Hillswood Business Park 3000
Hillswood Drive Chertsey KT16 0RS
Tel: +4420 7937 8855 Fax: +442075043782

Email: sales@kumuka.com
www.kumuka.com

AUSTRALIAN OFFICE

Level 5, 387 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9279 0491 Fax: 02 9279 0492
Email: sales@kumuka.com.au
www.kumuka.com.au