Sri Lanka Sept 10th to 17th 2025

Discover Sri Lanka with us!  This is a non diving trip add on to our Maldives liveaboard trip that is immediately before this trip, but can be a stand alone trip on it’s own, especially if you toss in a few resort days before or after!

Price and Inclusions/Exclusions

• 8 days and 7 nights of Sri Lanka heritage, Two UNESCO World Heritage sites, food, nature and wildlife safaris.
• $1395 per person, double occupancy, (Single occupancy  is $1895)
• includes:
  • Transfers
  • seven nights of hotel
  • daily breakfast
  • dinner on most days,
  • entrance fees, tours
  • English speaking guides all week
  • taxes
• Exclusions
  • airfare
  • eVisa (currently $20usd) at (www.eta.gov.lk)
  • camera & video permits at cultural sites (from 250 LKR = .86 usd up to 2500 LKR)
  • some meals (lunches, mostly)
  • beverages (FYI beer is $2 or $3 per can)
  • tips and personal expenses

Book Sri Lanka Now

Itinerary

Day 1 starts in the morning on the 10th of September 2025. 

During this fabulous week, we will visit the following cultural sites and monasteries:  Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple, Rideegama Monastery and Holy city of Kandy.  

Highly rated village & rice paddy tour and cooking lesson.  

Safari jeep tours for wild animal viewing at both Minneriya and Yala National Parks. (Known for Elephants, exotic birds, spotted deer, sloths, crocodiles, monkeys, wild boar, porcupines and leopards!)

Mountain pass train ride.

Galle City is at the conclusion on day 7, touring the city & Dutch Fort and souvenir shopping.

Day 8 is the 17th of September, 2025, we are being transfered back to Colombo (CMB) for flights out on the 17th.  

Sounds like a great sampling of what Sri Lanka has to offer.  We specifically told the tour planner that we less temples and cities and more nature.  We are doing both, we the emphasis on the later.  (for example we have 3 game drives).  There will also be some options to deviate from the “plan” when we get to some of the cities.  

Email bluehattravel@gmail.com for a full day to day breakdown on the itinerary.

Connecting to our Maldives Trip the week before

Disembarkation day for those of us on the Emperor Serenity Maldives liveaboard is Sept 10th  One way flights are available out of Male international airport to Columbo International Airport (CMB) in Sri Laka for about $200 per person. Tour operator suggests: Sri Lankan Airlines or possibly an Emirates morning flight – Male to Colombo.  We will have few hours to drive to get to our first tour, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

Connecting this Sri Lanka trip to a resort stay before or after

Blue Hat Travel can arrange pre or post Sri Lanka resorts!  Some people will only join for the Sri Lanka portion, and may want to go early or stay later to explore or just relax.

Pre trip: Priced from Sept 6-10th for an example:

ITC Ratnadipa (Luxury hotel) in Colombo starts at $220 per night per couple, includes breakfast.  Close walk to several eateries, 10 minute walk from the night market.

Post Trip: Priced from Sept 17-21st as an example:

Radisson Blu Resort Galle starts at $263 per night. 

Blue Hat Travel can also arrange resort stays before the liveaboard! 

Maldives is known for luxury beach resorts.

Here are a few we can recommend:

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa starts at $230 per night, including breakfast.  All inclusive $470 per night.  Prices are for 2 persons.  

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives beach resort starts at $300 with breakfast.  All inclusive $390 per couple.  

There are many options for beach resorts, most are at least double the above prices.  

Any lower priced places that I researched were on the main islands.  There is no option for any sort of alcohol (even wine and beer) at these places.  All alcohol is illegal unless it is at a resort (not hotel) removed from the local areas.

FYI, the first couple that wants to do this and books the resort and this will get updated.  We (Matt and Sheila) will probably fly in a few days early to put our feet up at a resort and adjust to the time zone.  If you want company we can decide on the resort together.

Working with Blue HAT Travel

bluehattravel@gmail.com

Sheila has spent a ton of time already looking at the pre and post options all based around the liveaboard, and she is the own that worked with the tour director to come up with the Sri Lanka Discovery itinerary.  To book pre and post hotels just email her, she’ll get your details including credit card number and set you up with bookings.

Paying for the Sri Lanka Discover Tour!

Payments are now handled though WeTravel.  This platform will allow you to book and pay with a US checking account for no fee or with a credit card with a 3% fee.  I recommend the former of course.  It also allows you to manage payments, sends due dates reminders, and is a place I can collect important info like flight information and dietary requirements.