Excursion Mid-voyage land adventure: ceylon tea trails and yala national park by seaplane tour at Mahe Island

Explore the best of Sri Lanka's flora and fauna with the luxury of its best Relais and Châteaux properties as your base. Your six-day sojourn provides a rare experience at Colombo's "Golden Valley of Tea" with a two-night stay at the world's first tea bungalow resort. Nestled amongst lush Ceylon tea estates lies Tea Trails, Sri Lanka's first Relais and Château resort where you can immerse yourself into the life on a working tea estate while enjoying five-star luxury. Gain insight into the immense wealth and variety of animal and bird life at some of Sri Lanka's renowned parks - Yala and Bundala National Parks.

Ceylon Tea Trails and Yala National Park by Seaplane

Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights

Departs from: Mahe

Re-join ship: Muscat

Reserve: At least 90 days prior to sailing

IMPORTANT NOTE

This Silver Shore Mid-Land Adventure requires advance booking through Silversea Reservations no later than 90 days prior to the sail date. Requests received after this date may be accommodated on a space-available basis. Tickets are available in limited quantities, and participation cannot be guaranteed for those guests not booking well in advance. A minimum number of participants is required to operate this programme. If this minimum number is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the programme at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel the specific departure. Cancellation fee, unless otherwise advised, 90 - 0 days prior to the initial sailing date: 100% of the programme fare per person is due.

Payment in full is due at time of final payment. Bookings made within 120 days of sailing require full payment within seven days of booking or sooner, as specified by Silversea.

All Land Adventure fares are subject to change, and not guaranteed until payment is received in full by Silversea. All Land Adventures are non-transferable, and non-refundable, within 90 days of sailing. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. All Land Adventures are owned by independent contractors, and Silversea makes no representations and assumes no responsibility for the services provided by these operators. Land Adventures may be modified by the operators at their sole discretion.

VISA INFORMATION

Please check with your travel professional for details regarding visa requirements for Sri Lanka and Oman. It is the responsibility of each guest to obtain all appropriate visas before cruising. Please make sure your passport is valid for 6 months.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The local currency is SLR (Sri Lankan Rupee); however Euros and US dollars are generallyaccepted by most vendors; local ATMs are available in some locations visited. Most hotels and larger shops accept credit cards.

Experience the finest offerings of Sri Lanka, including your stay at the luxury Relais & Châteaux properties. Make a temporary home in a bungalow resort with breath-taking views of mountains and lush tea fields. Stay in a deluxe tented camp situated on a rugged, empty beach overlooking the Indian Ocean. Explore a panoramic tea garden and its surrounding peaceful natural setting. Gain first-hand knowledge of the business of tea. View Sri Lankan animal and bird life at two of Sri Lanka's most renown parks - Yala and Bundala National Parks.

DAY ONE - Mahe/Colombo

Disembark the ship in Mahe. A late-night transfer brings you to the airport for your 4 to 4.5 hours flight into Colombo. An in-flight breakfast is available.

Lunch in Colombo

Lunch is served on your arrival, at your base in the Shangri-La Hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Relax and recover from your all-night journey, enjoy the hotel's luxurious spa, or begin your exploration of the capital city on your own.

Evening in Colombo

A special evening awaits you! Depart your hotel and drive through the commercial district of the city. Discover the bustling Pettah Bazaar area, then continue a more peaceful drive past Vihara Mahadevi Park. Now renamed for a Sinhalese queen, it was called Victoria Park when created by the British as a botanical garden for tropical species. Notice across the street the imposing neo-classical Town Hall. As you cruise through the city streets, sense the fascinating diversity and history of Colombo as you roll past colonial architectural gems such as the Old Parliament, as well as the century-old clock tower, a temple, and a mosque.

The Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct

Your drive continues to one of Colombo's oldest heritage sites, now refurbished into a high-end shopping complex - the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct. Built in 1677, the former hospital in its long history also has housed the Colombo Apothecaries and the Colombo Fort Police Station, among other things. Dinner tonight has been arranged at the Ministry of Crab located in these historical surroundings.

Dinner at the Ministry of Crab

This highly acclaimed restaurant is the brainchild of Chef Dharshan Munidasa, host of the former TV show "Culinary Journeys," in collaboration with foodies and former Sri Lankan cricketer friends Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara. A celebration of Sri Lankan heritage and cuisine that pays homage to diverse local and fresh produce, the Ministry of Crab has been created as a culinary homecoming for Sri Lanka's legendary lagoon crab. Dharshan pays great attention to the supply chain, ensuring that only the perfect and prized catch of the day is presented to you. The eponymous stars of the show, the lagoon crabs range in size from 500-gram small crabs to two kilogram 'Crabzillas' prepared and plated in a variety of ways. The fine dining here also celebrates Sri Lanka's other fine seafood, from the amazing King Prawns found in the island rivers, to fresh oysters and clams from the lagoons. With the philosophy of freshness being of the utmost importance, a no-freezer policy is employed. Forks and knives are considered merely an option. Use the specialized crab utensils to pry the succulent meat from its shell and know that digging in with your hands is not frowned upon. The Ministry of Crab aims to be one the lowest "food-mile" restaurants in the world, so no major ingredients are imported.

Return to the Hotel

Once you have savored your dinner, return to the hotel with the lingering the taste of this Emerald Isle.

DAY TWO - Colombo/Castlereagh

Begin your day with breakfast, then transfer to the airport for your chartered seaplane flight of approximately 30 minutes to Castlereagh. Once you arrive, drive to the Ceylon Tea Trails.

Ceylon Tea Trails

Discover Sri Lanka's cooler highlands where English and Scottish planters created a little bit of England in Ceylon's "up country" and founded the island's tea plantations. Today, the plantations legacy can be seen in meticulously manged tea gardens whilst the planters' genteel lifestyle is relived at the luxurious Tea Trails Resort. Built between 1890 and 1930 along Castlereagh Lake and set amidst rolling green hills, the plantation bungalows are furnished with authentic period pieces. With butler service and gourmet meals, surrounded by pristine countryside, you get a glimpse of a bygone era and the unchanged rhythms of a tea estate.

Explore the Highlands

Following your lunch and check-in, the remaining afternoon is at leisure to relax or participate in some optional activities. Explore the surrounding area by trekking, biking, or kayaking against the breath-taking backdrop of mountains, lakes, winding roads, and waterfalls. Dinner and overnight accommodations follow at the Ceylon Tea Trails.

DAY THREE - Castlereagh

After enjoying a hearty English or Sri Lankan breakfast of your choice, embark on the essential Tea Trails experience.

Tea Trails Experience

Learn the wonders of Camellia Sinensis (the botanical name for tea). Meet the resident tea planter who shares the generational knowledge of the age-old tea making process. Begin by following the trails of the planters of old Ceylon as they trekked through the dense jungle looking for the best slopes on which to plant tea. Watch the tea pluckers pick two leaves and a bud with deft hands. Visit the factory where the all-important transformation from leaves to "ready" black tea. The machinery used is of traditional British design, some as old as 100 years. The tea-making process is highly artisanal, unchanged for a century. With the help of an expert, learn the art of tea tasting and identification of the unique flavors giving the various teas their distinction.

Lunch

Return to the resort for lunch. Engage your culinary interest with a late afternoon meal of local cuisine prepared by a chef who demonstrates the preparation of some of Sri Lanka's favorite comfort foods. Pick up the basics of Sri Lankan cooking ranging from spices and ingredients to techniques and recipes.

High Tea

Enjoy a few other legacies of the English, including their love for gardens and the traditional English afternoon tea, an intrinsic part of plantation life and a much-appreciated ritual. Aromatic tea, dainty cucumber sandwiches, scones, fresh cream, and strawberry jam are served on the bungalow lawns by immaculately sarong-clad "apoos."

Dinner

Dinner and overnight accommodations are at the Ceylon Tea Trails.

DAY FOUR - Castlereagh/Yala National Park

Following breakfast, depart the resort and transfer to the airport for your chartered seaplane flight of approximately 30 minutes to Tissamahrana. Transfer to the Wild Coast Tented Lodge upon your arrival. Enjoy leisure time and lunch at the hotel.

Wildlife Adventure

Begin with an afternoon game drive at Yala National Park. Get up close and personal with wildlife as you traverse through the beautiful natural landscape of Sri Lanka's foremost, and second largest, national park. Diverse habitats range from forest to swamp, and low-density vegetation provides ideal conditions for safaris. Yala houses a large variety of wildlife like elephants, spotted deer, sambur, wild buffalo, sloth bear, mongoose, and crocodiles to name a few of the animals living here. The wealth and diversity of birds is just as staggering as the mammal population - over 130 different species have been identified, including six species that are endemic to Sri Lanka. But, of course, it is the leopards that everyone comes to see! And seeing these magnificent animals in the wild is a fantastic experience. Yala is one of the best locations for you to catch a glimpse of these elusive felines as the glide like shadows across the undergrowth or perch across the branch of a tree. If you are very lucky, you may get a close view of the elegant animal.

Return to the Lodge

Dinner and overnight accommodations are in the Cocoon Suites at the Wild Coast Tented Lodge.

DAY FIVE - Yala National Park/Colombo

An early morning game drive takes you to Bundala National Park. Enjoy a packed breakfast while you enjoy the isle's avifauna.

Game Drive in Bundala National Park

Discover Bundala National Park, declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and the first site to be designated a Ramsar wetland. Located along the coast, the park covers an area of over 3600 hectares and is most well-known for its diverse bird life. It is home to thousands of birds including a large array of migratory birds. The visiting birds include the Marsh and Curlew Sandpiper, Curlew, the Greenshank Golden and Kentish Plovers, and the Large and Lesser Sand Plovers. The Broad-billed Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope are among the rarer visitors, and the most famous migratory bird is the Greater Flamingo. The Park also is home to mammals such as civets, wild boars, mongoose, porcupine, spotted deer, wild buffalo, and jackal, among others. A small population of elephants also reside here.

After the Game Drive

Return to your hotel to refresh and enjoy a morning at leisure. After lunch, transfer to the neighbouring airport for your chartered return flight to Colombo, which takes about 45 minutes. Upon arrival, your awaiting vehicle transfers you to your hotel.

Colombo

Dinner and overnight accommodations are at the Shangri-La Hotel.

DAY SIX - Colombo/Muscat

An early morning transfer to the airport has been arranged for you. Fly to Muscat (approximately 4-4.5 hour) to reboard your ship, the Silver Cloud.

Please note: This Mid-Voyage Land Adventure has a moderate level of activity and involves walking up some inclines and steps, over uneven surfaces, bumpy game drives, and includes a seaplane flight. Therefore, this tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or who utilize a wheelchair. Elevators (lifts) are available only at the hotels. Guests are advised to bring sunscreen, hat, any needed medication, and a camera and binoculars. Valuables like jewellery and large sums of cash should be avoided. Light cotton and safari clothing for Colombo and Wild Tented Lodge are recommended. Layered clothing with a light jacket for the evening and early morning are needed at Ceylon Tea Trails where it can be chilly. A pair of comfortable walking shoes is recommended.

Program Includes:

• Deluxe Ocean View rooms at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, two nights
• Garden Suites in Summerville Bungalow at Ceylon Tea Trails, Hatton, two nights
• Cocoon Suites in Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Yala National Park, one night
• All meals: 4 breakfasts, 2 in-flight breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 high-teas, 5 dinners including one at the Ministry of Crab
• Mineral water with all meals
• Mineral water and soft drinks in vans
• Soft drinks, local beer or 2 glasses of house wine with lunches and dinners served in Colombo; soft drinks and house liquor with lunch and dinners served at Ceylon Tea Trails and Wild Coast Tented Lodge
• Porterage
• Sightseeing as specified: tea plantation and factory visit, private tea tasting, cooking demonstration, optional guided scenic walk and hike/mountain bike/kayaking, game drives at Yala National Park and Bundala National Park
• Transportation by air-conditioned vehicles: each van for 2-5 guests; open safari jeeps for game drives.
• Mosquito repellent
• Luxury and service tax currently applicable

Not Included:

• Personal expenses
• Meals and beverages of choice over and above those specified above
• Laundry
• Personal insurance
• Excess baggage fees
• Phone calls
• Any other expenses not specified in the inclusions above