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Asia This Way

Fixed departure · 2026

Maldives · Sri Lanka

13 days
Tour type
Fixed departure
Duration
13 days / 12 nights
Dates
09 Oct – 21 Oct 2026
Countries
Maldives · Sri Lanka
Hotels
4

Overview

Group G8 by Asia This Way. A relaxing finale to the season with paradise islands, cultural richness, and warm coastal light.

Itinerary

  1. Welcome at Velana International, speedboat to Anantara Veli, sunset on the lagoon.

  2. Group reef snorkel before lunch, free afternoon for the spa, kayak, or simply the beach.

  3. Half-day excursion to a private sandbank with lunch, return for sunset cocktails.

  4. Free day on the island. Optional dolphin cruise in the late afternoon.

  5. Speedboat to Malé, flight to Colombo, transfer south along the coast to Galle (~2h on the new expressway).

  6. Walking tour of the Dutch Fort UNESCO site, ramparts at sunset, dinner at a fort restaurant.

  7. Early morning blue-whale boat trip from Mirissa (October is prime), afternoon free at Unawatuna or the hotel.

  8. Drive east to Yala (~3h) along the southern coast. Afternoon safari in Yala National Park.

  9. Pre-dawn jeep safari for leopards and elephants, breakfast in the bush, afternoon at leisure at the lodge.

  10. Visit the Kataragama temple complex, then drive back along the south coast to Colombo (~5h).

  11. Pettah market, the Old Fort, the National Museum, and lunch at the Galle Face Hotel verandah.

  12. Free day for shopping, the Cinnamon Gardens neighbourhood, or a coastal walk. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

  13. Transfer to airport for international departure. End of services.

Hotels

01 · Maldives · 4 nights

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

Adults-only overwater and beach bungalows on South Malé Atoll, 35 minutes by speedboat from the airport.

02 · Galle · 3 nights

Jetwing Lighthouse Galle

Geoffrey Bawa-designed cliffside hotel between the colonial Dutch fort and the Indian Ocean.

03 · Yala · 2 nights

Cinnamon Wild Yala

Eco-chalet bungalows on the edge of Yala National Park — leopards walk past the deck at dusk.

04 · Colombo · 3 nights

Galle Face Hotel

Iconic 1864 colonial hotel on the Colombo seafront — chequerboard floors, ceiling fans, and the original cocktail bar.

Cost

Included

  • 12 nights in selected 4★ and 5★ hotels (twin share)
  • Domestic flight Malé → Colombo, speedboat transfers in the Maldives
  • Two-jeep safari in Yala National Park (dawn and dusk)
  • Mirissa whale-watching boat trip with breakfast
  • Private air-conditioned road transport with English-speaking driver-guide in Sri Lanka
  • Daily breakfast; selected dinners as listed
  • All park entry fees and Galle Fort guided walk
  • International airport transfers
  • Asia This Way trip leader and 24/7 WhatsApp support

Not included

  • International flights
  • Sri Lanka ETA visa (~$50 USD, applied online)
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunches and dinners not specified
  • Alcohol and premium beverages
  • Optional spa treatments and second safaris
  • Tips for guides, drivers, and safari rangers

FAQs

Maldives: end of the wet season — sunny days with brief showers, sea temperature around 28°C. Sri Lanka south coast: tail of the south-west monsoon — mostly dry by mid-October, 28–32°C. Yala dry zone is reliably hot and dry.

Highly likely but not guaranteed. Yala has one of the world's highest leopard densities. Two separate safaris (dusk + dawn) maximise your chances.

October–April is the main season for blue whales off Mirissa. Sightings are typical but weather-dependent — if a trip is cancelled for sea conditions we either rebook the next morning or refund the activity.

Maldives free 30-day visa on arrival. Sri Lanka ETA online (~$50 USD). LKR and USD both useful in Sri Lanka; cards everywhere in cities.

Yes, 18+ — selected because the rest of the trip works for couples and solo travellers, not families with young children.

Capped at 12 travellers.

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