Sri Lanka on the Viceroy Special View Basket

Colombo, Cultural Triangle, Kandy, Tea Country, Galle

07 - 21 November 2017

Off limits for decades, Sri Lanka is again open for business and its reputation as a destination bursting with variety is back on travellers' radar: Sri Lanka's remarkable combination of stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, misty mountains, and captivating cultural heritage is complemented by its compact island location.

Thanks to its colonial history (Portuguese, Dutch and British) and interaction with Arab, Chinese and Malay merchants over the centuries, together with the prevailing religions of Buddhism and Hinduism, the island boasts 8 World Heritage sights as well as rich traditions, continual festivities, and exotic cuisine.

The British-built broad gauge railway network branching out into all the main regions of the island contain some of the most scenic and dramatic sections of railway to be found anywhere in the world. Riding the rails in Sri Lanka is like stepping back in time. So much of the original colonial era survives and the chance to explore the stunning country and its wondrous railways in a stately private train is a golden opportunity rarely offered.

The Viceroy Special is a private luxury train, pioneered and managed by JF Tours & Travels in collaboration with Sri Lanka Railways. The train, made up of two air-conditioned observation coaches and a restaurant car, has been meticulously restored in a high colonial theme and the period fittings and plush style is complemented with all modern conveniences behind the scenes.

Your Tour Leader

Scott McGregor has been involved in the media for over 30 years as an actor, presenter, writer and producer. Graduating from NIDA in 1979, he appeared in a wide range of stage, film and TV roles and has presented and hosted numerous prime-time ratings winners including two series of his own Railway Adventures programs. His antique shops with a decidedly railway theme, under the banner of Off The Rails, were legendary through the 1990s and Ruwenzori, his Orient Express-style retreat near Mudgee in NSW, which he established in the 1980s, has been a popular boutique
tourist accommodation for the last decade.

Over the last 10 years, Scott has led a score of tours to destinations all over the world and in 2012 he established Railway Adventures, focusing on the quality and character of the journey as well as the destination.

Highlights

• Scenic train trips on the spectacular mountain and coast railways of Sri Lanka
• Exclusive charter of the spacious and regal Viceroy Special with attached restaurant and bar cars
• Six separate and very different railway journeys through the country's most captivating regions
• Stays in iconic hotels such as the Bawa-designed Kandalama and Lighthouse Hotels
• Visits to World Heritage sites at Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy and Galle
• Services of expert guides and your Australian tour leader throughout.

Inclusions

• Transfers on arrival and departure if travelling on group flights
• 11 nights accommodation in centrally location 5 star hotels with daily breakfast (B) Meals as per itinerary (L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• All meals as per itinerary
• Special welcome and farewell lunch and dinner with drinks
• Exclusive train travel throughout aboard the beautifully appointed Viceroy Special
• Comfortable air-conditioned coach transportation throughout
• Comprehensive sightseeing including local guides and entrance fees as per itinerary
• Gratuities for local guides, drivers and on board the train
• Porterage at hotels and railway stations
• Visa for Sri Lanka