Highlights of Sri Lanka + Maldive Dhoni Cruise

Maldives, Sri Lanka - Trip code SLHM Discovery
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634Kg of CO²e
Average carbon footprint per person
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Carbon Footprint
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Delve into island adventure on this two-week trip combining the highlights of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Get a flavour of Sri Lanka's culture, wildlife and history with a week-long tour of the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Then, unwind aboard a traditional Dhoni as we swim, snorkel and cruise our way through the turquoise waters of the Maldives.

Why we love this trip
  • Highlights of Sri Lanka - Wander ancient kingdoms, witness Buddhist temples and visit the revered 'temple of the tooth'.
  • Wilpattu National Park - Take a jeep safari to search for leopards, elephants, and sambar deer.
  • Maldives cruise - Cruise through the Maldives, visiting remote fishing villages and snorkelling in tranquil waters.

  • Included meals

    Breakfast: 10

    Lunch: 7

    Dinner: 7

  • Trip staff

    Explore Tour Leader

    Driver(s)

    Naturalist(s)

  • Transport

    Bus

    4WD

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    Accommodation

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    Trip pace:

    Moderate

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    Group Size:

    Trip maximum 16
    Explore Average 11

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    Wildlife rating

    Frequent wildlife encounters alongside other experiences

Itinerary

Trip information

Climate and country information

Maldives

Climate

Day time temperatures are remarkably consistent throughout the year ranging from 30°C to 32°C dropping to between 25°C and 26°C at night. Although rain is heaviest in June, July and August, heavy rain can fall at any time of year - even in February and March when statistically only 50mm usually falls during those months combined. The south-west monsoon lasts from May to November and not only brings the rains but also stronger winds and storms, although the transitional periods of early May and late November are supposed to be calm with exceptionally clear water.

Time difference to GMT

+5

Plugs

3 Pin Flat

Religion

Islam

Language

Dhivehi, English

Sri Lanka

Climate

Year round high temperatures in coastal regions: Colombo averages 27°C. It is much cooler in the hills with Kandy averaging 20°C and Nuwara Eliya down to 16°C. Springlike temperatures in the hill country, but chilly evenings. Two monsoon periods: Apr-Sep when rain is confined to the southwest; and Oct-Mar when it falls in the northeast.

Time difference to GMT

+6

Plugs

3 Pin Round

Religion

Buddhism

Language

Sinhala, Tamil

Budgeting and packing

Optional activities

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for locally and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.


Kandy - Cultural show - £5.00
Temple of the Tooth - £8.00
Botanical Gardens, Kandy - £8.00
Whale watching - £60.00

Clothing

Select your clothes carefully, bearing in mind that the climate is tropical and that upland areas are cooler and more temperate. Lightweight rainwear is also essential, and warmer clothing for the highland walks and chilly night temperatures in the mountains. When visiting religious sites you will need to dress respectfully by covering you knees and shoulders plus taking off your shoes and hats. You may like to wear socks for temple visits as the ground can get very hot and burn the soles of your feet. You will need to bring long trousers, or buy a sarong locally.

Footwear

Lightweight shoes and sandals. For the trek up Lion's Rock in Sigiriya you may prefer to bring hiking boots although the route is mostly paved and trainers or walking shoes are fine.

Luggage

20kg

Luggage: On tour

One main piece of baggage and a daypack. Remember, hotel porters are not always available, so don't
overload yourself.

Equipment

Sri Lanka - A water bottle is recommended for walks and will be filled up on the bus each day.

Snorkels, masks and flippers are provided on the Dhonis. All equipment is thorough sanitised after each use. You are welcome to bring your own equipment if you prefer.

Bring a high factor sun protection and a hat. We recommend Factor 30 plus for snorkelling as the water intensifies the sun's strength. Swimming in a long sleeved rash vest or top that you don't mind using in the sea, is a good idea for extra protection from the sun as well as plankton that could sting. Both bath and beach towels are provided on the Dhoni. We advise you bring a water bottle for day to day use.

Ear plugs are always a good idea for travel, and light sleepers may appreciate them as the generator runs through the night.

Tipping

Explore leader
At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.
Local crew
Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. In order to make things easier for you, the Tour Leaders may organise a group's tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.
Accordingly, you should allow £25 and 25 USD for tipping (£25 in Sri Lanka and 25 USD in the Maldives). Your tour leader will account to you for any organised tipping.

Maldives

Food and drink

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.


Lunch price
£7.50
Dinner price
£12.00
Beer price
£3.50
Water price
£1.70
Foreign Exchange
Local currency
Rufiyaa. Although you will not need any local currency and it is not accepted on the dhoni boat. USD notes need to be in very good condition, without damage and writing, or they will not be accepted.
Recommended Currency For Exchange
US Dollars are widely accepted in the Maldives and are the best currency for exchange.
ATM Availability
No Access
Credit Card Acceptance
Accepted

Sri Lanka

Food and drink

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.


Lunch price
£6.00
Dinner price
£9.00
Beer price
£3.50
Water price
£1.00
Foreign Exchange
Local currency
Sri Lankan Rupee.
Recommended Currency For Exchange
US$ and UK£ are equally good. Importing rupees is restricted to 20,000 per person so it is best to exchange money locally.
Where To Exchange
In most major towns.
ATM Availability
Yes, usually in major towns.
Credit Card Acceptance
Credit cards can usually be used in most large shops and restaurants. Please note that Foreign Office advice warns about the problem of credit card fraud in Sri Lanka so please consider this when deciding if to pay by card while on tour.
Transport, Accommodation, Food & Drink

Transport Information

Bus, 4WD

Accommodation notes


During this trip, in Sri Lanka we stay in comfortable hotels throughout. Our accommodation has been chosen based on comfort, location, and authenticity but it should be noted that standards may differ from home.
For the most part, our accommodation offers en-suite rooms with standard facilities like air-conditioning and WiFi. Some hotels have swimming pools to cool off in after a day's adventuring, and some also have a restaurant or bar. In the smaller properties, hot water isn't always available 24 hours a day, and with a group staying you might find if you're showering last, you may miss out on the hottest water.
In the Maldives, we stay aboard a five-berth Dhoni. We work with a local operator who owns a number of different Dhonis (all of which are different sizes with different layouts). While some of the boats still have sails, these aren't used frequently, and we use a Dhoni with a diesel energy.
The five cabins are small and simple but adequate for sleeping and changing. Each cabin has bunk beds so the person on the top will need to be prepared to climb up to their bed. Two of the cabins have slightly wider (4.1ft) lower bunk beds and where possible we'll allocate these to couples, but we cannot guarantee this - couples should state their preference when booking. Four cabins have an ensuite bathroom with WC and shower. The other cabin is assigned a bathroom with a WC and shower that is not ensuite. The water is not heated and will flow at ambient temperature. There are plugs in each cabin with electricity available when the boat's generator is running (while the boat is moving, or the crew are cooking - usually between 2pm and 9am) so it's possible to charge cameras and phones during the tour. You may want to bring some earplugs if you are a light sleeper. There is no A/C but there is a fan in each cabin. There are small cupboards in each cabin for you to store valuables such as passports. There is no WiFi onboard, but it is possible to buy a SIM card from the airport or speak with your tour leader for advice on this while you have time in Male. There is a sun deck and loungers or comfortable mats to lie on. You are welcome to bring your pillow and sheets from your cabin if you wanted to try sleeping on deck under the stars.
It is prohibited to bring alcohol into the Maldives. There will be a bar on board selling bottles of wines and bottle of spirits as well as beers. The bill is only payable by USD Dollars or by Credit Card (with a 5% surcharge to cover local bank charges, in addition to anything levied by your bank card provider for paying in Dollars). Local currency cannot be used to settle the bill.
Whilst we do our best to deliver the advertised itinerary, the safe operation of the boat and all passengers is the crew's priority and as such, deviations from the planned itinerary may be necessary due to weather/local conditions.
All Dhonis are inspected annually in order to retain their license. They carry enough lifejackets for all clients and crew plus buoyancy aids and a dinghy with a small outboard engine. All boats have a CB radio, and for most of the voyage, the boat is in mobile phone range of the islands. Full firefighting equipment is also carried on every boat. There will be a minimum of 4 crew on board including the captain and cook - depending on the number of people on the boat.

Food and drink

Traditional Sri Lankan cuisine is excellent, and although it can be very spicy there are many dishes that feature cooling coconut milk or have a spicy sambar on the side to allow you to adjust the meal to your taste. There isn't a culture of eating out in Sri Lanka, most locals will eat at home, and as such there are very few restaurants around, and those that exist tend to be in hotels. As tourism develops a few independent restaurants are beginning to appear, mainly in Colombo but also in Kandy, Galle and in the coastal resorts. During the tour we will endeavour to eat out at local restaurants wherever possible. The timings of our arrivals and departures, as well as the location of the hotels, mean that on most of the nights we will be eating at the hotel restaurants and often the best option is a buffet offering tasty and varied dishes.

Maldives

Food and drink

Can you drink the water? 
The water quality is poor and therefore it is recommended to avoid drinking tap water during your trip. 

 

Sri Lanka

Food and drink

Can you drink the water? 
The water quality is poor and therefore it is recommended to avoid drinking tap water during your trip. 

 

Essential Information

Government Travel Safety Advice

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination's safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. Relevant government website links for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens are available on our Travel Safety page.

If you'd like some inital information on country-specific entry requirements, such as visas or any health declaration forms, please refer to our Entry Requirements page.  The services and information on this page are provided by a third party, and so we will still recommend that you cross check this against your government website for the latest advice.
 

Under 18 immigration guidance

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
 

Visa and Passport Information


Sri Lanka: All foreign nationals who intend to visit Sri Lanka for a short stay of up to six months, including transit passengers, must apply for travel authorization online prior to travel to the country.

All UK, EU, US, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian nationals can obtain an eVisa for a fee of approx 50 USD. You must apply for this prior to travel. It is strongly recommended that you print and bring a copy of the eVisa approval notice with you. The Sri Lankan authorities require that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after departure from Sri Lanka. https://www.eta.gov.lklvisa

The online arrival form is no longer required for entry to Sri Lanka.

Maldives: Citizens of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, US and Canada are given a free 30 day permit on arrival, provided they meet the entry requirements. Please note that visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination, including countries you plan to transit or transfer through. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
www.immigration.gov.mv/tourist-visa

An on-line Traveller Declaration form must be filled in and submitted by all clients travelling to the Maldives, within 96hours before the flight time for arrival. The form has to be submitted electronically via:
https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/traveller

Flights via Sri Lanka: If your flight requires you to transit in Sri Lanka then you will not be required to obtain a Sri Lankan visa if your transit time is less than 48hrs. The Sri Lankan authorities require that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after departure from Sri Lanka.

All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.


If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.
 

Booking conditions

Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
 

Minimum age restrictions

For our group tours, the minimum age is 16. The minimum age on Family trips varies between 7 and 11 - please check the 'Family information' section of the trip page for more information. 


Your safety and enjoyment on tour

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, so we ask you to confirm when booking this trip that you are fit and able to fully participate in all elements of the itinerary. If you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to complete any of the activities, please get in touch with our Customer Relations team at cr@explore.co.uk as soon as possible. Our tour leaders are trained and experienced in managing differing abilities within a group, but if they have concerns about a group member’s ability to safely participate in any element of the itinerary or believe someone’s presence could affect the safety or enjoyment of the holiday for others, in accordance with our Booking Conditions our tour leaders have the authority to ask an individual to miss an activity or activities. This decision would never be taken lightly, but on the rare occasions our tour leaders ask someone to sit out part of the tour, refunds will not be offered and individuals may be liable for additional costs incurred. 
 

Your Tour Leader

All tours aside from extensions, Galapagos cruises and polar expeditions will be led by one of our experienced Tour Leaders. We believe that our Tour Leaders are the key to the success of our tours; they are local experts who are bursting with first-hand knowledge which they love to share, and their unique insights will bring the destination to life. Your Tour Leader will be on hand throughout your tour to make sure arrangements run smoothly, to organise all the local logistics and to keep you safe. Your Tour Leader should be your first point of contact if you encounter any difficulties or disappointments in country – please raise any concerns, however small, with your Tour Leader as they are best placed to assist you.

Transfers

Find out more about Trip Transfer Terms and Conditions before you book.

Booking a land only package with Explore

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. 

You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.


Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both.

The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.  

Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.  

For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here

Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.
Read more information about what travel insurance is required.

Flight information

Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.


Flight Information

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

 

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Maldives

Vaccinations

Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against malaria, typhoid, tetanus, infectious hepatitis & polio. Travellers may wish to immunise themselves against meningitis. Please consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Please take preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites - these include mosquito repellent as well as long trousers and long sleeve shirts to cover up when necessary. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

Sri Lanka

Vaccinations

Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against malaria, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A plus Polio and diptheria. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. We strongly recommend the wearing long sleeved shirts and the liberal application of insect repellents containing DEET as a precautionary measure to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. These precautions should be taken at all times as the mosquitoes are also active during daylight hours. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

Discovery information
Award Winning Explore Leaders
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Price Guarantee Promise
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Airport Transfers
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