SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka, a tropical island falling from the southern tip of India. The majority of the countries 20 million inhabitants consists of Singhalese, most of whom are Buddhists. The country has an interesting and to some extent, bloody history. In the 16th century, Sri Lanka was colonized by the Portuguese, in the 17th century by the Dutch and in the 19th century by the British. The British industrialized Sri Lanka and started a large-scale tea production. Among other things, Thomas Lipton bought large crops and began importing tea to Europe. The country is today the world’s fourth largest producer of tea, which is exported all over the world. Sri Lanka became independent in 1948 when the British left the country. In 1972, the name changed from Ceylon to Sri Lanka. In the latter part of the 1970s, an armed Tamil independence organization, the Tamil Tigers, was formed, followed by many years of violence. In 2009, government forces finally defeated the Tamil Tigers. The military offensive had hit hard against the civilian population, 20,000 people were killed and many Tamils ​had to flee the country.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 15

In the morning we gather at the airport in Colombo where you will meet photographer Philip Lee Harvey and a tour leader from Zoom Photo Tours. We leave Colombo and move towards Sri Lanka’s cricket capital, Dumbala where our first meeting with Sri Lanka’s rich wildlife awaits. In the soft evening light, we find ourselves surrounded by large herds of elephants and we are able to photograph these majestic animals at a very close distance. After check in at our hotel we will enjoy a nice welcome dinner together. After dinner Philip will give us a photographic presentation showing some of the locations we will visit. (L, D)

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16

This morning we will visit one of Sri Lanka’s seven world heritage sites, the spectacular lion shaped cliff named Sigiriya. This place is one of the most spectacular sites in the country and as we approach, it is easy to understand why. From nowhere, a huge cliff suddenly rises over the lush green surroundings and stretches far up in the blue sky. After photographing this huge rock from below, it’s time to climb to the top. We start our trek through the surrounding forest and slowly ascend the steep rocky stairs and pathways until we are met by an outstanding panoramic view at top of Sigiriya. Here we are able to explore the ruins of an old fort and temples and also photograph the beautiful cave paintings.

After lunch we drive to Minneriya National Park where we will head out on an afternoon safari. Few places in Sri Lanka are better for photographing elephants and in the park, we can also find many other animals like crocodile, deer and the vicious leopard. As the sun sets, we leave Minneriya and return to our hotel for dinner. (B, L, D)

MONDAY FEBRUARY 17

In the soft morning light we photograph the surroundings and the beautiful views of the famous Buddhist temple, Dambulla Cave Temple. As we walk into the temple, we are met by spectacular murals and impressive Buddha statues. In the afternoon we leave Dambulla and continue our adventure towards Kandy. As we move through the countryside, it is always a good idea to have your camera ready, since new opportunities can show up anywhere. A few hours after leaving Dambulla, we are surrounded by green hills in Sri Lanka’s second largest city of Kandy. In the afternoon there is time to explore and perhaps visit Lake Kandy, the artificial lake that was built in the 19th century and is today considered to be the heart of the city. In the evening we get the opportunity to photograph traditional Sri Lankan dances before it’s time for dinner. (B, L, D)

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18

Our full day in Kandy, one of the most sacred places of Buddhism, begins with a visit to the temple of the “holy tooth”. The temple has been named after Buddha’s tooth that is said to be preserved inside the temple. A trip to Kandy has not been completed without a visit to one of the botanical gardens surrounding the city. Peradeniya Botanical Garden is the most famous garden and this is where we get the opportunity to go crazy with botanical motifs among the garden’s over 4 000 plants. Back at the hotel we will work with image editing and Philip will show how to get the most of our images in Lightroom and turn a good photo to something amazing. (B, L, D)

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19

This morning we start moving through Sri Lanka’s tea district and its hilly scenery towards the city of Nuwara Eliya. The city is beautifully surrounded by lush tea plantations dotted with local colorful tea pickers filling up their baskets with leafs. After capturing the scenic plantations along the way, we arrive in Nuwara Eliya just before lunch. Here we can photograph the busy street life and colonial buildings in the city also known as “Little England” that once was a popular destination for British colonists. With our memory cards filled with amazing photos we leave Nuwara Eliya and continue towards Wellawaya where we will stay two nights. (B, L, D)

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20

After breakfast it is time for another day filled with photography of striking vistas around the tea plantations. We travel around the city of Ella where we also will be able to photograph some beautiful waterfalls around Ella Gap. Today’s highlight is our visit to the Nine Arch bridge. This 30-meter-tall bridge is as beautiful as the surrounding jungle and when the classic train comes driving over the bridge we have the chance to capture some stunning images. After lunch, we spend the afternoon photographing the people life and beautiful scenery of the Sri Lankan countryside. (B, L, D)

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21

We leave Wellawaya after breakfast and start driving towards the city of Galle. On the way we will stop to photograph the traditional local fishermen who sit on raised poles in the ocean to catch their fish. This is a classic Sri Lankan photo opportunity and Philip will show you how to create a new approach of a subject that has been frequently photographed before. In the afternoon we arrive at the colonial city of Galle, where you will have the opportunity to go out and explore its busy streets on your own before dinner. (B, L, D)

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22

On our last day in Sri Lanka we explore Galle, a beautiful city situated right on the coast, characterized by colonial buildings, Dutch architecture and busy street life. Together with Philip, we move between local markets and narrow alleyways where lots of photo opportunities waits around every corner. We will also photograph the beautiful coastline with Galle’s characteristic Portuguese fort and the famous lighthouse that for centuries has been an icon for this bustling city. During the evening we enjoy a great farewell dinner together before we get some well-earned sleep. (B, L, D)

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23

After a great breakfast, we leave Galle and start driving towards Colombo and the airport for further transportation towards your final destination. (B, L)

DAMBULLA: HOTEL AMAYA LAKE****

GALLE: HOTEL JETWING LIGHTHOUSE****

PRICE

Price per person: 3 950 USD

Included:

• All ground transfers according to the itinerary.
  
• Accommodation in shared double room.
  
• Meals according to itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
  
• Participation and workshops by Philip Lee Harvey during the trip.
  
• Entrance fees to parks and monuments.
  
• English speaking local guide.
  
• Hotel taxes and other local fees.
  
• Travel documents and other travel information.

Excluded:

• Single room supplement 790 USD
  
• Return flight to Sri Lanka.
  
• All expenses of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
  
• Tips to local guide.
  
• Travel insurance.
  
• Any other item not mentioned as included.

FLIGHTS

International airfare to Sri Lanks is not included in the price. But if you wish, we are more than happy to help you arrange all your flights. Just send an email to info@zoomphototours.com and we will respond with flight suggestions and prices.

GROUP SIZE

In order to for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our photographer our groups are always small. On this tour the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8 / 14

PHOTO GEAR

• A DSLR camera.
• Zoom lenses like a 24-70mm and 70-200mm.
• Wide angle lenses, for example 16mm.
• Telephoto lens for wildlife, for example 400mm.
• Tripod.
• A laptop computer with any of the Photoshop or Lightroom software.

TOUR LEADER

Apart from an award winning photographer, our tours are always accompanied by a tour leader from Zoom Photo Tours with good photo knowledge. Our tour leader will handle all logistics and general matters and make sure you’re having the best possible experience in Sri Lanka.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

For more information about Terms & Conditions click here.