Sri Lanka WTM 2017 A Guide to Travel in Sri Lanka

Ayubowan … the traditional Sri Lankan greeting with palms placed together at the chest, which means … “may you live a long and blessed life”

Who We Are Columbus Tours is an IATA approved Destination Management Company. We started operations in 1991, an era when package-round trips were all the rave, we were a ship against the tide, delivering unique bespoke holidays to Sri Lanka. Where We Are Twenty-six years from the day we began operations, Columbus Tours remains a deliberately compact company, structured with a dynamic team that encompasses experienced travel consultancy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, round the clock customer care and ground handling, IT and product development; each sensitive to aspirations of today’s traveler through their own passion for travel. How We Make a Difference Service, realistic advice on travel planning and attention to detail; at Columbus Tours, you get to liaise with a travel expert every step of the way from inquiry to arrival and departure and everything in between!

What Makes Sri Lanka appealing? Sri Lanka: In a nutshell: there’s so much to do, all in one country. All within hours of each experience Packed with culture, wildlife, mountains, jungles and much more, the diversity of Sri Lanka is perfect for anyone looking to experience the best that Asia has to offer in one trip.

KEY TAKES   Geography: Geographically, we are located between the southern end of India and the rest of Southeast Asia. On the topic of geography, we are probably best known for offering so much, in a relatively small space; few places in the world have as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites (we have eight) in one small area. History: Over 30 years of a recently ended conflict meant that travelers passed us by on their way to someplace else, but this also means that we are not as touristy saturated a destination as some of our Asian neighbors (India, Thailand). Culture: In term of history and culture, our 2500 years of medieval and colonial past means that our island is dotted with ancient sites home to beautiful and legendary temples, caves and palaces. Landscape: We have dry plains, rolling hills blanked by tea, misty mountains and lush rainforests and golden sandy beaches all within a few hour’s drive of each other.

Experiences: We have holiday experiences that range from active to relaxing, affordable to high end for the solo traveler, couple, family or group. Why Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka is spectacular, affordable and we are still uncrowded. We are a new destination, and will be for some years to come. Our Best Loves Accommodation Options: Sri Lanka offers a diverse range of accommodation options; from interesting home stays to large resort styled hotels and more boutique options and private villas. We are in the midst of curating a comprehensive document which details our favorite properties – reach out to your travel consultant for more information.

Locations Map Trincomalee Jaffna Great beaches and snorkeling/diving Sri Lanka has maritime borders with India to the northwest and the Maldives to the southwest.  Once the center of a long drawn out conflict Cultural Triangle Archeology and Ancient History, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Kalpitiya Kitesurfing, whales and dolphins and unexplored beaches Kandy Buddhism, UNESCO The Temple of the Tooth and The Botanical Gardens Colombo Colombo, urban experiences, the pulse of the nation Nuwara Eliya UNESCO Galle Fort Colonial Sri Lanka, the story of the Cinnamon Trade. UNESCO Galle Fort Amazing train rides, restored planters bungalows, lush mountain-scapes Yala Wildlife: Leopards, Sloth Bear and much more The island consists mostly of flat to rolling coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south-central part. 

Buddhism BUDDHISM Buddhism and Culture KEY TAKES The majority of Sri Lanka’s 20 million population are Buddhist You could simply observe beautiful traditional dance or even take part in a class These rituals and dance performance vary in style depending on which part of the island you are in Sri Lanka has a Buddhist history that dates back some 2500 years The island is dotted with stunning ancient temples It’s a great place for meditation/yoga and Ayurveda retreats Buddhism and Culture

8 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES KEY TAKES As you travel into the center of the island, this is where you will find the best of ancient ruins and also a glimpse at our colonial past. The Cultural Triangle alone has some 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites The island is dotted with stunning ancient temples It’s a great place for meditation/yoga and Ayurveda retreats

Tea and Mountains KEY TAKES Pluck tea with the ladies u in the hills Visit a tea factory and see the entire process unfold Take a trek across the tea country, which range from easy to moderate and strenuous The tea country has amazing mountains for climbing such as Adam’s Peak, which is probably our most well known mountain peak

Three Kinds of Stunning Beach KEY TAKES A common misconception is that our beaches are the same as the Maldives; the reality is that it’s an entirely different beach experience altogether We’ve got three main kinds of popular beaches in Sri Lanka; the West Coast, South Coast and East Coast. Each are different in terms of how they look physically, their ambience and the kind of activities you’d find. The West Coast is great for Kite Surfing and Snorkeling, and also Whale Watching The South Coast is great for Whale watching, sunbathing, a more lively beach atmosphere, bike rides along the coast and interior parts, tours of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle Fort The East coast is most famous for diving and snorkeling, and is also great for whale watching Stunning Beaches Three Kinds of Stunning Beach

Sri Lanka has the highest density of Leopard in the world Wildlife KEY TAKES Sri Lanka boasts 26 national parks which together cover an area of 5,734 km Sri Lanka has the highest density of Leopard in the world We have Blue Whales, Sperm Whales and Spinner Dolphins that can be seen in the West, South and Eastern coasts Amazing for bird watchers The East coast is most famous for diving and snorkeling, with a diverse underwater life Stunning Beaches Three Kinds of Stunning Beach

ADDITIONAL MARKETING MATERIAL SAMPLE ITINERARIES: We have a brand new collection of Sample itineraries with pricing for Winter 2017 and Summer 2018. Reach out to us for more information. PROPERTIES: We have a list of recommended hotels and villas we work with to help you plan the best trips to SL. Reach out to us for more information. EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL: We have useful documentation on the following: 1. packing for SL 2. weather 3. A Guide to Public Holidays 4. Festivals and Events Calendar Reach out to us for more information!

Weather Map: Weather: Monsoons to Remember Sri Lanka is a great year round destination; you just need to know when to travel, especially for trips that include a beach extension! Note: Inter-monsoon: A ‘mini monsoon’ which occurs during October and the first half of November, rain and thunderstorms occur across the island. North-eastern monsoon: wind and rains occur in the north and eastern coastal between October and January, the sun shines in this region between May and September. South-western monsoon: December to April | July & August: Rains occur in the south-west of Sri Lanka between May and September, the sun shines in this region from December to March.

Products, Sales and Marketing Support Experiences: We have a growing range of new experiences for today’s independent traveler to choose from in Sri Lanka and the Maldives; whether you are a family with small children, a couple or a group of friends travelling together our philosophy is to create amazing holidays that tell old stories in new ways. Click here for access to our dropbox folder of experiences Education and Training: Monthly Product Newsletter Updates; subscribe today and receive product updates that will help you stay on top of all that’s new in Sri Lanka be it new experiences, properties or itineraries. Online Platforms: Stay close by following us on Social Media, our website and our blog (coming soon) for updates on Sri Lanka. Imagery: We have a limited but growing portfolio of high-res images for your use when marketing Sri Lanka. Sales Support: We help you conceptualize, plan, and take on costing, reserving and booking all trips.

221/2 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka Thank you! We hope you enjoyed our presentation and found it useful! For further questions on Sri Lanka please feel free to get in touch with us 221/2 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka ( +9411 )  2687719 , 2682067, 2684225,2697779  info@columbustourssrilanka.com www.columbustourssrilanka.com  | www.bookingsrilanka.com  | www.bookingmaldives.com