Introduction To 2013 Special Tour A CHANCE TO JOIN A VERY UNUSUAL TOUR IN 2012 THE TOUR I have just received applications from several people to arrange a tour to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) early in 2013. The start date for the tour will be advised once I have sufficient applicants who have confirmed thrir interest. I have already arranged five of these accompanied 18 day tours which seek to give a unique and varied insight into the country's culture. This is an individual experience as shown by the responses given in the testimonials section. Although commercial tour operators offer similar tours at what appears to be a lower cost, in fact their tours are based on a 10 night coach trip and then a stay at the beach which comes at an extra £400. In comparison, we offer a 18 day trip with a private driver and car and use a varied range of top hotels to give the experience of both Colonial atmosphere and modern 5 * grading. You are accompanied at all times by two of us who have a great deal of working experience and family background in the island. We stop at local family run businesses to show you unusual projects producing different foods along the route to give a deeper understanding of the culture and history of the island. The estate visits to completely different types of tea estate and dikfferent types of manufacture allow you to observe every aspect of estate life. AIRLINE The tour uses the services of Sri Lankan Airways which has a direct flight from Heathrow to Colombo. The airline provides a group booking which is flexible in allowing those travelling to stay on in the island if they wish without affecting the price of their ticket. TOUR OPERATORS The bookings of hotels and visits to the various sites of interest, provision of vehicles and selected drivers/guides is handled by Jetwing Travels who also own several excellent hotels in the island. Robert Wilson's 'Ceylon' Teas provide Jetwing with the itinerary required and we will arrange the very special visits to the rubber, tea estates and the Tea Research Institute (TRI). We value the invitation by the TRI as those on the tours have always complimented us on the experience. We do not travel in a group coach! PROGRAMME During the first 6 days the tour climbs from Colombo into the scenic central hills. We visit a top rubber estate, three very different tea estates, including one practicing Biodynamic production. These are some of the top estates in the island and way off the tourist trail. We always receive a wonderful reception and are invited to view all aspects of estate life including their production facilities and worker welfare provision. These are not road side stops at a factory looking through a glass viewing window but comprehensive experiences which the estates put half a day aside for. There is an option for those on tour to climb Adam's Peak, starting at midnight in order to reach the peak for the breaking of dawn on the East coast and the spectacular view of the whole island from East to West. Those making the climb are provided with an old planter's bungalow which today is used by the directors of a plantation company whom have kindly offered us this facility with staff to look after you. An alternative option is to walk across the Horton Plains situated at well over 6,000 feet in elevation with an interesting flora & fauna. The Horton Plains happen to be the catchment area for rainfall feeding all the island's main rivers including the Mahaweli Ganga which the Sinhalese harnessed some 2,500 years ago for their Northern cities in the Cultural triangle. After the estate visits we descend from our base at over 6,000 feet in the hills down a winding road leading to the beautiful hill capital of Kandy (World Heritage site), travelling through some really wonderful scenery. From here on the tour concentrates on the history & culture of the island staying in the cultural triangle with visits to some spectacular World Heritage Sites, the island posesses 7 in all. We shall visit the usual main sites such as the world famous Royal Botanical gardens, the Maligawa temple of the tooth (World Heritage site) and the Tea museum if there is interest in this. Kandy is an excellent centre for shopping and we provide a free day for you to wonder through this beautiful city that was the last stand of the Sinhalese King. During our drives we will stop and introduce you to some interesting foods cultivated by local families. One of the most important World Heritage sites is the city which gave birth to the Sinhalese culture in the 5th.Cent B.C.. UNESCO have been funding extensive archaeological work which includes sympsthetic renovation of some ares and the investigations appear to have raised the possibility that the city dates back as far as 1,000 B.C. It is of interest that nothing earlier than this is to be found in the whole of India and that it was this tribe called the Sakyans near Benares who travelled to this island and were also behind the development of India and its ancient cities. The city is vast and situated in the arid Northern region of the island supported by an amazing feat in the harnessing of the main river. We also visit the amazing Sigiriya rock fortress another World Heritage site within the Cultural triangle in the North of the island whilst we stay in the area for three nights. The rock contains a King's fortress, beautiful frescos and extensive gardens below the rock. For those who wish to climb to the top of the rock they can climb the ladder and look out at the gardens and flat jungle country below. One view is into the distant mountains of Kandy and the other view is right out to Colombo on the horizon. The rock appears to be a volcanic plug some 650 feet (200 Metres) high rising out of a flat jungle area. King Kasapaya fled here in 477 A.D. The tour visits the Dambulla caves (World Heritage site) and the Pinnawela elephant oprhanage. TRANSPORT Those on tour will have the option of a car with a driver for 2 people or if they wish they may travel in a small group in a luxury mini bus. Evenings provide a relaxed atmosphere with my old Sinhalese planting friend accompanying the tour this adds an extra dimension to our party with stories of 'The Old Days' as the drivers often remark. Finally the group will be taken to a special experience at my planting friend's family land gifted many centuries ago by the King where you will be able to observe some ladies preparing various traditional curries with a tasting session. Afterwards travelling to your superb 5 star hotel at the beach on the Southern coast at Galle. Galle has a very large fort enclosing a town, originally Portuguese but re-built by the Dutch and this again is one of the 7 World Heritage sites. A full itinerary of the tour with pictures of the hotels is available on application. Due to the recent popularity of the area now that the long standing conflict is resolved we need to finalise numbers as early as possible if I am to keep the group together in the hotels that we have selected for your experience. I am looking to close applications for the tour as soon as possible. By booking early you will avoid any increases in the price that may take place due to the value of sterling, fuel taxes or any other reason. Please be aware that this is a very individual experience that we are able to arrange and is nothing like the normal tourist experience. Those who wish to extend their stay at the beach area may do so and we hope that we will be able to offer an OPTIONAL trip to the Yala national game reserve during your stay at Galle. For more details about the tour contact either Tel No: 00 44 (0)1460 - 77508 or e-mail: info@wilstea.com!!

Cost basis for 2013 tour COST BASIS FOR THE TOUR An individual and unusual tour, you will be accompanied by two people with a long background of living and working in the island and we have found that this adds enormously to the experience. For those who wish to try the special experience of climbing Adam's Peak (which can only be arranged at this time of year) we can include this. The directors of a planting company that we deal closely with kindly loan their Director's bungalow in a beautiful setting for you to stay in while undertaking the midnight climb. I have received a letter of appreciation from every member of the last tour in February 2010 and some of them have placed a blog about the trip on the Jetwing site. I have repeated some of their comments below but the 'Testimonial' button on the left of the home page contains these and other testimonials about my overall business. A SELECTION OF TESTIMONIALS FROM THE 2010 TOUR: "My wife Wendy and I were on Robert Wilson's February 2010 tour of tea estates and sights. Jetwing organised the travel. I give both Robert and Jetwing absolutely full marks. We had a wonderful time and I congratulate Robert on assembling an interesting and worthwhile selection of people. I now know more about tea than I could ever have learned without spending twenty years in the trade. We saw a lot of the island as well. Jetwing organised a car and driver for each couple on the tour with a minibus for others. This worked well. I recommend a tour organised in this way rather than in the ubiquitous tourist coach. It didn't seem to add much to the cost. I would be very happy to use Jetwing again for a tailor made holiday but my advice to anyone considering one of Robert Wilson's tours is to seize the opportunity. You will not regret it! Christopher" Just to say thank you for organising, such a marvellous trip, with so many memorable indeed, unforgetable occasions, and looking after me so kindly.I had a fantastic time and enjoyed the group dynamics immensely. What fun we had and what a lot I learnt too. J. B-C - Mar-2010 Thank you both very much for all your hard work prior to and on the trip. All I can say is that I enjoyed myself thorughly and that I can think of nothing else that we could have actually done that would have improved the trip. Perfection indeed! J. P - Mar-2010 The cost of this 18 day very individual experience is: Per person where 2 persons are sharing accomodation, plus car with driver / guide £ Per person where 2 persons are sharing accomodation, plus luxury mini bus with driver / guide £ For single persons requiring single room accommodation there is a single supplement & details are available on application Supplementary cost for those electing to climb Adam's Peak which includes transport, stay at the estate bungalow & a guide for the climb £ The above cost includes: * Accommodation at hotels specified or similar on dinner bed & breakfast basis = Half board every day. * Transport in an air conditioned car or luxury mini van with the services of an English-speaking chauffeur guide. * All entrance fees. * 4WD Safari Jeep hire at Minneriya National Park. * Visit to Tea Brokers & the Tea auction. * All visits to Rubber & Tea estates plus visit to the Tea Research Institute headquarters. * Visit to Mr. Delwita's family inherited land at Kurunegala for a curry making demonstration by some of his local ladies. The above cost does not include: * Lunch on tour. * Camera & video permits at cultural sights where these are required. * Charges to play Golf. * Sometimes an entrance fee is charged to the Gadaladeniya and Ambekke temples but no charge was made on the last two tours. * Cost to climb Adams Peak - see supplementary cost shown above. * All expenses of a personal nature, tipping or porterage. * Please note that the cost includes a very good allowance on mileage for the trip which allows you to make extra trips into the towns where we are staying for shopping or sightseeing plus small diversions. However if you wish to take the vehicle to areas that exceed this allowance, this maybe allowed but it must be understood that there could be an extra charge to cover the exceeded mileage. Occaisionally I have had requests to visit a certain estate where a family member may have worked or owned the estate in the past. Todate we have never had an extra charge levied upon any person.

This web site is owned and operated by Robert Wilson's 'Ceylon' Teas in the U.K. who are completely dedicated to sourcing and delivering teas to your total satisfaction. If you have any suggestions or comments or if you need to contact us, please email us using the link on the store page or use the details below.

A business with direct access to Individual estate manufacture for very high quality Ceylon teas, locally harvested fresh spices & quality whole Cashew nuts (Kadju nuts).

Our Contact details:
Robert Wilson's 'Ceylon' Teas.
Stonehaven,
Nuttree,
North Perrott,
Crewkerne,
Somerset.
TA18 7SX. U.K.
Phone: 44 (0)1460 77508
Fax: 44 (0)1460 77508
Email: info@wilstea.com
VAT Tax Reg: GB 723 4483 40


Certification to import Organic & Biodynamic products: Demeter BDAA - UK6

Business Branch Sri Lanka:
Robert Wilson's 'Ceylon' Teas (PVT)., Ltd,
Certification to export Organic & Biodynamic products: CU International - Skal.