Proposed itinerary for Auckland Selection U12 and U15 cricket and cultural tour of Sri Lanka – 6^th – 16^th July 2017 (during the NZ School holidays) 

Endorsed by Auckland Cricket Association

Thursday 6th July 2017:

• Depart Auckland 11.00 pm and arrive in Sri Lanka around 10.00 am on the 7th.  Travel 25 minutes by bus Goldi Sands Hotel Negambo www.goldisands.com

Friday 7^th July 2017:

• R&R or in the afternoon – visit Portuguese and Dutch catholic churches (built in 1500’s and 1600’s)
• 4.00 pm – cricket net session at Marist Stella College nets (optional)
• Capping night and team get together

Saturday 8th July:

• Cricket day , 40 over game at Negombo
• U 12 game: vs Marist Stella College (MSC) U12 at MSC matting pitch
• U 15 game: vs Marist Stella College U15 at BOI ground (ICC venue)

Sunday 9^th July: 

• Travel to Kandy (3.5-4 hour drive) via Pinawella elephant orphanage.
• Check in to a Kandy Hotel – Either Cinnamon Citadel Hotel, Amaya Hotel or Earls Regent (all 4.5 star hotels). 4 nights.

Monday 10th July:

•  40 over game: U12 game: vs Trinity College U 12 at Trinity College grounds
• 40 over game: U15 game: vs Trinity College U15 at Peradeniya Uni grounds

Tuesday 11th July:

• Rest/leisure day – visit Kandy Maligawa Buddhist temple (UNESCO heritage site)
• Visit tea plantation and cultural sites around Kandy
• Other leisure options

Wednesday 12th July:

• T20: U12 game vs Dharmaraja College U12, 10 -1.30
• T20: U15 game vs Kandy Selection XI from 2.00 – 5.30

Thursday 13th July: 

• Thursday Depart Kandy for Colombo (3.5-4 hour drive)
• Check in at either Galadari Hotel or Kingsbury Hotel (TBC)
• Group dinner at the hotel Galadari Hotel Kingsbury

Friday 14th July:

• Rest day and explore Colombo – shopping, visit the world famous Gangaramaya Buddhist temple
• Relax by the pool. Play golf
• Dinner: either at the Ministry of Crab, restaurant owned by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena or at the Cricket Café (run by an Australian couple)
• In the evening traditional Kandy dancers, drummers cultural show and dinner

Saturday 15^th July:

• 40 over game: U12 vs Thurstan College in Colombo
• 40 over game: U15 vs Royal College in Colombo

Sunday 16^th July: 

• Option for rain day cover – or a T20 game for the dads on tour or a full days rest at your leisure by the pool
• Late check out: 8pm – depart to airport for departure at 1.20 am on the 17th July
• Extended packages available in Sri Lanka

Tour cost:

NZ $ 3,990 approx pp if pax numbers confirmed by 30th Nov 2016. For pax confirmed after Aug 30 th Aug 2016, the tour cost $4,290 per pax.
( the cost includes accommodation in 4.5 to 5 star hotels with B&B, twin share, transport thought the tour, match fees and lunch on match days. Includes return air fare economy class).

Rest/leisure day options:

• Visit UNESCO world heritage sites from Kandy – Kandy maligawa, Sigiriya (world famous Lion rock), Pollonnaruwa, Annuradapura, Dambulla and High lands of tea plantations
• Church tour (Portuguese and Dutch churches from 1600’s) : in Negambo
• Shopping – Jewellery, cricket gear, clothing, cultural, home ware, souvenirs etc
• Well-being sessions – Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue, Back and Ayuweda massaging, yoga, meditation
• Learn to cook – Sri Lankan curry cooking, how to cook Portuguese hoppers and string hoppers
• Golf: In Colombo – Royal Colombo Golf Club, in Kandy – Victoria Golf Club

Tour organiser:

Amita Weerakoon, – Director of Cricket – Takapuna Cricket Club
Director of Cricket – Rosmini College, Takapuna
Business Mentor – New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association/President – Sri Lankan CC – Auckland
14, Dorchester Place, Orewa, New Zealand. weerakoon@xtra.co.nz ph 0064 9 921 1931 or can also be emailed at catchit@cricketexperiences.co.nz