Sri Lanka latest destination for adventure cruise company Zegrahm

Looking for an off-the-beaten-path cruise destination in 2011? You'll want to take a look at the latest offerings from Zegrahm Expeditions.

The adventure cruise operator is rolling out a series of voyages that include stops in little-visited Sri Lanka – a first for the 20-year-old company.

Zegrahm says the new itineraries will give adventure travellers the chance to explore Sri Lanka's lush tropical forests, white-sand beaches and rich biodiversity, as well as cultural sights.

The line plans four voyages that stop in Sri Lanka in 2011, all on the 110-passenger  :

The Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea (Jan. 17 – Feb. 6, 2011) and India and the Maldives with Sri Lanka and Lakshadweeps (Dec. 17, 2011 – Jan. 3, 2012) voyages each include two days in Sri Lanka.

Passengers will visit 1000-year-old cultural sites including the Golden Temple of Dambulla, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka; and the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the tooth of Bhudda encased in gold caskets. These expeditions both overnight in the village of Habarna.

Splendours of India with Sri Lanka (Feb. 1 – 17, 2011) and Southern India by Sea with Sri Lanka (Dec. 7 – 21, 2011) include a full-day exploration of Galle that includes a visit to its Dutch colonial era fort (a World Heritage Site) and the Poorvarama Temple. Travellers spend a second day in the Sri Lankan highlands visiting the Temple of the Tooth and other sites.

On the Splendours of India voyage participants also will overnight in Kandy, the capital of Sri Lanka’s hill country.

(USA Today)