GREAT TOUR OF SRI LANKA

Day 1 : Colombo/ Negombo airport (15 km) (- / L / D) 

Arrival at Colombo International Airport. Welcome by our representative with garlands of frangipani flowers.

Departure for Negombo, arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Visit the city of Negombo, a major city of Sri Lanka, located on the west coast of the island and at the mouth of a lagoon. Negombo is the fourth largest city in the country after the capital Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna. It is one of Sri Lanka's main commercial centers, with about 128,000 inhabitants, about 37 km north of Colombo. Negombo is known for its very important fishing industry, its lively fish markets, and its beautiful sandy beaches.

Return to the hotel for dinner, and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: lunch and dinner.

Day 2 : Negombo / Chilaw / Anuradhapura (50 km, 1h of road / 130 km, 2h30 of road) (B / L / D) 

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Anuradhapura. Visit the Munneswaram temple. It is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has been in existence since at least the year 100, although the myths surrounding the temple associate it with the famous Indian epic Ramayana and his legendary hero King Rama. The temple is one of five ancient temples dedicated to Shiva in the region. In the afternoon, visit the city of Anuradhapura, monuments of the 3rd century BC and 8 sacred temples for Buddhists.

Political and religious capital of Ceylon for 1,300 years, Anuradhapura was abandoned for Polonnaruwa in 993 following invasions. Long buried in thick jungle, the city, with its palaces and monasteries, is accessible again. Founded in the 6th century BC by King Pandukabhaya, it was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 4th to the 11th century BC.

Today, this ancient city has become sacred for Buddhists with its monasteries that extend for 40 km. It is considered one of the major archaeological sites of the country. According to Mahavamsa, the city is called "Anuradhapura" in tribute to a minister, pioneer of the construction of the city, called Anuradha. This minister served King Vijaya who founded the Sinhalese ethnic group. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 3 : Anuradhapura / Jaffna (200 km, 5h of road) (B / L / D) 

Breakfast at the hotel, then departure of Anuradhapura. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the Jaffna Fortress. A remarkable embodiment of Hindu-Tamil culture, it is an archaeological monument to Sri Lanka's internal conflicts. While the construction of the current fort dates back to 1618, following the Portuguese invasion, there are indications that its layout dates back to the ancient Buddhist cultural expansion. During the colonial period, the British and the Dutch also held the fort under their governance, which led to the creation and destruction of certain segments. Inside, you will find a church with the statue of the Virgin Mary, the governor's residence, the garrison parade ground, and the queen's house, among other buildings of the Portuguese era. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 4 : Jaffna (B / L / D) 

After breakfast, visit the city. Jaffna is the capital of the Northern Province. It was once capital of a Tamil kingdom. The city is very green and pleasant, and several neighborhoods deserve to get lost in order to better discover them. This is, of course, the case of the city center and its market, the fort, but also Nallur and the entire area on both sides of Kandy Road.

Among the beaches around Casuarina Beach, on the island of Karaitivu, is the most beautiful and the most famous. Visit Point Pedro, which is the northernmost city of Sri Lanka (it is also the third largest city in the region). His current name was given to him by a homonymous Portuguese settler. Its Tamil name is "Paruthithurai" which means "Port of cotton".

In the afternoon, departure to visit "Nagadeepaya", built on the site where Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the second time, five years after attaining enlightenment. He intervened to settle a dispute between two Naga kings over the possession of a throne. Return to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 5 : Jaffna / Trincomalee (240 km, 6h of road) (B / L / D) 

After breakfast, visit Dambakola Patuna which was used as a port at the time. This area is considered the place where Theri Sangamiththa landed with Bo Sapling.

According to historical records, King Devanampiyathissa (250-210 BC) visited Dambakolapatuna to greet guests and Bo Sapling was later planted in Anuradhapura. It is the most sacred Sri Maha Bodhiya Jaya. Dambakola Patuna Viharaya (Jambokola Viharaya) was built to commemorate this event. Departure for Trincomalee.

Afternoon: arrival and check-in at the hotel, then free time at the beach.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 6 : Trincomalee / Polonnaruwa / Dambulla (110 km, 2h de route / 70km, of road) (B / L / D) 

After breakfast, departure for Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka. It replaced Anuradhapura in 993 after the destruction of the latter by the Indian king Rajaraja. The Indian invaders built Hindu monuments, especially temples dedicated to the god Siva. Vijayabahu I, the Sinhalese king who repulsed the Tamil invaders in 1070, kept this city as his capital. He rebuilt Polonnaruwa with Buddhist monuments. The apogee of Polonnaruwa's glory began with King Parakramabahu and lasted from the 1st to the 12th century AD. Buddhist sculptures, large pagodas, Buddhist temples marked the golden age of Polonnaruwa. Visit of a wood sculpture.

Afternoon: Departure for a 4x4 jeep safari in the Minnneriya National Park. The Minnneriya National Park is located near three other parks, giving the area a wild character. He is well known for his large herds of wild elephants. In addition, Minnneriya is located in the famous cultural triangle of Sri Lanka where there are no less than five World Heritage Sites. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 7 : Dambulla / Pidurangala / Hiriwadunna / Dambulla (B / L / D) 

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to visit the rock of Pidurangala with the monastery of ancient forests. This 13-hectare monastery complex illustrates the religious attitude of King Kashyapa who built the world-renowned Sigiriya Fortress during his reign. Pidurangala, the ancient monastery next to Sigiriya Rock, is considered the royal temple where King Kashyapa performed his devotions.

According to legend, when Kashyapa arrived in Sigiriya to build his capital, the fortress, the surrounding caves were occupied by Buddhist monks observing the meditation. The king transferred the "Sigiriya Monastery complex" to Pidurangala, but some inscriptions say that Pidurangala was also a monastery beyond the Kashyapa period.

Afternoon: departure for the village of Hiriwadunna to visit by oxcart, and boat on the lake. Opportunity to meet local people. Return to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 8 : Dambulla / Matale / Kandy (50 km, 1h de route / 30 km, 1h of road) (B / L / D) 

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the rock temple of Dambulla. In Sri Lanka, there are many ancient cave-temples, but the golden temple of Dambulla is the most revered and best known. The temple includes five caves-sanctuaries that contain 157 statues, 153 images of the Buddha and 4 images of deities. King Valagamba would have taken refuge in the caves of Dambulla after having Indian invaders. A Buddhist monk who was in these caves welcomed the king and protected him. When the king recovered his throne, he turned the caves into sanctuaries to show his gratitude to the monk. The second king who participated in the renovation of the caves is called Nissankamalla.

Departure for Kandy. En route, visit a school (schools close on weekends or holidays), or a religious school, or an orphanage. You will have a great time with the kids. Afternoon: visit of a spice garden in Matale. The spice garden at Matale offers all the native varieties to discover and sometimes to taste: bamboo, pepper, areca, banana, coffee, coconut, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom, etc.

During this visit, each participant will receive a "massage of the head" with medicinal oils extracted from natural products. Arrival and checkin at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Days 9 : Kandy (B / L / D) 

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the Buddha Tooth Temple in Kandy. The sacred tooth of the Buddha is the most revered relic among Buddhists in the country, it is at the temple in Kandy. In the Buddhist world, it is one of the most sacred places. According to legend, the tooth was recovered when the body of the Buddha was still in the funeral pyre. It was brought to Sri Lanka in 313 AD by the Indian princess Hemamali.

In Sri Lankan history, the Sinhala kings did everything to protect it from invaders from South India. Afternoon: visit the city of Kandy. It is an ancient capital of the Sinhalese kings, the center of coffee and tea under English rule. Kandy, the "capital of the mountains", is 116 km from Colombo; it is surrounded by mountains and green hills. Its character and its history make it the rare pearl of the island. It is also the largest religious center and the capital of Sinhala Buddhism because the city is home, in a temple, sacred tooth, relic linked to the history of the country. The city is one of the most picturesque cities in Sri Lanka, both an administrative and religious city. It is also the capital of the central province. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. Return to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 10 : Kandy / Nuwara Eliya (160 km, 4h of road) (B / L / D) 

After breakfast, departure for Kandy station to reach Nanu Oya by local train (the train will leave at 8:40 from Kandy station and it will arrive at 12:40 at Nanu Oya station).

During the trip you will enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery and tea plantations of this region. Tuk tuk ride, arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Afternoon: visit the city of Nuwara Eliya. This city is considered 'Little England' because everything is really English: the gardens, the architecture of the houses, the landscape and even the rain! Return to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 11 : Nuwara Eliya / Yala (160 km, 4h00 of road) (B / L / D) 

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of a tea plantation and its manufacture. Tasting a real cup of Sri Lankan tea. Sri Lankan tea is more commonly known as "Ceylon tea", after the name of the country until 1972. Ceylon produces almost only black tea, recognizable by its beautiful amber color.

Departure for Yala. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Afternoon: 4x4 safari in Yala National Park. Yala National Park is the second largest reserve in the country, with 97,500 ha. Many elephants, crocodiles, deer, and hundreds of species of birds (hornbills, raptors, storks ...) populate it. There are also mongooses, jackals, wild buffaloes ... Yala is especially famous for its population of panthers (also called leopards), we sometimes have the chance to observe one! ... a real safari on dusty tracks . Yala Park is the subject of many reports on Channel Discovery and the BBC.

Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 12 : Yala / Galle / Bentota (110 km, 3h00 of road) (B / L / D) 

Breakfast at the hotel, then visit the city of Galle. Galle is a superb example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and Southeast Asia, illustrating the interactions between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th century.

The old town of Galle, with its fort and fortifications protecting narrow streets where you can still see some old Dutch houses, is a World Heritage Site. Indeed, it represents the largest fortress built in Asia by European settlers. Other notable monuments include St. Mary's Cathedral built in the late nineteenth century by the first Bishop of Galle, Joseph Van Reeth and his fellow Jesuits.

The fortress of Galle, located on the south coast of Sri Lanka, was built by the Portuguese in 1588. It was fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649. Recognized by UNESCO for its cultural value, it was named 'World Heritage Site' in 1988. Afternoon: arrival and check-in at the hotel, then free time at the beach.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Days 13 - 14 : Bentota (B / - / - ) 

Free days at the beach

Included meals: breakfast

Note: Please note that guide / guide driver service and transportation are not available during the seaside stay.

Days 15 : Bentota / Colombo (B / L / D) 

Breakfast at the hotel, and free morning at the beach.

Afternoon: visit the city of Colombo.

Colombo is the commercial capital, a cosmopolitan city, and the main city of the country: Colombo, with its 850,000 inhabitants offers the colorful image of a city rich with the many influences of its past and its present diversity. Strolling through the streets means stocking up on smells, images and sounds that make for a story of lavish events in Sri Lanka today. It is possible to go shopping. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Days 16 : Colombo / Airport (40 km, 1h00 of road) (B / - / - ) 

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport to catch your return flight.

Included meals: breakfast

End of the Tour