THE AUTHENTIK SRI LANKA

Day 1 : Colombo’s airport / Dambulla (160 km, 4h00 of road) (- / L / D) 

Arrival at Colombo International Airport. Welcome by our representative with garlands of frangipani flowers. Departure for Dambulla. On the way, stop refresh in Kurunegala. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: 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. It is believed that King Valagamba took refuge in the caves of Dambulla when he fled the 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. Of Indian origin, he wanted to win the acceptance and affection of his people. He gave great importance to Buddhism and committed to renovating old Buddhist temples and building new ones.

According to Mahavamsa, (a historical record about Sri Lanka,) King Nissankamalla donated 73 golden sculptures to the Dambulla Temple and ordered a major renovation. The Dambulla Temple was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Included meals: lunch and dinner.

Day 2 : Dambulla / Sigiriya / Hiriwadunna / Dambulla- (B / L / D)

Morning: breakfast at the hotel, then departure to visit the fortress of Sigiriya. Sigiriya is, still today, a prodigious place. A massive red stone monolith stands 200 meters above the green jungle and stands out against the bright blue sky. At the height of its ephemeral glory, eighteen years at the end of the fifth century, it was one of the most charming royal cities that one never saw on earth. The ruins of this legendary palace are scattered all over the peak of the "Lion Rock", so named, because formerly the visitors had to, for the final hard climb, pass through the jaws of the throat of a lion carved in mid - path of the summit of the monolith.

Today only the gigantic legs remain. The main interest of the visit lies in the almost contemporary frescoes of the famous Indian paintings of Ajanta; but, here, there are real frescoes, paintings done on a fresh coating. These paintings consist of twenty-one female figures, represented half-way, gracefully bearing flowers. Beauty pure and striking, without sensitivity, they are one of the peaks of universal art. Typical lunch served on a lotus leaf.

Afternoon: Departure to the village of Hiriwadunna to visit by oxcart, and boat on the lake. Tasting of a traditional meal.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 3 : Dambulla/ Matale / Kandy (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel, then visit a spice garden in Matale. The Garden of spices in 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. Visit a batik store. Demonstration of batik. Departure for Kandy. Lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon: visit of 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. In the evening, show traditional and folk dances. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 4 : Kandy / Pinnawala / Peradeniya / Kandy (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Pinnawala to visit the elephant orphanage which houses sixty pachyderms: we will attend the meal of elephants and also their bath in the nearby river. This orphanage was created in 1975 to accommodate young elephants lost for various reasons: disruption of their natural habitat by planning projects, abandonment by parents when they fall into holes or ravines. Some animals are sick or injured when they arrive at the orphanage where they are then treated. Lunch at a local restaurant by the river.

In the afternoon: visit the botanical garden of Peradeniya. This garden is one of the most beautiful in the world. Its foundation dates back to 1371, but it was only in 1821 that it was truly converted. Among the profusion of tropical plants, there are in particular many species of palms, orchids, exotic flowers. Near an artificial pond that can admire pink and blue lotus, is the greenhouse of orchids.

Departure for the city of Kandy by tuk tuk. Town tour. 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 5 : Kandy / Nuwara Eliya / Nanuoya / Ella (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Nuwara Eliya. On the way you will see the Ramboda waterfall. Ramboda Falls is 109 m high and is one of the 11 highest falls in Sri Lanka (and is the 729th highest waterfall in the world). It is located in the Pussellawa area, on the A5 motorway to Ramboda Pass. It is formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale Oya.

Visit of a tea plantation and its manufacture. Tasting a real cup of Sri Lankan tea. Nowadays, Sri Lanka 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. Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon: departure to Nanu oya station to join Ella by local train (the train will depart at 14:50 from Nanu oya station and arrive at 17:15 at Ella station). During the trip, you will enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery and tea plantations of this region. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Night at the youth hostel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 6 : Ella (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Hike to Little Adam's Peak, so named in reference to the sacred peak Adams Peak (Sri Pada, where the imprint of the Buddha is preserved). This is an easy hike that will give you from the top a splendid panoramic view. You walk through green tea plantations, waterfalls and rice paddies. You have to hike early in the morning to enjoy the light and the sky.

Lunch in a local restaurant. Afternoon: visit the bridge of 9 arches. Demodara is a city in the highlands of Sri Lanka. It is served by the railway station of Sri Lanka on the branch Badulla. There is a spiral at this place. The bridge is easily visible from the Demodara station. This is a tunnel that actually goes under the Demodara station. On the existing track, the tunnel is around a mountain, rising continuously to reach a higher altitude on what was the mountain under which the tunnel is built. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Night at the youth hostel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 7 : Ella / Udawalawe (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Udawalawe. Stop at the Ravana waterfall. The falls were named after the legendary King Ravana, who is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) abducted Princess Sita, and hid her in the caves behind this waterfall. The reason for the kidnapping was revenge for slicing her sister's nose by Rama (Sita's husband) and his brother Laxmana.

At the time, the cave was surrounded by thick forests. It is also believed that the Queen of Rama was bathing in a pool that accumulates water falling from this waterfall. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: 4x4 safari in Udawalawe National Park, covering 310 km² around a giant reservoir. There are about 500 wild elephants, as well as many mammals including some leopards. This reserve is also famous for its variety of birds. Return to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 8 : Udawalawe / Mirissa (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe. Udawalawe Elephant transit home is an establishment in Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka that was established in 1995 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka. Its main goal is to rehabilitate orphan elephants for the ultimate release in the wild. Baby Elephants have all the amenities and luxuries they need in the elephant transit house and are supplied with enough food and drinking water.

Elephants roam freely and are able to provide food by grazing in a peaceful and natural environment. This normally occurs during the day and the feeding program is scheduled in three hour intervals starting at 06:00 every day. In addition to this, elephants have their freedom to play as well as the necessary amenities are available. The milk provided is specially formulated to help in the development of these baby elephants.

Departure for Mirissa. Breakfast in a local restaurant. Arrival and check-in at the hotel, then free time at the beach. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Night at the youth hostel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 9 : Mirissa / Colombo (B / L / D)

Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. 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 a "World Heritage Site" in 1988.

Departure for Colombo. Lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon: visit of the city and possibility of shopping. 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. Arrival and check in at the hostel. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Night at the youth hostel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 10 : 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