Sri Lanka Heritage

Arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport and welcome by your private guide who will be waiting for you at the exit door after passing the immigration control and collecting the luggage. Presentation of the guide, accommodation in the vehicle and start of the tour, transferring us to Dambulla (140 km, about 3 hours). Depending on the arrival time and how tired you get on the flight, you can stop or not to refresh, eat and whatever you need. Arrival in Dambulla and check in at hotel. We will visit the Temple in the caves of Dambulla (10 km, approx. 15 min), built by King Walagambahu in the 1st century BC. Dambulla is heritage and the most impressive temple-cave of Sri Lanka. The complex of five caves of over 2000 m2 of murals and painted ceilings is the largest area of paintings of this type found in the world. At sunset, we will enjoy a full-body Ayurvedic massage (approx. 45 min), which will help us recover from the fatigue that we have accumulated while we load energy to get into the Buddhist culture.  

AM: Visit to Sigiriya.

Breakfast at hotel and departure to Sigiriya. We will ascend to the impressive fortress of the rock of Sigiriya, one of the most important archaeological points in Asia, heritage. Built by King Kashyapa (477 – 495 ad) on a large monolith of Red stone, 180m above the jungle, it is a Citadel of extraordinary beauty that rises 200 metres above the jungle. The rock was the most hidden fortress of a city of 70 hectares. There is a moat, a wall and enormous gardens including the famous irrigation system that surrounds the base of the rock. We will visit the famous frescoes of the “divine ladies” of Sigiriya in a nook protected from the rock, which is accessed by a spiral staircase. Considered one of the eight wonders of the ancient world, there are sufficient remains to impress visitors with a sweeping view of the ingenuity and creativity of the builders.

PM: Visit to Polonnaruwa.

Tour through the city of Polonnaruwa. Medieval capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th century to the 13th A.d., the ancient city is considered to be the “Renaissance jewel” of Sinhala architecture. Currently protected by Unesco as a world heritage site for its archaeological and historical interest. There are large monuments scattered in the jungle on the shores of a vast swamp, such as the colossal figure sculpted in rock King Parakramabahu, the Royal Palace, the halls of hearings, the formidable Temple of images of Thuparama, etc. Visit the fabulous statues of the Gal Vihara which are three great Buddhas carved into a limestone wall. Finally we will see the new Museum where remains from all places in the area are kept. Return to the hotel in Habarana. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Breakfast in the hotel. Departure for Kandy (70 km, approx. 2 hours), visiting en route the garden of spices from Matale*, where you can enjoy a small massage in your neck (10 min.) with the ancient Ayurvedic techniques and buy spices and seasonings.*** These visit is optional and free. In the afternoon we will ride a tuk tuk through the city of Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Kings of Sri Lanka and is heritage. The name “Kandy” conjures up visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still alive in this city. We will pass around Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhalese King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. You can also visit the Bazaar, a crafts Center, a Museum of precious stones, etc.  * * These visits are optional and free. At sunset we will visit the Dalada Maligawa, Temple of the holy tooth of Buddha. About 19.00 h we will attend the ceremony Pooja, religious tradition which is performed daily by the Maligawa. Finally, we will visit Raja Wasala, complex of the Royal Palace, whose wooden pillars hall dates from the year 1784. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Kandy.

Breakfast in the hotel. We will visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden. This Botanical Garden was originally built as a garden of enjoyment by a Sinhalese King and was extended  by the British. Its extension is almost a 60-hectare, offering an incredible variety of trees, plants and flowers, around 4000 species. In the middle of the garden, we find one of the largest collections of orchids in the world. Transfer by car to the train station to catch the train towards Nuwara Eliya. The guide will accompany you to the platform to continue the route by road with your luggage and wait for you again at the platform of the Nanu Oya train station to visit the Nuwara Eliya tea plantations. Nuwara Eliya, due to its healthy climate of mountain and landscape, is the most famous place in Sri Lanka for a mountain holiday. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka tea production; a green mantle completely covers these mountains. You can taste a cup of tea from the very heart of Sri Lanka. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Nuwara Eliya.  

Breakfast in the hotel. Departure to Buduruwagala (95 km, 2 hours 30 min approx). En route we will contemplate the Ravana falls (8 meters). The falls take their name from a former King who, according to legend, ruled Sri Lanka. On our route to the south we will visit Buduruwagala where you can see a group of 7 colossal Buddhist figures facing the cliff; standing in the middle of the thick jungle, carved into the rock between the 8th and 10th B.c.. Its central figure is 16 meters. Continuation of the route to Yala (80 km, 1 h 30 min approx). Registration at the Yala hotel. At about 15.00 depart on jeep to enjoy a safari in the National Park of Yala (Ruhuna). Yala is the best preserved natural park of Sri Lanka. There you can see all the flora and fauna of the place, the only place where you can see leopards. There are several families of leopards, large numbers of elephants, wild boar, crocodiles, hippos and a great variety of birds. The peculiarity of its coastal geography makes this park a special place, combining all the uniqueness of the jungle with kilometers and kilometers of uninhabited coastline. The safari will last throughout the afternoon, enabling us to see plenty of animals and wonderful landscapes. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Yala.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Galle on the coast road (170 km, 3 hours and a half). Along the way, we will visit Weligama to observe the arts of these famous fishermen. The days of very hot during the intense hours of sun usually retire of the sticks until the evening falls and it refreshes. Arrival in Galle where we will visit the Portuguese Fort of Galle a city located in the southwest of Sri Lanka 119km from Colombo. It is believed that the present city of Galle was the port of the ancient Tharsis to which the Hebrew king Solomon sent for ivory and the peacocks indicated in the Bible. The city of Galle was known as Gimhathiththa (then Ibn Battuta in the fourteenth century referred to it as Qali) before the arrival of the Portuguese in the sixteenth century when it was the main port of the island of Ceylon. Galle had its apogee in the eighteenth century before the arrival of the British who boosted the development of Colombo. We eill continue the route to Colombo by motorway (120 km, 1 hour and a half approx). Depending on the time of arrival in Colombo, we will tour the city of Colombo, where we will see the Independence square, the Fort, the Bazaar, the Hindu Temple, the Cinnamon Gardens and the Old Parliament. Colombo like many capital cities in developing countries is changing rapidly although in some places the old-world charm still remains. Check in at hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Colombo.  

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Colombo airport according to the departure flight (30 km, 45 minutes approx).