Sri Lanka, Indian Beauty

Departure on a scheduled flight to Colombo. Night on board.

Arrival at Colombo International Airport and meeting with our assistant for the collective transfer to the hotel. Early in the afternoon, departure for a panoramic tour of the city. Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and its main port. An incredible mix of cultures and colors on this paradise island. There are many facets of this city of skyscrapers, beaches and a mix of markets and gardens that astonish those who visit it with its perfect combination of well-preserved colonial architecture and modern urbanism. After the visit, return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure towards the south coast of the island. Stop en route in Ahungalla to visit a turtle farm. Here you can see five species: the green turtle (Cheloniamydas), the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelysimbricata), the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). The eggs are collected by locals and fishermen, and taken to this farm to be buried in small sand pens until they hatch. Newborns are kept in seawater tanks until they are released at night to avoid predators. After this visit, we continue towards Balapitiya where we will go on a safari along the Madu Ganga River. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then we will visit a mask workshop and museum in Ambalangoda, where we can see a wide selection of 120 handmade masks that represent everything from deities to demons (Yakksha), monsters (Raksha), humans and animals. A whole mosaic of sensations from the demonic eyes of the horrendous mask of Naaga Raksha (the Demon Cobra), to the intricate work of the masks of Nari Latha and Sanni. Late afternoon, arrival at the hotel on the south coast (in Beruwela or Bentota). Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to the city of Galle, the main coastal city in the south of the country, a colonial citadel located at the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, with its imposing fortress built by the Dutch in 1663 and which forms a beautiful mix of wonder. architectural with the exotic atmosphere of the smell of the species and the sea wind. This place was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. When visiting the city we will be able to see the important Dutch influences in its architecture, as well as some old English residences and several mosques with an Arab flavor. Located in the southern province of the country, the city of Galle is a fully operational time capsule in the 21st century. It has the largest occupied fort in Asia and its picturesque beauty extends beyond its golden beaches and blue waters. Its main attraction is undoubtedly its old Fort that immediately takes us back to the Dutch colonial era. One can enjoy its picturesque views and rich history while strolling through its narrow streets, enjoying a meal at its interesting restaurants inside the Fort or simply enjoying the gentle sea breeze beneath its ancient lighthouse. Lunch at a local restaurant. Next, departure to Tissamaharama, stopping en route to see the famous pole fishermen of Weligama. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Pic-nic breakfast and departure early in the morning to go on a jeep-safari in the Yala National Park, one of the largest and most classic on the island that extends over an area of 1,200 km ² of forests, lagoons and rocky outcrops that offer us a particularly good location to observe the elephants (Depending on the migration of animals or the closure of the park, generally from the end of August to October, the safari It takes place in Udawalawe National Park instead of Yala National Park. Our route continues towards the central mountains of the country in Nuwara Eliya, where the island's famous tea plantations are located. En route we will visit the Ella Gap and the Ravana waterfalls. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, arrive in Nuwara Eliya, check into the hotel and rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the mountainous landscape of the area. We are in the center of Sri Lanka where the famous Ceylon tea grows and the mountains that surround the area are perfect carpets of deep green that stretch as far as the eye can see. Streams and waterfalls complete the idyllic landscape. Dinner at the hotel and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to Kandy. En route we will visit a tea plantation and factory. Arrival in Kandy and lunch at a local restaurant. Next, visit the Sacred Temple of the Buddha Tooth (Dalada Maligawa), which houses the most revered relic in the entire country and constitutes one of the most important pilgrimage points in the Buddhist world. Located in the center of the city, it has its white walls covered by roofs like clouds. Once inside the wall, the ancient temple appears majestic, surrounded by a moat and its golden roof that reflects the sunlight while pilgrims place their offerings and lotus flowers to venerate the relic of Buddha's tooth. The current building was built under the dynasty of the Kandyan kings from 1687 to 1707 and has beautiful handcrafted details of wood and ivory by artists of the time. The relic is inside 7 golden chests and pilgrims can only see them from the back of the altar. In the afternoon, free time to wander around and explore this traditional Sri Lankan city. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Today we will take a panoramic tour of Kandy by Tuk Tuk. We will also visit a carving workshop for the world-renowned semi-precious stones of Sri Lanka (with blue sapphire as the maximum exponent), as well as a batik manufacturing factory (the sarongs of Sri Lanka). After the visit, departure to Dambulla. En route we will stop in Matale to visit a spice garden and see how they grow in their natural environment. We will learn about its use in medicine and local cuisine, and whoever wishes can optionally have a small hair massage with herbs. Lunch in the spice garden. Continuation and arrival at the Dambulla Caves, a series of connected caves inside a gigantic rock with thousands of images of Buddha, both in polychrome paintings and carvings in stone and wood. This place, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991, has pictorial inscriptions from the 2nd century BC. and its structures were renovated by Vijayabanduhu (1055-1100 AD) and later by King Kirtsiri Rajasinha of Kandy. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure on an excursion to visit the Sigiriya fortress, one of the best-known images of Sri Lanka. Here, King Kashyapa in the 5th century built his fortified palace on the top of a huge rock 183 meters high. On a protected platform of this mountain, we find the famous Sinhalese art paintings, the “heavenly maidens”, which are part of the UNESCO World Artistic Heritage. At its top we find the remains of the king's enormous palace with its pools and stages for the dancers. Next, we will take a tour of the area, an interesting experience that will allow us to come into contact with the rural life of the local population. The excursion is carried out using the usual means of transportation of the place, starting by oxcart and continuing with a boat ride to end with the typical tuk tuk. We will then taste a typical local lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit Polonnaruwa, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Sri Lanka, an architectural complex made up of temples, palaces and a lotus-shaped pool that is on the UNESCO Heritage list. The place is surrounded by gigantic water reservoirs, the most famous being the Parakrama Samudra or Parakrama Sea, larger than the port of Colombo itself. Dinner and accommodation.