Surprising Sri Lanka
Without Visual Borders
On this journey we will accompany you to discover the so-called “tear of India”; called in this way the island that houses the republican state of SRI LANKA because of its particular shape and its proximity to the Indian coast. The name derives from the Sanskrit word laṃkā, which means “shining island”, a term already used in ancient Indian epic tales. Immersed in its beauties and the local population, together with the usual and best-known tourist itineraries, we will visit and get to know who has been living in this wonderful island since forever, we will then come across the transformation of clay into beautiful furnishings that we will produce with the help of the wise hands of those who have always worked this material, and in addition to learning Buddhist culture by meeting a Buddhist monk and Ayurvedic medicine, we will taste tasty dishes in the famous rice fields and the famous tea in an environmentally friendly plantation, all of this in six days full of emotions.
Individual departures min 2 participants
Available all year long, on request
Arrival at Colombo international airport, after handling customs formalities, meeting with the local assistant who will welcome us in this wonderful land. After the baggage claim, we will take advantage of the numerous exchange offices available in the airport terminal, we will then move to Habarana where we will be welcomed in the village famous for the production of ceramics. We will visit a clay transformation laboratory and here we will meet those who work this material, they will tell us the history of ceramics and then they will help us in the production of a small clay artifact that we will take with us throughout the trip.
Lunch in a typical restaurant located in the village.
After having lunch, we will continue the journey to Habarana where we will check-in, the rest of the day will be available to relax before the barbecue dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel, then we will move to a small monastery, where we will be welcomed by the Buddhist monk who will accompany us in the practice of meditation, after which we could talk to the monk who will show us the characteristics of his religion.
Lunch at a typical restaurant near a rice paddy to taste the delicacies of this wonderful country, still to be discovered.
Then we will move to the city of Polonnaruwa and visit the oldest and most historical part; Polonnaruwa is the name of the ancient capital of Sri Lanka, whose ruins are located in the North Central Province, 205 km from Colombo. The Chola who invaded the island around the 10th century AD coming from today's state of Tamil Nadu made Polonnaruwa the capital of this new province. With them, the city was enriched with numerous temples dedicated to the god Shiva and his companion Parvati, adorned with bronze statues depicting the dancing god or Nataraja that can now be admired at the National Museum of Colombo. The Sinhalese king Vjayabahu I, managed to drive the Chola out by regaining the city in 1071. Under his reign and that of his successors, the city was enriched with numerous Buddhist temples including the Attadage which arrived fairly intact to this day. The ruler Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) built the "Lankathilake" or glory of Sri Lanka, a brick structure inside which there is an headless statue of the Buddha
In the afternoon we will move to Kandalama after a short catamaran trip, which will make us integrate into the local culture, in fact the catamarans express the essence of how typical villages use them to fish, transport and collect water lilies. We will then stop over the river for an experience with the elephants: we could bathe and feed these wonderful pachyderms.
We will use coconut shells to wash elephants, a practice passed down through many generations of mahouts. Elephants certainly appreciate this form of pampering which represents a pleasant massage for them. Bathing in the river, cooling their body in water is every elephant's favorite pastime.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel, then the visits begin with the meeting of a native doctor, specialized in the treatment of patients bitten by snakes. These doctors practice a variety of methods and therapies passed down through generations. Fortunately, their effectiveness has helped save hundreds of lives.
Afterward, we will move to Kandy, during the journey we will stop in the village of Matale where we will experience the usefulness of the medical herbs and spices that we use every day, an expert will expose us the different peculiarities of spices and herbs, making us recognize them with the smell.
The last bastion of Buddhist political power against colonial invasion. This hill station is notable for the natural beauty of its environment in a peaceful wooded valley overlooking a vast artificial lake. The palace, shrines and buildings of the British period give it a special feature, while the relic of the Buddha's tooth gives religious importance to the historic capital of the plateau.
Arrival in Kandy, the so-called Cinnamon citadel, hotel accommodation, free time at disposal for a little relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
After having breakfast we will move to the city of Pilimatalawa. Here we will go to the traditional dance school, meet the teachers and students of this reality, get involved in the typical dance of this country and we will attend the performance of the folkloristic drums. After the excitement of dances and sounds, we will be guests for lunch in the dance school.
After lunch departure for Nuwara Eliya for dinner and overnight
Nuwara Eliya is a mountain village located at 1,868 m above sea level, surrounded by a beautiful landscape. Nuwara Eliya was entirely built during the 19th century and its architecture mimics that of an English country town, with red brick walls, country houses such as The Hill Club and fake Tudor wooden beams. Blessed with a healthy climate, breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and vegetation, it is difficult to imagine that Nuwara Eliya is only 180 km from the hot and humid Colombo. Temperatures are 14C-21C (January-April) 16C-18C (May-August) 15C-18C (September-December). So it is advisable to bring a warm fleece or a jacket.
Breakfast at the hotel, start of the visits with the exploration of a tea plantation to learn about the production process of this drink and its many variations, from green tea to tea flavored with various spices. After that, we will have a delicious tasting of this famous drink widespread all over the world.
Sri Lanka is one of the largest tea exporters in the world. Since the introduction of tea in Sri Lanka in the mid-19th century, Nuwara Eliya has been the capital of the tea industry. For many miles before reaching Nuwara Eliya from all directions, we will find acres and acres of tea plantations. There are many farms open to visitors, which also have tea shops.
After having lunch in a restaurant along the way to Colombo, we will reach this capital city, the economic and commercial center of Sri Lanka which over the centuries has been dominated by different peoples of different ethnicity and culture, from the Arabs to the British passing by the Dutch, who obviously characterized both the cultural and architectural style of the city.
The city has been the traditional gateway to the Orient for a long time. The largest city in Sri Lanka, it is located on the west coast and brings together all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign lands in a potpourri of sounds, smells and a kaleidoscope of colors. The original merchants and settlers - Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and British left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, customs and food and sketches of their languages which were absorbed by the Sri Lankan speech. Today Colombo is a fascinating city, a happy blend of east and west, past and present, with its own charm. A lesser-known but surprisingly true fact is that Colombo has a superb range of high-quality restaurants serving food from around the world and some of the best shopping opportunities in Asia.
Arrival and accommodation in the hotel, short rest and then attend a cooking demonstration and learn the secrets of the Sinhalese cuisine. It combines flavors from all over the world and yet has its own taste. With influences from Malaysia, Indonesia, southern India, North Africa, Portugal, England and the Netherlands, it is a mixture of flavors and an explosion of colors, which remains a constant reminder of its colonial past. It is heavily influenced by its geography, in the Indian Ocean between east and west, which means that the cuisine is mainly based on fish. Curry and rice are basic elements and are often eaten with roti bread, while chili peppers, curry leaves, onions, cinnamon and garlic are also strongly present.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast and check-out, transfer to the airport in due time or continuation for a seaside stay in one of the beautiful beaches of the island.
Tariff per person, starting from:
Departure | Double | Supplement single |
---|---|---|
From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025 | € 1,840 | € 490 |
Notes
Available all year long, on request
(B / L / D): B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = Dinner
Proposed or similar hotels:
Depending on the climatic conditions, the roads and the travel time, the order in which the visits are made may be subject to change. To access some temples you will be asked to remove shoes and socks. Tips are not mandatory but are recommended for drivers and guides.
Jaffna is a predominantly Tamil region so almost all hotels only serve vegetarian dishes.
From 1 January 2012, a new regulation has been introduced regarding the entry visa policy in the country: those who intend to visit Sri Lanka (for tourism or business) must first acquire the entry visa “ETA – Electronic Travel Authorization”, (from 1 January 2013), which entitles you to enter the country for up to 30 days. ETA can be requested online, on the website or through travel agencies or at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Rome. ETA can also be obtained upon arrival at Colombo airport at a cost of 40 US dollars. It is possible to extend the duration of the visa (from the date of entry into the country) by submitting a specific application at the Sri Lankan Representations present abroad or personally at the Immigration and Emigration Department in Colombo.
To participate in this trip you need an Indian visa and a passport with a residual validity of 6 months from the date of entry into India with at least 2 free pages. Within 30 days of the departure date, you must send us the scanned copy of your passport and a duly completed form.
During the journey, the passenger must bring with them a copy of the electronic travel authorization (ETA).
From 1 August 2019, for six months, the Sri Lankan authorities have issued a list of countries, including Italy, which can obtain the ETA tourist entry visa for free (up to 30 days), requesting it online on the site.
Free departures, minimum 2 participants. Valid for stays until 20 December 2020
Supplements related to local holidays (Kandy festival) and Christmas and New Year will be communicated during the booking process.
The tariff includes
The tariff does not include
My journey starts from Chiang Mai towards Chiang Rai, and just 15 km from the latter is the wonderful and extravagant Wat Rong Khun, better known as the "White Temple". The stop here is a must … Like other wonders around the world, this temple too has the ability to leave its visitors speechless! Click […]
Disabled adoption One of the first historical evidences of adoption dates back to the second millennium BC, when, with the Code of Hammurabi, the rules to be followed in order to adopt an orphan were established. Since then, this very important legal institution has undergone various transformations and renovations but, even today, it is not […]