Magical Sri Lanka
A magical itinerary in the tropical island of Sri Lanka, witness to an ancient history pervaded by an authentic Buddhist soul and by a beautiful unspoiled nature. Varied and sublime landscapes, splendid beaches that run along 1330 kilometers of coastline, a cultural heritage of great importance that contains 8 sites recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO and 15 protected national parks make this country an absolutely worthy visit.
Day 01: Arrival in Colombo, Colombo / Dambulla (Km. 135 - approx 4 hrs)
Arrival in Colombo. Meeting with the staff of our staff for presentations. Transfer to Dambulla and accommodation in the hotel. In the afternoon, possibility to participate in a jeep safari in the Minneriya Park (or Kaudulla or Eco Park, depending on the period).
Day 02: Dambulla / Anuradhapura / Dambulla
After breakfast departure for an excursion to Anuradhapura, a World Heritage Site, one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka. The ancient city, consecrated by the Buddhist world and surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over 40 km², is one of the main archaeological sites in the world. In the afternoon, in Dambulla, excursion to visit the magnificent temples dug into the caves and which, being on top of a hill, are reached after about thirty minutes of walking. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 03: Dambulla / Sigirya / Polonnaruwa / Dambulla
After breakfast, visit the imposing castle-fortress of Sigiriya (declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco), which King Kasyapa had erected on the rock in the fifth century. It is accessed by a staircase of a thousand steps built into the rock. Traditional Sinhalese lunch in a typical local village. In the afternoon, visit of Polonnaruwa (also declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco), an ancient capital between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. and full of well-preserved evidence of the greatness of the first rulers of the kingdom. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 04: Dambulla / Matale / Kandy (Km. 70 – approx 1 hrs)
After breakfast departure for Kandy, with a visit along the way to a spice plantation in Matale. Lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, visit of Kandi, whose name means "Land in the mountains", third capital and holiest city of the Sinhalese kingdom, located on the banks of a lake at 465 meters above sea level. Sacred place of Buddhism due to the relic of the tooth of the Buddha preserved in Sri Dalada Maligawa, the suggestive temple on the banks of the lake that will be visited together with the market square. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Kandy / Peradenya / Nuwara Eliya / Kandy
After breakfast, visit the stunning Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradenya which is also famous for the University which is the second oldest in Sri Lanka with its colonial and Indian style buildings. Departure for Nuwara Eliya. the “little England”, located at 1,896 meters above sea level. On the shores of a lake and whose name means "City of LIGHT". It has been a popular health resort since the English colonial period and at the center of extensive tea plantations which we will visit during the journey to get to the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 06: Kandy / Colombo (Km. 115 - approx 2 hrs)
After breakfast, free morning for individual initiatives. After lunch departure for Colombo. Panoramic tour of the city, the Pettah bazaar, in a district rich in ethnic variety, the Fort district where almost all the sites of historical interest are concentrated, the main districts, government buildings etc. Transfer to the hotel near the airport. After dinner, no overnight stay. Transfer to the airport and boarding on the night flight back to Italy.
Day 07: Depart from Colombo
Boarding the flight back home.