Sri Lanka and Maldives

14 days

This tour will showcase the majestic nature, rich culture and beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka and Maldives. During this tour you will have the opportunity to experience Sri Lanka in its main aspects, and to discover a fantastic island in the Maldives where you will have the opportunity to relax on one of the most beautiful islands out of the normal tourist routes of the archipelago, as well as experience many water and sustainable activities. This Sri Lanka and Maldives tour is specially designed as a honeymoon for couples who love to do outdoor activities and discover new cultures without having to give up comfort and relaxation on pristine beaches. One of our drivers, who speaks Italian, will take care of all your transfers in Sri Lanka. The trip to Sri Lanka (ancient Ceylon) starts from the former capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo (the country’s main airport) to continue north towards Kurunegala for a visit at the fair-trade project. The tour continues to one of the ancient capitals, Anuradhapura with its impressive stone basins that collect rainwater from the monsoons, the Ruwanweli stupa, and other interesting attractions. We will then continue to Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya with their important UNESCO heritage sites. After this, you will have the opportunity to discover the Dambulla caves, where you will admire the murals of the life of Buddha. The tour will continue to Kandy and the Buddhist temple which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha and with a visit to the Pinnawela elephant orphanage and the Perdanya botanical garden. Later we will visit the village of Pilimathalawa with its three temples, walking along rural paths we will be able to observe a rural scenery made of rice fields and organic gardens. Your trip to Sri Lanka will end with a visit to the city of Nuwara Eliya, also known as “Little England” because at the time of British domination, the British generals took advantage of its altitude to escape the summer heat of the plains. Here you can admire the expanses of tea, and the processing method of one of the most popular teas in the world. From here you will be transferred to the Maldives for your week of peace and relaxation. After your arrival in Malé airport, you will have che chance to enjo a 30-minute journey by seaplane that will give you a stunning bird’s eye view of the azure lagoons and curling atolls. It is a taste of the natural reality that comes with your Maldives vacation. As you land, you are entering one of the world’s essential havens – a designated UNESCO biosphere reserve and home to incredible marine life and reefs. The style of the selected resort is rustic yet luxurious, organic yet elegant. Traditional craft blends with the ease of contemporary comfort. This is a soulful Maldives vacation spot where the everyday stresses of life are left behind, and you can reconnect with nature. During your stay you will have the possibility to relax, on white sands, swim and snorkel in crystal-clear waters and participate in many sustainable, cultural and conservation activities of the eco-resort. This will give you the opportunity not only to experience a deep relaxation in a tropical paradise, but also to discover the biological, natural, and cultural environment of this wonderful archipelago.

JOURNEY OVERVIEW AND PROGRAM DETAILS

DAY 1: COLOMBO – NEGOMBO

Early arrival in the morning. Meeting with one of our representatives. Transfer to Negombo. Free time for the rest of the day to relax.
Overnight in Negombo.

DAY 2: NEGOMBO – ANURADHHAPURA

Early departure to Kurenagala (about 2 hours trip). You will spend the day with Selyn Fair Trade, an organization of artisans that takes part to the Altromercato Experience project. You will discover this authentic and interesting Fair-Trade reality; a weaving centre, where expert hands “create” wonderful toys, not only with hand looms. The first stop of the visit will be at the printing department, where the production process of textiles starts with the yarn dyeing. Lunch at the centre. Then you will move to watch artisans’ women managing the manual weaving on the loom and, if you would, you could try this beautiful art. Then you will visit also Selyn’s kindergarten and the factory where, thanks to the Fair Trade, products are sold. Lastly, you will visit Wanduragala’s shop, where you will find products and gifts to bring home. After the visit, transfer to Anuradhapura and check in to the hotel.
Overnight in Anuradhapura (B, L, D).

DAY 3: ANURADHAPURA – AKUNA – DAMBULLA

After breakfast, transfer to Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka from IV century b.C. till XI century a.C.. The beauty of the city will leave you breathless. You’ll see the Jayasri Maha Bodhi ( the sacred fig), the statue of Samadhi Buddha, the sculpture in stone in the Isurumuniya’s temple, Ruwanweli’s stupa and many others attractions of this great 2500 years old city. Very interesting are the huge stone tanks used to collect and carry the water of the monsoons. This magnificent and old irrigation system, with tanks and canals, is the main attraction of Anuradhapura. Departure for Aukana (45 minutes), ancient buddhist site, for the visit of stone sculptures. After the visit, return to Dambulla.
Overnight in Dambulla (B, D).

DAY 4: DAMBULLA – POLONNARUWA – DAMBULLA

After breakfast, departure to Polonnaruwa (1 hour and half); UNESCO heritage site, also famous for his similarity with Angkor Wat, with the royal palace and the public hearing room. You’ll have a special lunch in a farm near Pollonnaruwa. In the afternoon, trip to Sigiriya where we’ll take a 25 minutes visit of Sigiriya’s fortress, which dates back to the Mesolithic period and is more than 5000 years old. Enjoy the climbing to this ancient fortress, wanted by king Kashyapa. Known also as the Lion Rock, it has interesting frescoes and graffiti.
Overnight in Dambulla (B, D).

DAY 5: DAMBULLA – MATALE- KANDY

After breakfast visit the Dambulla cave complex, where there are 5 caves carved into a 150m high rock with wall paintings of the life of Buddha. Transfer to Kandy (about 2.5 hours), whose kingdom has been resisting for more than 300 years to the European occupation (from XVI century till 1815) after the surrender of the city along the coast. Along the way stop at the cocoa and spices cultivations in Matale, to discover the working process they undergo. Visit at the organic garden of a cocoa’s farmer to discover the cultivation techniques of this tree. Traditional lunch by the local community. After lunch transfer to Kandy, visit the temple of the sacred Tooth, very famous relic venerated by buddhists. Overnight in Kandy (B, L, D).

DAY 6: KANDY – PINNAWALA – PILIMATHALAWA – KANDY

Early breakfast at 07.30 hrs. Proceed to Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala. It is an orphanage, established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife, near the Maha Oya River. Born to offer assistance and protection to the numerous orphaned elephants found in the jungles of Sri Lanka, it aims to create a natural habitat for elephants. After the program in Pinnawala leave for Pilimathalawa (which is close to Kandy) to visit Ambakke Hindu temple, Lankathilaka Buddhist temple, and Gadaladeniya Buddhist temple. These three places are situated within walking distance. What’s most interesting is that you can glimpse the real village life in Sri Lanka as you have to walk through paddy fields and pathways through villages to get to these temples. Return to Kandy. Free walk in Kandy city or rest and relax in the evening. Overnight in Kandy (B, D)

DAY 7: KANDY – NUWARA ELIYA (MT 1890) – KANDY

Breakfast. In the morning visit of Kandy and of its famous and wonderful botanical garden. Departure with car/bus; the road climbs up the hill which is rich of tea plantations that offers unforgettable images. After about two hours and half we’ll arrive in Nurawa Eliya; this place was also called “little England” because in the period of British domination, the british generals took advantage of its altitude to escape the summer heat of the plain. Visit at some tea production to discover some tea working process. In the afternoon, return to Kandy.
Overnight in Kandy (B, D).

DAY 8: TRANSFER TO maldives

Transfer to Colombo and departure with international flight to Male. Arrival at Malé international airport and meet with our representative at the terminal. Then transfer to the Dhuni Kolhu Island by seaplane (please note that connection to the island with the seaplane is operative from, 6am to 3:30pm so your international flight should arrive in Malé before 3:30pm). Dhuni Kolhu island lies in the stunning southern waters of the Baa Atoll: the 30-minute seaplane journey from Malé International Airport will be a great opportunity to admire a stunning bird’s eye view of the Maldives before you land at your island home. After landing, check in at the resort. This unique resort, embodies the Maldives as it should be: nourishing, charming, inspiring and enchanting. The style and feel are rustic yet luxurious, organic yet elegant. It is a perfect way to experience a different kind of comfort, surrounded by wonderful coral reefs, crystal-clear waters and an impressive marine biodiversity.
Free time to rest and to discover the island, or just to relax on the beach.
Overnight in Dhuni Kolhu (B)

DAY 9: RELAX / SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES