Best of Sri Lanka – Summer Special Edition

Arrival at Colombo airport and meeting with our operators. Transfer to Negombo, where it will be possible to rest after the journey and relax on the beach.
Overnight in Negombo (D)

After breakfast (about 7.30), transfer by car to Kandy (about 2 hours and 30) whose kingdom resisted European occupation for over 300 years (from the 16th century until 1985). Kandy is located on a plateau, surrounded by mountains, tea plantations and rainforests rich in biodiversity. The heart of the city is the scenic Kandy Lake, or Bogambara Lake, an ideal place for strolling and relaxation. Along the way, stop at the cocoa and spice crops of Matale, to find out what kind of processing they undergo. Visit to the organic garden of a cocoa farmer to discover the cultivation techniques of this plant. Traditional lunch at the community. After lunch, visit the Buddha Tooth Temple, a very famous relic revered by Buddhists.
Overnight in Kandy (B, L, D)

After breakfast (around 7.30am), transfer to the Pinnawala elephant orphanage. This center, established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife, near the Maha Oya River, was created to offer assistance and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungles of Sri Lanka, it aims to create a natural habitat for elephants. Afterwards departure to the town of Pilimathalawa to visit three important temples in the area: the Hindu temple of Ambakke, the Buddhist temple of Lankathilaka and that of Gadaladeniya. All three temples are very close to each other and you can visit them all on foot, so you will have the opportunity to discover a glimpse of rural life in Sri Lanka, crossing the rice fields that surround the villages.
Overnight in Kandy. (B, D)

Breakfast. Morning visit of Kandy including the famous and beautiful Botanical Garden. Departure by car/minibus; The road climbs the hills covered with tea plantations giving unforgettable images. You reach Nuwara Eliya after 2 and a half hours; this place was also called “little England”, since British officials stayed here to escape the summer heat of the plain. Visit some tea productions and the various manufacturing processes. In the afternoon, return to Kandy.
Overnight in Kandy. (B, D)

After breakfast, departure to Dambulla (about 2 hours). Along the way stop at the cocoa and spice crops of Matale, to find out what kind of processing they undergo. Visit to the organic garden of a cocoa farmer to discover the cultivation techniques of this plant. Traditional lunch with the community. After lunch, visit the Dambulla cave complex, where there are 5 caves carved into a 150-meter-high rock with wall paintings on the life of Buddha. Chek in at the hotel and possibility to relax in the pool or spa.
Overnight in Dambulla (B, L, D).

After breakfast, morning departure to Polonnaruwa (1 hour and a half); an UNESCO World Heritage site, also famous for its resemblance to Angkor Wat, with the royal palace and the public audience hall. Near Pollonnaruwa you will enjoy a special lunch in a local farm. In the afternoon, excursion to Sigiriya (25 minutes) to visit the fortress of Sigiriya, which dates back to the Mesolithic period and is more than 5000 years old. Enjoy the climb to this ancient fortress, commissioned by King Kashyapa. Also known as Lion Rock, it has interesting frescoes and graffiti.
Overnight in Dambulla (B, D)

After breakfast, visit Aukana (about 45 minutes by car) ancient Buddhist site, to visit stone carvings. After the visit, continue to Nilaveli (about 3 hours by car). Nilaveli Beach is made of fine, white coral sand. The long stretch of beach starts from the hamlet of Uppuveli, north of Trincomalee and continues through Nilaveli to Kuchchaveli, until you reach the jungles of the north of the island. Overlooking the calm waters of the Indian Ocean, Nilaveli is a coastal resort town located about 20 km northwest of Trincomalee. Nilaveli offers its tourists palm trees swaying on the golden sand, and has been considered one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka: you can spend your days basking in the sun, snorkeling, diving, fishing and relaxing. Check in at the hotel and relax on the beach.
Overnight in Nilaveli (B, D).

These days will be dedicated to relax and snorkeling. Visit to the beautiful Pigeon Island. Pigeon Island National Park is one of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The national park is located 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli and the name of the island comes from the rock pigeon that colonized it. The National Park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs in Sri Lanka. Pigeon Island was classified as a nature reserve in 1963 and became National Park in 2003. This park is the seventeenth in Sri Lanka. The island was used as a shooting range during the colonial period. Pigeon Island is one of several protected areas affected by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004.
Overnight in Nilaveli (B, D).

After breakfast, transfer by car to Anuradhapura (about 2 hours and 20 minutes).Visit to the amazing city Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka from IV B.C. to ‘eleventh century A.D. You will see the Jayasri Maha Bodhi (sacred fig tree), the statue of Samadhi Buddha, the stone carvings in Isurumuniya temple, Ruwanweli stupa and many other attractions in this vibrant 2500-year-old city. You will see the impressive stone tanks, used to convey and collect the water of the monsoon. This superb and ancient irrigation system, with tanks and canals, is the main attraction of Anuradhapura. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight in Anuradhapura (B, D)

Early in the morning departure for Kurenagala, about 2 hours. We will spend a day with Selyn Fair Trade, an organization of artisans partner of Altromercato Experience project. You will be introduced to this interesting reality of Fair Trade; A weaving center, where expert hands “create” magnificent toys (and not only) on handlooms. The first stop of the visit will be at the dyeing department, where the production process of fabrics with yarn dyeing starts. Lunch at the center.. Finally, we will also visit the Wanduragala store, where we will find many products and gifts to take home. After the visit transfer to Colombo airport and departure with international flight