The Essence of Sri Lanka

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.

Early departure to Kurenagala (about 2 hours trip). You’ll 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’ll move to watch artisans women managing the manual weaving on the loom and, if you would, you could try this beautiful art. Then you’ll visit also Selyn’s kindergarten and the factory where, thanks to the Fair Trade, products are sold. Lastly, you’ll visit Wanduragala’s shop, where you’ll 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).

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).

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).

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).

Early breakfast at 0730 hrs. Proceed to Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala. 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)

Breakfast. In the morning visit of Kandy and of her 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).

After breakfast, transfer to Colombo for your international flight. It is possible to add a sea extention in Mirissa (from October to April) or Nilaveli (from May to September)