Sri Lanka: Emotions of the Orient

Departure by scheduled flight to Colombo. Meals and overnight stay on board

Arrive at Colombo International Airport in Negombo, meet with local guide and transfer to Colombo, the island's capital and port city that holds a mix of culture, history and religions. Orientation tour of the city and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Treatment: lunch and dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel and depart for Galle, the epic capital of the South, and visit the town, which features classic Dutch architecture and tropical ambience creating a unique atmosphere. The original ramparts, preserved to this day, are evidence of a heritage preserved for more than three and a half centuries. City tour by characteristic tuk tuk. Lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Yala. Arrive and depart for an exciting 4x4 safari in Sri Lanka's most important, extensive and visited National Park. In this park you will not only have the opportunity to spot numerous animals such as elephants, sloth bears, jackals, birds, leopards, etc. but to appreciate the context of a civilization that thrived during the reign of Sri Lankan kings. Upon completion, settle into the hotel.
Treatment: full board

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Ella and departure by train to Nuwara Eliya* With a journey of more than 3 hours, you will see enchanting and picturesque landscapes seen from a fascinating perspective. Arrival in Nuwara Eliya and continuation to Haton. Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay
Treatment: full board (box lunch)

*Important: train routes and schedules are subject to change and delays or cancellations may occur beyond our control. In case of cancellation, transfer will be made by bus. The Sri Lankan Railway Department mandatorily requires that the customer's passport number and name be included in the reservation at the time of booking, 30 days prior to the date of travel.

After breakfast and depart through green hills and lush tea plantations. Visit to a tea plantation and factory processing the prestigious Ceylon Tea brand, to observe a rich tradition kept alive to this day. Lunch at a local restaurant and afternoon continuation to Kandy and sightseeing. Ruled for the last time by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe before coming under British rule in 1815, Kandy, a World Heritage Site and the last royal capital of the kings of Sri Lanka, is a place of culture, history and heritage that is etched in the minds of visitors from around the world. You will discover Kandy's ancient heritage etched around its crown jewel, the temple of the sacred relic of the tooth of Lord Buddha. A stroll through this small lakeside town, cradled among misty hills, will introduce you to downtown Kandy, with its bazaar, an arts and crafts center, gem museum and lapidary. Accommodation at the hotel and the evening will end to the rhythm of traditional music and drums, amplified by a cultural performance that enhances the rich and vibrant local culture.
Treatment: full board

After breakfast, visit the city of Dambulla and climb to the Cave Temple. The city of Dambulla is home to a center that has been the object of attention by many kings since the 1st century BC. Today, an icon of Sri Lanka, the Dambulla Cave Temple houses some of the most unique designs in 5 magnificently constructed cave temples flanking the Dambulla Golden Temple. See how the exquisite rock paintings along the walls housing 150 Buddha statues were made. Continue to Minneriya and safari inside the National Park beautiful natural environment famous especially for the large presence of Asian elephants. Upon completion continue to Habarana and accommodation in hotel
Treatment: full board

Breakfast and in the morning you will immerse yourself in the authentic local life of the country. Strolling along the lakeshore, admiring the countryside and authentic villages you will discover the authentic spirit of Sri Lanka. You will sail along a river from where you will observe fishermen, farmers and the peaceful daily life of these people. At the end transfer to Dambulla for a cooking demonstration followed by lunch, at the chena, where you will enjoy traditional Sri Lankan food.
At the end return to the hotel to freshen up and prepare for a late evening walk (duration about 1h 30) in the wilderness for a sighting of the Gracile Lory, a cute nocturnal primate endemic to the country. For wildlife lovers, lory spotting represents a unique experience. Return to hotel and overnight stay
Treatment: full board

After breakfast, depart for Sigiriya and climb to the Rock Fortress. The rock citadel of King Kasyapa, dating back to the 5th century and a World Heritage Site, Sigirirya not only boasts Sri Lanka's ancient engineering and urban planning supremacy, but is also one of the finest monuments of art and culture. Walk through the giant "lion's paws" overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens below to understand the absolute splendor that once dominated this rock fortress. Surrounded by ramparts and moats, the Lion's Rock, reminiscent of the mythological "City of the Gods," is covered with frescoes that harken back to Gupta-style paintings found in the caves of Ajanta in India. Walk in the shadow of the prominent "wall of mirrors" that hugs Sigiriya's western façade and represents a hundred or so artistic meters laminated with graffiti. Stroll through the well-appointed museum on the lower floor to take an epic journey to times past and realize how the citadel floated above the citizens with the castle, ponds and irrigation systems that pumped water right on top of it with an ingenious hydraulic system that describes a colossal masterpiece of the great king that remained a marvel in Asia for centuries. At the end of the visit and to rest after the strenuous climb we will go to an Ayurvedic center for a relaxing foot massage. Lunch in a restaurant and on to Negombo. Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay
Treatment: full board

Transfer to the airport and return flight to Italy
Treatment: breakfast