TOUR SRI LANKA CLASSICO PRIVATO INVERNO - 8 GIORNI / 7 NOTTI

Welcome upon arrival and meeting with the guide. The driver/guide will be waiting for you in the airport arrivals hall holding a sign with your surname on it. If you are unable to locate them, please go to the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts desk and give them your surname. Departure for Habarana (4h30 - 150 Km). Transfer to the hotel. Optional activity (at extra cost): jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaundulla National Park, depending on where the largest number of elephants can be spotted. Dambulla – Minneriya: 45 mins – 35 km. Minneriya is situated between Habarana and Polonnaruwa and, with its 8,890-hectare national park, is one of Sri Lanka’s most important eco-tourism destinations. This park is the perfect habitat for the country’s most famous animal species, such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. The main attraction is the ancient Minneriya reservoir (built in the 3rd century BC by King Mahasena). During the dry season (June to September), this reservoir is an incredible spot for observing elephants, as well as flocks of birds. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Anuradhapura. A UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north-central part of the island, it was the first capital (5th century BC - 9th century BC), the centre of Buddhist civilisation and undoubtedly the largest city of ancient Sri Lanka. The oldest tree in the world (over 2,200 years old) - Sri Maha Bodhi - and the oldest Buddhist shrines, some from the 3rd century BC, impressive white 'dagabas' (relic chambers) and monuments embellished with stone carvings or sculptures, pleasant gardens, stone baths and an irrigation system of reservoirs are the main attractions of Anuradhapura. Other important sites are the Brazen Palace (2nd century BC), with 1,600 significant stone columns, the remains of a magnificent multi-storey residence for monks; Ruwanweli Seya (2nd century BC), originally shaped as the perfect water-bubble form that modern restoration has been able to reproduce; and the Samadhi Buddha (3rd century BC), recognised as the most beautiful sculpture on the island - depicting the Buddha in a state of deep meditation. Lunch at a restaurant. Transfer to the hotel. Continuation to Mihintale. Not far from Anuradhapura, this forest-covered mountain is of great spiritual significance to Buddhists because it was the place where Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. Mihintale has many different points of interest: the ancient steps dating from 1840, the assembly hall, the meditation rock, caves and ponds. The climb to the summit is also worthwhile for the spectacular views it affords over the surrounding countryside. Return to Dambulla. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Sigiriya. In the morning visit to Sigiriya. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by King Kashyapa (473–491 AD). The Lion’s Rock is a citadel of extraordinary beauty, rising 200 metres above the forest. It is the innermost fortress of a 70-hectare fortified city. The base of the fort is surrounded by a moat, a rampart and a vast garden. The frescoes, which once depicted 500 women (now only 19 remain), are located in a protected area of the fort near a spiral staircase and are the main attraction. Many of them were lost because they were painted over when the rock became a monastery, so as not to disturb meditation. The frescoes are painted on plaster using earth pigments.
Sigiriya is not a ‘difficult and impossible’ climb, but it is certainly a hike that requires a fair amount of activity and a minimum level of physical fitness. If there are people with physical limitations, disabled visitors or pregnant women, the climb is not recommended. It is important to bear in mind that there are 1,200 steps to the top.
Generally speaking, the visit takes 2–3 hours, depending on each person’s fitness level. The site opens at 7 am and closes at 5.30 pm. The best time to climb is definitely in the morning or late afternoon, when visitor numbers are at their lowest and temperatures are cooler. We recommend light, comfortable clothing and definitely trainers. Lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon, a visit to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second ancient capital. Built between the 11th and 12th centuries AD, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can visit the ruins of the Royal Palace and the ‘Gal Viharaya’ (three magnificent statues of the Buddha in standing, sitting and reclining positions, carved from the rock). Also marvellous are the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of Polonnaruwa (12th century) and Lake “Parakrama Samudra”, built by King Parakramabahu the Great. There are also ruins of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, Lankatileka, Watadage, Galpotha, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of what was originally the Temple of the Tooth. The tour also includes a stop at a wood carving centre. At the end of the tour, transfer to Dambulla, a journey of approximately 1½ hours (65 km). Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. During the journey, we will stop to visit the Dambulla Cave Temples.
This is the largest cave temple in Sri Lanka, dating back to the first century BC, and contains over 150 images of the Buddha, softly illuminated. Comprising a series of five caves, the temple is known locally as Raja Maha Vihara. From the site, you can admire the rock fortress of Sigiriya, some 20 km away. Departure for Kandy. Stop at the Matale Spice Garden, where you can see spice plants in their natural habitat. The garden guide will explain how the spices are used in local cuisine. Lunch at a restaurant. I will arrive at the hotel in the afternoon. Free time. I am available for the rest of the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Pinnawela. Nestled amongst the green hills of Kegalle is a unique place where baby elephants weigh 60 kg or more. This is the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, the first and only orphanage established to feed, care for and shelter young elephants lost or abandoned by their mothers. It is also home to elephants removed from their natural habitat for development projects or those that have been injured. It will be an unforgettable experience! It was established in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife and National Zoological Gardens, and through the breeding programme, more than 25 elephants have been born since 1984. Lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon visit to Kandy. Visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the city’s most important attraction and the main point of interest for anyone visiting Kandy. The temple stands to the north of the lake and owes its importance to the fact that it houses one of the most precious relics for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. The Sri Dalada Maligawa indeed holds a tooth of the Buddha: hence the name Sacred Temple of the Tooth. According to legend, the tooth was salvaged from the flames of the Buddha’s funeral pyre. The relic was initially taken to Anuradhapura, then to Polonnaruwa and finally to Kandy. In 1200, an invading army took it to India, but it later returned to Sri Lanka. Over time, the tooth of the Buddha took on an extremely important role: indeed, as well as being a sacred relic, it was believed that whoever possessed it had the legitimate right to rule the island. The Portuguese attempted to destroy it during their rule, trying to throw it into the flames. But it turned out that what they had burned was merely a copy. A tuk-tuk ride followed by a city tour, a dance show and free time for shopping. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure to Nuwara Eliya. It is the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country. It is home to the world-famous Ceylon tea, and the hills are covered in a carpet of tea plantations interspersed with streams and small waterfalls. The area is characterised by a healthy, cool climate, unlike the rest of Sri Lanka, where the climate is warmer and more humid. The atmosphere has a distinctly English feel, and this little country within a country attracts many visitors for its uniqueness. A walk through the tea plantations. A visit to a tea factory where the processes involved in producing this traditional Sri Lankan drink will be explained. Lunch along the way or upon arrival. In the afternoon visit to Nuwara Eliya. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Colombo (200 Km). Lunch at a restaurant. Afternoon visit of Colombo. Colombo, located 30 km from Katunayake Airport, is Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and the country’s largest city, with a population of around 3 million people. It is the best city in Sri Lanka for sampling street food, taking a tuk-tuk ride, and visiting markets and shopping centres. It brings together all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign countries and is characterised by a mix of sounds and scents, forming a veritable kaleidoscope of colours. Merchants and those who later settled in the country (Arabs, Portuguese, Danes and English) have left traces of their culture in the form of churches and monuments, names and religions, traditions and food, as well as linguistic influences that have become part of the everyday language of the Sri Lankan people. Today, Colombo is a fascinating city, a delightful blend of East and West, past and present. It offers a wide selection of top-class restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world, as well as some of the best shopping opportunities in Asia. Dinner.

Breakfast. Airport transfer.