CRYSTAL SRI LANKA ESTATE - 11 GIORNI / 10 NOTTI (include 3 notti a Passikudah)

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 Beruwala (trasferimento di circa 2 ore - 100 Km). Transfer to the hotel. Free time. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Galle. Visit to Galle Fort and the Dutch Museum.
Galle was one of the most important ports in Ceylon, as the British called what is now Sri Lanka. This ‘living’ UNESCO World Heritage Site is the port where the Portuguese first landed in Sri Lanka in 1505.
It was later conquered and fortified by the Dutch, who dominated Sri Lanka’s coastal region in the 17th and 18th centuries. Even today, the town retains an atmosphere reminiscent of old Holland. Within the 90-acre fort, well-preserved with ramparts dating back to 1663, there are old churches and monuments bearing coats of arms, an imposing entrance surmounted by a monogram from 1669, many perfectly preserved Dutch houses and narrow alleys that still bear Dutch names. The New Oriental Hotel, built for a Dutch governor in 1684, is a true colonial gem, now transformed into the renowned luxury hotel Amangalla. Other excellent boutique hotels also bear witness to the historical and cultural significance of this charming destination. Departure for Yala (circa 3 ore e mezza di trasferimento). Lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon, jeep safari in Yala National Park. This is the most visited and the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It currently consists of five blocks, two of which are open to the public. The blocks have individual names, such as Ruhuna National Park for block 1 (the most famous) and Kumana National Park or Yala East for the adjoining area. The park lies in the south-eastern region of the country, in the Southern Province and Uva Province. It covers an area of 979 km² and is approximately 300 km from Colombo. Together with Wilpattu National Park, it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been founded in 1938. It plays an important role in the conservation of the Sri Lankan elephant and for the presence of water birds. It is home to 215 bird species, including six endemic to Sri Lanka, and among the migratory birds flamingos predominate. It lies in a climatic transition zone, subject to the north-east monsoon. The landscape is therefore typical of the East African savannah, with many waterholes and marshes. It has an extensive seafront with still-pristine beaches, broken up by mangrove woodland. There are numerous coastal lagoons populated by crocodiles. Offshore lie two submerged coral formations known as the Little & Great Basses, on which two lighthouses have been placed emitting a white and red light. In these waters dolphins and blue whales are easily spotted. Elephants, crocodiles, Indian buffaloes, wild boar and deer are the most common animals. The most common monkeys are the grey langur. Leopards, on the other hand, are hard to come across despite Yala having the highest density of leopards in the world. Important: several tour agencies and hotels around Yala, although they offer jeep excursions, in fact limit themselves to a drive outside the outer perimeter without entering it. Even if the park is entered and accommodation has not been booked in one of the 8 bungalows inside the park, you will have to leave before sunset. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Nuwara Eliya (circa 5 ore di trasferimento). 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. Lunch at a restaurant. Visit a traditional tea plantation and factory, where you will learn about the meticulous process of tea cultivation, from the careful hand-picking of the tender leaves to the various stages of withering, rolling, drying and grading that transform them into the world-famous Ceylon tea. Sri Lanka captivates visitors for countless reasons: its breathtaking landscapes, remarkable cultural heritage, warm hospitality, rich traditions and delicious cuisine. Yet one of its most enduring symbols remains its endless tea plantations. The name Ceylon has long been synonymous with some of the finest teas in the world, but few have the opportunity to experience their origin firsthand. As the tropical scenery gradually gives way to rolling hills carpeted with vibrant green tea bushes, the fragrant aroma of fresh tea fills the air. The sight of tea pluckers, dressed in their colourful traditional attire as they skilfully harvest the delicate leaves by hand, creates an unforgettable scene and offers a fascinating glimpse into one of Sri Lanka's most iconic landscapes and traditions. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Kandy (circa 2 ore di trasferimento). Visit to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Created by King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha (1747–1780), this splendid garden covers an area of around 60 hectares, featuring trees, lawns and flowering shrubs, as well as 20 hectares of arboretums containing more than 1,000 trees. It was here that the main exotic plants destined to become highly significant for the country’s economy were tested, such as coffee, tea and rubber trees. Another marvel is the enormous Java fig tree in the centre of a large lawn, imported here from the Indies. There are also giant bamboo stalks from Myanmar, China and Japan. The exquisite collection of Sri Lankan orchids is also very beautiful. At the centre of the garden is an artificial lake shaped like Sri Lanka and, not far away, a rotunda with a statue of George Gardner, the gardens’ superintendent in the mid-19th century. The tour usually includes the avenue of palm trees planted by the British in 1905. Lunch at a restaurant. I will arrive at the hotel in the afternoon. 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. Afterwards, visit of the city, Kandy dance show and free time for shopping. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Dambulla. 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. 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. Lunch at a restaurant. I will arrive at the hotel in the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure to Sigiriya (circa 45 minuti di trasferimento). 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. After Sigiriya, you continue on to Habarana for a visit and trek to the village of Hiriwadunna. You will take a tractor or a tuk tuk to reach the lake, which you will cross by catamaran to reach the village. In the afternoon, I return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Polonnaruwa (circa 1 ora e mezza - 60 Km). Lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon, visit 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, the Lankatileka, the Watadage, the 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. Departure for Passikudah. I will arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Day available for relaxation on the beach. Free lunch. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Day available for relaxation on the beach. Free lunch. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure for Colombo (circa 6 ore e mezza di trasferimento), con sosta fotografica lungo la strada per ammirare i panorami. Lunch at a restaurant. 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 at the hotel.

Breakfast. Airport transfer.