All-inclusive Sri Lanka

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  On the road of the cultural triangle, meeting with a Buddhist monk.

  

  You have now arrived in the promised land and your driver, all smiles, waves the Olalalanka sign to guide you to him in the terminal! Introductions made and suitcases in the trunk, you immediately set off towards the Cultural Triangle. Getting around here is anything but monotonous, there is so much to see: the rickety and colorful tuk-tuks, the tropical landscapes, the Sri Lankans in their daily lives, the Buddha statues that line the route. Halfway, you stop at a 2nd century BC Buddhist temple, and it is a monk who will guide your first steps into the spiritual Buddhist universe of Sri Lanka. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sigirya.

• day 2

  The Lion Rock and getaway to the countryside

  

  Before the sun casts its burning rays, you begin the ascent of the mysterious rock that rises 200 meters above the Sigiriya plain. In the 5th century, King Kassapa transformed it into an impregnable fortress with his palace at the top. Of the lion that the rock once represented, only the claws remain, hinting at the impressive stature of the feline. The enigmatic smile of the "Maidens of Sigiriya" gives you the energy to keep climbing! On the platform, nothing stops your gaze over 360°. After admiring fascinating landscapes, you go to relax and experience the life of Sri Lankan peasants: traditional cart, canoe on the lake, and "rice and curry" on a banana leaf! Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sigiriya.

• day 3

  Jeep safari and reclining Buddha of Polonnaruwa.

  

  At sunrise, you are already on your way to Minneriya National Park. It is by Jeep that you travel the reserve's tracks, eyes fixed on the landscape, hoping for the movement that will reveal the presence of the animal. Elephants abound in this park where they like to frequent the reservoir banks, where they come to drink, bathe, play, and meet... travelers among others! After this start to the day in harmony with nature, you drive to Polonnaruwa. Take a bike to wander from site to site! It's flat, tree-lined, ideal for discovering the medieval capital located on the shore of the magnificent reservoir dug by King Parakramabahu I. The reclining Buddha is the centerpiece of Gal Vihare, which brings together several monumental statues of the great master. Return, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Golden Temple, spices, dances and ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth.

  

  This morning, you set course for Kandy, stronghold of the last king of Ceylon. At Dambulla, a horde of monkeys accompanies you to the top of the rock where the treasure of the Golden Temple is well hidden in the caves. In the dim light, the statues of Buddha sparkle like jewels. After familiarizing yourself with Buddhist statuary, you make a stop in a garden where you receive a botany lesson by discovering the spices that are the source of the island's fame. In the middle of the afternoon, with the dance show, you discover the dazzling costumes of the Kandyan dancers and feel the beat of the drums that set the rhythm for traditional ceremonies. As night falls, you join the faithful heading to the Temple of the Tooth for the ceremony. The oil lamps glimmer, the altars are covered with flowers, and you feel the intense fervor of the believers. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  Botanical garden, waterfall and Little England

  

  Your day begins with a beautiful, and moreover educational, walk in the fabulous Peradeniya Botanical Garden, whose 65 HA are nestled in a loop of the Mahaweli River. Royal palm avenue, giant bamboos, cannonball trees, orchids: these are just a few examples of the extraordinary collection of the garden, once reserved for the exclusive use of the king. Later, you take the picturesque road that connects Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. You are captivated by the beauty of the landscapes, imbued with the softness of tea bushes. You take a break at the Ramboda Falls and learn about tea making by visiting a factory. You discover Nuwara Eliya, whose colonial enclave takes you a century back, to the time of the tea pioneers who came here to enjoy the freshness of the peaks. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  The legendary tea train and the boat on the Negombo lagoon.

  

  In the early morning, your driver will take you to Nanu Oya station, where you will board the train to Hatton. Far from the sanitized carriages of Europe, the Sri Lankan train winds its way through the mountains, with windows and doors wide open. It moves at a snail's pace, allowing you to fully enjoy the tea fields and waterfalls! In Hatton, you get back on the road towards Negombo, a fishing port on the west coast. In the middle of the afternoon, you switch from the car to a boat to travel along the lagoon. And, the cherry on top: your boatman stops on a deserted island and prepares a barbecue. It is while tasting seafood and watching the sunset that your discovery of Sri Lanka comes to an end, with the promise to return. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  From Negombo to the international airport

  

  You can take advantage of the hours you have before your flight departs to visit Negombo by tuk-tuk. After an incursion into the world of local fishing, you take off your shoes to visit a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple, and the 18th-century St. Mary's Church. You may prefer to stroll along the beach to see the oruwas, traditional outrigger boats with square sails, or do your last shopping in the small seaside resort. Your driver will take you to the airport according to your flight departure time. End of our services.   The price includes: (base 2 participants sharing a double room)   - Transfers and transportation as described in the itinerary, in a private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver (kilometers, insurance, fuel, parking, meals, and accommodation for the driver included) - Accommodation: 1 double room - Meals: full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel). In Negombo, on day 6, dinner is taken outside during the boat ride. - Entrance fees to sites and activities mentioned in the program - Geolocated phone with internet (deposit of €100 upon arrival) - French-speaking team at your disposal 24/7 - Loaned adapter - Travel booklet with description of the sites in the program - Bottled water available in the vehicle - Tasting of fruits and typical “snacks”   The price does not include: - Lunch and dinner on day 7 - Drinks and personal expenses - Assistance-repatriation insurance - Tips - Anything not listed in the "price includes" section.   DAY BY DAY: Day 1: Negombo - Sigiriya Day 2: Sigiriya Rock and Hiriwaduna Day 3: Minneriya Safari and Polonnaruwa Day 4: Dambulla, Kandy, dances and temple Day 5: Botanical garden, Nuwara Eliya Day 6: Train to Hatton – Negombo, boat Day 7: Goodbye Sri Lanka!