Live like locals

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  AIRPORT - KURUNEGALA (70 km approx. 2 h)

  Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka! Arrival at Katunayake airport and welcome by your guide. Continue to Kurunegala for an unforgettable experience! Spend the night in a monastery. Here, you will have the opportunity to attend a religious ceremony with the Buddhist monk of the temple. Take part in a meditation session and enjoy some free time for a discussion with the monk. Visit the organic farm where you can choose your vegetables. Return to the monastery and prepare different dishes for lunch, in a typically Sri Lankan way. Lunch included. Dinner and overnight at the monastery.

• day 2

  Kurunegala - Dambulla - Habarana (Hingurakgoda)

  

  Breakfast in the monastery Route to the Cultural Triangle. On the way, visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla, which was built by King Walagambahu in the 1st century BC. Today, it is one of the World Heritage sites. You will go from room to room to discover magnificent Buddha sculptures. Its walls and ceilings, covered with colorful paintings, represent the largest area of frescoes in the world. Please note: for the visit to this temple, it is required to wear clothing that covers the knees and shoulders. Take a tour in one of the most authentic neighborhoods of the city center and experience a unique moment of sharing with the locals by discovering the local market of Dambulla. Dambulla is a lively, bustling place where everyone shouts to be heard; it is a very special atmosphere. The market used to be in the streets but, for hygiene reasons, a building was constructed, not very charming but very modern, and large enough to accommodate buyers. Generally, at midday, you will find food stalls with fried rice or spicy curries, delicious and inexpensive. Finish with some fresh fruit and you will have a quick and healthy lunch, but don't forget to wash the fruit! Continue to your accommodation and enjoy a free evening. Lunch on your own (not included). Dinner and overnight stay with a local family in Hingurakgoda.

• day 3

  HABARANA - POLONNARUWA - MINNERIYA - HABARANA

  

  Habarana – Polonnaruwa: 45 km / approx. 1h Polonnaruwa – Minneriya: 20 km / approx. 30 min After breakfast, departure for Polonnaruwa, the splendid medieval capital of Sri Lanka. The site is quite extensive and contains many ruins. The vehicle will be at your disposal to get around. However, to visit the ruins, you must go on foot (approx. 3-4 km). Possibility to do the excursion by bike. **Recommended: usual clothing for hot countries, preferably cotton, trekking shoes, hat or cap.** Polonnaruwa was the island's second capital for two centuries (11th and 13th), and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka. On the edge of the romantic Parakrama lake and in a park populated by monkeys, you can discover the statue of King Parakramabahu, his palace, the audience hall, the royal bath. In addition, there is the relic chamber, the Galpotha (stone book measuring 8 meters), the temple dedicated to Shiva as well as the famous cave temple of Gal Vihare and its 4 Buddha statues. After discovering the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, head towards Minneriya. In the late afternoon, around 2:30 pm, you will go on a safari in Minneriya National Park. Departure for a photo safari in Minneriya National Park, where you can observe different animals and in particular rare birds, deer, and elephants, by the Kaudulla lake. From the park entrance, the visit will be by 4x4. It is possible to observe a herd of 300 pachyderms around the lake. The largest concentration of Asian elephants occurs during "The Gathering," a seasonal event that takes place in Minneriya National Park during the months of August and September. "The Gathering" is ranked as the sixth best spectacle among the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world by "Lonely Planet." Lunch on your own (not included). Dinner and overnight stay with a local family in Hingurakgoda.

• day 4

  HABARANA - SIGIRIYA - MATALE - KANDY

  Habarana – Kandy: 95 km / approx. 3 h Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Citadel of Sigiriya or "Lion Rock", a romantic and grandiose ancient site, with the world-famous frescoes of the "Maidens of Sigiriya". Climb the Sigiriya Rock fortress, which dates from the 10th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The "Lion Rock" is a citadel of rare beauty, rising more than 200 meters above the jungle. A moat, a rampart, and vast gardens surround the base of the rock. Visit this grand and ancient site, adorned with the famous frescoes of the "Maidens of Sigiriya". Continue on the road and head to Matale to visit spice gardens, for which Sri Lanka is very well known. This is an opportunity to learn more about the cultivation of these spices and the different processing methods. Then, enjoy a tasting of spiced tea and massages with natural products in the gardens. Finally, some free time in the shop (sale of spices and herbal products). Arrival in Kandy. In the evening, attend a show of classical, folk, and traditional Kandyan dances, typical of this region. Sri Lanka has managed to preserve over the years the traditional, authentic, and folkloric character of its dances. The show lasts about 1 hour, with more than a dozen different dances, accompanied by several types of drums. Dinner and overnight stay with a local host.

• day 5

  KANDY

  

  Breakfast at the homestay. After breakfast, leave by "tuk tuk" to the local market in town to shop for ingredients to prepare your lunch. Here, you can choose your vegetables and also learn their names in Sinhalese as well as the different varieties of vegetables locally grown by the villagers. You will also be able to observe the cutting and cleaning of fresh fish for your meal. Return to the homestay and prepare different dishes for lunch in a typically Sri Lankan way, over a wood fire. Lunch at the homestay. In the afternoon, free time for personal discovery of the city. Kandy, the capital of Buddhism, is located at an altitude of 350 m and bordered by hills, naturally arranged around the Sacred Lake. The cultural center of the country, the city fell into English hands as early as 1815. Nestled in a green valley (between the last rice fields and the first tea plantations), surrounded by low hills and crossed by the Mahaweli, the largest river in Sri Lanka, Kandy remains a center of crafts, music, and dance. Charm, splendor of the past, and serenity describe the city. Visit the Royal Palace, the Temple of the Tooth or "Dalada Maligawa", which houses the sacred relic of the Tooth of Buddha. Note: for the visit of this temple, it is required to wear clothing that covers the knees and shoulders. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

• day 6

  KANDY - NUWARA ELIYA (approx. 4 h by local train)

  On that day, after breakfast, take the local train towards Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya). Taking the train between Kandy and Nanu Oya will not only allow you to experience a journey on a typical Sri Lankan means of transport, but also to admire the splendid scenery offered by the lush mountains in the center of the island. Departure from Kandy: 08:45 Arrival at Nanu Oya: 12:30 **Note** – Seats are subject to availability at the time of booking. Reservations can be made 30 days before the departure date. Your driver-guide will be waiting for you at Nanu Oya station and will provide the transfer to Nuwara Eliya by car (about a 30-minute drive). Arrival in Nuwara Eliya and free time for personal exploration of the city. Nuwara Eliya, called “Little England”, is a mountain resort (1900 m altitude) that stretches in an ellipse-shaped valley at the foot of Mount Pidurutalagala (2520 m), the highest peak in Ceylon. This city with English charm attracts both tourists for its peaceful setting and Sri Lankans for various cultural events. Nuwara Eliya dates back to the English colonization, but it has managed to retain its British charm ever since. During your visit, you will find English architecture and also be in the heart of incredible nature. Also visit a factory where the famous teas of the Pearl of the Indian Ocean are made. Discover how teas are graded and taste some of the best in the world. Lunch on your own (not included). Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

• day 7

  NUWARA ELIYA - ELLA (approx. 4 h by local train)

  

  This day, after breakfast, free time for a visit to a local family. You will have free time to explore the surroundings and interact with locals. Then, you will take the local train from Nanu Oya to Ella. Departure from Nanu Oya: 12:45 Arrival in Ella: 15:15 Check-in to your rooms and free evening. Lunch on your own (not included). Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.

• day 8

  ELLA - GALLE (200 km approx. 5 h)

  Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a hike to the hill nicknamed "Little Adam's Peak" (about 2 hours round trip). This hike of about 9 km goes through a tea plantation. In the morning, you will meet Tamil families working in the plantations. From the top of Little Adam's Peak, you will see waterfalls and some tea factories. It is better to do this hike in the morning to avoid the heat and enjoy beautiful views. In the late afternoon, mist sometimes covers the landscape. In any case, check on site according to the weather. Then, direct transfer to Galle. Stop at Weligama to see stilt fishermen. Weligama is a fishing village that stretches along a long bay. It is a main stop on the Matara–Colombo line because it is known for its stilt fishermen, who delight photographers. (Note: they ask for tips to take photos.) Check into your rooms and free evening. Lunch on your own (not included). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  GALLE

  

  Breakfast at the hotel and free morning to enjoy the beach. In the afternoon, free time for a walk in the city of Galle. This peaceful city of 76,000 inhabitants was the main Dutch trading post in Ceylon, with a once very active port and the hub of the spice trade. The old town, surrounded by ramparts dating from the Dutch occupation, has a delightfully nostalgic colonial charm. Here you can admire ancient houses and the Groote Kerk, a church dating from 1754. Lace makers still sell their work on the ramparts, continuing a tradition inherited from the Portuguese. Visit of the fort and ramparts, the church, and colonial houses. Free evening. Lunch on your own (not included). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  GALLE - AIRPORT (150 km approx. 3 h)

  According to flight schedules, transfer to the airport for your return flight. Lunch and dinner are free (not included). Optional: evening city tour of Colombo. *** End of our services *** NOTE: ** Rooms are generally available from 14:00 and must be vacated before 12:00. ** It is recommended to arrive at the airport about 3 hours before the scheduled departure time.