Sri Lanka - The Venerated Island
To be Scheduled...
10 days
Sri Lanka - The venerated Island
Through the Natural and Cultural Kingdom of Ceilao
Sri Lanka - The venerated Island
Through the Natural and Cultural Kingdom of Ceilao
Formalities to board. Flights from main European Cities.
Night on board
Hotel Suriya Resort or similar
Arrival at Colombo.
Assistance and transfer to the Hotel in Negombo. First contact with the Sinhalese culture through the streets of Negombo, affectionately called the "Little Rome". For a first experience we will see a show of cooking and tasting. There is no better way to feel a culture than for its flavor. My specific suggestion goes to the best cashews in the world fried in curry leaves. At sunset we will do a biodynamic massage session performed by myself at the Hotel Suriya Resort (5 * Negombo)
Hotel: Amaya Hills Kandy or similar
Breakfast at the hotel, leave Negombo and on our way to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Here where elephants live and many of them babies found injured and / or abandoned. We can see how they are fed and treated and the most fun of it, is to see them bathe in the mud. Continuing to Kandy (UNESCO), considered the most beautiful and holy city of Sri Lanka. Arrival at the hotel. At night we will vibrate with the Kandi dances and the Buddhist rituals in the "Holy Temple of Buddha". I assure you that it is magical.
Hotel Heritance Tea Factory or similar
Breakfast at the hotel. We'll set out for a fantastic day dedicated to tea. In Peradeniya we make our first stop by visiting the Royal Botanic Garden referenced as one of the most beautiful in the world. And because of it, we'll take one of the train journeys considered by many, and for me, one of the most beautiful train tracks in the world. Going through the Tea fields between Peradeniya and Nanu Oya (powerful photo ), in Nanu Oya we'll drive to Nuwara Eliya (small Sri Lankan England), savor one of the world's best chutes at Earl Grey, in a Tea Tasting between tea fields and waterfalls at an altitude of 1900 meters.
Hotel Jetwing Yala - Tissamaharama or similar
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Ella, a picturesque village where we can feel the strength of the waterfalls and climb up to Ella rock. We'll continue our journey to Tissamaharama, where we will be staying at a fabulous hotel, for the experiences it offers, such as seeing buffalos in the garden, monkeys stealing our food and a swimming pool set in the jungle of Yala National Park.
Hotel Jetwing Yala – Tissamaharama or similar
After a lovely breakfast at dawn, we'll emerge on a 1259 km2 at Yala National Park safari. Considered the most beautiful parque in Sri Lanka that stretches to the sea. In this Safari we will go searching for the Leopard, plus seeing so many wild animals that our heart and our camera will be full. After the strong emotions of a Safari, today, we will have an afternoon of relaxation in our fantastic hotel. Here we can enjoy a relaxation massage, meditation at the seaside or a session of WATSU offered by the leader of the trip to all participants. To end a fabulous day, nothing better than a dinner on the beach, decorated with a fireplace in the sand and an amazing glass of wine.
Hotel: Cinnamon Red Colombo or similar
Red Colombo Small lunch at the Hotel. Leave Tissamaharama to see and photograph the Slilt Fishing (powerful photo). The next visit is to the historical Galle (UNESCO) founded by the Portuguese in the sec. XVI. We can not miss a visit to the Fort of Galle and the surrounding streets, with little shops and spaces to interesting to miss out. We continue to Columbus to watch the sunset in one of the most emblematic hotels of the city, Hotel Galle Face.
Hotel: Cinnamon Red Colombo or similar
See Columbus with a Tuk Tuk ride through iconic places such as: Old Parliament, Galle Face Avenue, Walk through Gangaramaya to Seema Malaka, Petha Multicultural Neighborhood, Cinnamon and Viharamahahadev Gardens. Finishing this trip with a very special sunset on the terrace of Hotel Monte Lavinia, considered, fundamentally by me, as the most beautiful sunset in Colombo. Let's end in a memorable way.
Small Lunch at the Hotel. Depending on the time of the flights, we'll find some time for shopping.
Transfer to the airport.
Colombo-Europe.
Included
Travel guide organized by the Leader of the trip, with useful information, tips, history and curiosities;
Accommodation in the hotels indicated or similar, in lodging and breakfast;
Transportation in air conditioned vehicle during the entire route;
Travel by train between Peradeniya and Nanu Oya
Biodynamic Session (by travel leader)
WATSU session (by travel leader)
Entrances to the main monuments: Sigiriya Temple, Dambulla Temple and Elephant Orphanage
Safari
Not Included
Flights
In order to guarantee the freedom of choice of the airport of departure, we do not include in the program the flight. The reservation can, however, be guaranteed by us just indicate where you want to go on this adventure!
Visa
Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months Entry for short stays is subject to the prior authorization of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), for a fee of 35 USD. The ETA will be valid for 30 days from the date of entry into the country.
For more information, please consult the official ETA pages - http://www.eta.gov.lk/ and the Immigration and Emigration Department - http://www.immigration.gov.lk/.
Usually on the day you submit the application to obtain the visa, you receive an email with the entrance approval that you must print and present with your passport upon arrival at Colombo airport.
At the airport, no additional payment is required.
Travel insurance
All meals not included in the price
+ info
General information
Sri Lanka, officially the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka (1978), known as Ceylon before 1972.
Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; yes, 99% of people think Colombo is the capital, and was once the capital of the country between 1947 and 1977. After that date the capital was transferred to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte where the Sri Lankan Parliament is. However, Columbus is considered the commercial capital.
Population: about 21 million people make up a multi-ethical, multi-religious and multicultural society.
Ethnicity: Sinhalese (74%); Tamis (18%); Moors of Ceylon, descendants of Arab merchants (7%); Burgher, descendants of Dutch and Portuguese settlers (1%); Maleses (originating in Malaysia); Veddas (Aborigines).
Surface area: 65,610 km2
Physical Division: 9 Provinces and 22 Districts
Climate: It has a tropical monsoon climate with characteristics very close to the equatorial climate, especially in the southwest of the island. The rainfall registers two annual maximums, in May and December. Average temperature of varzea intervals between 25-30 degrees Celsius. Average rainfall rate 1000 m.
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee - LKR or Rs Major credit cards are accepted nationwide, ATMs are widespread, although some may not accept international cards. Banks and hotels can exchange Dollars, Euros and Pounds, being also common travelers travelers checks. (check with your bank for additional fees per transaction and current exchange rate)
Language: Sinhala and Tamil. Both are composed of words originating in Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch and English. The Sinhala language has 2 different dialects: one in the central / west and the other in the south. Tamil has three variations: Batticaloa, Negombo and Jaffna. The most spoken language in the country (by about 70% of the population) is Sinhalese. English is spoken on a regular basis by 10% of the population.
Politics: And a sovereign Republic with an Executive President that is directly elected by the people, with electoral suffrage occurring every 6 years. The President and the Head of State and also the Commander of the Armed Forces. The parliament exercises the sovereignty of the people and is composed of 225 representatives. The Prime Minister and appointed by the President being this one of the members of Parliament.
Religion: Buddhists (70%), Hindus (15%), Muslims (10%), Christians (5%)
Literacy: 92.5% (men) and 87.9% (women), the highest in South Asia and the second highest in Asia. Teaching is compulsory from the age of 5 to 15, and is free until the university. There are about 10,548 schools in the country serving a school population of 4.3 million. There are 13 Universities and 30 technical colleges
Life expectancy: Men (67) women (72), infant mortality is 31 per thousand.
National Symbols: Tree (Naa Tree) and Lotus Flower (Nil Mahanel)
National Anthem: Namo Namo Matha, composed by Ananda Samarakoon
Time zone in relation to Portugal: +5: 30
Telephone code: +94
Voltage: 220-240 volts at 50 Hz
Socket: there are 2 types, the one of three round pins and the one of a pin flattened in the vertical and two pins flattened in the horizontal
Customs: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 gr of tobacco; 2 bottles of wine or 1.5 L of distillate.
Forbidden to leave the country with: animal skin, ivory, antiquities, plants, reptiles or wild animals and precious stones.
Booking
