Description
A fascinating journey to see the major attractions of Sri Lanka, the shimmering island in the Indian Ocean. Read more
We will arrive in Colombo from where we will travel to the village of Mirissa, to enjoy the turtle nesting. We will visit the walled city of Galle and witness the “stilt fishing”, a form of fishing that can only be seen in the south of the island. We will enjoy a safari in Yala Park and Bundala. In Nuwara Eliya we will find the land of the famous Ceylon tea, in an environment formed by beautiful mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. We will be amazed with the best views of the island at the “End of the World” viewpoint. We will cross valleys and mountains by train to reach Kandy, the laid-back capital of the highlands and historic stronghold of Buddhist power.
We will visit the spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya, declared a World Heritage Site in 1982, the Dambulla Cave Temple and the statue of the reclining Buddha. We will discover Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, the ancient capitals of the country. No doubt we will leave enchanted with this interesting Asian destination.
Departure dates
Colombo
Mirissa
Yala National Park
Bundala National Park
Nuwara Eliya
Horton Plains NP
Kandy
Habarana
Pinnawela
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
- Day 7
- Day 8
- Day 9
- Day 10
- Day 11
- Day 12
Itinerary
Day 1 – Spain – Colombo
Departure by scheduled flight to Colombo. Overnight on board.
Day 2 – Colombo Airport – Mirissa
Arrival and transfer to Mirissa. Free time at leisure. In the evening we will enjoy an excursion to see the turtle nesting. Return to the hotel.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 3 – Mirissa – Galle – Mirissa
Breakfast and visit of the city of Galle.
Galle is one of those charming and endearing places that leave an indelible mark on the visitor. The Portuguese arrived in Galle in 1505 and fortified the port, which was, until the construction of the Colombo port, the most important on the island. The Dutch took the city in the seventeenth century and in the nineteenth century it passed into the hands of the British; the passage of the people of these three nationalities remains and this is one of the charms of the city. The fortress built by the Dutch in 1663 occupies 63 hectares.
Return to Mirisa and free time.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 4 – Mirissa – Yala National Park
Breakfast. Departure to Yala. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
With an area of 1000,000 ha it is one of the best preserved in the country. We will be able to observe a great variety of animals including herds of deer and about 100 species of birds, in addition to the leopard. The best time to see it is usually early in the morning and at dusk. The vegetation of western Yala consists of rainforest, brackish lagoons and rocky areas.
In the afternoon, we will enjoy a national park safari.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 5 – Yala NP – Bundala National Park
Breakfast and free morning.
In the afternoon we will enjoy a safari in Bundala National Park. Bundala National Park is an important haven for migratory waterfowl during the winter, located in Sri Lanka. Bundala is home to one hundred and ninety-seven species of birds, most notably the flamingo, which migrates in large flocks. In 1969 Bundala was designated a wildlife sanctuary and in 1993 it was elevated to national park status. In 1991 Bundala was the first wetland to be declared a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. In 2005 the national park was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, making it the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka. The national park is located about 245 km southeast of Colombo.
Return to the hotel.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 6 – Yala NP – Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast. Departure to Nuwara Eliya enjoying the unforgettable scenery of the tea plantations and the surrounding mountains. The village is located about 1,900 meters above sea level.
Afternoon free to stroll through the village center and the typical market or a visit to a tea factory. The denomination of origin Ceylon Tea (Ceylon Tea) is certainly indisputable for its quality. Its cultivation in tropical or subtropical areas improves the result, although the ideal touch of quality comes if we add to this factor the altitude, is the case of the so-called the best tea in the world from the plantations of this area of Sri Lanka.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 7 – Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains NP – Nurawa Eliya
Breakfast. Early morning departure to the Horton Plains, which are located on a high windswept plain at 2134 meters above sea level. The “End of the World” viewpoint is considered to offer the best views in all of Sri Lanka. This impressive cliff drops vertically some 1,500 meters, and hence its name originated.
Return to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 8 – Nuwara Eliya – Kandy
Breakfast and transfer to Nanu Oya station (8km) for an unforgettable train ride to Peradeniya (4h approx). Arrival at Peradeniya station and transfer to Kandy (5km).
We will visit the city of Kandy which is the most sacred city in Sri Lanka, where the precious relic that is the Tooth of the Buddha is permanently preserved. First established in Anuradhapura, then in Polonnaruwa and finally in the beautiful, unforgettable and endearing Kandy. It is also here that the Perahera festival takes place in its greatest splendor, this year at the end of August. In 1590, the Kotte rulers made Kandy their capital. Being for more than two centuries independent kingdom, resisting both the Portuguese and the Dutch and English. Only in 1815 the British subdued this beautiful city in the so-called mountain country. Later we will make a visit to the Temple of the tooth was built between 1678 and 1782, under the reign of several monarchs. There is a beautiful octagonal building, built in the time of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, which preserves an impressive library. Every evening people mill around the temple halls waiting impatiently for the moment when they can parade to see the precious relic. All this to the intrepid rhythm of the instant trumpets and kandyana drums, which announce the long-awaited moment of religious contemplation.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 9 – Kandy – Matale – Dambulla – Habarana
Breakfast. Departure to Habarana. On the way visit a spice garden in Matale.
Already in the early days Sri Lanka was known as a spicy island. Also used as herbal medicine.
Then visit the Temple of Dambulla Cave, carved into a rocky rock with an extraordinary number of images, statues, carvings and paintings. The statue of the reclining Buddha is truly splendid, measuring 14 meters long and carved into the rock. These cave temples date back to the 1st century BC, and some of the paintings are very old, although others date back to the 19th century. In addition to the numerous statues of Buddha in meditation position, there are also images of Vishnu and Saman. In total there are five caves, and in some of them there are very suggestive mural paintings on walls and ceiling. Return to the hotel.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 10 – Habarana – Polonnaruwa – Sigiriya – Habarana
After breakfast we will visit the city of Polonnaruwa. This city is located southeast of Anuradhapura, in an area of ponds built centuries ago by the kings of Sri Lanka. Incredible as it may seem, these ponds continue to function today. Of particular note is the impressive fortified complex of Parakrama Samudra, which occupies some 2,400 hectares. Famous for its artistic beauty, we will observe among others, the 4 giant statues, carved into the rock of Gal Vihara, of one of the greatest kings of Polonnaruwa, Parakramabahu.
Next, visit the Sigiriya Fortress, climb the Lion Rock, known for the frescoes of the Golden Maidens. We will visit the Royal Leisure Gardens, believed to be one of the earliest landscaped gardens in Asia. The Mirror Wall, another of Sigiriya’s distinctive features, located right next to the paintings, the surface of this wall is polished and covered with the writings known as “Sigiri graffiti” in the form of a poem. The Lion Staircase, which leads to the top and whose special feature is the huge Lion Paw that has carved at the beginning of the ascent.
Return to the hotel.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 11 – Habarana – Anuradhapura – Mihintale – Habarana
After breakfast we will drive to Anuradhapura, the city with the most historical remains in all of Sri Lanka. This city was the first and largest capital of ancient Ceylon, known for its well-preserved ruins. It is currently protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, for its archaeological and historical interest. Founded in the 4th century BC, it was the capital of the kingdom of Anuradhapura until the beginning of the 9th century. During this period it was one of the most stable and enduring centers of political power in South Asia. Today, this ancient city, sacred to Buddhism, whose surrounding monasteries cover an area of more than 40 km2, is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world.
We will then drive to Mihintale, the undisputed cradle of Buddhism in the Sinhalese country. It was here that Mahinda, in the 3rd century B.C. had his meeting with King Devanampiyatissa and converted him to Buddhism. Mahinda was accompanied by no less than three thousand monks. The monarch, impressed both by his person and by the Good Law he propagated, had a monastery built in Mihintale for him and all his monks. On the great rock of Mihintale sanctuaries and caves were made for the monks’ residence, becoming an important monastic enclave with thousands of monks, dagobas, viharas and sanctuaries. Return to the hotel.
Lodging and dinner (without drinks).
Day 12 – Habarana – Elephant Orphanage (Pinnawela) – Colombo – Spain
Note: It is possible to make an extension to the Maldives Islands, only 1h.5 flight from Colombo. Ask for options.
Prices
8
| 2 persons | 4 persons | Supp. Jul – Aug | Single room suppl. |
| 1.980 € | 1.870 € | 110 € | 575 € |
More information about prices
Prices are per person.
What does it include?
International flights
International flight Spain – Colombo – Spain, in economy class
Transfers according to itinerary
Transfer in air-conditioned vehicle
Meals
Breakfast and dinner (without beverages) at hotel.
Staff
English-speaking driver/guide (ask for Spanish-speaking driver/guide supplement)
Tickets/Excursions/Safari
Entrance fees to the places mentioned in the itinerary (Turtle Nesting, Kandy Temple, Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya Rock Fort, Polonnaruwa City and Anuradhapura, Mihintale and Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage).
Excursions according to itinerary
Safari in Yala and Bundala National Park
Insurance
Seguro de viaje. Consulta aquí las condiciones
24-hour telephone assistance
Lodging
Lodging in indicated hotels or similar with breakfast and dinner (without beverages).
What is NOT included?
Seasonal air supplement
Electronic visa (15 USD approx)
Meals and beverages not specified
Camera or video camera rates
Optional excursions
Tips
Extras not specified
Practical information
Situation
Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Sea of Oman. It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.
Recommended time of year
December to March (dry season) for the western and northern coasts and the mountain zone; May to September for the eastern coast.
Weather
Hot and humid in the summer months, from April to August. Pleasant from September to March, although it is cold in December and January.
Documentation
Passport with at least six months validity and ETA electronic visa (45 USD approx).
Vaccines
None mandatory. Smallpox, cholera, typhoid and malaria prophylaxis are recommended. It is recommended to contact the Foreign Health Center of your province.
Consult the restrictions for COVID.
Languages
The official languages are Sinhala and Tamil; English, considered the third language, is widely spoken.
Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee.
Time difference
GMT + 6:00h
The time difference with respect to mainland Spain is five hours more.
Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. The plugs are round and three-pin, with bayonet wiring.
What to bring
Light, comfortable and cool clothing, comfortable shoes, some warm clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent and camera. To visit some temples, long pants and modest clothing are required.
