The Spirit of Sri Lanka

Arrival at the airport at least 2 hours in advance. Boarding formalities and departure for Colombo. Night on board.

Assistance at the airport on arrival and transfer to Dambulla. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for Anuradhapura, which has a rich Sri Lankan cultural heritage, being its first capital under the rule of 113 kings for 1300 years, since the 4th century BC. The city has one of the oldest and most complex irrigation systems in the ancient world. Anuradhapura was one of the first Buddhist pilgrimage sites on the island and is still venerated for being the Sri Maha Bodhi, Bo's sacred tree which was planted with a branch from the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment 2200 years ago. Continue to Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism. Today, you can walk through the stone carvings and endless staircases as a legacy of the Buddhist sermon on "being awakened", visiting the Maha stupa, the ruins of the hospital, the Kantaka stupa, built in the 1st century BC, and Aradana Gala, the peak of the cliff as a breathtaking viewpoint of this lake kingdom. Return to Dambulla or Sigiriya. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for Sigiriya, the "Fortress of Heaven", which is perhaps the most fantastic on the island. It is also known as the "Lion Stone", because of a lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress. The stone rises to a height of around 152 meters. At the top are the foundations of what was once a grand palace with gardens and a swimming pool. Next is Polonnaruwa, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, as well as the Gal Vihare, a stone shrine with three statues of Buddha in different postures: sitting, standing and reclining. There is also the statue of Parakrama Bahu, all examples of Sri Lankan stone sculptures. Return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Transfer to the Dambulla caves, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for their decorations with Buddhist frescoes and statues. The decoration of the five caves of this monastic complex began over 2,000 years ago. It contains more than 150 Buddha images, the largest of which is the colossal 14-meter Buddha figure carved into the rock. Next, a visit to the Matale spice garden. In the garden, you will learn about the processes that make Sri Lanka produce some of the best spices in the world. Enjoy a 10-minute Ayurvedic massage in the Matale gardens. The day ends in the city of Kandy, with a visit to a batik factory along the way. Kandy is a city that evokes visions of splendor and magnificence, as it was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings before falling under the rule of the British Empire. Many of the legends are still alive in this city, such as the daily ceremonies to honor the Buddha's tooth in its Temple. Visit Dalada Maligawa, home to the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is undoubtedly the city's greatest attraction. It is one of the sacred sites for Buddhists from all over the world. See the traditional rituals performed daily by the temple's religious according to the country's culture. To end the evening, enjoy a public performance of traditional Sri Lankan cultural dances. A parade of traditional Sri Lankan dances, which flourished in the mountainous region during ancient times, the dancers wear costumes with bright hair and breastplates. They jump and twirl to the beat of the drums, performing amazing acrobatics in the air. The highlight of the show is the fire. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for Colombo and a panoramic tour of the city, visiting the various historical, religious and commercial sites, including the famous and bustling port of Pettah, the elite residential district of Cinnamon Gardens, the Green Square of Galle Face, Viharamahadevi Park, among others. Dinner and accommodation. 

Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport. Boarding formalities and departure for Portugal. Night on board.