Sri Lanka Express

SRI LANKA EXPRESS

Indicative itinerary subject to changes until departure date

Day 1 Colombo / Dambulla or Sigiriya

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

Day 2 Dambulla or Sigiriya / Anuradhapura / Mihintale / Dambulla or Sigiriya

Breakfast. Departure for Anuradhapura, which has a rich cultural heritage of Sri Lanka, being its first capital under the rule of 113 kings for 1300 years, from the IV 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 continues to be venerated for being the Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred Bo tree that was planted with a branch of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment 2200 years ago. Continuation to Mihintale, birthplace of Buddhism. Today, it is possible to walk through the stone sculptures and endless stairs as a legacy of the Buddhist sermon of the "awakened being," visiting the Maha stupa, the ruins of the hospital, the Kantaka stupa, built in the century I BC, and Aradana Gala, the peak of the rock as a stunning viewpoint of this lake kingdom. Return to Dambulla or Sigiriya. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 3 Dambulla or Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Dambulla or Sigiriya

Breakfast. Departure to Sigiriya, the "Fortress of the Sky," which is perhaps the most fantastic on the island. It is also known as the "Lion Rock," because of a lion that used to be at the entrance of the fortress. The rock rises to a height of about 152 meters. At the summit are the foundations of what was once a grand palace, with gardens and a pool. Next is Polonnaruwa, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can observe the ruins of the Royal Palace, as well as the Gal Vihare, a stone sanctuary that has 3 Buddha statues in different postures: sitting, standing and reclining. There is also the statue of Parakrama Bahu, all examples of Sinhalese stone sculptures. Return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 4 Dambulla or Sigiriya / Matale / Kandy

Breakfast. Transfer to the Dambulla caves, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for their decorations with frescoes and Buddhist statues. The decoration of the five caves of this monastic complex began more than 2,000 years ago. It contains more than 150 images of Buddha, the largest of which is the colossal 14-meter Buddha figure carved into the rock. Next, visit of 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, and along the way visit to a Batik factory. Kandy is a city that evokes visions of splendor and magnificence, as it was the last capital of the kings of Sri Lanka 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 Buddha's tooth in its Temple. Visit to Dalada Maligawa, where the Sacred Tooth Relic is located, which is undoubtedly the greatest attraction of the city. It is one of the sacred sites for Buddhists around the world. See the traditional rituals performed daily by the temple's religious, according to the country's culture. To end the night, enjoy a public show of traditional Sri Lankan cultural dances. A traditional Sri Lankan dance parade, which flourished in the mountainous region during ancient times, the dancers wear costumes with shiny hair and breastplates. They jump and twirl to the rhythm of the drums, performing amazing acrobatics in the air. The highlight of the show is fire. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 5 Kandy / Colombo

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

Day 6 Colombo

Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport.

VERY IMPORTANT

• The departures for this circuit require a minimum group formation. In case the selected departure does not reach 4 passengers, the supplement for non-formation of group (2-3 passengers) will be applied.
• The final price will be reviewed approximately 30 days before departure; depending on the number of passengers per departure, the total price may be subject to changes.
• Supplement for Perahera departures (dates to be determined).