Serendib

SERENDIB

Indicative itinerary subject to changes until departure date

Day 1 Colombo / Dambulla or Habarana

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

Day 2 Dambulla or Habarana / Anuradhapura / Mihintale / Dambulla or Habarana

Breakfast. Departure for Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of the island's kings since the IV century BC. In addition to the archaeological remains of the sacred city, including the Ruwanwelisaya stupa and the Thuparamaya dagoba, Anuradhapura also has one of the most complex and amazing irrigation systems in the ancient world. The city was one of the first Buddhist pilgrimage sites on the island and continues to be venerated for housing the Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred Bo tree, planted from one of the branches of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment 2200 years ago. Continuation to Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism on the island thanks to the meeting between the monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa. Currently, it is possible to walk among stone sculptures and endless staircases as a heritage of the Buddhist sermon of the "awakened being," going through the Maha stupa, the ruins of the hospital, the Kantaka stupa, built in the I century BC, and the Aradana Gala, the peak of the rock as a breathtaking viewpoint of this lacustrine kingdom. Return, dinner and accommodation.

Day 3 Dambulla or Habarana / Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Dambulla or Habarana

Breakfast. Then, departure for Sigiriya, one of the mythical places of Sri Lanka, UNESCO World Heritage. The arrival is impressive, as the rock rises over the jungle to more than 200 meters high. At its summit, the ruins of a royal citadel from the Vcentury are hidden, which, over time, was abandoned to its fate until the XIX century, when Jonathan Forbes, a British military man, found the rock and the city devoured by undergrowth. Once at the foot of the rock, it is possible to climb to the top and admire the landscape. Then, when descending, admire the frescoes known as "celestial maidens," painted with earth pigments on plaster. After the visit to Sigiriya, continuation to another UNESCO World Heritage Site: the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. There, you will see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya - with three magnificent Buddha statues in different postures: standing, sitting and reclining -, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath and the statue of King Parakramabahu. Return, dinner and accommodation.

Day 4 Dambulla or Habarana / Matale / Kandy

Breakfast. Next, visit to the Dambulla caves, 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 and contains more than 150 images of Buddha, the largest of which is a colossal 14-meter figure carved into the rock. The temple is one of eight sites in Sri Lanka classified as UNESCO World Heritage. Continuation to the Matale spice garden, a town known for its climate and spices. In the garden, you will learn about the intricate processes that make Sri Lanka produce some of the best varieties of cinnamon and pepper in the world. Enjoy a 10-minute Ayurvedic massage in the Matale gardens. Finally, the day will end in the city of Kandy, the last capital of the kings of Sri Lanka before falling under British rule and a city known for the quality of its precious stones. Visit to a gem museum. The main attraction of Kandy is, however, the Dalada Maligawa, one of the sacred pilgrimage sites for Buddhists around the world, where the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha is preserved and venerated during various daily ceremonies. The Temple of the Tooth of Buddha is located next to a palace complex with wooden pillars dating from 1784, on the shores of Kandy Lake, built by the last Sinhalese king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, in 1798. To finish, enjoy a show of traditional Sri Lankan cultural dances, where dancers dress in costumes and armor and end the show with an impressive fire dance. Continuation to the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Day 5 Kandy / Peradeniya / Kandy

Breakfast. Departure to Peradeniya to visit the famous Botanical Gardens. Originally designed as an amusement park for royalty, and later harmonized by the British, the Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya is the largest in Sri Lanka, covering an area of 60 hectares. The garden houses more than 4000 species of plants, including an impressive collection of orchids and the giant Java fig tree. Return to Kandy to visit the temple on Bahirawa Kanda hill, called Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya, better known to tourists for its gigantic Buddha statue that can be seen from almost any point in the city of Kandy. Built in 1972, the statue shows Lord Buddha sitting in the Nirvana posture, which is the position associated with his first enlightenment. At over 25 meters tall, it is one of the tallest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. Rest of the day free in Kandy. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 6 Kandy / Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast. Transfer from Kandy to a tea plantation and a tea factory. At the plantation, you can observe the entire process and manufacturing of tea. Next, enjoy a tasting of authentic Ceylon tea, considered one of the best blends in the world. You will cross verdant fields full of tea plantations on the way to Nuwara Eliya, "City of Light" in Sinhalese, a picturesque village on the shores of a lake. The district of Nuwara Eliya is known as "Little England" for its lush atmosphere and colonial appearance. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 7 Nuwara Eliya / Colombo

Breakfast. Departure towards Colombo, the commercial and political capital of Sri Lanka. Enjoy a tour of the city and visit various historical, religious and fascinating sites, such as the busy port of Pettah, the elite residential neighborhood of Cinnamon Gardens, Galle Face Green Square, Viharamahadevi Park and much more. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 8 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.
• Supplement for Perahera departures (dates to be determined).