PRIVATE MINI-TOUR COMBINING CULTURE AND NATURE - 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS

Welcome upon arrival and meeting with the guide., The driver/guide will be waiting for you in the airport arrivals hall holding a sign with your surname on it. If you are unable to locate them, please go to the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts desk and give them your surname., departure for Dambulla (4h30 - 150 km), transfer to the hotel, Optional activity (at extra cost): jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaundulla National Park, depending on where the largest number of elephants can be spotted. Dambulla – Minneriya: 45 mins – 35 km. Minneriya is situated between Habarana and Polonnaruwa and, with its 8,890-hectare national park, is one of Sri Lanka’s most important eco-tourism destinations. This park is the perfect habitat for the country’s most famous animal species, such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. The main attraction is the ancient Minneriya reservoir (built in the 3rd century BC by King Mahasena). During the dry season (June to September), this reservoir is an incredible spot for observing elephants, as well as flocks of birds, Alternatively, for an additional charge, you can enjoy a one-hour Ayurvedic massage at the Habarana Ayurveda centre in Habarana, dinner at the hotel,

Breakfast, departure for Sigiriya, in the morning visit to Sigiriya, It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by King Kashyapa (473–491 AD). The Lion’s Rock is a citadel of extraordinary beauty, rising 200 metres above the forest. It is the innermost fortress of a 70-hectare fortified city. The base of the fort is surrounded by a moat, a rampart and a vast garden. The frescoes, which once depicted 500 women (now only 19 remain), are located in a protected area of the fort near a spiral staircase and are the main attraction. Many of them were lost because they were painted over when the rock became a monastery, so as not to disturb meditation. The frescoes are painted on plaster using earth pigments. Sigiriya is not a ‘difficult and impossible’ climb, but it is certainly a hike that requires a fair amount of activity and a minimum level of physical fitness. If there are people with physical limitations, disabled visitors or pregnant women, the climb is not recommended. It is important to bear in mind that there are 1,200 steps to the top. Generally speaking, the visit takes 2–3 hours, depending on each person’s fitness level. The site opens at 7 am and closes at 5.30 pm. The best time to climb is definitely in the morning or late afternoon, when visitor numbers are at their lowest and temperatures are cooler. We recommend light, comfortable clothing and definitely trainers., lunch at a restaurant, In the afternoon, a visit to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second ancient capital. Built between the 11th and 12th centuries AD, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can visit the ruins of the Royal Palace and the ‘Gal Viharaya’ (three magnificent statues of the Buddha in standing, sitting and reclining positions, carved from the rock). Also marvellous are the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of Polonnaruwa (12th century) and Lake “Parakrama Samudra”, built by King Parakramabahu the Great. There are also ruins of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, Lankatileka, Watadage, Galpotha, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of what was originally the Temple of the Tooth. The tour also includes a stop at a wood carving centre. At the end of the tour, transfer to Dambulla, a journey of approximately 1½ hours (65 km)., dinner at the hotel,

Breakfast, departure for Kandy, During the journey, we will stop to visit the Dambulla Cave Temples. This is the largest cave temple in Sri Lanka, dating back to the first century BC, and contains over 150 images of the Buddha, softly illuminated. Comprising a series of five caves, the temple is known locally as Raja Maha Vihara. From the site, you can admire the rock fortress of Sigiriya, some 20 km away, visit of Matale, Stop at the Matale Spice Garden, where you can see spice plants in their natural habitat. The garden guide will explain how the spices are used in local cuisine, lunch at a restaurant, Arrive at Kandy., Visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the city’s most important attraction and the main point of interest for anyone visiting Kandy. The temple stands to the north of the lake and owes its importance to the fact that it houses one of the most precious relics for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. The Sri Dalada Maligawa indeed holds a tooth of the Buddha: hence the name Sacred Temple of the Tooth. According to legend, the tooth was salvaged from the flames of the Buddha’s funeral pyre. The relic was initially taken to Anuradhapura, then to Polonnaruwa and finally to Kandy. In 1200, an invading army took it to India, but it later returned to Sri Lanka. Over time, the tooth of the Buddha took on an extremely important role: indeed, as well as being a sacred relic, it was believed that whoever possessed it had the legitimate right to rule the island. The Portuguese attempted to destroy it during their rule, trying to throw it into the flames. But it turned out that what they had burned was merely a copy, Local dance performance, free time for some shopping, dinner at the hotel,

Breakfast, departure for Nuwara Eliya, A walk through the tea plantations. A visit to a tea factory where the processes involved in producing this traditional Sri Lankan drink will be explained, lunch at a restaurant, in the afternoon visit to Nuwara Eliya, It is the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country. It is home to the world-famous Ceylon tea, and the hills are covered in a carpet of tea plantations interspersed with streams and small waterfalls. The area is characterised by a healthy, cool climate, unlike the rest of Sri Lanka, where the climate is warmer and more humid. The atmosphere has a distinctly English feel, and this little country within a country attracts many visitors for its uniqueness., dinner at the hotel,

Breakfast, departure for Colombo (5h - 200 km), lunch at a restaurant, in the afternoon visit to Colombo, Colombo, located 30 km from Katunayake Airport, is Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and the country’s largest city, with a population of around 3 million people. It is the best city in Sri Lanka for sampling street food, taking a tuk-tuk ride, and visiting markets and shopping centres. It brings together all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign countries and is characterised by a mix of sounds and scents, forming a veritable kaleidoscope of colours. Merchants and those who later settled in the country (Arabs, Portuguese, Danes and English) have left traces of their culture in the form of churches and monuments, names and religions, traditions and food, as well as linguistic influences that have become part of the everyday language of the Sri Lankan people. Today, Colombo is a fascinating city, a delightful blend of East and West, past and present. It offers a wide selection of top-class restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world, as well as some of the best shopping opportunities in Asia., dinner,

Breakfast, airport transfer,