Relaxation And Well-being In Sri Lanka

14 days, 13 nights

NIGHTS

14 days, 13 nights

ACCOMODATION

3-4 Star Hotels

TRANSPORT

Private Transport

MEALS

All Meals Included

SIGHT SEEING

Guided tours are included

Here is the getaway to get out of that stressed, routine busy life. If you are in need of a relaxed, healing holiday or just dipped into that retirement era of your life, then take advantage of this exceptional stay to discover the benefits of Ayurvedic massages in Sri Lanka, a traditional Indian medicine, while visiting the country's emblematic sites. Yoga, meditation, traditional medicine, Sri Lanka is full of treatments and beauty rituals, it is an ideal destination for a well-being stay. You will be seduced by the soothing pace of this trip and the carefully designed program. This wellness tour will allow you to relax completely, to find your inner balance and to leave with a new energy. Because you are unique, so is your trip!

Day 1:

Airport International – Negombo

You are welcomed by your chauffeur upon arrival at the international airport, which is situated in a coastal town known as Negombo. Being next stop to the airport, it is a short drive to your hotel on the coast looking out into the ocean. as your first stop. Negombo is ideal seaside town to rest and relax after a long flight.

After a quick refreshment you could step out onto the streets to mingle and be mindful of all the excitements and vivid lifestyle of the town. You can still see many Dutch colonial monuments and churches, such as St. Mary's Church, built between 1874 and 1922. With a large Catholic community, the city is known as "Little Rome".

Depending on the time of arrival into Negombo, we suggest a walk along the Dutch Canal, which is named ‘Dutch’ because of its existence centuries before during Dutch colonization. This is a great way to start the day, an encounter with nature to be explored and enjoyed the true Sri Lankan spirit and later the beautiful sunset at the beach. Your day will be brought to an end with a scrumptious Dinner, thereafter layback and enjoy the rest of the evening at the hotel

Day 2:

Negombo - Millenium Elephant Foundation – Sigiriya

In the morning, we advise you to discover early the city of Negombo and the popular fish market that is located in the north of the Fort on the waterfront. This market is considered to be one of the biggest in Sri Lanka. Very popular and authentic with fresh catch of various types of sea creatures, it takes place every morning on the sandy lagoon of Negombo. At dawn, boats come ashore with their catches. The activity is in full swing between 6am and 10.30am: sorting of fish, cutting and salting, auctions and negotiations keep the area busy and bustling. An amazing and instructive spectacle.

In the afternoon, enjoy the pool at the hotel while relaxing before heading to the Cultural Triangle the next day.

You could also visit the Muthurajawela Swamp, south of the city, and enjoy a boat ride on the Dutch Canal. You will wind up the day with a scrumptious Dinner followed by rest and relax at your hotel.

Day 3:

Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa - Mineriya – Sigiriya

Polonnaruwa is the former royal capital of the island. There are some remarkable monuments in the area, but the standing, sitting and reclining Buddha sculptures on the 12th century Gal Vihara temple rock are particularly noteworthy. To get from one monument to another, you can ride a bicycle or take a local chauffeured tuk tuk. Then, at around 15:00 hrs, go in a jeep on a safari to Minneriya National Park, famous for its elephant population of around 400, and other wildlife such as crocodiles, buffaloes, deer, monitor lizards, cormorants, pelicans and a multitude of birds. The park is also interesting for its landscapes, with swamps, lakes and mountains on the horizon. (Included)

Later, if you wish and still have the energy, you can climb the Pidurangala hill, situated right next to the archaeologically important Lion Rock. A walk in the middle of nature, which will allow you to enjoy a magnificent view once at the top, notably on the rock of Sigiriya, and the park of Minneriya further on. At the top you will see the ruins of a monastery, Buddha statues, caves etc. A beautiful and uncrowded walk. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4:

Sigiriya - Dambulla -Matale – Kandy

Today you drive to Kandy, the last royal capital of the island. The fortress of the mad king Kashyapa (5th century) perched 200 meters high on a block of red granite, the Lion Rock of Sigiriya. We recommend early morning visits to avoid the crowds. The hydraulic layout of the site is highly sophisticated and the Demoiselles (royal concubines or apsaras, celestial nymphs) painted on the stone walls are exceptional: for their beauty and because they are the only known female images of the period in Sri Lanka. Listed by UNESCO, it is the most visited site in Sri Lanka. On the way, discover the Golden Temple of Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This monastery with five shrines is a major pilgrimage site.

It is one of the largest and best preserved cave temple complexes in Sri Lanka. It houses over 150 statues and paintings from the Kandy school. Enjoy the beautiful view of the surrounding area. Next, near Matale, if you wish, you can visit a spice & medicinal plant garden. You start with a tour of the garden, which is simple but very well maintained. You will learn about the cultivation and harvesting of many plants and learn more about their culinary uses and medicinal properties. You will see, for example, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, clove and cocoa trees. You then continue to Kandy. The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much needed rest and relaxation.

Day 5:

Around Kandy

In the morning we suggest a visit to the Peradeniya Botanical Garden which covers 60 hectares on the banks of the Mahaweli River. A must-see: the royal palm trees, the cannonball trees, the orchid collection, the multicoloured flowerbeds. This garden offers a beautiful walk, a must, it is said to be one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.

Kandy is, because of its character and history, a must-see. Former capital of the Sinhalese kings, it is surrounded by green hills and dominated by a lake. You can discover the city center on foot, starting with a visit to the Temple of the Tooth, an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, and walk around the lake (about 4km). You could also, if you wish, go to the Earth Bound Creations Showroom. It is a nice and friendly place where you can buy recycled souvenirs, gift items, clothes with a Sri Lankan touch. Quality and original souvenirs that you can take away in nice newspaper bags, while supporting a charity that, at the same time, promotes ecological recycling. At 5pm, come and discover Sri Lankan culture by attending a performance of traditional Kandyan dances! Dating back to the Kandyan kings, these ritual and religious dances, with their splendid colourful costumes, are still an integral part of the island's cultural wealth and are well worth a visit. Very popular in Kandy, this type of performance covers many traditions in an original and entertaining style. The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much needed rest and relaxation.

Day 6:

Kandy - Nuwara Eliya – Haputale

You take the road to Nuwara Eliya. On the way, stop to admire the Ramboda waterfalls, one of the most beautiful in Sri Lanka. Arrive in Nuwara Eliya, the highest town in Sri Lanka and full of British influence. It is reputed to be the country's vegetable garden. The resort enjoys mild temperatures and is popular with Sri Lankans during the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year in April.

Board a train from Nanu Oya to Haputale (seating subject to availability). The most beautiful scenery in Asia, made up of endless tea plantations, will pass before your eyes. Your driver will pick you up at the station and you will continue the drive to your hotel in Haputale, a small mountain village that is still not very touristy and offers magnificent views of the valley below. The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much needed rest and relaxation.

Day 7:

Around Haputale - Tea Plantation Safari

In the morning, we recommend climbing Little Adams Peak. It's an easy 2-hour hike along the tea fields. Afterwards, we will meet at the famous Nine Arch Bridge where you may see a train passing by. Afterwards, take a tuk-tuk ride with an experienced driver. Head for the beautiful tea plantations. You can stroll through the fields. Your guide will tell you about the tea industry in Sri Lanka. Continue your tuk-tuk ride up the winding roads and through small villages. Stop to admire the views of the surrounding valleys and waterfalls. Continue to the top of the mountain to a breathtaking viewpoint. Then head to Lipton's Seat. This is where the tea master liked to sit and contemplate his land. Enjoy a glass of tea in the little shop at the top. Afterwards, you can visit a tea factory to learn more about the production process of the national beverage

Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8:

Haputale - Adams Peak - Buduruwagala – Yala

Today you leave the mountainous landscape behind and head towards Yala. On the way you can stop at the beautiful Ravana Falls, one of the highest in the country, or at the Buduruwagala site, with its splendid Buddhas carved in the rock. At the end of the day, attend the ceremony and visit the Kataragama temple, which is one of the country's main pilgrimage sites. Visit the multi-religious holy city, which contains a mosque as well as Buddhist and Hindu temples. The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much needed rest and relaxation.

Day 9:

Yala – Talalla

At dawn, take a jeep safari in Yala National Park. The park's territory is huge, and home to a variety of animals such as leopards, elephants, crocodiles, bears, mongooses, monkeys, spotted deer and birds in abundance. The spots where you are most likely to see the animals are often the waterholes, where they come to drink.

You then drive to Talalla, one of the most beautiful beaches in the south of the island, for your beach break. You spend two days in a hotel specializing in wellness programs. The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much needed rest and relaxation.

Day 10:

Talalla Retreat

Here you can enjoy massages, treatments and therapies. You can participate in yoga and meditation sessions. You can also take surfing lessons or simply bask in the tropical sun. Don't miss out on fresh fish in the evening, served on the beach with your feet in the sand! The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much needed rest and relaxation.

Day 11:

Talalla Retreat

Tallala is a tropical paradise perfect for relaxation. There are no night parties, noisy karaoke bars and typical water attractions here. But you can swim endlessly in the gentle turquoise waves, do sand figures and enjoy local dishes in a small restaurant on the coast.

The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much needed rest and relaxation.

Day 12:

Talalla – Galle

Today, after a final swim, you will drive to Galle. You drive along the southwest coast of the country, considered the most beautiful in the country and you will discover hidden beauties along the way. Take a break to explore Matara and discover the Dondra Lighthouse, one of the highest in Asia.

You may see the stilt fishermen: men perched on tall poles, planted in the sea, who fish from a perch. This form of fishing is a Sri Lankan tradition, passed down from father to son. It is totally artisanal and the fishermen are only equipped with a fishing rod and bait. Before arriving in Galle, you could visit the Blow Hole on the south coast, towards Tangalle. The Blow Hole is a natural phenomenon caused when sea water rushes through a submerged cave and is pushed upwards. Indeed, at high but irregular frequency, a huge jet of sea water can be seen coming out of the rocks!

The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much needed rest and relaxation.

Day 13:

Galle

We recommend a visit to Galle Fort, an architectural gem with a variety of colonial influences. Totally disconnected from the rest of the city, the fort, built in the 17th century by the Dutch, looks like a small village, peaceful and welcoming. Walk around the ramparts, past the lighthouse, visit one of the churches and shop for souvenirs in the beautiful shops.

In the afternoon, you could go for a bike ride, to discover the countryside near Galle, made of rice fields and typical villages. Stop for refreshments and a King Coconut before returning to Galle Fort (1.5 hours).

This Idle Bikes ride will make you discover another Sri Lanka, authentic and preserved! The day comes to an end at the hotel with a feast of scrumptious Dinner followed by a much-needed rest and relaxation.

Day 14:

Galle - Airport Int. de Colombo

All good things must come to an end. Today your chauffeur will take you back to the airport according to your flight schedule. You will return back with loads of memories, well rested and happy.

We hope that you will leave with many beautiful memories in your mind