Gems in Sri Lanka

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1:

  Colombo Airport - Beruwala

  

  You are welcomed by your driver at the airport. You have arrived in tropical land, with Beruwela, a quiet seaside resort on the west coast, as your first stop. After checking into your hotel, you can finally rest from your long flight! Enjoy a moment of relaxation by the pool or on the beach. At the end of the day, you could take a short boat trip through the mangroves of the Madu Ganga River. It is one of the last remaining mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. Madu Ganga has a unique charm resembling the Amazonian forest, a little paradise for wild animals. Almost obligatory stop at Cinnamon Island where we are told how cinnamon is made Overnight in Beruwela

• day 2:

  Beruwala - Ambalangoda- Beruwala (1h)

  

  Your hotel is nestled along a golden sandy beach. The Moorish architecture of this hotel pays homage to the Arab merchants who stopped over in Sri Lanka in the 10th century. Here, your main activity comes down to enjoying the sweetness of life in the Spa centre, at the swimming pool, under the undulating palm trees... The staff will know how to pamper you and the restaurants offer you a wide choice of cuisine from around the world. Finally relax on the beaches of the Indian Ocean, recharge the batteries these last days! You could visit a turtle farm: these farms aim to save the turtles that come to breed on the beaches of Sri Lanka. Possibility to discover their action, how they save the eggs intended for sale on the local markets, to place them in a pen until they hatch. After a short stay in a basin, the babies are released in the dark. Depending on the time, possibility of attending the release of babies on the beach. If you wish, you can visit the mask factory in Ambalangoda, a small museum that will explain the meaning of masks in Sri Lankan culture, or why not visit the turtle farm in Kosgoda, which aims to save the turtles that come to breed on the beaches of Sri Lanka. After a short stay in a basin, the babies are released in the dark. We suggest you visit a moonstone mine in Meetiyagoda, these stones are typical in Sri Lanka. You will be able to see the stones in their raw state, then the transformation of this one into a precious stone. You could just laze on the beach. Do not miss to taste a fresh fish in the evening, served on the beach. Overnight in Beruwela

• day 3:

  Beruwala et Ratnapura (3h)

  

  You start with a visit to the “London Gem Lab” school. You are welcomed by the Director Rikaz who makes you discover the places. You take a seat on the school benches for a lesson in stone cutting. After a theoretical introduction, you move on to practice with the stage of preforming the rough stone. You then take the road to Ratnapura. Ratnapura derives its name from “Ratna” (gems) and “pura” (town). It is famous for being the gemstone trading center of Sri Lanka. You can also discover scenic spots and many waterfalls around this area. Overnight in Rathnapura

• day 4:

  Around Ratnapura

  

  A few kilometers from Ratnapura, "the city of precious stones", you will reach Nivithigala for an atypical experience in the heart of the life of an artisanal mine like there are hundreds in Sri Lanka. The extraction of precious stones is still done today according to the traditional method, by hand. Then go to the gem market. In the afternoon you have the possibility to go to the gemological museum. Overnight in Rathnapura

• day 5:

  Ratnapura - Udawalawe

  

  You drive to the dry area of Udawalawe for your safari stop. After settling in at your hotel, enjoy the quiet surroundings and the hotel pool.  At around 3pm, you leave for a jeep safari through this tall grass park, which is worth a visit for its elephant population and abundance of birds. Crocodiles, bears, sambar, monitor lizards and even leopards can be seen if you are lucky.  Overnight stay Udawalawe

• day 6:

  Udawalawe a Buduruwagala and Ella (2h)

  

  After breakfast, you could visit the “Elephant Transit Home”, a center where they take care of the baby elephants before releasing them in the Udawalawe Park. You then take the road to Buttala. Take a break at the Buduruwagala temple to admire the splendid Buddhas carved in the rock. This walk in the cool of the surrounding jungle is pleasant. Then you take the road to Ella. Along the way, admire the beautiful Ravana Falls. Night at the hotel in Ella

• day 7:

  Ella and its surroundings

  

  We advise you to climb Little Adam's Peak, to enjoy the magnificent panorama from the top (easy walk of 2 hours). After breakfast, you meet your tuk-tuk driver in Bandarawela for a ride through the tea plantations. You get lost in these fabulous landscapes. You take breaks to walk through the tea trees. You go to Lipton's Seat where you take a picnic break in front of a magnificent view. This is where the genius of tea, Sir Thomas Lipton liked to sit and contemplate his lands. Night at the hotel in Ella

• day 8:

  Ella a Nuwara Eliya a Ramboda Falls et Kandy (5h including 2h by train)

  

  You board a train in the heart of the mountainous region. Admire the magnificent panorama offered by this train ride through forests, tea plantations, and small villages. Your driver picks you up at Nanu Oya station. Nuwara Eliya, the highest city in Sri Lanka and full of charm with British influences. It is reputed to be the vegetable garden of the country. Arrival in Nuwara Eliya, the highest town in Sri Lanka. A former English colony, the city has a certain charm that is quite original on the Asian continent. Many buildings bear witness to a typically British architectural style. With the elegant post office as a masterpiece. Also in the city center is Victoria Park. A park whose name was given on the occasion of the 60 years of reign of Queen Victoria. You continue the road by car to Kandy, the last royal capital of the island. Along the way, you stop at the viewpoint over the large Kothmale reservoir as well as the Ramboda waterfalls. Night at the hotel

• day 9:

  Around Kandy

  

  We invite you this morning to visit the Botanical Garden of Peradeniya which extends over 60 ha on the banks of the Mahaweli River. To see absolutely: the stretch of royal palm trees, the cannonball trees, the collection of orchids, the multicolored flowerbeds. This garden offers a very nice walk, a must, it is said to be one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. At the beginning of the afternoon, you could go back to stroll in the city of Kandy. At the very heart of the city is Lake Kandy (or Lake Bogambara), which attracts many walkers. You could then browse the vegetable market not far from the lake, very lively and sometimes crowded with touts but worth the detour for the diversity of products and the atmosphere. At 5:00 p.m., 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 splendid colorful costumes, are still an integral part of the cultural richness of the island and are worth seeing. Very popular in Kandy, this type of performance covers many traditions in an original and entertaining style. Overnight in Kandy

• day 10:

  Kandy to Colombo International Airport

  

  All good things come to an end …. Today your driver takes you back to the airport according to your flight schedules. We hope you will leave with many beautiful memories in mind. ***END OF YOUR TOUR***