Sri Lanka All inclusive

You have arrived in the promised land and your driver, all smiles, waves the Olalalanka sign to guide you to him in the terminal!  With the introductions made and the suitcases in the trunk, you immediately take the road to the Cultural Triangle. There's nothing monotonous about driving here, there is so much to see: the colourful and lively tuk tuk tuk, the tropical landscapes, the Sri Lankans in their daily life, the Buddha statues that line the route. Halfway, you stop at a Buddhist temple from the 2nd century BC and a monk will guide your first steps into the Buddhist spiritual world of Sri Lanka. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sigirya.

Before the sun shines its fiery rays, you begin the ascent of the mysterious rock that rises 200 metres above the Sigiriya plain. In the 5th century, King Kassapa transformed it into an impregnable fortress with his palace at the top. Of the lion that the rock once depicted, only the claws remain, allowing one to imagine the impressive stature of the felid. The enigmatic smile of the "Ladies of Sigiriya" gives you the energy to keep climbing! On the platform, nothing stops your gaze at 360°. After contemplating fascinating landscapes, you can relax and experience the life of the Sri Lankan farmers: traditional cart, dugout canoe on the lake and rice and curry on a banana leaf! Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sigiriya.

By sunrise you are already on your way to Minneriya National Park. It's by Jeep that you drive along the tracks of the reserve, your eyes glued to the landscape, hoping for the movement that will reveal the presence of the animal. Elephants abound in this park where they love to frequent the banks of the reservoir where they come to drink, bathe, play and meet travellers among others! After this beginning of a day of osmosis with nature, you drive to Polonnaruwa. Take a bike to wander from site to site! It's flat, wooded, ideal for discovering the medieval capital situated on the bank of the magnificent reservoir dug by King Parakramakahu 1st. The reclining Buddha is the centrepiece of the Gal Vihare which brings together several monumental statues of the great master.  Return, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

This morning, you set sail for Kandy, fiefdom of the last king of Ceylon. At Dambulla, a horde of monkeys accompanies you to the top of the rock where the treasure of the Golden Temple is well hidden in the caves. In the half-light, the Buddha statues shimmer like jewels. After familiarising yourself with Buddhist statuary, you stop off in a garden where you receive a lesson in botany and discover the spices that have made the island famous. In mid-afternoon, with the dance show, you will discover the shimmering costumes of the Kandyan dancers and vibrate to the sound of drums that punctuate the traditional ceremonies. As night falls, you join the worshippers as they make their way to the Temple of the Tooth for the ceremony. The oil lamps sparkle, the altars crumble under the flowers and you feel the intense fervour of the believers. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Your day begins with a beautiful and educational walk through the fabulous Peradeniya Botanical Garden, whose 65 hectares are nestled in a loop of the Mahaweli River. Royal palm trees, giant bamboos, cannonball trees, orchids are just a few examples of the garden's extraordinary collection, once reserved for the exclusive use of the king. Later you take the picturesque road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. You will be captivated by the beauty of the landscape with the softness of the tea pads. Take a break at the Ramboda Falls and learn about tea making by visiting a tea factory. You discover Nuwara Eliya, whose colonial enclave takes you back a century to the time of the tea pioneers who came to taste the freshness of the peaks. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

In the early morning, your driver will accompany you to Nanu Oya station where you board the train to Hatton. Far from the sanitized wagons of Europe, the Sri Lankan train winds its way through the mountains, windows and doors wide open. It moves at a snail's pace, allowing you to fully enjoy the tea fields and waterfalls! At Hatton, you take the road again towards Negombo, a fishing port on the west coast. In the middle of the afternoon, you switch from car to boat to set off on the lagoon. And, icing on the cake: your boatman calls at a desert island and prepares the barbecue. It is while enjoying seafood and contemplating the sunset that your discovery of Sri Lanka ends, with the promise to return. Overnight at the hotel.

You can take advantage of the hours you have before your flight departure to visit Negombo by tuk tuk. After a foray into the local fishing world, you take off your shoes to visit a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple and the 18th century St Mary's church. You may prefer to stroll along the beach to see the oruwa, traditional swinging and square sailing boats, or do your last shopping in the small seaside resort. Your driver will accompany you to the airport depending on your flight departure time. End of our services.

The price includes :

(based on 2 participants sharing a double room)

- Transfers and transport as described in the itinerary, in private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver (Mileage, insurance, fuel, parking, meals and accommodation for the driver included)

- Accommodation: 1 double room

- Meals: Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel). In Negombo, day 6 dinner is taken outside during the boat trip.

- Entrance fees for the sites and activities mentioned in the programme

- Geolocalised telephone with internet (100€ deposit on arrival)

- French-speaking team at your disposal 24 hours a day

- Adapter on loan

- Travelogue with a description of the sites on the programme

- Bottles of water available in the vehicle

- Fruit tastings and typical "snacks".

The price does not include :

Lunch and dinner of day 7

Drinks and personal expenses

Repatriation assistance insurance

Tips

Anything not included in the "price includes" section.

DAY BY DAY :

Day 1: Negombo - Sigiriya

Day 2: Sigiriya Rock and Hiriwaduna

Day 3: Minneriya and Polonnaruwa Safari

Day 4: Dambulla, Kandy dances and temple

Day 5: Botanical Garden, Nuwara Eliya

Day 6: Train to Hatton - Negombo boat

Day 7: Goodbye Sri Lanka!