Excursion tour "Grand Tour Sri Lanka"

In the morning after breakfast we head to Sigiriya, check into a hotel and explore Polunnaruwa. Pinnawala. On the way from Colombo to Kandy is Pinnawela. There, on the banks of the Maha Oya River, an elephant orphanage was founded in 1975 for orphaned calves and injured elephants. Currently, the shelter has become the largest in the world; it houses and protects about 90 orphan elephants, of which 60 are newborns. Here they receive food and education. The role of elephants in the life of Sri Lanka is invaluable - they work in logging, participate in shows and religious processions. Pinnawala is a unique place where you can not only watch elephants bathe in the river, but also wash them and feed them fruits. And for babies - milk. Polunnaruwa - second capital of Sri Lanka, 11th-13th century AD. The main attraction of the city is the Gal Vihara Temple - the most famous temple in Sri Lanka. Four Buddha statues in various poses, carved into granite rock, have been called “the best group of sculptures in the whole world.” On the left edge is a meditating Buddha sitting on a lion throne, next to him is a seated Buddha 7 meters tall with his hands folded on his chest. It is believed that this is the figure of a disciple of Buddha Ananda, bending towards his teacher and escorting him to the world of nirvana. To confirm this, there is a statue of a reclining Buddha nearby, about 14 meters long. The Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum contains a collection of jewelry, household items, ancient coins, and religious statues. Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner and rest at the hotel in Sigiriya or Habarana.

After breakfast, free time at the hotel which you can devote to observing the surrounding area or take one of the following excursions (optional): Anuradhapura - the city of ancient Ceylon, which remained the capital of the Sinhalese state for 1400 years. Anuradhapura is not only an ancient capital, but also a holy city. Every year, thousands of believers make pilgrimages to holy places, of which there are eight in the city: the Bo tree and seven dagobas. In the center of the city stands one of the seven stupas - the Ruvanovelli dagoba or Mahatupa (Great Stupa), built on a foundation of golden gravel in the 2nd century. BC. At the base alone it has a diameter of more than 80 m. All stupas contain relics (fragments of the physical remains of the Buddha) or are built on the site of important religious or historical events. Option. Pre-order. US$ 70 per person (Min 2 persons includes entrance fees) Minneriya. Jeep safari in Mineriya National Park. The park covers more than 8800 hectares. The opportunity to look at animal life in the Park is very large: there are 9 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 25 species of reptiles and 78 species of butterflies. Of course, the most interesting part of the program is watching wild elephants on the banks of the Minneriya reservoir, where they come for fresh grass during the dry season. There are more than 400 elephants in the national park and this is the largest population in the world concentrated in one place. Option. Pre-order. US$ 80 per person (Min 2 people includes entrance tickets and safari) In the afternoon we visit the “Fortress in the Sky”: Sigiriya. The residence for King Kasap was built in the 5th century AD. e. Sigiriya or Lion Rock, 370 meters high, was so named because of the huge stone lion that once stood at the entrance to the top. At the top are the ruins of the Upper Palace, and at the foot is the Lower Palace, surrounded by walls and a moat filled with water. Steps carved into stone lead to the Upper Palace. During the time of the ancient rulers, the surface of the wall, 140 m long and 40 m high, was completely covered with frescoes with figures of apsaras - celestial dancers. Persistent plant paints allowed the frescoes to be partially preserved; even the past fifteen hundred years could not completely erase them. Since 1982, Sigiriya has been under the protection of UNESCO. Batik factory. Batik is the national craft of Sri Lanka. As a result of the painstaking work of local craftsmen, works of art emerge that you would not be ashamed to take as gifts to friends. There are many factories in the country that make batik; we will stop by one of them to admire all the stages of the creation of a miracle. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Sigiriya or Habaran.

After breakfast, visit Dambulla Cave Temple and depart for Kandy. 148 km from Colombo, near the town of Matale, there is a cave Buddhist temple carved by people 2000 years ago. The rock temple of Buddha entering parinirvana is the largest cave temple in South Asia. The complex consists of several caves. In addition to them, there are many niches, the walls of which are covered with paintings with Buddhist motifs, with a total area of 2100 m². There are a total of five main caves and twenty-five rock cells with 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of kings and 4 gods. Sometimes the temple is called the Golden Temple due to the fact that 73 statues are covered with gold. Further along the road to Kandy there is an extensive program: a wood carving workshop; Spice Garden; Museum and factory of precious stones; Temple of the Tooth Relic and dance performance. Spice garden in Matale. Spices are the jewel that attracted Asian traders to the ports of ancient Sri Lanka. Later, Europeans arrived and quickly realized that it was easier to take away than to trade. We will visit the spice garden, where the smells of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, and nutmeg create previously unknown sensations, resurrecting blurred images of the history of the Great Discoveries. Museum and jewelry factory. Marco Polo wrote that the best sapphires and topazes in the world are mined on this island. Nothing has changed since those times; the jewelry industry has a very long history. Sri Lanka was once known as Ratna Dwipa, which means the Island of Gems - up to 85 varieties of stones are found here. Sapphires, tourmalines, amethysts and moonstone are world famous. By the way, the largest sapphire, over 400 carats, called the “Blue Beauty of Asia,” was found in an ordinary rice field in Sri Lanka. Kandy is the last royal capital of Sri Lanka for the Sinhalese and the current cultural capital of the island. Among the hilly terrain, in the center of the city there is a lake, next to which stands a Buddhist shrine - the Temple of Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Sacred Tooth Relic. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Sri Lanka, famous for its craftsmen. Kandy has an art and archaeological museum and a center for traditional crafts. In the evening we will see a national dance performance. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Kandy.

Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast - Royal Botanical Garden, Ramboda Falls, tea plantation and factory. The Royal Botanic Garden is the largest in Asia with 4,000 specimens of southern plants. Here is the world's largest collection of orchids - more than 1000 species. The famous Ficus Benjamin occupies an entire clearing, and the giant Burmese bamboo can reach 40 meters in height, growing 30 centimeters in just a day. In the center of the garden is a memorial alley, the trees of which were planted by famous guests of Sri Lanka. Among them were Emperor Nicholas II, A.P. Chekhov, Yu.A. Gagarin. Ramboda waterfall. Ramboda is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island. With a water flow height of 109 meters, it ranks 11th in Sri Lanka and 729th in the world. The waterfall is located at an altitude of 945 meters above sea level and surrounded by tropical jungle creates a feeling of peace and peace of mind. Tea plantation and factory. Visit to a tea factory on the way to Nuwara Eliya. Misty mountains and tea plantations surround Nuwara Eliya at an altitude of up to 2000 meters above sea level. This is the “heart” of tea production not only in Sri Lanka; some of the best tea in the world is grown here. On large plantations, tea bushes are grown, tea leaves are collected and processed. After the tea leaves are harvested, the tea goes through five stages: drying, rolling, fermentation, roasting, sifting, before it is packaged and packaged for sale. Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka's "Little England", set against a backdrop of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. The city was founded by traveler Samuel Baker, discoverer of Lake Albert and explorer of the Nile in 1846. Many buildings, such as the Queen's Cottage, the Grand Hotel, the Hill Club, and the Post Office, retain elements of the colonial period. City attractions include a golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park and boating on Lake Gregory. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

One way to experience the landscapes of the Sri Lankan highlands is to take a three-hour train journey from Nuwara to Eli and Ellu. The road passes through mountain passes among jungles and tea plantations; the views will be stunning. Ella. About 250 km from Colombo, in a charming mountainous area lies the picturesque village or small town of Ella, which is always in full swing with life. Here are the places described in the legendary Hindu tale “Ramayana” - the cave of the ruler of the island Ravana and the waterfall named after him. During the day, everyone disperses to the mountains to admire the panoramas, and in the evening they gather in restaurants and share their impressions. Overnight and dinner at Ella's hotel.

Our morning will begin with a visit to Little Adam's Peak. We will also witness a panoramic view of the Ravana Falls. Small Adam's Peak attracts the attention of many travelers who come to Sri Lanka to admire the mountain landscapes. The climb to the top is not difficult and ends with a noteworthy panorama. As you climb through lush tea plantations, waterfalls, and rice fields, you can fully enjoy fabulous mountain panoramas. Walking along the trails itself is a great pleasure. The path zigzags through lush plantations and patches of tropical bush to the summit, which offers stunning views. We return to the hotel, have breakfast and leave for Yala via Tissamaharama. Katargama. According to legend, when the son of Shiva and Parvati, the god of war Skanda, descended from Mount Kailash, he decided to go to where the trident he threw would fall. Trishula fell on a hill near Kataragama. Now this place is holy for Hindus; here is the main Hindu shrine of Sri Lanka - the temple of the god Skanda or Murugan. The deity subsequently married a local girl named Valli and lived happily ever after with her. In general, Shiva’s family members know how to choose beautiful places to live. Dinner and overnight at the Yalli hotel.

After an early breakfast, visit Yala National Park before heading to the southern beaches via Galle. Ruhunu (Yala) National Park. Elephants, spotted deer, sambars, crocodiles, mongooses, wild boars, buffaloes and other animals await visitors. Here you can see about 30 leopards who feel like they are at home. The park has seven bungalows with several camp sites where wildlife enthusiasts can view more than 130 species of birds. Halle. Once upon a time, this ancient city was a center of trade, from where the ships of King Solomon brought sandalwood, stones and ivory. Today it is a center of tourism, with Hindu, Buddhist temples and St. Mary's Cathedral, built by Jesuit Catholics. The Dutch fort in the bay on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and then fortified by the Dutch beginning in 1649. Interestingly, they still own some of the properties inside the fort. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (hotel accommodation is not provided). It is possible to continue the program on the coast, in Colombo, or fly home.