Excursion tour "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" 7 days / 6 nights

After breakfast, we go to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, and then drive to Sigiriya, where we check into a hotel and visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Pinnawala is a unique elephant orphanage located on the banks of the Maha Oya River. Founded in 1975, it has become a home for orphaned and injured elephants. Today, about 90 elephants live here, including 60 babies. They are cared for, fed and trained at the orphanage. Elephants play an important role in the life of Sri Lanka: they work in logging, participate in shows and religious ceremonies. In Pinnawala, you can watch elephants bathing in the river, feed them fruits and even help take care of the babies. Polonnaruwa is the second capital of Sri Lanka, which flourished in the 11th-13th centuries. The main attraction is the Gal Vihara temple, where four Buddha statues in different poses are carved. These sculptures are considered some of the best in the world. Here you will see a meditating Buddha on a lion throne, a 7-meter statue of a seated Buddha and a 14-meter statue of a reclining Buddha. The Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum displays jewelry, household items, coins and statues. The city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the evening, you will have dinner and rest at a hotel in Sigiriya or Habarana.

After breakfast, you will have free time at the hotel, which you can devote to rest or choose one of the proposed excursions (optional): Anuradhapura is an ancient city that was the capital of the Sinhalese state for 1,400 years. It is not only a historical city, but also a sacred city, where thousands of pilgrims flock every year. There are eight holy places on its territory, including the Bo tree and seven dagobas (stupas). In the center of the city stands the Ruwanovelli dagoba, or Mahathupa (Great Stupa), built in the 2nd century BC. Its base has a diameter of more than 80 meters. All stupas contain relics associated with Buddha or were built on the sites of important religious events. Cost: $ 70 per person (minimum 2 people, including entrance tickets). Minneriya - jeep safari in Minneriya National Park. The park covers over 8,800 hectares and is home to 9 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 25 species of reptiles and 78 species of butterflies. The main attraction is watching wild elephants that gather at the Minneriya reservoir during the dry season. More than 400 elephants live here, which makes this place unique. Price: $ 80 per person (minimum 2 people, including entrance fees and safari). In the afternoon, we will visit Sigiriya - "Fortress in the Sky". This residence of King Kasap was built in the 5th century AD on top of a cliff 370 meters high. At the entrance there once stood a huge stone lion, which is why the rock was called Lion Rock. At the top there are ruins of the Upper Palace, and at the foot there is the Lower Palace, surrounded by walls and a moat. On the rock there are partially preserved ancient frescoes depicting celestial dancers. Since 1982, Sigiriya has been under the protection of UNESCO. Then we will visit a batik factory, where you will see how unique works of art are created. Batik is a traditional craft of Sri Lanka, and such products will be a wonderful gift for friends and family. In the evening, you will have dinner and overnight at a hotel in Sigiriya or Habarana.

After breakfast we go to the Dambulla Cave Temple, and then drive to Kandy. 148 km from Colombo, near the city of Matale, there is a unique Buddhist temple, carved into the rock more than 2000 years ago. This is the largest cave temple in South Asia, dedicated to Buddha going into parinirvana. The temple complex consists of five main caves and twenty-five rock cells, where there are 153 statues of Buddha, 3 statues of kings and 4 statues of gods. The walls of the caves are covered with paintings with Buddhist motifs with a total area of 2100 m². The temple is often called the Golden Temple, as 73 statues are covered with gold. On the way to Kandy, we have a rich program: a visit to a wood carving workshop, a Spice Garden, a Museum and a gemstone factory, as well as the Temple of the Tooth Relic and a traditional dance performance. The Spice Garden in Matale is a place where you will plunge into the atmosphere of ancient times, when spices were the main treasure of Sri Lanka. Here you will learn about the cultivation of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and other spices that attracted traders from all over the world. The Museum and Gem Factory will introduce you to the rich history of jewelry art of Sri Lanka. The island has long been famous for its sapphires, topazes, tourmalines and other precious stones. The largest sapphire in the world was found here - the "Blue Beauty of Asia" weighing more than 400 carats. Kandy is the last royal capital of Sri Lanka and the cultural center of the island. The city is located among the hills, and in its center there is a lake, next to which stands the Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple, where the sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha is kept. Kandy is also famous for its museums, centers of traditional crafts and art. In the evening, you will enjoy a national dance performance, dinner and a night at a hotel in Kandy.

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we have a busy program: a visit to the Royal Botanical Garden, Ramboda Waterfall, a tea plantation and a factory. The Royal Botanical Garden is the largest in Asia, with more than 4,000 plant species. It is home to the world's largest collection of orchids - more than 1,000 species. In the garden, you can see the famous Ficus Benjamin, which occupies an entire clearing, and giant Burmese bamboo, which can grow 30 cm per day. In the center of the garden is a memorial alley, where trees were planted by famous guests of Sri Lanka, including Emperor Nicholas II, A.P. Chekhov and Yury A. Gagarin. Ramboda Waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island. Its height is 109 meters, which makes it the 11th highest in Sri Lanka and 729th in the world. The waterfall is located at an altitude of 945 meters above sea level, surrounded by tropical jungle and creates an atmosphere of peace. The tea plantation and factory is the next stop on the way to Nuwara Eliya. This region, located at an altitude of up to 2000 meters above sea level, is considered the “heart” of Sri Lankan tea production. Some of the best tea in the world is grown here. At the factory, you will see how tea leaves go through five stages of processing: drying, rolling, fermentation, roasting and sifting before they are packed and packaged. Nuwara Eliya is a city known as the “Little England” of Sri Lanka. Founded in 1846 by explorer Samuel Baker, it is surrounded by mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. The city has preserved colonial-era buildings such as the Queen's Cottage, the Grand Hotel and the Post Office. Attractions include a golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park and Gregory Lake where you can enjoy boating. In the evening, you will have dinner and overnight at your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast, departure to Yala via Tissamaharama. Ella. About 250 km from Colombo, in a charming mountainous area lies a picturesque village or small town of Ella. Here are the places described in the legendary Hindu tale "Ramayana" - the cave of the ruler of the island Ravana and the waterfall of the same name. Kataragama. 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 sacred to Hindus, here is the main Hindu shrine of Sri Lanka - the temple of the god Skanda or Murugan. The deity later married a local girl named Valli and lived happily ever after with her. In general, members of Shiva's family know how to choose beautiful places to live. Dinner and overnight at the Yala hotel.

After an early breakfast, we head to Yala National Park and then continue to the southern beaches via Galle. Ruhunu (Yala) National Park is a unique place where elephants, spotted deer, sambar, crocodiles, mongooses, wild boars, buffalos and many other animals live. Here you can meet about 30 leopards, who feel like real owners of the park. The park has seven bungalows and several camp sites, from where nature lovers can watch more than 130 species of birds. Galle is an ancient city that was once a center of trade. From here, King Solomon's ships carried sandalwood, precious stones and ivory. Today it is a popular tourist center with Hindu, Buddhist temples and the Cathedral of St. Mary, built by Catholic Jesuits. Situated in a bay on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, the Dutch Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1588 and then fortified by the Dutch from 1649. Interestingly, some of the structures inside the fort still belong to the Dutch. Today, the fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting Galle, you can continue your program to the coast, Colombo or fly home.