Histoire et Patrimoine (10 jours)

Arrive at Colombo International Airport. Here, you will be met by a designated chauffeur guide from Lakpura. After the formalities at the airport you will be escorted to your air conditioned vehicle and proceed to Negombo and check in to the hotel and relax.

Things to Remember

You will spend approximately 1 hour getting through the immigration cue and baggage collection. 

Your Chauffeur will be page your name at the Airport Arrivals Lounge.

After the formalities at the airport you will be escorted to your air-conditioned Van and proceed to Colombo and check into the hotel.

After a relaxed morning and breakfast at the hotel, proceed to commercial city of Sri Lanka, Colombo and go on a city and shopping tour. 

Experience the colorful lights and bright life of Colombo, the capital City of Sri Lanka. Visit historic monuments such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple, the National Museum and more. Enjoy the malls of Independence Square or the Race Course. Visit boutique shops and designer stores.

Upon completion proceed back to Negombo, en route explore the city of Negombo. 

The Negombo Fishing Village also known as the "Lellama" by the locals is located across the lagoon bridge, near the Old Dutch Gate. The large open-air fish market is the second largest in the country. It gives you an unpretentious insight into the local fisher community. The market is loud, vibrant and smells like fish! You will be able to witness the fishermen in hundreds of boats bringing in their days catch. See how the wholesalers and restaurateurs trade and watch the packing and loading of fish for distribution across the country as well as for export – worldwide. The retail area is a bustling hive of activity – with customers negotiating prices with mom and pop fish vendors.

On completion return back to your hotel.

An early breakfast at the hotel, check out and proceed to Peradeniya and visit the Royal Botanical Garden.

Visit the famous Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, which were formed in the early 19th century. Walk through the vast area containing over 4000 species of plants. Enjoy the learning more about the orchids, spices and medicinal plants. Wander down avenues shaded by large and rare trees, or bordered by flowering plants. Enjoy seeing the cannonball tree, walking over the wobbly suspension bridge and through the short hedge mazes or even climbing the twisty trees that make wonderful jungle gyms.

On completion proceed to the hotel and check in.

Enjoy your morning with a refreshing breakfast. Afterwards, proceed to Kandy Town and walk through streets of the Last Kingdom of Sri Lanka, listening to the stories of the history. 

You will jaunt through the lively streets of Kandy with their bright colors, delicious foods and deep history. Explore Kandy's most important monuments. Try out yummy Sri Lankan street food in stalls. Enjoy watching garland makers ply their trade. Visit a beautiful Hindu Temple. Go on a short but fun three wheeler ride.

Thereafter visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was built in the 16th century as the place of veneration and protection for Lord Buddha’s sacred tooth. Walk through the beautifully embellished passageways and elaborately painted halls, done in red, cream and black. Lounge against delicately carved pillars and get amazed by the beautiful golden statues. Get an unforgettable experience of history and art.

Upon completion return back to your hotel and relax.

After breakfast check out of the hotel and proceed to Gal Oya. 

Discover an ancient land untouched by time; a haven of serenity in which to reconnect with the rhythms of the earth. Immerse yourself in nature. Soak yourself in local culture. Explore the rich wildlife of Gal Oya, one of Sri Lanka’s most remote and least visited wilderness areas.

Gal Oya Lodge is a unique Sri Lanka ecolodge spread across 20 acres of private jungle. Take your time enjoying this natural paradise through the experiences we offer, which include a walk with our Vedda neighbors, one of the last remaining communities of the forest-dwelling, indigenous people of Sri Lanka.

After check-in and lunch, visit the Veddah Village that evening.

Gal Oya Lodge neighbours one of the last remaining communities of the Veddha – the forest-dwelling, indigenous people of Sri Lanka. We can invite the village Chief to take you on a walk through the jungles of his ancestors. Discover and learn about local nature as he brings the forest alive, explaining his tribe’s use of medicinal plants, ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings. It’s a fascinating insight into how the hunter-gatherers lived in the jungles of Gal Oya.

After visiting the Veddah Village, proceed back to Gal Oya.

Wake up before the crack of dawn, at around five am. Sip a quick tea / coffee and embark on an early morning safari in Gal Oya National Park.

The drive takes you past small village lands where locals are beginning to rise, and after a brief time you come to a very inconspicuous road that guides you down into the buffer zone of the park. You arrive at the Wildlife Department’s base and collect one of their officers to accompany the safari, and then enter Gal Oya National Park.

 As you drive the jungle slowly begins to come alive amongst the fresh hues of sunlight gleaming through the foliage, with piercing bird calls and buzzing insects. One of our skilled drivers turns off the engine of the jeep at certain points, which allows you to silently creep through, taking in all the noises of the magnificent, waking park. Your expert naturalist points out the inhabiting wildlife, including grey langues, various species of deer, a plethora of birds, small mammals, elephants, reptiles and if you are super, super lucky, perhaps even the leopard.

After you have taken in all the wonders of the surrounding jungle during the initial drive portion of the safari, you reach the river, and it is almost definitely more magnificent than you imagined. Gal Oya team members set up an intimate picnic breakfast for you, and then leave you to enjoy in peace. When you are finished, the river may look too wonderful to not jump in, but there is also the option to walk along the riverbank, which we very much recommend. Your naturalist guides you down an intrepid path, through rock formations and stunning greenery, pointing out more wildlife along the way.

Relax that noon and later in the evening, go on a Boat Safari on Sri Lanka’s largest lake. 

Enjoy the only experience in Sri Lanka that allows you to spot wildlife from the water. It’s a unique way to immerse yourself in the animals’ habitats. With a little luck you could spot elephants swimming between islands or bathing at the lake’s edge. A 2-3-hour safari by boat, and a scenic 40-minute drive from the lodge to the lake is perfect to explore the national park and surrounding villages.

Upon completion return back to the lodge for dinner.

Early in the morning prior to breakfast go on a trek to the Monkey Mountain.

For the intrepid ones, a 2-hour uphill trek first thing in the morning to the top of the cliffs facing the lodge is rewarded with stunning 180 degrees’ views over the large forested valley we are in. If you set off early enough you can watch the sun rise over the hills in the distance and observe the seemingly never-ending jungle canopy below. Return for a well-earned breakfast and enjoy the view looking back up what you just climbed.

On return, check out and proceed to Dambulla, en-route visit Cave Temples.

Afterwards, climb down the rock fortress, visit a local village and get an an authentic experience of Sri Lankan village life.

Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.

On completion proceed to your hotel and check in.

After a refreshing breakfast at the hotel, get your exploring glasses and proceed to Polonnaruwa to ride and wander among the remnants of the Ancient Kingdom. 

The ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which was the second major capital of Sri Lanka. Walk through the ruins of the city that flourished between the 10th to the 13th century AD. View important monuments such as Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu whose reign was considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa. Get to know more about Sri Lanka's ancient history. 

Thereafter proceed to Priyamali Gedara and participate in a Cooking Demonstration and enjoy a lovely farmer’s lunch.

This experience provides an authentic farm lunch and cooking demo done by an actual local farming family. Learn the ins and outs of Sri Lankan cooking as the farmer’s wife and daughters demonstrate their art. Chat with the farmer to learn more about how the fresh ingredients are obtained from the surroundings. Indulge in a healthy farm meal cooked over wood fires and served on lotus leaves over woven trays. Traditional rice, lentils, fresh local vegetables cooked into fragrant curries, fried fish, and poppadum will play a major role in the meals. Those who are interested can also request the farmer’s wife for some delicious kotthu, which they can purchase separately. 

On completion return back to your hotel and relax.

After an Early breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and, start Climbing up and counting down the steps, while wonder about the brilliant architecture of the ancient Sri Lanka. 

Climb the 5th century AD rock fortress, Sigiriya, where the King Kasyapa ruled. Walk through the entrance framed by the paws of a lion that is quite appropriate for its name, ' the Lion Rock'. View the beautiful unfading murals that brought Sigiriya its fame. Climb the steep staircase to see the terraced gardens and still-working cisterns. Walk through the tunnels leading to the palace as you get a feel for times long past.

Afterwards, climb down the rock fortress, visit a local village and get an an authentic experience of Sri Lankan village life.

Have a relaxing catamaran safari through a calm lake. Walk through the golden fields ripe with their harvest of paddy. Watch an enjoyable traditional cooking demonstration that teaches you the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Delight your taste-buds with a home cooked lunch; made over a wood-fire and served on fragrant lotus leaves placed over woven trays. Enjoy the life of a Sri Lankan villager, just this day.

On completion return back to the hotel and relax.

After a relaxed morning and breakfast at the hotel check out and, drive to the Airport for your flight back home.