Breathtaking nature & culture

You begin your Sri Lanka adventure with an individual flight to Colombo, where the next morning you’ll be greeted with: Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival, a staff member will meet you at Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer you to your hotel, giving you time to relax after your journey. In the evening, you will visit one of Sri Lanka’s most important temples, the Gangaramaya Temple. A stroll through the Pettah Floating Market introduces you to the colorful array of traditional and local products and crafts, providing a delightful end to your first day in Sri Lanka.

On the way to Dambulla, you will pay a visit to the **Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - here**abandoned, orphaned and injured elephants find a new home and are lovingly nursed back to health. The **caves of Dambulla**initially served as a refuge for a king, but after regaining his throne he had them decorated with magnificent images. Numerous successors followed his example, so that today the caves, with more than 153 depictions of Buddha as well as colorful wall paintings from different eras, represent a true cultural and historical treasure that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

**Rising suddenly out of the jungle, the Sigiriya**gneiss rock is Sri Lanka's most popular historical site. Its 200 meter high summit was once completely covered by buildings, the entrance halfway up flanked by lions' paws gave the complex the name "Lion Fortress". The preserved water gardens, colorful frescoes, the mirror wall with old graffiti and the breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape give an idea of the former grandeur of the place. A **stroll through the village of Sigiriya**takes you into rural life in Sri Lanka today, before you end the evening in peace at your hotel.

Typical white sand and turquoise sea make **Pasikuda**one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka. In the paradisiacal atmosphere you can relax wonderfully and forget about everyday life.

Enjoy more days on the paradisiacal **beach of Pasikuda**and arrange your stay according to your own wishes.

Once the last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, **Kandy**retains an aura of grandeur and exudes an exotic beauty. Surrounded by green hills, Kandy and its surrounding villages are a cultural stronghold where many legends, traditions and ways of life are kept alive. The atmospheric center is the **Temple of the Tooth , located in front of green hills by the lake**, in which one of Buddha's teeth is kept. The day ends successfully with a visit to a stimulating dance and music show that takes you further into Sri Lanka's cultural heritage.

Sri Lanka is one of the world's largest tea exporters, with tea production mainly dominating the central highlands. By visiting a tea factory and taking a walk among the succulent green tea plants, you will immerse yourself in the world of tea production and have the opportunity to talk to the tea pickers.

Today we continue south to **Tissamaharama**- on the way the holy temple city **of Kataragama**awaits you, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Sri Lanka for various Sri Lankan religions, because not only the Buddhist deity Katarama Deviyo and the Hindu god of war Murugram are worshiped here, too Muslims and Vedda, considered the indigenous people of Sri Lanka, revere the place as sacred. In Tissamaharama you can check into your hotel and spend the evening relaxing.

Before you set off for Galle today, a jeep safari will take you to Sri Lanka's largest and most famous national park. **Yala National Park**'s vast forests, grasslands and lagoons are home to a variety of wildlife, including leopards, elephants, crocodiles and hundreds of species of birds. Evidence of early settlement by Buddhist monks can be found in the **monastery of Sithulpawwa**. some rock paintings in surrounding caves or the ruins of **Magul Maha Viharaya**. In Galle, you have the rest of the day to relax.

Walking through the fort in **Galle**is like traveling back in time to Sri Lanka's colonial past. The **fort in the bay**was first founded by the Portuguese in 1588 and then further expanded and fortified by the Dutch from 1649. Buildings such as the **Dutch Church**, **the museum**and the **white lighthouse**at the eastern end of the fort exude an inimitable historical charm. A visit to the **turtle breeding station** in nearby **Hikkaduwa**is also a unique experience . Not only are baby turtles supported on their way to freedom, injured specimens are also nursed back to health here.

After all the adventures, you deserve a break. Depending on your departure time, you will be taken to Bandaranaike International Airport today , where you will board your flight to the **island paradise of the Maldives**. With sun, beach and sea, you can take a break here, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. **4 nights in the Maldives at a resort of your choice (optional at an additional cost depending on the category).**

Enjoy more days on one of the paradisiacal **beaches of the Maldives**and arrange your stay according to your own wishes.

**Depending on your departure time, you will be taken to the airport in Male**in good time today , where you will take your flight back home. We wish you a pleasant journey home and hope to welcome you as our guests again soon. **_(please note that you should arrive at the airport three hours before departure)._**