Tour Description

Designed as a combined cultural and therapeutic experience.
For the first week on this island paradise you will taste local foods, wander through pristine mountain scenery, visit ancient temples, seek out local wildlife and learn local customs and traditions.
Following the sightseeing tour we will check in to a luxurious Ayuverdic Retreat for a week program of healing foods and daily body treatments.

Standard Hotels with Terrace/Balcony Room at Ayuverdic Retreat
USD2999 per person twin-share room
USD4099 Single Room

EXTRAS AVAILABLE - Please enquire
Extra 7 Day Ayuverdic Treatments

HIGHER CATEGORY ACCOMMODATION - Please enquire

Deluxe Hotels with Deluxe Sea View at Ayuverdic Retreat

Luxury Hotels with Deluxe Suite at Ayuverdic Retreat

10% Peak Supplement Applies 15th December – 15th January

Tour Highlights

7 Day Sightseeing
7 Day Ayuverdic Experience
Explore Colombo - The Commercial Capital
Elephant Orphanage
Ethugala Temple
Polonnaruwa - The Medieval Capital
Rock Fortress of Sigiriya
Kandy -The City in the Hills
Dambulla Cave Temple
Tour a local Spice Garden
Experience Kandyan Cultural Show
Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha
Sip Ceylon Tea at a working plantation
Visit to picturesque Nuwara Eliya

Day 1: Arrival Day Colombo

Arrival, welcome by a representative of Pink Lotus Tours and transfer to Colombo - Capital City.

Leave for Colombo – “The Commercial Capital"

Colombo is a fascinating city, not only for its comfortable blend of East and West, but also for its balanced mixture of the past and the present.

City Tour of Colombo including

Famous Buddhist Temple in city by the lake

Dutch Wolvendhal Church

Famous Hindu Temple in city

Town Hall - (similar structure of the White House)

BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall)

Cinnamon Gardens (Beverly Hills of Sri Lanka) - Prime residential area

The Nelum Pokuna – the newly opened Performing Arts Theatre with its modern architecture

The recently developed New Parliament Area

Dinner included Overnight stay at Colombo

Day 2: Elephant Orphanage Ethugala Raja Maha Viharaya Temple

Visit the Elephant Orphanage to see the world's largest herd of domestic Elephants including babies who are still being fed by bottle thrice a day

Elephant Orphanage… established in 1975 as an effort towards education and conservation by way of scientific captive breeding. Located on the banks of the Maha Oya, the Elephant Orphanage provides shelter to house young elephants who find themselves displaced and lost from their natural habitats for various reasons such as environmental changes due to development projects, being abandoned by their parents when they fall into pits and ravines, etc.

En route to Dambulla/Sigiriya - visit Ethugala Raja Maha Viharaya in Kurunegala

Visit Ethugala Raja Maha Viharaya Temple in Kurunegala.

This is a crypt temple; it is note in “Maha Wanshaya” this being built by King - Suratissa. But it is in many time construc-tions. In this temple there are two idols made of stone. It covers by mortar and the robe design the style of Kandy. This idol made of stone belongs to the period of Anurdhapuraya.

This crypt temple is co-adjacent to another small crypt temple. You could see paintings on the roof and display of the “Sathsatiya” and the small temple similar historic Buddhist stories painted on the walls. It also has some unique stone engravings done in the ancient times.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Overnight stay at the Dambulla / Sigiriya

Day 3: Polonnaruwa to Sigiriya

Polonnaruwa.… the island’s Medieval Capital (11th – 13th Centuries AD)

The city was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many shrines. A unique Irrigation complex watered the city as well as the surrounding plains helping in agriculture which made the island "the Granary of the East”.

The largest of the manmade reservoirs, the huge Parakrama Samudra (the Sea of Parakrama), is larger in size than the Colombo Harbor. Polonnaruwa is home to two magnificent World Heritage Sites and numerous other sites of archaeolog-ical and historical interest, some of which depict the influence that Hinduism had on the Buddhist Civilization during that period of history.

Afternoon climb the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya, a UNESCO Heritage site , a Royal Citadel for 20 years in the 5th Century AD built by King Kasyapa ,contemporary with the paintings of Ajantha and Ellora Caves in India , highlights being the Frescoes , Mirror Wall and the Lion's Paw, considered as the 8th Wonder of the modern world , thought to be equivalent to the "Alakamanda" - Celestial Palace of God Kuvera.

Sigiriya… a Royal Citadel for 20 years in the 5th Century AD - stark and forbidding, haunted by an epic story of murder and betrayal is attributed to King Kasyapa who found hiding here after killing his father more fruitful than meeting the wrath of the people who loved King Dhatusena much more before meeting his rival - Prince Mugalan who had fled to In-dia seeking reinforcements of his Army.

This unique Rock Fortress or "castle in the sky" - a massive monolith of red stone that rises 600ft above ground, derived the name "Lion Rock" as the entrance to the climb to the summit is reached between the paws of a lion.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight stay at the Dambulla / Sigiriya

Day 4: Dambulla Cave Temple

After breakfast visit the Dambulla Cave Temple considered to be the largest painted caves in the world with more than 22,000 sq. ft of painted surfaces with many paintings, sculptures, statues of Lord Buddha, his disciples, Kings, Gods etc.

Dambulla... a collection of five caves of different sizes declared a World Heritage Site. Initial authorship is attributed to King Valagambahu who took refuge here after being driven out of Anuradhapura by invading armies, although the works span over all periods since then to the late Kandy Period in the 18th Century

Visit to a Spice Garden and take part in a conducted tour to get some knowledge about the growth and use of spices in the day to day life.

Visit Muthu Mari Amman Hindu Temple

The most prominent building in the town centre, however, is a Hindu temple. It has tall towers exuberantly decorated with hundreds of sculptures of divine beings are called Gopurams. Gopurams are the most characteristic feature of Tamil Hindu temples in southern India and Sri Lanka. Arrive in Kandy – check into hotel.

Kandy…………. literally the "City on the Hills" so named as it was protected by the nature - water, rocks and jungles. The last capital of the Sri Lankan kings before falling to the British in 1815AD which is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures vision of splendour of magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive.

The centre of attraction is the golden roofed Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. The Kandy Lake built by the last King Sri Wickramarajasinghe in 1806 holds a prominent view of the City.

Kandy is a city known for arts and crafts as well culture and history.

In the evening watch a Cultural Performance by traditional Kandyan Dancers and Drummers including devotional “Fire Walking”.

Then walk across in the star lit night to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha - by far the most important place of worship for Buddhists the world over.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Overnight stay at the Kandy

Day 5: Tea Plantation – Nuwara Eliya - Ella

After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya -” Little England" surrounded by "Green Carpets"- hills covered with Tea and cas-cading Water Falls amidst breathtakingly beautiful landscapes

Visit a Tea Factory and a Plantation to witness the manufacturing process of world famous "Ceylon Tea" and to taste a pure unblended cup of factory fresh tea before being sent to the Tea Auctions in Colombo leading to Export.

Nuwara Eliya… nestled in a wooded basin at the foot of Mount Pidurutalagala Sri Lanka’s highest peak, this region at 6,183ft above sea-level Has a cool, crisp climate unknown elsewhere in Sri Lanka. A serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of Colombo, the town seems like a piece of the English Lake District.

Unusual plants, birds and animals thrive here besides natural feature like waterfalls and caves. Tea, the glistening green leaves of this lovely shrub, along with neat rows of green, cloak ridges and valleys providing a lasting impression of Sri Lanka’s Hill Country.

The Golf Course – one of the finest and picturesque in Asia – the serene Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity, beautiful parks and well-kept lawns and hedges give the place an air of nostalgia.

Take scenic train ride from

- Nuwaraeliya (Nanu Oya is the closest station) to Ella which is about 3 hours journey.

- Haputale to Ella, approx 1 hour

(Optional - if not interested in train ride travel in vehicle with guide/driver)

Pick up and transfer to hotel,

Proceed to Ella

Meals: Breakfast& Dinner
Overnight stay at Ella

Day 6: Ella – Mini Adams Peak – Ella Gap

****Additional Optional activities - can be paid directly ……………

Flying Rawana Adventure Ride (Done by 98 Acres Resort)

Flying Ravana Adventure park is a one of a kind experience available in Sri Lanka, located amidst the luscious green es-tates of Ella. Completed with its pride, the Sri Lanka’s first ever Mega zip-line.

The two-wire zip-line stretches for more than half a kilo meter, slides at 80 kmph and offers a bird’s-eye view of the beau-tiful hills of the island.

The adventure park is exclusively designed for adventure enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies who prefer a not so ordinary hillside experience, offering ATV/quad bike rides, Abseiling, Archery and Air rifling for a gripping outdoor experience.

Flying Ravana is truly, Ella in all its glory.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight stay at Ella

Day 7: Ayuverdic Experience

This morning we will drive to the Ayuverdic Retreat for our customised Wellness Week

Backed by a 200-year-old heritage in Ayurveda practice, the Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort and Spa offers a wide range of authentic treatment packages for most illnesses or health conditions.

Spread over seven acres of tropical & indigenous trees, herbal medicinal plants, vines and bushes, as well as overlook-ing the Indian Ocean, our Ayurveda resort in Sri Lanka offers a holistic experience; this is provided under the expert care of resident physicians, visiting consultants and hospital trained therapists.

The resort’s Ayurveda centre is the only one in the country affiliated with a Siddhalepa Ayurveda hospital with access to a range of medicines produced to ISO standards by the Group in its factories.

Later this afternoon or tomorrow morning, the guest would have an initial consultation with the Ayurveda Physician which would be of about 15-30 minutes duration.

During this consultation (“Prakurthi “), equilibrium and imbalances of the 3 Ayurveda “Doshas “(Air “Vata “, Bile “Pitha “and Phlem “Kapha “) of the individual guest is identified by the Ayurveda Physician.

The Ayurveda Physician would prescribe the following

- Treatment procedure

- Diet based on the food values according to Ayurveda concepts

- Yoga exercise regime and meditation to be followed by the guest.

Ayuverdic Style Breakfast Lunch Dinner and snacks will be included daily

Day 8: Ayuverdic Retreat

There would be a daily follow-up consultation of 10 minutes duration with the Ayurveda Physician who would decide whether to continue with the same treatments, alter the treatment duration, or to change the treatment methods.

Follow Ayuverdic program
There would be a minimum of 2 ½ hours of Ayurveda treatment per day

Day 9: Ayuverdic Retreat

Follow Ayuverdic program
There would be a minimum of 2 ½ hours of Ayurveda treatment per day and the treatments would consist of a combination of the following:

Shirobyanga - to nourish the scalp and enhance growth of hair
Shirodhara - to induce sleep and release stress
Picchill - to soothe and relieve inflammatory conditions of the scalp
Parisheka - to relieve burning sensation of the body
Abyanga - to impart strength, good complexion and longevity and to relieve fatigue and induce sound sleep .To relieve aches and pains, ease muscular spasms and muscular
rheumatism
Mukabyanga - to nourish the facial muscles and to improve complexion
Ayurveda Face Paks - to cleanse, moisturize and soothe the skin
Akshitarpana - to use a special eye bath to nourish the eyes and enhance eye sight
Netraparisheka - to cleanse the eyes, soothe and cool irritated eyes
Netrapindi - to place special medicated eye packs to soothe irritated eyes and to nourish and relax tireD eyes
Pinda Sweda - to induce sweat, remove stiffness of joints and make them supple, cleanse body channels and to invigorate and restore by the application of a special procedure of sudation
Parisheka Sweda - to produce sweat and cleanse the body of its toxins
Avagaha Sweda - special sudation for lumbago, sciatica and to relieve renal pain
Naadi Sweda - to direct regulated steam to localized areas to relieve pain by means of a special apparatus
Kuti Sweda - (Sauna) to reduce weight used with care under the supervision of the ayurveda doctor
Steam Bath - to reduce body weight and fat the body is made to sweat in a special chamber made out of medicinal wood.
Herbal Bath - to alleviate certain skin disorders, remove toxins and relieve pain. It refreshes and invigorates the human body
Pebble Walk - to bring about reflex reactions of the sole to stimulate and tone-up internal organs.
- In addition, yoga lessons- 6 days a week and weekly meditation sessions are conducted
OPTIONAL COOKING CLASS
Meals Snacks and Supplements are provided

Day 10: Ayuverdic Retreat

Follow program as above

Day 11: Ayuverdic Retreat

as above

Day 12: Ayuverdic Retreat

as above

Day 13: Ayuverdic Retreat

Last full day of treatments
Enjoy!

Day 14: Departure Day Columbo

After breakfast our Pink Lotus Tours representative will meet and assist with your transfer to Colombo International Airport
It is recommended to arrival at airport 3 hours prior to your flight.

Breakfast is included

Package Includes

Arrival/Departure assistance at airport
13 Nights accommodation
Breakfast included Day 2-6
Dinner included Day 1-6
Luxury Ayuverdic Retreat
Ayuverdic Meals during second week
Breakfast Lunch Dinner and Snacks
Ayuverdic Doctor Assessment
Ayuverdic Treatments 2.5 hours each day
Yoga & Meditation
Entrance fees to all sites listed
English speaking driver
Tipping for general services, porters etc

Package Excludes

International Airfare and Travel Insurance
Entry Visa - must be obtained prior to arrival
Optional tours
Pre or post tour accommodation
Drinks of any kind
Meals not listed in itinerary
Phone calls, mini-bar, room service, laundry, personal expenses
Tipping for Tour Guide
Tipping for Retreat staff