A Combined Sri Lankan – Maldivian Experience

DAY 01 : EUROPE  – COLOMBO

Night and meals served on board.

 

DAY 02 : COLOMBO (AIRPORT) / HABARANA

Reception at the airport by your English-speaking driver-guide (or English-speaking: see conditions) with garlands of flowers and departure towards Habarana (160 km/4 h) by a road with varied landscapes. Free lunch. Arrival at the hotel in Habarana and stay in the room. (Check-in at 14h00) Free time at the hotel to recover from the fatigue of the trip. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 03 : HABARANA / SIGIRIYA / HABARANA

Visit of the Sigiriya Citadel or “Lion Rock”, a romantic and grandiose ancient site with the world famous frescoes of the “Damsels of Sigiriya” and its inaccessible red rock. Boat ride on a lake: a tamed elephant is waiting to be washed by you! A unique experience!  coconut served by  villagers, opportunity to exchange ideas and impressions. Then, a tractor ride during which the guide explains the culture and the daily life of the villagers.

 

DAY 04 : HABARANA / POLONNARUWA / MINNERIYA / HABARANA

Departure to the archeological site of Polonnaruwa for an easy visit by bike: Royal palace, terrace of the tooth, Dagoba, sanctuary of the Rock. Meeting with a doctor practicing Horiwila, local Ayurvedic medicine. Departure for the Minneriya-Giritale National Park which shelters a fauna of an extraordinary diversity of amphibians, mammals, reptiles, fishes, butterflies, and numerous birds. Safari in 4WD in the park of Minneriya / Kaudulla or Eco Park depending on the situation of elephants.

 

DAY 05 : HABARANA / DAMBULLA / MATALE / KANDY

Dambulla: visit of the caves which shelter the historical temple, one of the oldest Buddhist sanctuaries of Sri Lanka and Mahavamsa, the most important chronicle of the history of the island. Visit to the Dambulla Rupestral Temple. En route to Matale: visit a batik factory, spice gardens with their store followed by a typical lunch in a rice field. Continuation to Kandy, a city beautifully situated at 350m above sea level and bordered by hills, naturally ordered around the lake. Visit on foot of the local market of Kandy and free time for shopping in the lanes lined with many stalls offering: silk, local crafts, jewelry, basketry, masks, umbrella.

 

DAY 06 : KANDY /NANU OYA / NUWARA ELIYA

Visit of the Temple of the Tooth, a pink building surrounded by a moat, prominent and almost solitary, on the edge of the lake. Famous since the tooth of Buddha was brought in the 4th century AD. Transfer to Kandy station: board a train to Nanu Oya, (The journey takes at least 4 hours). The train is an original and pleasant way to discover the varied landscapes of one of the most beautiful regions of Sri Lanka: tea plantations follow rice fields dotted with pickers or peasant women with shimmering colors. Arrival at the station of Nanu Oya and continue the road towards Nuwara Eliya.

 

DAY 07 : BANDARAWELA / NEGOMBO : (170km – 05h00) about

Visit of a tea factory and plantation with tea tasting and free time in the store (closed on Sundays and full moon days. On Mondays, partial activities). Free time at the hotel. Departure to Negombo around 11:00 am. Transfer to Negombo, a city marked by the Portuguese and then Dutch presence. Boat trip on the canals.

 

DAY 08 : NEGOMBO / AIRPORT (15 km – 30 min approximately) – MALE (AIRPORT) –RIHIVELI

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out at noon. Transfer to the airport and flight to Malé (Maldives) Upon arrival: transfer by boat to your atoll (Mahaanaelhihuraa). 1st night at Rihiveli.

 

DAY 09 à 11 : RIHIVELI THE DREAM

Mahaanaelhihuraa (or Mahaana Elhi Huraa) is a small uninhabited island in the Maldives. Its name means “island of the grave”. It is one of the hotel islands of the Maldives, hosting the Rihiveli Resort & Spa (“Rihiveli” means “silver sand”). Since 2018, the island is managed by a French-speaking team “Rihiveli The Dream” with the goals of protecting its environment, employee wellbeing and island friendliness. At Rihiveli The Dream, “Dreamers” are invited to spend their vacations barefoot. The management of the hotel is committed to protecting the environment. It offers drinking water to its customers through the desalination of sea water. A 3-star hotel, the Rihiveli consists of 47 traditional Maldivian bungalows. “They are bungalows voluntarily without air conditioning or television, to ensure peace and serenity. The wifi is the only accessible at the reception and at the bar, which allows you to live a digital detox experience.

 

DAY 12 : RIHIVELI THE DREAM / MALE AIRPORT – EUROPE

Transfer to Male airport by boat and flight to Europe. The stay in Sri Lanka includes hotel nights and breakfasts. Meals are free (not included)