Experience the diversity of Sri Lanka and relax during a subsequent Ayurveda cure. This combined round trip takes you to the highlights of Sri Lanka. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Sri Lanka in the cultural triangle, watch elephants during a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park and enjoy delicious food with a local family. Finally, a 5-day Ayurveda cure awaits you in the south, which is individually tailored to you. A real Sri Lankan experience!
This is an example of one of our tours and should serve as a source of inspiration. Of course, the itinerary including the destinations can be adjusted and we would be happy to work out a tour tailored to your interests and budget.
Best travel time: Sri Lanka can be traveled all year round. December to May is suitable for this region.
Travel time: 15 days
Travel planning: Edelweiss flies 2 to 3 times a week directly from Zurich to Colombo.
Tip: Take a day trip from Beruwala to Galle, a charming port city in the Dutch colonial style.
Day 1: Arrival in Colombo – Negombo
After your arrival in Colombo you will be picked up at the airport and afterwards you will get your first impressions of Sri Lanka on a city tour in Negombo. The bay around Negombo is fringed by small fishermen’s houses and the remains of a Dutch fort and is the perfect starting point for a trip to Sri Lanka.
Day 2: Negombo – Anuradhapura
Today you drive to Anuradhapura, one of the largest and oldest civilizations in the world with 113 kings and a heyday of more than 1300 years. Anuradhapura was the first capital of Sri Lanka and is now the most famous of the ancient ruined cities in the country.
Here you take a city tour and learn more about this impressive world cultural heritage. The historic Anuradhapura is a pilgrimage destination for many Buddhists as well as an important archaeological excavation site. The modern city of Anuradhapura is a few kilometers away as the original city was sacked and destroyed in 993 after an invasion by the Chola dynasty.
Day 3: Anuradhapura – Dambulla
After breakfast you travel on to Dambulla and explore the more than 2,000 year old Aukana Buddha statue. Aukana was carved out of a natural rock wall and is one of the largest standing Buddha statues in Sri Lanka.
After a refreshment break in your hotel, you will climb the gneiss rock Sigiriya, a popular historical site in Sri Lanka, rising suddenly from the jungle. The 200 m high summit was the place where the citadel of King Kashyapa was in the 5th century and still offers a breathtaking view today. Some niches of the rock have been decorated with colorful frescoes, which are still preserved and world-famous for their amazing beauty. Halfway up is the entrance to the citadel, which is flanked by two lion paws. Sigiriya owes the name “Lion Rock” to these paws.
Day 4: Dambulla – Polonnaruwa – Minneriya – Dambulla
Your day begins today with a trip to Polonnaruwa. Take a tuk tuk through the scattered walls of the world heritage site – blessed with stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals and fantastically carved Hindu sculptures.
You will have lunch today with a local family. Here you can learn more about the exotic dishes and spices and you can help with the preparation of the meal.
Then on to Minneriya National Park for an evening safari by jeep. Minneriya Park is a national park in the northern central province of Sri Lanka. Wild elephants, sloths and some endangered bird species live here. The park has been declared a wildlife sanctuary.
Day 5: Dambulla – Kandy
After a leisurely breakfast you will visit a cave temple. This is a World Heritage Site and the largest preserved cave temple in the country. In these grottos there are numerous statues of Buddha, as well as ceiling and wall paintings depicting the life of the Buddha. The most imposing Buddha statue is over 14 m long and carved out of the rock.
On your drive to Kandy, take a break in Matale, Sri Lanka’s main spice growing area. Visit a spice garden where you can admire almost all the tropical spices in the area. Visitors also learn a lot of interesting facts about Ayurvedic medicine.
Then on to Kandy, where you visit the Peradeniya Botanical Garden, which is particularly known for its beautiful orchids. It is the largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka and is the habitat of numerous endangered plants and smaller insects. A small lake adorned with water lilies forms the center of the garden and invites you to linger.
After a typical Sri Lankan dance performance, you can end the day comfortably with dinner.
Day 6: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
The world heritage site Kandy was the last capital of the kings of Sri Lanka. It is considered the religious center of Buddhism with the tooth relic temple as the largest sanctuary on the island. Afterwards you take a city tour in Kandy, where you will be on foot and by tuk tuk. Here you have the opportunity to delve deeper into the neighborhoods of the locals as part of a street food tour.
Continue to Nuwara Eliya and visit a tea factory. During the visit to the tea factory you can dress like typical tea pickers and help pick tea leaves. The small town plays a central role in the world’s tea industry. It is famous as a climatic health resort and is a popular travel destination for locals and tourists from abroad.
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya – Ella
After a leisurely breakfast, take the train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella (approx. 2.5 hours). This drive goes through lush tea plantations and tunnels that were built in colonial times. From the train you have a breathtaking view of waterfalls and green fields, which make the route one of the most beautiful railway lines in Sri Lanka. A real highlight on every Sri Lanka tour.
Day 8: Ella
Enjoy free time today in the small town of Ella in the highlands of Sri Lanka. The lively town center has many charming restaurants and the lush landscape around Ella offers ideal conditions for scenic hikes.
Day 9: Ella – Udawalawa – Beruwala
On your drive to the southern beaches of Sri Lanka you make a detour to Udawalawa. Here you will visit an elephant orphanage, which was founded in 1995 and is now part of the Udawalawa National Park. His goal is to nurse orphaned elephants and reintroduce them to the wild. Here you also have the opportunity to watch the baby elephants being fed – a heartwarming experience.
Day 10-14: Ayurveda cure in Beruwala
Look forward to your first Ayurveda cure on the beautiful beach of Beruwala. The Ayurveda doctor in your hotel will put together a program tailored to your personal needs. Say goodbye to unnecessary ballast and free yourself to this interesting experience. Take the time to review the impressions of the past week.
Day 15: Beruwala – Colombo / journey home
Even the most beautiful vacation comes to an end. After a leisurely breakfast on the beach, it’s time to say goodbye to Sri Lanka. Transfer to the airport and flight back to Switzerland.
