Spiritual Sri Lanka

Santani Santani Tri Lanka Tri Lanka Tea Trails

Description

Programme

Day 1 Airport - Minuwangoda

Welcome to Sri Lanka!

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, You will be greeted by your Sri Lanka Prestige representative who will introduce you to your English-speaking chauffeur guide.

Thereafter we drive to our beautiful hotel near the Airport

Overnight stay at Wallawwa

Day 2 Minuwangoda - Cultural Triangle

After breakfast, we drive to our hotel in the cultural triangle.

Tucked away in a lush 100-acre land is our Dambulla hotel, that you may want to call your paradise. Let the mountain speak to you as you experience losing yourself to the enchanting wonders of nature, here at Kalundewa Retreat.

Late afternoon guided visit UNESCO Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

We depart our hotel at approximately 1530hrs to climb one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya’s glory.
Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), the “Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70-hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens. The world-renowned frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway are painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for meditation, audience platforms, and baths complete the unique site.

Overnight stay at Kalundewa Retreat

Day 3 Cultural Triangle

Allow our yoga sessions to start off your day with a cleansing Surya Namaskar as the sunlight beams down from behind the age-old Kalundewa Mountains

Relax and let go of your stresses with a bit of meditation. Find inner peace and tranquility amid acres of unpopulated wilderness

Breakfast at leisure

We visit a local monastery to offer alms to the resident monks

Alms are first offered to the Buddha in a separate bowl and are placed on a separate table on which the relic casket, containing a bone-relic of the Buddha, has been set. All the items of food are served in plates and placed on mats or low tables before the seated monks. A senior monk administers the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts to the assembled gathering, as this has become the established custom with which any Buddhist function commences. The most important item among these offerings is what is traditionally known as “the eight monastic requisites” (ata-pirikara): the alms-bowl, three robes, belt, razor, water-strainer, and a sewing needle. This offering is regarded as especially meritorious. As it is an expensive item and therefore difficult to offer to all the monks, generally one ata-pirikara is offered to the chief monk and other items such as books, towels, pillow-cases, umbrellas, etc., are presented to the other monks.

Overnight stay at Kalundewa Retreat

Day 4 Cultural Triangle - Kandy

We start the morning with meditation and a bit of yoga

After breakfast, we leave for Kandy with a stop en route at Dambulla Rock Cave Temple.

Located in the north central province this UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 01st century BC is an amazing complex of 05 caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further improvements and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is a colossal figure spanning 15 meters. Cave inscriptions from the 2nd Century BC are found and on the walls are many paintings most of which belong to the Kandy period (early 19th century). This temple is a perfect location to view the evolution of ancient Sri Lankan art and is an important historical site due to the amalgamation of the material from many eras.

We check into Santani

Within one of the world’s lushest environments, Santani’s holistic architecture treads as lightly as possible upon the land to let nature’s rhythms lull you back to life. Santani’s wellness programmes in Ayurveda, detox, yoga and spa combine on-site pampering and rejuvenation with enlightened learning for healthy living long after you leave these naturally rejuvenating surroundings.

Late afternoon if interested we could arrange a visit to a renowned artist living in the hills of Kandy. You could join him for tea and discuss art, yoga, meditation and music, each of which he’s fluent in.

Overnight stay at Santani

Day 5 Kandy

Morning at leisure to partake in yoga and other wellness activities at Santani

Later we leave for Temple of the tooth in Kandy

Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka’s most sacred site. Temple of the Tooth - is the most important place for the present Buddhist because it is the final resting place of the sacred tooth relic of Buddha known as “Sri Dalada Maligawa.” It is famous for its carvings and the beautiful art that is unique to Sri Lanka. The most important part of the Dalada Maligawa is the octagon (Pathirppuwa). Thousands of people line up each day to get a glimpse of its majesty. Kandy is also the one of the most beautiful cities of Sri Lanka with its picturesque lake built by it’s last king, it’s hills surrounding the city, it’s devales the oldest the natha devale belonging to the 14th century and the palace of the last king of Kandy which are presently the districts courts and the archaeological museum. Kandy also is the centre for Buddhist cultural affairs with meditation centres and Buddhist publication societies.
Return to hotel and continue our wellness lifestyle at Santani

Overnight stay at Santani

Day 6 Kandy

Breakfast at leisure

We continue to partake in the various wellness programmes at Santani

Overnight stay at Santani

Day 7 Kandy - Hatton

After an early breakfast, we depart for Peradeniya Train station to board the train leaving for Hatton at 0830hrs. It is recommended that you reach the Peradeniya Station by at least 0800hrs to ensure you don’t miss this picturesque train journey as you journey across beautiful hills of tea.

Lunch: At Tea Trails – in your bungalow.

Afternoon at leisure...

We stop in Hatton where your driver will wait at the station to take you to one of the four classic colonial bungalows managed by Tea Trails. Tea planter’s bungalows were built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. On arrival at Tea Trails you will be greeted by your personal butler who will attend to your every need and discuss the dinner options. Enjoy the evening at Tea Trails. Watch the sun go down over the mountains and the lakes from the splendid verandah and gardens at Tea Trails.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Tea Trails

Day 8 Hatton

After breakfast, we visit the Dunkeld Tea Factory & Plantation for the essential tea experience. A Resident Tea Planter will demonstrate the age-old tea making process. First, follow the trail of the planters of old Ceylon, as they trekked through the dense jungle looking for the best slopes on which to plant tea. Then on to watch the tea pluckers pick two leaves and a bud with deft hands.
Then to the factory where the all-important conversion to “made” black tea happens. The machinery used is of very traditional British design, some as old as 100 years. The process is a very artisanal one, unchanged for a century. The daily complimentary group tour ends with a tasting of different grades of this great brew.
Together with the tea-infused cuisine, tea-based spa treatments and trekking trails that traverse tea-blanketed hills, you can literally lose yourself in tea. You will leave Tea Trails with a newly found appreciation of this wonder herb “Camellia Sinensis” & the terroir of Ceylon Tea.
Note – Please note that plucking of Tea leaves is not done on public holidays & Sundays. As such the Tea production process does not take place, however a tour of the factory will be arranged where the process is explained.

Lunch is served on the verandas at Tea Trails.

Afternoon at leisure with the option of partaking in the various activities available at Tea Trails

Dinner and Overnight at Tea Trails.

Day 9 Hatton - Koggala

After breakfast, we drive to the south coast or we could take a seaplane flight to Koggala courtesy of Cinnamon Air leaving at 1115hrs.

We check into Tri Lanka and spend the afternoon at leisure

Situated overlooking the scenic Koggala lake, Tri is a wellness resort that takes well being serious. With solar heated water, living walls and green roofs, the Tri Resort is a beautiful example of sustainability and a love for nature, healing. Luxury is to be found at every turn – you just need to unfurl your arm to reach it.

Overnight at Tri Lanka

Day 10 Koggala

The yoga shala is an elegant, elevated retreat space for the physical and spiritual practice of Quantum Yoga. This powerful platform offers individualized and dynamic self-healing through yoga, breath and meditation.

Late afternoon visit Galle Fort

The unique fort at Galle is a fascinating oddity in Sri Lanka. Dating to the time of the Dutch occupation this UNESCO Heritage protected site has a very cosmopolitan atmosphere with its mix of architecture and narrow lanes and vast granite ramparts. Great to explore on one’s own or a guide can be arranged to show you around and recount the history. There are a wide range of boutique clothing stores, jewelry shops and all manner of cafés tucked away

Overnight at Tri Lanka

Day 11 Koggala

Breakfast at leisure

The whole day at leisure spent on wellness and relaxation at Tri Lanka

Overnight at Tri Lanka

Day 12 Koggala - Airport

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN..

Depending on your departure flight we leave for Airport

Transfer time of 2.5 hours

Le prix comprend

 Accommodation at hotels as specified on BB basis except for Tea Trails, which is on AI basis
 Meals mentioned in the itinerary
 Transportation in an AC vehicle throughout the tour.
 Service of a Best English-speaking chauffeur guide.
 Cost of prevailing Government taxes.

Le prix ne comprend pas

 Visa fee
 Camera & Video permits
 Highway tolls
 Tips & porterages
 Cost of personal nature such as Laundry, Telephone, Mini Bar, etc.
 Any other services not mention under the “Package includes”

Itinéraire

Accommodations provided in each place