Saturday, January 11, 2025 - Sunday, January 26, 2025
Sri Lanka,
International,
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) has seduced travelers for centuries with its beauty and beguiling culture. Come discover this "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" with us on this multifaceted 16 day trip. We will trace the history of Sri Lanka through its ancient and modern capitals as we explore the "cultural triangle" of well known sights which include the ancient Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, and temples and colonial-era capital of Kandy. We will visit the giant rock citadel of Sigiriya with its incredible art and ancient graffiti. In addition, our trip will include several hikes to appreciate the natural beauty of the highlands in Sri Lanka's tea region. We will experience the best of Sinhalese culture and hospitality by incorporating visits to a local village, a cultural center for a dance performance, participating in a cooking class, visiting a tea plantation, and joining pilgrims on a night time ascent of a sacred mountain. Centuries of trade and conquest have created a mesmerizing melting pot of cultures and customs and we will enjoy delicious local food consisting of Indian, Southeast Asian and Arabic flavors. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity have all played a part in shaping the island's rich history. We will see and explore many ancient ruins, and towering temples, visit a national park famous for herds of wild elephants and finish our trip at a Dutch-era UNESCO fort on the country's beautiful coast. Sri Lanka is an island country about 20 miles off the coast of Southern India. The wide-ranging topography makes Sri Lanka one of the world's most scenic countries. The trip is mostly cultural, although extremely active, with six days that include hikes. Four of these hikes are moderate, and two are significantly harder. Excluding breaks, we will hike from three to seven hours, between two and ten miles, and have a daily elevation gain of 250 - 3,200 feet. We will hike at a moderate pace, which will permit time for photos and rest breaks. Participants should be in excellent shape. While no technical climbing is required for this trip, at least one of the moderate hikes has a steep drop off which might be uncomfortable for someone with a fear of heights and one hike will involve the ascent and descent of approximately 5,500 steps. We will be accompanied by an English speaking local guide throughout the trip.
