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SRI LANKA - CEYLAN : RIDING ON THE PEARL OF THE INDIAN OCEAN...

Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking

This is a surprising destination in the world of horse riding tourism who is going to welcome our new trail. English named it Ceylan, the pearl of the indian ocean, an island that evokes smells of spices, teas and flowers.... Now called "Sri Lanka" since 1972, its name means the "resplendent land" in Sanskrit...and people were right to call it so! If you are looking for spectacular landscapes, this tropical island will definitly please you. It offers you the oporunity to visit several areas of the island during this trip : • The cultural triangle where used to be the capitals of the cingalais kingdom. You will ride through the jungle to Sigiriya forstress, a strange and old frotress built in a huge rock. • Nuwara Eliya in the heart of the tea plantations that made the island famous for its Ceylan tea. • The south coast and its paddy fields and buffalos and Yala wildlife reserve and its elephants.

ITINERARY

Day 1
Arriving at Colombo International airport. A warm and truly Sri Lankan welcome with Orchids Garlands awaits us. Transfer to Kandalama in Sri Lanka cultural triangle via Kurunegala to our hotel in the middle of the jungle. The hotel is close to a 2000 years old artificial lake. Dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 2 - Horse Riding day 1
After breakfast we saddle up our horses and go for a morning ride through the "elephant Corridor", a corridor of jungle used by wild elephants to go from one area to another on the island. The ride goes around the lake and through paddy fields. We stop for a picnic lunch nearby the lake before returning to our hotel. Dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 3 - Horse Riding day 2
Today our ride leads us trough the jungle to Sigiriya Rock Fortresse. This legendary citadel has been built in and on the top of a massive rock. It tells us a tale of power, intrigue and tragedy. This is one of the highlights of Sri Lanka ! After lunch we climb the rock and visit the fortress with its mirrors polished walls and paintings. Transfer back to the hotel by car at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 4
We leave the area called "Habarana" and head south to Kandy where we will stay tonight. On our way we stop to visit "Lakegrove Spice Graden". Our guide explains us how Sri Lanka's famous spices such as cinnamon, cardamon, curry leaves and saffrans or peppercorns grow in the wild and are processed for consumption.
We have lunch on our way to Kandy. Arrival in Kandy hotel in the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel and traditional "Uda Rata Natum" or " Kandyan Dance". The fire walking show is the highlight of the evening, which leaves us spellbound.

Day 5
After breakfast our guide waits for us for a tour of the city. We start with the visit of the royal botanical gardens which was created in 1371 and became the Royal botanical Gardens in 1816. It is one of the largest and well kept botanical gardens in Asia and contains about 4000 species, being one of the largest collections of sub tropical climates flora in the world. Lunch in a retaurant close to the river. After lunch we visit the Elephant Orphanage : Pinnawela and the temple of Tooth. Dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 6
Our journey today is just 80 kilometers but it takes us 3 hours to cover them. Leaving Kandy, we are in a completly diferent ecosystem and landscapes. Here starts the tea plantations with hundreds of rows of tea plants. We have lunch on our way and stop to visit Ramboda waterfall (109 meters) before arriving to Labukelle tea plantation. This centennial tea plantation is more than 500 acres and gives work to more than a thousand people ! We visit the plantation, the factory and try some tea. Arrival in Nuwara Eliya at the end of the day. Dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 7 - Horse Ridng Day 3
After an early breakfast we met our new horses and go for a 4 hours ride through the tea platations. Windswept peaks lie shrouded in mist while gaily clad tea pluckers wind their way among tea bushes. We can see a lot of rare species of fauna and flora in this area. After a late picnic lunch, transfer to the railway station for a journey in a local train "podi Menike" (Little Lady), an exciting an nice journey through magnificient mountain scenery, breathtaking wide blankets of tea bushes, waterfalls in distance.... Transfer to the ecolodge for dinner and the night.

Day 8 - Horse Ridng Day 4
Free morning to enjoy the peace of the place or to jump in the pristine water of the river, explor the waterfalls... After a traditionel lunch transfer to Tisaamaharama which used to be the capital of Sri Lanka. This is where our ride of the day takes place. The ride leads us through banana plantations, small local villages... another way to meet the freindly locals. Dinner and night in camp at Tissa.

Day 9 - Horse Ridng Day 5
Today we have the opportunity to visit the most popular national wildlife reserve of the island. Along the ride we discover lakes, paddy fields, small local villages and preserved jungle. There is a lot of wildlife as well, birds, animals and elephants. The ground is soft and sandy so we can affored some good galops ! After a picnic lunch we go for a game in the reserve in 4 wheels drive. Dinner and night in camp at Tissa.

Day 10 - Horse Ridng Day 6
After a early breakfast we saddle up and go for an expedition in the jungle towards lake Lunuganwhera. In this area there are a lot of lakes and whaterholes built by the old kings. Late lunch at the camp. Free afternoon to rest or to visit Kataragama with our driver. This temple is a sacred place for budhists, muslims and christians all together. I lot of pilgrims bring offrings. Diner and night at the camp.

Day 11
Today we leave the center of the country to discover the coast. Landscapes are diferents. Arrival in Galle by midday, a town built during the portugues colony. Visit of the fort and lunch at "Closenberg" a retaurant built during the colony by deutches. In the after noon, visit of a turtle fram. Dinner and night in Taj Exotica hotel on Bentota beach.

Day 12 - Horse Ridng Day 7
After breakfast, we leave the hotel for a long ride on the beach. On this open space we can enjoy the stamina of Marwaris horses. Lunch in Bungalow on the beach. In the afternoon we go back to the hotel where we can relax. Dinner and night in Taj Exotica hotel.

Day 13
Free morning and breakfast. In the afternoon tranfer to Colombo international Airport to take our return flight. (around 3 hours drive)

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

After your trail, you can choose to extend your trip the way you want ! For example, you can climb the Adam Pic, a sacred Montain, visit Kandy during the Perahera, a budhist traditional feast or treat yourself with an Ayuvedha cure... For any information please contact us.

HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL

Horses
Another highlight of this trip : most of the horses are Marwaris horses with their curved ears imported from India. This horses are surprising by their stamina and their kindness.

Tack
English saddles

Required riding level
There is no particular dificulty on this trail. Riders just need to be comfortable at all gaits, and have at least a short experience in trail riding.
Maximum height: 1.80 m
Maximum weight : 80 kg

YOUR GUIDES

The trail is guided by local guides and the itinerary is new as their was almost no horses on the island before last year ! Their is one guide leading the ride and one behind. A logistic car will be waiting for the group at all stops with food, luggages and everything riders can need.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation
During this trail, the riders will be accommodated in high standard hotels and luxe camp.

- 3 nights at the Kandalama hotel 5* in the cultural Triangle
- 2 nights at the Earl's Regency Hotel 5* in Kandy
- 1 nights at the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya (Histric colonial hotel)
- 1 night at Ella Adventure Park (ecolodge)
- 3 nights in a luxe camp in Tissa
- 2 nights at the Taj Exotica Hotel 5* in Bentota

Food
During this trail you will have the oportunity to taste sri Lankan fine food, its local veggies, spicies and fruits.

Lunches will be taken under the shadow of a tent with tables and chairs to help you rest after the ride. Water and beers are included.

DATES AND RATES

Flights to Colombo

According to the date and the city of your departure, we will offer you the best available rate at the time of your registration. Please contact us.

RATE INCLUDING

- the trail ride as described, on full board basis from dinner of day 2 to breakfast of day 14,
- the transfers from and to the airport,
- The mentionned visits,
- the financial guarantee of deposits sent to Randocheval.

RATE NOT INCLUDING

- Flights to Sri Lanka,
- airport leaving taxes (around 10 € on 01/11/07),
- any other service,
- Drinks except water and beer for lunch,
- tips and personnal expenses,
- extra activities (Elephant Safari, ayurvédic treatment etc ...),
- Extension before or after the trail,
- optionnal insurances : further information...

BOOKING - INFORMATION

Contact us !

PRATICAL INFORMATIONS

COUNTRY

Sri Lanka

LENGTH

LANGUAGE

GROUP SIZE

From 6 to 8 riders.

ACCESS

CLIMATE

Equatorial climate, tempered by altitude in the heart of the Island (espacially Nuwara Eliya).

The raining season is from may to august. High temperatures and strong but brief rains.

Formalities
Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.

Vaccines-Health
No specific vaccination, we recommend you to be up to date with your usual vaccinations, in particular the tetanus vaccine.
Remember that a repatriation travel insurance is compulsory.

REFERENCE :CH11-Sri-Lanka