Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Colombo & first immersion
Morning Arrival in Sri Lanka
Land at Bandaranaike International Airport. Transfer to Colombo (45 min). Warm, humid, cinnamon-scented air welcomes you. Sri Lanka is the birthplace of Sinhalese Ayurveda, 3,000 years old.
Afternoon Gangaramaya Temple & Beira Lake
Visit Gangaramaya Temple, an eclectic blend of Buddhism, Hinduism and modern architecture. Then meditative walk around Beira Lake and Seema Malaka, a floating temple designed by Geoffrey Bawa. Serenity in the heart of the city.
Evening Ayurvedic-inspired dinner at Ministry of Crab
First Sri Lankan dinner in the Fort district. Discover local cuisine rich in anti-inflammatory spices: turmeric vegetable curries, ginger dhal, coconut sambols. Sri Lanka is a paradise for medicinal spices.
Day 2 Road to Kandy — Sri Lanka's spiritual heart
Morning Scenic transfer to Kandy
Drive to Kandy (3.5h), ancient royal capital nestled in the hills. The landscape shifts from coastal plain to mountains covered with tea plantations, coconut palms and golden temples. Optional stop at Matale spice garden.
Afternoon Temple of the Tooth & Kandy Lake
Visit Sri Dalada Maligawa, the temple housing the relic of Buddha's tooth — the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka. Then meditative walk around Kandy's artificial lake, created by Sri Lanka's last king.
Evening Traditional Kandyan dance performance
Traditional Kandyan dance performance at Kandy Lake Club. Dancers in royal costumes, resonant drums, spectacular acrobatics. The highlight: fire walking, an ancestral purification ritual.
Day 3 Ayurveda & Royal Botanical Garden
Morning Ayurvedic consultation & first treatments
Consultation with a certified Ayurvedic doctor. Determination of your dosha (constitution: Vata, Pitta or Kapha) and personalised prescription. First Abhyanga treatment: four-handed massage with warm herbal-infused medicinal oils.
Afternoon Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya
Walk through South Asia's largest botanical garden (60 hectares). Royal palm avenues, orchid collection, giant Java fig tree with a canopy covering 2,500m². Mindful walking among tropical and medicinal species.
Evening Sri Lankan spice cooking class
Home cooking class in the Kandy hills. Learn to prepare a full rice & curry: coconut milk chicken curry, red lentil dhal, green leaf mallung, pol sambol and papadums. Focus on the medicinal properties of each spice.
Day 4 Buddhist meditation & Hill Country
Morning Meditation with monks at Bahiravokanda Vihara
Climb to Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha, a giant white statue overlooking Kandy. Guided meditation session with a Buddhist monk in the adjacent monastery. Panoramic view over the city and mist-covered mountains.
Afternoon Scenic train to Nuwara Eliya
One of the world's most beautiful train journeys. 4 hours through terraced tea plantations, waterfalls emerging from jungle and bridges spanning dizzying ravines. Open windows, fresh mountain air.
Evening Check-in at Nuwara Eliya & tea infusion
Check into a colonial guesthouse in 'Little England', Nuwara Eliya's nickname for its Victorian architecture. Fresh-picked Ceylon tea tasting. The air is cool at 1,900m altitude — jumpers and blankets welcome.
Day 5 Tea plantations & walk in the clouds
Morning Pedro Tea Estate plantation visit
Guided tour of a century-old Ceylon tea plantation. Walk among Tamil pickers who hand-harvest the two leaves and bud. Discover the full process: withering, rolling, fermentation and drying. Final tasting.
Afternoon Hike at Horton Plains & World's End
Trek through Horton Plains National Park, a high plateau at 2,100m. 9km trail through grasslands, cloud forests and rivers. Highlight: World's End, an 880m vertical cliff with clear views to the south coast on a good day.
Evening Shirodhara warm oil treatment
Ayurveda's signature treatment: Shirodhara. A continuous stream of warm sesame oil infused with herbs flows over the forehead (third eye) for 45 minutes. Deeply soothing effect on the nervous system, ideal after the hike.
Day 6 Road to Ella — Waterfalls & valleys
Morning Train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
Continuation of the legendary rail journey. 3 hours through the heart of Hill Country: the train weaves between tea hills, crosses the famous Nine Arches Bridge and plunges into lush valleys. The most beautiful segment of the network.
Afternoon Ravana Falls & natural swimming
Refreshing swim at the foot of Ravana Falls (25m), one of Sri Lanka's widest. According to legend, King Ravana from the Ramayana imprisoned Princess Sita in a nearby cave. The cool mountain water invigorates after the journey.
Evening Sunset yoga facing Ella Gap
Yoga session on a terrace overlooking Ella Gap, a spectacular mountain gap with clear views down to the southern plains. The setting sun sets the tea hills ablaze. Laid-back hippie vibe typical of Ella.
Day 7 Ella — Peaks, bridges & nature
Morning Sunrise trek to Little Adam's Peak
Morning hike to Little Adam's Peak (1,141m), an easy 45-minute trek. At the summit, 360° views over tea plantations, mountains and Ella Gap. Spontaneous meditation facing the infinite panorama. Return through paths between tea bushes.
Afternoon Nine Arches Bridge & walk through tea fields
Visit the Nine Arches Bridge, a colonial stone railway bridge built in 1921, lost in the jungle. Watch the blue train cross it amid the greenery. Then slow walk through the surrounding tea plantations, meeting the pickers.
Evening Ayurvedic massage & local herbs
Ayurvedic treatment at a small Ella centre. Abhyanga massage tailored to your dosha, followed by an herbal steam bath. The oils used are locally prepared with plants from the mountain region.
Day 8 Descent to the south coast — Safari & ocean
Morning Drive to Tissamaharama
Descent from the mountains to the southern plains (3h). The landscape transforms: from tea hills to dry tropical forests. Stop at Diyaluma Falls (220m, Sri Lanka's 2nd tallest) for a contemplative break.
Afternoon Wellness safari at Yala National Park
4-hour safari in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's largest reserve. Spot leopards (highest density in the world), elephants, crocodiles and hundreds of birds. Connecting with wildlife is a powerful form of nature therapy.
Evening Dinner by Tissa Lake & bird watching
Dinner at a restaurant overlooking Tissa Wewa lake, an ancient reservoir lined with white stûpas. At sunset, hundreds of egrets and herons come to nest in the lake's trees. Hypnotic natural spectacle.
Day 9 South coast — Beach & ocean yoga
Morning Drive to the south coast & check-in
Transfer to the south coast (2h) to Weligama or Mirissa. Golden beaches, turquoise water and coconut palms. Check into a boutique hotel or eco-lodge facing the ocean. The pace slows down — welcome to coastal Sri Lanka.
Afternoon Surf initiation at Weligama Bay
Beginner surf lesson in Weligama's sheltered bay, an ideal spot with gentle waves and sandy bottom. Surfing as active meditation: focus on breath, presence in the moment, connection with the ocean's energy.
Evening Sunset over stilt fishermen
Watch Weligama's famous stilt fishermen, a centuries-old tradition unique to Sri Lanka. Perched on wooden poles above the waves, they fish with lines in the golden sunset light. An iconic and meditative sight.
Day 10 Galle — Colonial heritage & wellness
Morning Ocean-facing yoga & Sri Lankan breakfast
Morning yoga session on the beach or your accommodation's terrace. The sound of waves replaces music. Then traditional breakfast: string hoppers (rice noodles), dhal, pol sambol and hot Ceylon tea.
Afternoon Walk through Galle Fort
Explore Galle Fort, a UNESCO-listed gem built by the Portuguese and perfected by the Dutch in the 17th century. Cobbled lanes, craft shops, art galleries and bohemian cafés. Meditative walk along the ramparts facing the Indian Ocean.
Evening Pizhichil Ayurvedic treatment (royal oil bath)
Pizhichil, the 'king of Ayurvedic treatments'. Two therapists continuously pour warm oil over the body while massaging. A royal treatment once reserved for maharajas. Deeply detoxifying, nourishes the skin and calms the nervous system.
Day 11 Beach, snorkelling & final relaxation
Morning Snorkelling on Unawatuna reef
Snorkelling trip in the crystal-clear waters of Unawatuna or Jungle Beach. Colourful corals, tropical fish, sea turtles. Slow, mindful swimming in warm water is a natural aquatic meditation.
Afternoon Beach day & free time
Free afternoon on the beach. Reading under a coconut palm, nap lulled by waves, last spice and tea shopping. Enjoy the slow pace of the south coast. Stay hydrated with fresh coconut sold on the beach.
Evening Farewell seafood dinner on Mirissa beach
Final dinner with toes in the sand in Mirissa. Grilled catch of the day, coconut curry prawns, fried calamari and saffron rice. Beach restaurants set tables by the water, lanterns and candles for atmosphere.
Day 12 Final meditation & departure
Morning Sunrise beach meditation
Final seated meditation on golden sand facing the Indian Ocean. The first sunrays warm your face as fishermen head out to sea. 12 days of Ayurveda, nature and spirituality come to an end — take this peace home with you.
Afternoon Last rice & curry & airport transfer
Final traditional meal: full rice & curry with 5-6 sides, the quintessential national dish. Then transfer to Colombo Airport (3h from the south coast). Take your spices, tea and 12 days of Ayurvedic serenity with you.
Evening Return flight
Board the return flight. From the window, Sri Lanka's golden coast fades beneath the clouds. Twelve days of ancestral Ayurveda, Buddhist temples, misty mountains and endless beaches — the island of serenity lives up to its promise.