Sri Lanka and the Maldives: Temples, Rice Paddies and Paradise on Stilts

Meet your driver and head to Sigiriya. Stay for three nights in the south-west of the area, on an estate filled with ponds, reedbeds, forests and rice fields. The bungalow on stilts is in a rice paddy - a peaceful, rural setting. The interior layout is simple and comfortable; teak flooring, plant partitions, stylish traditional patterns. Here you have complete privacy with a private pool, but also access to common areas: swimming pool, hot tub, wellness area, Ayurvedic treatments. The main restaurant serves Sri Lankan-inspired cuisine in romantic surroundings surrounded by water and lanterns.
Already in the itinerary - Sigiriya rice paddies by bike. Accompanied by an English-speaking naturalist, you'll cycle the countryside around the famous rock fortress, through forests and rice paddies. The fields provide this essential crop, but are also a fertile environment for a much richer and more diverse fauna than you might think: little egrets, water monitors, frogs, herons, iguanas...

The itinerary includes - a visit to Sigiriya, the fortress of the mad king Kashyapa, perched on the 590ft tall red gneiss monolith that is Lion rock. The hydraulic engineering of the site is highly sophisticated and the royal concubines or apsaras painted on the stone wall are exceptional, not only for their beauty but also as they are the only feminine images in Sri Lanka that still exist from that period. Afterwards, enjoy a tuk-tuk tour of the site of Polonnaruwa, the former capital of the island (11th-13th centuries). Several notable monuments are found in the grounds, but the Buddha sculptures (standing, sitting and reclining) of Gal Vihara, a 12th century rock temple, are particularly spectacular.
Optional - Minneriya National Park safari; visit to a rice factory.

You will travel to Deltota, a small village sitting pretty in a beautiful mountainous region surrounded by lush vegetation an hour south of Kandy.
Your planned visits along the way - the shrine caves of the Dambulla Golden Temple house an ancient Buddhist statue and wall paintings of the 18th century Kandy School. In the former royal palace of Kandy, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) contains one of Buddha's teeth. It is a precious relic which ensures the site a certain political and religious standing throughout Sri Lanka. Every day, hundreds of pilgrims come to worship here.
Two-night stay in a beautiful property surrounded by tea plantations. Built over 100 years ago by a British landowner, this colonial home oozes charm and elegance, with beautifully decorated interior spaces and English-style bucolic gardens where you can unwind after a day of sightseeing. You will love the cosy atmosphere and discreet service.

The programme includes - a tea factory visit. Sri Lanka is one of the world's leading tea producers and as such, tea plays an integral part of the island's cultural identity. It was on the Loolecondera Estate that James Taylor introduced the first plantations in the 19th century, the origin of the Ceylon tea industry. He created the Loolecondera Tea Factory, the country's first, and a visit here is both a journey through history and an immersion in the world of tea. The tour is accompanied by tea leaf picking on the estate.
Optional - a plantar reflexology session, provided at your hotel.

Drive to Kaleliya. An overnight stay in the village, in an extremely attractive boutique hotel. Decorative art from Europe and Asia adorn this lovely environment, which retains an air of rustic charm. Rooms and common areas are located in the garden pavilions. A generous terrace can be found outside your accommodation with a special dining area where you can enjoy dishes created by the house chef, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of Sri Lankan cuisine and the technique to match. There is a very pleasant copper outdoor shower and pool, not to mention a massage.

Drive to Colombo Airport and flight to Male. Fast boat transfer to South Male Atoll and three nights' accommodation in paradise. In fact, here's hoping paradise is just as well equipped as this place, full of balanced, chic simplicity - a place of calm and well-being reserved for adults only Stilted bungalows are dotted across the shallow lagoon. All are made of light wood, linen sheets and cotton, opening onto the white sands and the ever-changing crystal clear sea. Several tables and bars and a range of wellness and sports facilities are offered to guests - spa, yoga, swimming pool, kayaking, snorkelling. Two other islands share the lagoon; a boat service allows you to travel to them in search of even more relaxation, activities and catering options. That said, paradise doesn't come with an instruction manual: it is something that is a truly personal experience.
Already in the itinerary - one hour couples' spa treatment.