If the changes in the following conditions have been clearly communicated in writing to the client before the conclusion of the contract and they are properly provided for in the program;
Any changes subsequent to the conclusion of the contract are subject to prior agreement of both the agency and the client, except as provided in the "impossibility of comply" clause.
These general conditions comply with the provisions of Decree-Law 61/2011 of May 6th, as amended by Decree-Law 199/2012 of August 24th.
The general conditions, which refer to an organized trip described in this program, along with the specific conditions provided to the client in the travel documentation at the time of booking, constitute the travel contract that binds the agency and the client.
The technical organization and sale of the activities included on this website are the responsibility of Papa-Léguas, a travel and tourism agency, with home office at Rua Manuel Assunção Mestre, nº22, 7780-199 Castro Verde, registered in the Commercial Registry Office of Lisbon with Taxpayer Identification Number 504163590. It has a share capital of €99,759.60 (ninety-nine thousand, seven hundred and fifty-nine euros and sixty cents). Papa-Léguas is also registered with the National Registry of Travel Agents and Tourism Operators (RNAVT) nº2275 and the National Registry of Tourist Animation Agents (RNAT) nº67/2014.
At the time of registration the client must deposit 30% of the service price, paying the remaining 70% up to 21 days before the service begins. If the registration takes place 21 days or less before the service begins, the total price of the service must be paid at the time of registration. Papa-Léguas, Agência de Viagens e Turismo Lda. reserves the right to cancel any booking that has not been paid for under the conditions mentioned above. Reservations are subject to the obtaining of a confirmation from suppliers for all services.
The prices of tours are presented per person and based on the occupation in a room shared by two people. The organizing agency will group clients who sign up individually for the same tour in pairs, by gender, and in chronological order of registration. Clients who are singled out must pay the respective individual supplement, when required by the service provider.
INFORMATION UNDER LAW N.º 144/2015 OF SEPTEMBER 8:
According to Law No. 144/2015 of September 8th, we inform that the customer may resort to the following Alternative Consumer Dispute Resolution Entities:
i) Customer Authority of Travel and Tourism Agencies at provedorapavt.com;
ii) Arbitration Commission of Tourism in Portugal at turismodeportugal.pt;
iii) Or any of the entities indicated in the list provided by the Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumidor.pt, which we recommend consulting.
Complaints will only be considered if submitted in writing to the agency within a maximum period of 30 days after the completion of the services.
In the event of a complaint regarding non-compliance with contracted services, the customer may activate the Travel and Tourism Guarantee Fund provided for in DL 61/2011 of May 6, in its current wording, by submitting the respective complaint:
i) To the Customer Authority, as Papa-Léguas, Travel and Tourism Agency Ltd., is a member of the Customer Ombudsman for Travel and Tourism Agencies at www.provedorapavt.com. To benefit from this service, you must submit your written complaint within 20 business days after the end of the trip. Agencies are bound to comply promptly with any decisions issued by this entity.
ii) To Tourism of Portugal I.P. at www.turismodeportugal.pt within 30 days after: (i) the end of the trip; (ii) the cancellation of the trip attributable to the agency; (iii) the date of knowledge of the impossibility of its realization due to the agency; (iv) the closure of the establishment.
iii) To any of the entities listed on the website of the General Directorate for Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumidor.pt.
1) The agency is responsible for the luggage in the legal terms;
2) The Client has the obligation to complain to the service provider at the moment of subtraction, deterioration or destruction of luggage.
3) In international transport, if the luggage is damaged, the complaint must be made in writing to the carrier immediately after the damage is verified, and no later than 7 days after delivery. If the luggage is merely late in delivery, the claim must be made within 21 days from the date of delivery.
4) The presentation of such a claim will be an essential basis for Papa-Léguas, Agência de Viagens e Turismo Lda. to hold responsible the entity providing the service.
The responsibility of the agency will be limited to the maximum amount that can be demanded from the service providers, in accordance with the Montreal Convention of May 28, 1999, on International Air Transport, and the Bern Convention of 1961, on Rail Transport.
Regarding maritime transport, the liability of travel agencies, concerning their clients, for the provision of transport services or accommodation, when applicable, by maritime transport companies, in the event of damages resulting from their willful misconduct or negligence, will be limited to the following amounts:
a) € 441,436, in case of death or physical injury;
b) € 7,881, in case of total or partial loss of baggage or its damage;
c) € 31,424, in case of loss of a motor vehicle, including the baggage contained therein;
d) € 10,375, in case of loss of baggage, whether accompanied or not, contained in a motor vehicle;
e) € 1,097, for damages to baggage resulting from the damage to the motor vehicle.
Where applicable, the liability of travel agencies and tourism for the deterioration, destruction, and theft of baggage or other items in tourist accommodation establishments, while the client is staying there, is limited as follows:
a) € 1,397, in total;
b) € 449 per item;
c) The value declared by the client regarding the items deposited under the custody of the tourist accommodation establishment.
The agency's liability for non-bodily damages may be contractually limited to an amount corresponding to five times the price of the service sold.
For each reservation the following will be charged:
Reservation Expenses:
Alteration Expenses:
For each alteration (names, dates, type of apartment or room, travel, etc) : 50€ (fifty euros). Please note that the acceptance of such changes depends on the acceptance by the respective suppliers.
The client must have their personal or family documentation in good order (identity card, military documentation, authorization for minors, visas, vaccination certificates, and any other documents that may be required). The agency disclaims any responsibility for visa refusal or the client's denial of entry into a foreign country. The client is solely responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such a situation.
Travel in European Union:
Travel outside the European Union:
If the travel suppliers involved allow it, whenever a customer who is registered for a particular trip wishes to change their registration to another trip or the same trip with a different departure date, or any other changes, they must pay a fee as alteration expenses. However, if the change takes place 21 days or less before the departure date of the trip for which the customer is registered, or if the service providers do not accept the change, the customer will be subject to the expenses and charges specified under the “cancellation (termination)” section.
Once the trip has started, if a request is made to change the contracted services for reasons not related to the agency (e.g., extending the number of nights of stay, changing the flight), the prices of the touristic services may not correspond to those published on the website that prompted the contract.
The customer may transfer their registration by being replaced by another person who meets all the required conditions for the trip, provided that they inform the selling agency at least seven days in advance and such transfer is possible under the applicable air transport regulations. In the case of cruises and air travel, the prescribed period will be fifteen days in advance.
The transfer of the registration makes both the transferor and the transferee jointly responsible for the payment of the trip price and any additional charges incurred.
Whenever there are external reasons that justify it, the organizing agency may change the order of the itineraries, modify the departure times, or substitute any of the planned hotels with others of similar category and location. The agency must inform the client of such changes as soon as they become aware of them.
When the tour is dependent on a minimum number of participants the Agency reserves the right to cancel the organized tour if the number of participants reached is less than the minimum. In such cases, the Client will be informed in writing of the cancellation within 15 (fifteen) days.
The prices in the program are based on the costs of services and exchange rates in effect on the date of printing of the program, and are therefore subject to change resulting from variations in the cost of transportation or fuel, duties, taxes, fees, and exchange rate fluctuations up to 20 days prior to the date of departure.
Once the tour has begun, no refund is due for services not used by the client due to unforeseeable circumstances or for reasons attributable to the client, except for refunds by the respective suppliers. Failure to provide services foreseen in the travel program for reasons attributable to the organizing agency and if it is not possible to replace them with equivalent ones, entitles the client receive a refund for the price difference between the originally anticipated services and the services actually provided.
If, prior to the start of the journey and due to circumstances beyond the control of the organizing agency, it becomes unable to fulfill any essential service included in the travel program, the client has the right to cancel the trip and immediately receive a refund of all amounts paid, or alternatively, accept a modification and possible price variation.
If the aforementioned circumstances beyond the control of the organizing agency result in the cancellation of the trip, the client may choose to participate in another organized trip of equivalent price. If the proposed replacement organized trip is of a lower price, the client will be refunded the price difference accordingly.
The client or their companions are free to cancel the trip at any time.
i) Such cancellation implies that the client is responsible for the payment of all charges arising from the beginning of the fulfillment of the contract and their withdrawal, as well as a percentage that can go up to 15% of the price of the trip.
ii) If applicable, the client will be refunded the difference between the amount paid and the aforementioned amounts.
iii) The cancellation of travel services/organized trips whose reservation has been made using the voucher issued under Decree-Law No. 17/2020 of April 23rd is subject to a cancellation fee equal to the price of the service, in order to prevent simulated or fraudulent reservations made solely with the intention of anticipating the receipt of the voucher-entitled values.
If for reasons not attributable to the client, the agency has to cancel the organized tour before the departure date, the client can choose to:
i) Being immediately refunded all amounts paid;
ii) Optionally, choose to participate in another organized tour and be refunded for any difference in price.
The liability of the travel agency organizing the trips included in this program and arising from the assumed obligations is covered by a civil liability insurance policy with Fidelidade Insurance Company, under policy number 9257343, for an amount of 75,000€ (Seventy-five thousand euros), in accordance with the applicable legislation.
The prices mentioned in this program already include the Value Added Tax at the current rate of 23%
This program is valid from 01/01/2022 to 12/31/2022
Arrival or departure times:
Departure and arrival times are stated in the local time of the respective country of destination and according to respective airline schedules at the time of printing this program, and may therefore be subject to change.
Hotels / Apartments:
Apartments - In case the accommodation is contracted in apartments, the client is responsible for informing the number of people that will occupy the apartment. If there are more people than booked, the apartments may refuse admittance.
Hotels - The prices shown are per person and are based on double occupancy. Not all hotels have triple rooms and usually an extra bed is placed in the room, which may not be of equal quality. In rooms equipped with two beds or a double bed, the triple may consist only of those beds.
The list of hotels and apartments in the program is indicative, as is their category, which is based on local criteria and classifications that are sometimes different from those used in Portugal.
Meals:
Unless otherwise indicated, the prices shown for the Half Board and Full Board supplements do not include drinks.
On arrivals at the hotel after 7PM the first meal service will be breakfast the next day, on the last day and except for the possibility of late check-out, the last service of the hotel will be breakfast.
Check-in and check-out times:
The check-in and check-out times on the first and last day, will be defined according to the first and last service. As a rule, without binding character, the rooms can be used from 2PM on the day of arrival and should be left free by noon (12PM) on the day of departure.
In the apartments, the entry takes place generally at 5PM on the day of arrival and must be left free by 10AM on the day of departure.
Special conditions for children:
Given the conditions applied for children (destination and provider) it is recommended to always question the special conditions that may apply to the tour in question.
Insurande:
The agency offers the sale of insurance that can be purchased depending on the tour to guarantee assistance situations and cancellation expenses.
The maximum age limit, for the insurance, is 75 years-old.
See our full Data Protection and Privacy Policy here.
Documentation
The necessary documentation may vary, depending on your nationality, the country of origin and the places you will travel to. For further information, consult the relevant embassy websites or contact Papa-Léguas.
Transfers
Travelers who do not purchase flights from Papa-Léguas may not be assured of arrival and departure transfers if their flights are not exactly the same as the flights booked for the group.
If the traveller chooses to book the transfers Papa-Léguas for the flights they have bought on their own, there is an additional fee, which varies according to the destination country and the program.
Tour Leader
This is a trip of adventure and cultural discovery. The tour leader is a person with experience in the country to be visited, having a network of contacts and knowledge that facilitates interaction and a unique cultural experience. Their mission is to lead the group during the whole trip facilitating the interaction and integration of the group with the places to be visited.
The tour leader’s role should never be confused with that of a tour guide. No specific knowledge about monuments, museums, or other places of tourist interest is required of the tour leader.
If your trip includes places that, due to their historical, geological, biological or artistic complexity, need a guide, this will be hired in advance and there will be an explicit reference to his existence in the trip program.
Some people travel the world in a year, I decided to travel calmly. In each country I’ve visited I tried my best to absorb the culture, history, ways of life, taste the food and drinks, make friends and help whenever I could. And it’s exactly this that attracts me to traveling, leaving my comfort zone, the novelty, learning, freedom, landscapes, scents, people, and in the end the backpack’s weight is compensated by the lightness of the soul.
Estamos a preparar o seu programa de viagem.
Aguarde por favor...
Sri Lanka, the country that brought serendipity into the vocabulary. Also called Ceylon until 1972, began to capture the world’s curiosity after years of conflict. Despite being a relatively small island, it is endowed with a diverse collection of landscapes, climates, and natural features.
This trip to Sri Lanka is marked by legendary cities with over 2500 years of history, numerous tea plantations, unique natural parks to observe the wildlife, waterfalls, sacred temples, idyllic beaches and people with luminous smiles.
Come on this trip with the tour leader Carla Henriques, to know the culture of Sri Lanka, its magical landscapes, delicious food, and also taste some tea.
Flight to Colombo. Night on board.
Note: the arrival/departure dates may vary, depending on your origin city. If you have any doubts, contact Papa-Léguas for further clarification.
Arrival in the city of Colombo. The tour leader Carla Henriques will be waiting for those who traveled on the "group flight" for assistance at the airport and transportation to the hotel, in Negombo.
Free time or if the flight schedule allows, we will explore Negombo, a city closely linked to the history of the Portuguese discoverers who, when they arrived with the first ships at the beginning of the 16th century, found a clan called Karawa. People very connected to the fishing arts, The Karawa quickly converted to Catholicism, a fact proven by the heritage left to the city: two thirds of the population are practicing Catholics.
Night in Negombo.
Today we begin the real adventure in the country that Camões called Taprobana.
Leaving Negombo behind, we headed north, where we took the opportunity to visit Mihintale, a village located just 13 kilometers from Anuradhapura.
Although there are several ruins of historical interest here, the main reason we are here is the large rock, now a pilgrimage site, where it is believed there was a meeting between King Devanampiyatissa and the Buddhist monk Mahinda, from which the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka was authorized. The 1843 steps that we will have to overcome are not an easy task, but the view from the top is worth it.
Night in Anuradhapura.
During the first part of the day we will explore Anuradhapura and its well-preserved ruins, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Founded in the 4th century B.C., Anuradhapura quickly became the capital of Ceylon, a holy city for Buddhists and, a few centuries later, also for Muslims.
The points of interest are many, but some that stand out are: the Abhayagiri Vihara temple, the great Ruwanwelisaya and Jetavanaramaya stupas, and also Sri Maha Bodhiya, with the world's oldest man-planted tree. The tree is believed to come from a stake of the historic Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment. Today it is one of the most sacred Buddhist relics in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists around the world.
After the visit we proceed to Trincomalee, with a stop at Fort Frederick and the Koneswaram Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, before heading to the hotel.
Night in Trincomalee.
Sri Lanka being an island, one of the great advantages are the paradisiacal beaches that we will enjoy today. We go to Pigeon Island National Park where we can go snorkeling and observe the fantastic aquatic world in this coral garden, and with luck even catch a glimpse of some turtles passing by.
And there is still time to freely enjoy the sun, white sand, and blue sea.
Night in Trincomalee.
We continue our visit in the country's cultural triangle, this time heading to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second capital between the 11th and 12th centuries AD. Polonnaruwa is another of the magical places the island has to offer. As in Anuradhapura, here too the ruins of the ancient city are very well preserved and are once again a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We spend the morning among the many attractions of the place, such as the "quadrangle", consisting of a fascinating collection of buildings, or the famous Gal Viharaya, a shrine where large statues of Buddha have been carved directly on granite rock.
After the visit, we proceed to Sigiriya where we will stay overnight.
Night in Sigiriya.
Perhaps one of the most emblematic destinations we can find in the country, Sigiriya is a fortress-palace ordered built in the shape of a lion on an impressive rock mass by King Kashyapa I in the 5th century A.D. And if at the time of its construction the goal was to try to prevent enemy invasions, the truth is that the years have turned the complex into an extensive monastic compound. Today the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and brings together various routes that will take us over the 370m high cliff, through geometric gardens, numerous ruins of buildings, fountains, pools, frescoes, and engravings. It is a visit that will leave no one indifferent.
In the afternoon we will visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple. Classified as a UNESCO heritage site, it is the largest and best-preserved cave complex in the country. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area but the main attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings related to Gautama Buddha and his life.
Night in Sigiriya.
After a short trip to Kandy, today will be entirely reserved for exploring this city. We begin with a visit to one of the national treasures: the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, it is here that one of the canine teeth of the Buddha himself is believed to exist, kept in a small gold vault.
After we leave the temple, we will dedicate ourselves to the other historical and cultural sites that the city has to offer, namely the surroundings of the great lake, the colonial houses built on many of the streets, and the Buddhist monasteries.
In the early evening, we will go to the theater to watch a show where musicians, acrobats, dancers, and fire jugglers will surprise us.
Night in Kandy.
Whether blue or red, today the train will take us on an incredible journey between Kandy and Ella. Crossing the central mountains, tunnels, tea fields, and waterfalls, this is a route of great scenic beauty and one of the most spectacular rail routes in the world. The big problem will be to be able to stop photographing!
Night in Ella.
We are in the mountains and there is nothing like a short walk to explore the area. We will walk through lush green woods and tea plantations that lead us to Little Adam's Peak. It is a privileged vantage point for viewing a breathtaking landscape, where the "rock" and the immense Ella Valley take pride of place. What is impressive is the possibility of being able to see, weather permitting, the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
Then we continue on our way to the famous 9 Arches Bridge. Raised among forests and tea plantations, it is an iconic work and one of the best examples of colonial era railway construction in Sri Lanka.
Night in Ella.
We leave Ella, on our way to Arugam Bay, a historic settlement of the former Batticaloa Territory and a well-known destination, especially among surfers. But beyond the waves, this bay is possibly one of the most beautiful beaches in the country!
During the trip we will visit a tea factory to learn about the making of the tasty Ceylon teas. We will also have a short stop to visit the Rawana waterfalls. In addition to its crystalline waters, the place is also home to an important monkey colony and is where many of the local inhabitants go to bathe.
Night in Arugam Bay.
We will wake up very early for our adventure in Kumana National Park, also known as Yala Este. In addition to being a bird sanctuary, where large flocks of migratory waterfowl and wading birds can be seen, it is also home to many mammals, such as elephants and leopards. All we have to do is keep our fingers crossed and, in addition to enjoying the scenery, hope that some of these animals come to greet us.
The afternoon will be free for you to enjoy the area, and if you like, you can even take a surfing lesson.
Night in Arugam Bay.
Here we go, heading for Unawatuna on the south coast. It's a day trip, where we can enjoy the changing landscape, from the east coast through protected areas, to the south coast.
We will also make a short stop in Mirissa and the Dog Care Clinic, the foundation we are supporting with this trip, and get to know a little about the projects they develop and their four-legged inhabitants.
Night in Unawatuna.
We start the day visiting the great fort of Galle. Initially built by the Portuguese in 1588 and later significantly enlarged by the Dutch, it is also considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The fort is today a small town full of color, a multi-ethnic population, colonial churches, small handicraft stores, typical narrow streets, and an extensive walled area, full of bastions, with views that are lost in the Indian Ocean.
After this visit we will embark on our last major road trip, covering the approximately 120 kilometers that separate us from the capital of Sri Lanka. Depending on the time, we may make stops at the Turtle Breeding Center and the large lake formed by the Madu Ganga River.
Night in Colombo.
Last full day in Sri Lanka and time to celebrate the trip. Colombo, more than any other, is a very particular city - very unusual in today's world - where Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists live in almost absolute harmony. There is a mutual respect among the inhabitants for each other's religious and cultural beliefs, a uniqueness that makes Sri Lanka what we have been discovering in recent days.
We will have the opportunity to visit some sites such as the Gangarama temple, Independence Square, observe some of the colonial buildings and the Fort.
Night in Colombo.
Transfer to the airport and go to the origin city.
Note: the arrival/departure dates may vary, depending on your origin city. If you have any doubts, contact Papa-Léguas for further clarification.
