Best of Sri Lanka

Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in nearby Negombo. Here you will meet your leader and fellow travellers during a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you arrive early, perhaps take some time to relax on the golden-sand beach under a canopy of blue sky.

Rise early this morning for a visit to the Negombo fish market. Morning is the best time to visit the market – your leader will help you navigate the organised frenzy of vendors displaying delicacies like crab, lobsters, and squid. You’ll then head to Wilpattu National Park for an afternoon Jeep Safari.

Wilpattu roughly translates as ‘Lands of the Lakes’, and has a diverse range of habitats – thus a diversity of wildlife. The largest national park in Sri Lanka is home to Asian elephants, sloth bears, deer and over 100 species of birds.

After an exciting afternoon of wildlife spotting, retire to your campsite for dinner.

Today you’ll head to Anuradhapura, the northern point of Sri Lanka’s ‘cultural triangle’, which also contains Polonnaruwa to the east and Kandy to the southwest. This area is bursting with stunning temples and sites of cultural and religious importance.

The city of Anuradhapura is one of the country’s most historically significant places and its first ancient capital. Many pilgrims still visit due to the wealth of Buddhist monuments.

You’ll visit the stupas of Ruwanweliseya and Jetawanaramaya, the ancient rock temple of Isurumuniya and the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree Temple – home to a sacred bodhi tree grown from a cutting brought from the site of Buddha’s enlightenment.

Following your visit you’ll head to Sigiriya and check into your hotel for the next two nights.

It’s a very early start today as you head for the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. En route, you’ll stop at a secluded cove along the banks of the Parakrama Samudraya and board the catamaran of a local fisherman. The fisherman will check his net (cast out the night before) while expertly gliding his catamaran towards two small islands located in the middle of the lake. Look out for White-bellied Fish Eagles, Brahmini Kites and a host of other exciting birds. Assuming the islands are elephant-free you’ll disembark and enjoy a packed breakfast with a 360-degree view of the lake.

After breakfast you’ll return to shore and continue to Polonnaruwa to explore by bicycle. You’ll discover the well-preserved temples, tombs and stupas in Polonnaruwa’s Quadrangle complex.  

After a local Sri Lankan lunch you’ll return to Sigiriya where you’ll climb to and explore the Rock Fortress. This ruined fortress is one of Sri Lanka’s premier sights.

Note – this is a very steep climb, with 1200 steps and some uneven slopes. Make sure you are wearing sturdy footwear.  Those who can’t climb to the top can explore the serene gardens at the base of the rock and get some fantastic shots of the fortress from below.

You’ll leave Sigiriya and head to Kandy, the last capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings. En route, a stop at a spice garden might yield scents of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, vanilla and more as you learn the secrets of cultivating these palate pleasers.

After arriving in Kandy, you’ll visit the Temple of the Tooth. This is one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred places, housing the left canine tooth of Buddha.

You’ll have time to explore the city in the afternoon; you might want to walk around the lake or visit the Bahirawakanda Buddha.

This evening you’ll join your group for a traditional dance performance.

After breakfast, leave for Nuwara Eliya, the tea-growing summit of Sri Lanka’s central highlands. We’ll stop en route to visit a tea plantation to learn about the process of manufacturing pure Ceylon tea.

You’ll then continue to Nanu Oya railway station and board the afternoon train to Ella. This is one of Sri Lanka’s most spectacular rail journeys, through the cloud forest surrounding the Horton Plains National Park.

Ella is a very popular tourist destination with many interesting cafés, bars and restaurants. Your accommodation is ideally located in the heart of Ella’s main street, making it the perfect base from which to explore Ella and enjoy the special vibe it has to offer.

You’ll be picked up by jeep at sunrise from Ella for a full-day tour of the beautiful hidden village of Udawadiya. and after a 1-hour drive will arrive at the beautiful, unpolluted, hidden village of Udawadiya.

Sit in the glorious paddy fields that will provide different vistas depending on the time of the year. Enjoy a meal that can be vegan or vegetarian, or mix it up as part of a full English fry-up with all the trimmings. Visit a site where Kithul Treacle and Toddy were manufactured. See how the villagers weave coconut leaf baskets and “Thawalama”, which were used to transport goods through difficult jungle roads. Enjoy a village lunch.

You’ll return to Ella in the evening.

This morning sees you hiking up Ella Rock, one of the area’s favourite hikes. You’ll pass through tea plantations and forest before enjoying the panoramic views from the top.

After your hike you’ll continue to Yala for an afternoon 4×4 safari in Yala National Park. There’s a good chance of spotting crocodiles, elephants, monkeys and buffaloes and – if you are lucky – you may even spot a leopard; this park is considered one of the best places in the world to see these elusive beauties.

After an exciting afternoon of wildlife spotting, you’ll retire to your resort near the park for dinner.

You’ll start your day with a short drive (approximately 2.5 hours) to the small town of Unanwitiya, your jumping-off point for an exciting kayaking expedition down the Gin River. After instruction from your expert guides, you’ll cruise down the clear waters of the river as it winds its way downstream on a mixture of occasional white but mostly flat water. Paddle past dense forests, huge sandbanks, tea plantations and rice paddy fields while keeping an eye out for monitor lizards, colourful birds and the occasional troop of monkeys.

After the kayaking, head to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage coastal city of Galle. Once the main port for the cinnamon trade, this former Portuguese and then Dutch colonial city features a maze of rambling streets, colonial buildings, mansions, ancient churches, a characterful lighthouse, and its crowning jewel, the imposing 17th-century fort. Surrounded on three sides by the ocean, this is one of the most dramatic structures in Sri Lanka. Start your exploration on an afternoon cycling tour of Galle Fort, then get to know the city more intimately on a walking tour along the ramparts and winding streets of the Fort.

Head to relaxed Unawatuna in the evening for a well-earned rest after an active day.

Full Day at Leisure.

You might choose to spend the day relaxing on the beach, or head into Galle for further exploration.

Bid farewell to Unawatuna and make your way to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s bustling capital city.

Follow your guide through the buzzing streets of Colombo Fort on a walking tour. Make a stop at the Pettah fruit and vegetable market where you’ll be fully immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of Colombo as you watch vendors and shoppers go about their business. Visit the striking red-and-white-striped Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque with its soaring minarets. Further explorations will reveal Dutch- and British-influenced architecture, a hangover from the city’s colonial past.

You have the afternoon at leisure in Colombo; you might want to do some shopping or more sight-seeing.

This marks the end of your Sri Lankan adventure.