Itinerary

1. Welcome to the pearl of the South Seas. Sri Lanka!

   • Be greeted at the airport by your Sri Lankan tour guide upon arrival, who will load your luggage into a tuk-tuk as you ride through the tree-lined and sunbaked streets of Negombo to your first hotel. Today is your day to relax or get your base tan on the beach.

   • In the evening, meet as a group and hit the town for your welcome dinner and drinks.

2. Today the Adventure Really Begins

   • Fill up on a delicious breakfast in the hotel before you hop on a private bus/van to start our journey to Sigiriya.

   • On the way, stop off to explore the magnificent Dambulla Caves, history and religion bounce off every painted wall and stone Buddha statue, leaving you with an unrivalled sense of spirituality.

   • Check into a stunning hotel in Sigiriya, the jewel of the Cultural Triangle.

   • Finish your epic day with a sunset climb to the quiet Buddhist monastery of Pidurangala, to get an open and unobstructed shot of what it is you’ll be climbing in the morning!

3. Sigiriya Rock (Lion Rock)

   • An early wake-up time today as you put on your hiking shoes, grab a camera and head out to climb the incredible Sigiriya Rock. Protruding proudly out of the earth, ruins of a grand palace provide evidence all around the grounds of a once violent and noble Sri Lankan history.

   • Admire the ancient wall paintings; the sanskript marked mirror wall and the huge stone lion paws guarding the ascent to the summit. The views from the top are unrivalled as you travel through time examining the ruins.

   • This afternoon, you have the option to go on an extra safari in Minneriya National Park, where elephants patrol the land (please note, this safari is included during whale watching off-season).

   • Stop by a local family for lunch who will prepare a traditional feast before taking a well-deserved rest on a lounger in the afternoon sun.

4. Let's Travel South Kandy and Cooking Class.

   • Say goodbye to Sigiriya and embark on your travels down south towards Sri Lanka’s second-largest city, Kandy.

   • Stop at a spice garden on the way to learn about where your favourite spices come from and take a cooking class, where you’ll learn the secret to a perfect Sri Lankan curry! Here, the local chef will teach you how to make dhal and chicken curry as well as fried cashew coconut sambal and poppadoms.

   • Then, continue your drive to Kandy, check in to the next accommodation and take in the sights and sounds of this bustling city with a Tuk Tuk tour!

5. Temple of the Tooth and Train into the Mountains

   • Eat your breakfast overlooking the hills of Kandy before heading into town to visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth. This is a religious shrine which is said to house the tooth of Buddha himself.

   • Jump on the bus and travel through the mountainous region of the hill country. The hills are ablaze with small green tea plants which Sri Lanka is famous for.

   • Stop by a functioning tea factory to learn how the tea is processed and ends up in your cup at home, whilst actually learning how 7 different types of tea are made all from the same plant!

   • A trip to Sri Lanka is not complete without experiencing life on the train and the journey from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is dubbed as the best journey in the world. 180-degree views of tea plantations, waterfalls, lakes and local villages pass on by as your train traverses the tracks cut into the mountainside.

   • Try the sweet milk tea on board, converse with friendly locals and take pictures back home.

   • After checking into the hotel, head to Ella for dinner and drinks in everyone’s favourite mountainous town.

6. Free Day in Ella

   • Today is yours to do as you please. Ella plays host to some of the best Ayurveda massage parlours in Sri Lanka. A thousand year old technique which removes any aches or pains you may have, or simply as an excellent way to relax. Your Ella tour guide will let you know what other activities you can do in the area.

7. Safari Time!

   • Today, rise early to explore some of the hidden gems of Ella, such as the 9 Arch Bridge and Little Adam’s Peak.

   • Afterwards, continue your way down south and check into our epic campsite, just 45 minutes away from the stunning Udawalawe National Park!

   • Be greeted with welcome drinks and a delicious Sri Lankan buffet lunch.

   • After eating, jump into jeeps and go on safari, searching the wilderness for herds of elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles, hawks, peacocks, mongoose and if you’re lucky, leopards. Truly a once in a lifetime experience, your day in the national park will be a tough one to beat.

   • After driving around the park, head back to the camp, where your hosts will have a BBQ dinner waiting for you, the best way to end an amazing day.

8. It's Time for the Beach!

   • Take the morning to chill out by your campsite pool and just enjoy your surroundings – monkeys, elephants and peacocks roam the fields around the campsite, so be sure to be on the lookout.

   • After breakfast, drive to the South West Coast, arriving at the stunning beachside town of Mirissa. A place where the world-class waves hit the sand, where turtles inhabit the water, and where the beer is ice cold. After a week in the hill country, this is exactly what you need.

9. Whale Watching (Seasonal Activity)

   • Wake up early and head to the beautiful golden sand beach.

   • Jump onboard one of the best boats in the area to view the largest animals in the world.

   • Watch as blue whales jump, swim and dive around you and be blown away by their size.

   • After an hour or two on the boat, head back to relax for a while before heading to your second spectacular beach destination; Hikkaduwa. (Please note: during whale watching off-season, will include an extra safari on day 3 instead.)

10. Bike Through Rice Paddies and Villages

    • After breakfast by the beach, start your bike ride through some beautiful local villages and rice fields, stopping to drink a fresh king coconut in a secluded tropical garden & even to a dog care clinic to those that would like to visit.

    • Afterwards, get some time to take photos of the area or to buy souvenirs from one of the many boutique and unique stores. The perfect place to write a postcard and send it home with tales of your incredible time over the past 11 days.

    • Then, drive down to the stunning Galle Fort, a city encased in walls, where Dutch, Portuguese and British Colonial buildings still stand proud. The cobbled streets lead to the sea, where crazy Sri Lankan locals swan dive into the ocean.

11. Turtle Sanctuary and Colombo

    • After your breakfast, pack up your things for the 2 hour drive along the coast to the bustling capital city of Colombo.

    • On the way, stop off at small turtle sanctuary, where baby turtles learn to take that first swim and injured adults are rehabilitated back into the wild.

    • Across the road, view the humbling 2004 Tsunami Memorial, where you can listen to survival tales and view pictures of the event.

    • Arrive into Colombo and check into your boutique hostel.

    • Have some free time to visit the national museum or art gallery close by, or take a tuk-tuk and run around the manic streets of the Pettah Markets for some final souvenir shopping.

    • Meet together in the evening for a final dinner together before saying goodbye!

12. Time to Say Goodbye!

    • Time to say your final goodbyes with the friends you have just made over the course of an incredible 12 days. Whatever your next destination may be, hope you have been educated on a country that provides so much, that possess incredible variation in exploration and hope you are inspired to explore more. Hope to see you next time to visit North Sri Lanka.