Itinerary
- Day 1
Colombo
You'll arrive at the coastal resort near Colombo and get settled whenever works for you. The tour leader will be there at 6pm for a welcome meeting if you want to attend, and dinner's available. If you get there earlier, there's a pool to relax by or gardens overlooking the Indian Ocean to explore.
Optional Activities
- Welcome meeting and dinner with tour leader at 6pm
- Day 2
Colombo to Sigiriya
After breakfast, you'll drive north along the coast through Negombo and check out the fish market before heading inland to Sigiriya. By early afternoon you'll reach Back of Beyond jungle lodge. Later in the day, a guided walk takes you up Pidurangala Rock for sunset views. There's also an optional night walking safari if you want to search for rare Grey Slender Loris.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Fresh produce sourced from surrounding villages with choice of local and western dishes with a Sri Lankan touch)
Included Activities
- Brief stop at Negombo fish market
- Guided walk to summit of Pidurangala Rock at sunset
- Dinner at lodge
Optional Activities
- Guided night-time walking safari to spot Grey Slender Loris
Landmarks/POIs Pidurangala Rock Lion Rock of Sigiriya - Day 3
Sigiriya
The full day at Back of Beyond Lodge lets you choose your own pace. Start before breakfast with bird watching, then visit a local weva for wildlife viewing and swimming. You'll try a cooking demonstration, relax in hammocks, wander nature trails, and take a sunset boat cruise on a nearby lake with Sigiriya views. Dinner happens under the jungle canopy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Served at a secret location under the jungle canopy and the stars)
Included Activities
- Bird watching before breakfast
- Visit to local weva (tank) with wildlife viewing and swimming opportunity
- Cooking demonstration
- Nature trail exploration
- Sunset boat cruise on nearby lake with naturalist
- Dinner served under the jungle canopy
Optional Activities
- Relax in hammock
Landmarks/POIs Sigiriya Pidurangala - Day 4
Sigiriya to Giritale
After breakfast, it's a 5-minute drive to Sigiriya where you'll climb Lion Rock, a 5th-century fortress on a 200-metre rock slab. You'll pass through carved lion paws and climb steel stairways to reach the summit with jungle views all around. Next, travel by tuk-tuk, tractor-drawn cart, and canoe to a local farm near Habarana for a cooking demonstration and rice and curry lunch. Then drive to Giritale for a 3-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical rice and curry produced using local ingredients), Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning climb up Lion Rock (Sigiriya) with 200-metre summit views
- Travel by tuk-tuk, tractor-drawn cart, and canoe to local farm
- Cooking demonstration at local farm
- Typical rice and curry lunch with local ingredients
Landmarks/POIs Sigiriya Habarana - Day 5
Giritale
This morning, a Land Master (two-wheeled tractor with trailer) takes you to a nearby village to see typical rural Sri Lankan life. In the afternoon, explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa by local bike or by bus if you prefer. You'll see the Royal Palace Group with its audience hall, the Circular Relic House with its moonstone, and Galvihara's four colossal Buddha figures including a 14-metre Reclining Buddha.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to nearby village by Land Master (two-wheeled tractor with trailer) to experience rural Sri Lankan life
- Exploration of ancient city of Polonnaruwa by local bike (or bus option)
- Visit to Royal Palace Group with audience hall and bathing pool
- Visit to Circular Relic House with preserved moonstone
- Visit to Galvihara with four colossal Buddha figures including 14-metre Reclining Buddha
Landmarks/POIs Polonnaruwa Royal Palace Group Circular Relic House Galvihara - Day 6
Giritale
Take it easy this morning with free time on the hotel deck overlooking Giritale Wewa lake, swimming in the pool, visiting the spa, or checking out the nearby town. In the afternoon, a jeep safari at Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park (depending on elephant sightings) gives you chances to see wild elephants around the park's large lake in their natural habitat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jeep safari at Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park to spot wild elephants
Optional Activities
- Relax on hotel deck overlooking Giritale Wewa lake
- Swim in hotel pool
- Visit spa and wellness centre
- Explore nearby town
Landmarks/POIs Minneriya National Park Kaudulla National Park Giritale Wewa - Day 7
Giritale to Kandy
You'll leave Giritale and drive about 3 hours to Kandy via Peradeniya, where you'll walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens with over 4,000 plant species including orchids and medicinal plants. From there, travel by tuk-tuk to the university complex before joining your tour leader for a walking tour of Kandy's narrow streets, old buildings, and colourful markets. Stop at the Temple of the Tooth and browse craft workshops at the Kandyan Art Association. Your hotel is 4 kilometres from Kandy centre, overlooking the Mahaweli River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Wander through Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens with over 4,000 plant species
- Walking tour of Kandy through old streets and colourful markets
- Visit to Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa)
Optional Activities
- Browse Kandyan Art Association workshops for brassware, batik, lacquer work and craft items
- Evening cultural show (£5.00 per person)
Landmarks/POIs Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) Kandyan Art Association - Day 8
Kandy to Ella
Heading across the highlands, you'll visit a working tea factory on the way to Nuwara Eliya, known as 'Little England' for its lake, golf course, racecourse and gardens. Then board a scenic train through mountains and rolling tea plantation hills, arriving in Ella (the tourist hub hill town) by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to working tea factory
- Train journey through mountains with views of tea plantations
Landmarks/POIs Nuwara Eliya Ella - Day 9
Ella to Udawalawe
You'll descend through the lowlands past Belihuloya, a hamlet with fantastic plains and mountain views and unique climate and biodiversity. An easy walk takes you through paddy fields to a nearby lake and natural rock pools. Stop at Belihuloya's natural swimming area where streams meet, then drive to Athgira River Camp on Udawalawe National Park's eastern border. You'll visit the Elephant Transit Home to see orphaned elephants, then take an afternoon jeep safari looking for elephants, deer, wild boar, buffalo and jackal. Tonight you'll sleep in a fixed-tented camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BBQ)
Included Activities
- Easy walk through villages, paddy fields and to nearby lake
- Visit to natural rock pool and swimming area at Belihuloya
- Stop at Elephant Transit Home to visit orphaned elephants
- Afternoon jeep game drive through Udawalawe National Park
- BBQ dinner
Optional Activities
- Bathe in natural rock pool at Belihuloya
Landmarks/POIs Belihuloya Udawalawe National Park Elephant Transit Home - Day 10
Udawalawe to Hikkaduwa
The scenic southern coastal road to Galle is about a 3-hour drive. You'll explore the ancient Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site with well-preserved ramparts from the 1800s. In Ambalangoda, visit the Ariyapala Mask Museum in this charming town known for traditional mask-making and pristine beaches. You'll make your own mask to take home and learn about the cultural significance of masks in Sri Lankan folklore. Then drive to your Hikkaduwa hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of ancient Dutch Fort at Galle with well-preserved ramparts (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- Visit to Ariyapala Mask Museum in Ambalangoda
- Participation in traditional mask-making process
Landmarks/POIs Galle Fort Ambalangoda Ariyapala Mask Museum - Day 11
Hikkaduwa to Maldives
Your Maldives adventure begins as you leave Sri Lanka. You'll drive to Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport for an early afternoon flight to the Maldives. After arriving, you'll transfer to a traditional Dhoni boat for a safety briefing, then cruise for a few hours to Gulhi in the South Male Atoll. Get settled in your cabin and familiarize yourself with the boat's facilities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to traditional Dhoni boat
- Safety briefing from crew
- Cruise to Gulhi, South Male Atoll
Landmarks/POIs Gulhi South Male Atoll - Day 12
Maldives
Set sail early with a traditional Maldivian breakfast served onboard. Cruise for a few hours to Kudhi Boli, famous for its beautiful reef and small beach strip at low tide. You'll have your first snorkelling lesson in turquoise waters to see marine life, or sunbathe on white sand. The rest of the day is free to relax with light lunch onboard. Visit Fulidhoo in the afternoon, then enjoy dinner onboard with evening entertainment from locals playing Boduberu traditional drums.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Maldivian breakfast), Lunch (Light lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise to Kudhi Boli
- First snorkelling lesson in turquoise waters
- Tour of Island of Fulidhoo
- Dinner onboard
- Evening entertainment with Boduberu traditional drum performance
Optional Activities
- Sunbathe and relax on white sandy beach
Landmarks/POIs Kudhi Boli Fulidhoo - Day 13
Maldives
After breakfast, cruise to Rihiveli and join a cooking tutorial with the boat cook preparing a traditional Maldivian dish. Throughout the day, you'll snorkel over coral reefs, relax on the beach, try fishing, and play local board games. Lunch is onboard. The day ends with a beach barbecue (weather permitting) and an arranged football match with local kids from the islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Beach barbecue (weather permitting))
Included Activities
- Cruise to Rihiveli
- Cooking tutorial preparing traditional Maldivian dish with boat cook
- Snorkelling over coral reefs
- Beach barbecue (weather permitting)
- Football match with local kids from the islands
Optional Activities
- Fishing
- Play local board games
Landmarks/POIs Rihiveli - Day 14
Maldives
After breakfast, sail to the South Male Atoll for snorkelling at Turtle Reef near Rihiveli Boduveli. You'll have one last snorkelling opportunity at Laguna sand bank, about 45 minutes away. Enjoy your final dinner aboard the Dhoni.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Snorkelling at Turtle Reef near Rihiveli Boduveli
- Final snorkelling at Laguna sand bank
- Final dinner aboard Dhoni
Landmarks/POIs Turtle Reef Laguna sand bank South Male Atoll - Day 15
Maldives Departure
The trip ends after breakfast on your Dhoni in Male. You're free to leave anytime, though flights can't depart before 11:00 am. If your flight is later in the day, the airport has luggage storage available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
