Itinerary
- Day 1
Colombo to Negombo
You'll arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo and get transferred to your hotel in Negombo. If your flight gets in early, there's time to relax on the beach or walk around the area. At 6 pm, you'll head to a welcome meeting where you'll meet your group and local leader, then enjoy complimentary cocktails and a welcome dinner with traditional Sri Lankan cuisine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner of traditional Sri Lankan cuisine)
Included Activities
- Complimentary arrival transfer
- Welcome meeting with local leader and group
- Welcome dinner with complementary cocktails
Optional Activities
- Beach relaxation
- Walk around Negombo
Landmarks/POIs Bandaranaike International Airport - Day 2
Negombo to Dambulla
This morning you'll travel inland toward Dambulla and stop at Ridi Vihara shrine, a Buddhist cave temple from the second century BC. You'll see local demonstrations of palm leaf writing and wood and stone carving, then walk through caves with Buddha statues and floral offerings. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll continue to Dambulla for a three-night stay. The rest of the afternoon is yours to rest.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Ridi Viharaya shrine visit
- Buddhist cave temple exploration
- Watch local demonstrations of ancient traditions (palm leaf writing, wood and stone carving)
- Lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Ridi Vihara - Day 3
Sigiriya - Muriya Kadawala
You'll start early for Sigiriya (Lion Rock), a dramatic rocky outcrop with a ruined palace on top. The hike is steep, but your leader shares stories about the ancient civilization and the views from up there are worth the climb. Back at the hotel after breakfast, you'll have a relaxing morning, then grab lunch at a local house. Later, you'll head to Muriya Kadawala village to try traditional pottery techniques, sample a local herbal drink and halapa. The afternoon is free.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local house)
Included Activities
- Sigiriya (Lion Rock) visit and climb
- Lunch at local house
- Pottery making experience in Muriya Kadawala village
- Local herbal drink and halapa tasting
Landmarks/POIs Sigiriya (Lion Rock) - Day 4
Polonnaruwa - Minneriya
After breakfast, you'll cycle through Polonnaruwa to check out well-preserved ancient temples, tombs and stupas. You'll see a seven-story royal palace, the rock temple of Gal Vihara and a statue of 12th century king Parakrama I. For lunch, you'll visit a local grandmother's house to learn making dhal curry and pol sambol from scratch. In the afternoon, you'll head to Minneriya National Park to see Sri Lankan elephants, macaques, spot-billed pelicans and other wildlife around the watering hole.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked lunch at local grandmother's house with dhal curry and pol sambol preparation)
Included Activities
- Polonnaruwa bicycle tour
- Ancient Quadrangle complex exploration
- Royal palace and Gal Vihara temple visit
- Cooking demonstration and lunch at local grandmother's house
- Minneriya National Park entrance and elephant viewing
Landmarks/POIs Polonnaruwa Ancient City Gal Vihara Minneriya National Park - Day 5
Dambulla to Kandy
You'll travel to Kandy, stopping in Matale to visit a local spice garden and learn about spices that shaped Sri Lanka's heritage. In Kandy, your leader will take you through the city to see Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), which houses a relic of Buddha's tooth. Kandy's the second largest city but laid back and good for exploring. Your evening is open for finding a curry place, wandering the glittering lake, or catching an optional cultural dance performance.
Included Activities
- Matale spice garden visit
- Kandy city guided tour
- Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) visit
Optional Activities
- Kandy cultural dance performance - USD 7
Landmarks/POIs Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) Kandy Lake - Day 6
Ambagasthenna
After a slow morning, you'll drive to Ambagasthenna village where Mr Thilina, a hotel and tea plantation owner, shows you around. You'll have a home-cooked lunch from Mr Thilina's mother, then tour his tea plantation and learn about cultivation. He'll talk about local crops, sustainable farming and ancient landscaping. The day wraps up with a beer and sunset from one of Sri Lanka's best viewpoints.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked meal prepared by Mr Thilina's mother)
Included Activities
- Ambagasthenna village tour with local guide
- Home-cooked lunch at Mr Thilina's house
- Tea plantation visit
- Tea cultivation learning and Sri Lankan tea tasting
- Sunset viewing at local viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Ambagasthenna Tea Plantation - Day 7
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
You'll leave Kandy and board a scenic morning train to Nuwara Eliya, sitting at 1800 m elevation in tea plantation country. On arrival, you'll take an orientation walk around town and along Gregory Lake's peaceful shores. You'll check into the Grand Hotel, a National Heritage Property with classic decor and modern amenities. After settling in, you'll have high tea with Ceylon black, green or spiced tea, finger sandwiches and sweet treats.
- Meals
- Breakfast (High tea featuring Ceylon black, green or spiced tea, finger sandwiches and sweet treats)
Included Activities
- Scenic train ride to Nuwara Eliya
- Nuwara Eliya orientation walk
- Gregory Lake walk
- High tea at Grand Hotel
Landmarks/POIs Gregory Lake Grand Hotel - Day 8
Nuwara Eliya to Colombo
You'll leave Nuwara Eliya's green hills and head to Colombo, Sri Lanka's coastal capital. On the way, you'll stop at a tea factory and plantations near Labukelle and have lunch at a local restaurant. Once in Colombo, your leader will give you an orientation walk showing the old parliament building, the National Museum and fair trade shops. You'll end with a final group dinner at a modern restaurant featuring Sri Lankan spices like peanut-crusted tuna with gotu-kola sambol and fragrant vegetable curry.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant), Dinner (Farewell dinner at modern restaurant with Sri Lankan spice-focused cuisine including peanut-crusted tuna with gotu-kola sambol and fragrant vegetable curry)
Included Activities
- Tea factory and plantation visit near Labukelle
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Colombo orientation walk
- Parliament building viewing
- National Museum viewing
- Fair trade souvenir shopping recommendations
- Farewell dinner at modern restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Sri Lanka Parliament Building National Museum of Colombo - Day 9
Colombo (Departure)
Your trip ends after breakfast this morning. If you want to stay longer in Colombo, contact your booking agent ahead of time to arrange extra accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend stay in Colombo (arrange with booking agent in advance)
