Sri Lanka: Elephants, Temples & Ocean Trails - 12 Days

Frequently asked questions

• What type of accommodation is provided during the Sri Lanka tour?

  You’ll stay in handpicked boutique hotels, such as Kashapa Lion Rock near Sigiriya, with your first night at the Beacon Beach Hotel in Negombo. Several hotels have pools. One night is spent at a riverside camp in Udawalawe. Rooms are shared with another traveller of the same gender. A private room is available at extra cost.

• What meals are included with the tour?

  15 meals are included: 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners. These include a welcome dinner on arrival, a local culinary experience in Dambulla and a home-cooked lunch with a local family near Sigiriya. Vegetarian options are available at every included meal. Other meals are at your own cost, which leaves you free to try local restaurants and street food.

• What kind of activities can I expect on this 12-day adventure?

  The trip mixes culture, nature and beach time. You’ll climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress, hike to a sunset viewpoint at Pidurangala, explore Dambulla’s cave temples, tour Kandy by tuk-tuk, visit a spice garden and a working tea estate, ride the famous train to Ella, hike Little Adam’s Peak, see elephants in Udawalawe and cycle through paddy fields to Galle Fort. There is also time on the beach in Mirissa and Hikkaduwa, with optional surfing and seasonal whale watching.

• How physically demanding is this tour?

  The trip is rated 2 out of 5, so a reasonable level of fitness is enough. The most active days include climbing Sigiriya Rock, which involves a lot of steps, the hike up Pidurangala, the walk up Little Adam’s Peak and a bike ride through flat paddy fields near Galle. None of these are technical, and you can take them at your own pace.

• What wildlife encounters are included or available?

  On Day 7 you’ll head into Udawalawe National Park, one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants, before spending the night at a riverside camp. Near Sigiriya there is an optional elephant safari. In Mirissa you can join a blue whale watching trip when it’s in season. On the last day you’ll visit a turtle sanctuary on the south coast.

• What are some of the cultural highlights of the trip?

  Highlights include the Dambulla Cave Temple, the ancient Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Pidurangala Buddhist Monastery and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred sites. You’ll also share a lunch at a local family’s home, learn about Sri Lankan spices, see how tea is grown and made, and explore Galle’s historic Dutch Fort. On the final day you’ll stop at the 2004 Tsunami Memorial.

• How will I travel between destinations within Sri Lanka?

  Most journeys are by road with your group and local guide. Along the way you’ll also take the scenic train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, a tuk-tuk tour of Kandy and a bike ride through the countryside to Galle. An arrival airport transfer is included. A departure transfer can be quoted on request.

• What can I expect from the famous train journey to Ella?

  The train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is often called one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world. It winds slowly through hill country, past tea plantations, waterfalls, forest and small villages. Have your camera ready, because the views change around every bend.

• Is there free time for relaxation or optional activities?

  Yes, plenty. You’ll have a free afternoon by the pool near Sigiriya, with an optional elephant safari. Day 6 is a full free day in Ella, where you could relax, book a massage or try one of the optional activities on offer. On the coast you’ll have a free afternoon in Mirissa and relaxed mornings in Mirissa and Hikkaduwa, with options such as surf lessons and seasonal whale watching.

• What is the visit to the Dog Care Clinic about?

  On Day 10 there is an optional visit to a reputable dog care clinic. It’s a chance to see the work being done to care for Sri Lanka’s street dogs and to support a local dog rescue initiative. The visit is entirely optional.

• What is the age range for travellers on this tour?

  Travellers must be at least 18 years old. There is no real upper limit, and the average age on this trip is 32. The group is usually a sociable mix of people travelling solo, as couples and with friends.