Sri Lanka Explorer - 12 Days

Ayu-bowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the town of Negombo, located close to the international airport. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5.30 pm tonight. Those arriving early can get into the spirit of seaside Sri Lanka by observing the local fishing craft and maybe feasting on some fresh seafood. The surrounding countryside is best explored on a bicycle, which you can rent with help from the hotel reception. After your meeting tonight, maybe head out to an optional group dinner to get to know each other.

Travel north by private vehicle to Anuradhapura today. Along the way, you’ll visit the Negombo Fish Markets. The grand ruins of Anuradhapura point to its status as Sri Lanka’s ruling city for almost one and a half millennia and you’ll take a guided cycling tour of the many archaeological sites when you arrive. See the stupas, citadel and the monasteries, stopping by the Bodhi Tree Temple – the second-most sacred site in Sri Lanka. The rest of your evening is free.

Travel north by train to the coastal Tamil town of Jaffna – inaccessible for years due to the civil war. Journey around the Jaffna Peninsula, soaking in the views of Point Pedro – Sri Lanka’s northernmost point. You’ll also stop to see the healing waters of Keerimalai Spring, the ruined dagobas of Kantarodai and Nilawari – a bottomless well where it’s said that the Hindu God Rama shot an arrow to get water. Tonight, visit a local home and learn to cook traditional Jaffna cuisine, then enjoy the fruits of your labour for dinner.

Today, you’ll explore more of Jaffna with your leader. First, you’ll head to a hands-on pottery class that’s run by a local, family-owned business. The local potter will show you the different techniques and teach you about the art of pottery. Then, you’ll get to shape and mould your own creations, making a small pot to take home! After, you’ll head to lunch in a local Hindu home. Feast on a traditional vegetarian meal and learn more about the Hindu population in Jaffna. This afternoon, you’ll head to a beautiful library that’s recently been restored after being destroyed in the war. See the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil – an important local Hindu site – then return to your accommodation for a relaxing evening.

Leave Jaffna today and travel to Trincomalee. Discover the beach vibes of ‘Trinco’, relax in the shade of a palm tree and try ‘toddy’ straight from its flowers. Trincomalee was one of the world’s finest deep-water harbours, attracting famous sailors like Marco Polo to its shores. There are no activities planned today, so there's plenty of time to relax around the pool or head to the beach.

Today, visit a local village and learn how local tappers extract toddy from Palmyrah and learn how palmyrah leaves are weaved to make different items. Then, join the local women and see how odiyal kool is prepared (Tamil seafood soup), then try some for yourself. In the afternoon you’ll have free time to maybe visit the colourful and intricate Pathirakali Amman Hindu temple or sit back, relax and enjoy the lazy beach lifestyle.

Drive from Trincomalee towards Dambulla – your base to explore the colourful Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple – this UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, many of which are full of colourful, large statues and paintings related to Gautama Buddha and his life. After returning to Dambulla, there’s the option of going elephant, sambar deer and leopard watching on a safari in the evergreen scrublands of Minneriya National Park.

Today you’ll visit Sigiriya's Lion Rock – this ancient carved-rock fortress that rises dramatically above the surrounding plains is a UNESCO World Heritage site and if you’re game, you can climb the many stairs to see the amazing views of the surrounding jungle. Then, head out for a wildlife safari at Minneriya National Park – home to Sri Lankan elephants and sloth bears, and claimed to be the best National Park in the world to witness elephants in large herds in their natural habitat (between July and December). Return to Dambulla for the night for a free evening.

Leave Dambulla and head onwards to Kandy (approximately 3.5 hours), the last capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings era. As you continue on, a stop in 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, visit a Kandayan dance show to experience the colourful traditional costumes and evocative performances live in action.

Start the day with a visit to the Giragama Tea Factory for an insight into local production techniques, then head to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This golden roofed temple is home to Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. After, enjoy the rest of the day with free exploration of the city. Perhaps take a walk around the beautiful lake in the centre of town, explore the local Buddhist temple or while away the afternoon amongst the trees and flowers of the Royal Palace Park.

Drive to Colombo today – the nation's capital. Stop by some of the city's main sights on a bus tour, including Independence Square, Parliament and the National Museum. End your tour with a spot of shopping at the Barefoot Fair-Trade Store. Here, you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. If you’re lucky enough to be in Colombo on a Saturday, you can visit Good Market – a local market full of stalls showcasing social enterprises and responsible businesses. Tonight, there's an optional final group dinner to celebrate your journey together.

There are no activities planned for today and you can depart the hotel at any time. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.