Sri Lanka Explorer - 12 Days

Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the town of Negombo with a welcome meeting at 5.30 pm tonight. If you arrive early, you can get into the spirit of seaside Sri Lanka with a walk, checking out the local fishing boats and maybe feasting on some fresh seafood. You might also like to explore the surrounding countryside on a hired bicycle. 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 and get a feel for daily life in the local fishing community. Continue to Anuradhapura – the grand ruins here point to its status as Sri Lanka’s ruling city for almost one and a half millennia. Hop on a bike for a guided cycling tour of the various archaeological sites like the stupas, citadel and the monasteries. You’ll also stop by the Bodhi Tree Temple – the second-most sacred site in Sri Lanka. The rest of your evening is free to explore on your own. Your leader will have some great suggestions for dinner.

Travel north today 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.

Head out to explore more of Jaffna with your leader today. First up, you’ll head to a hands-on pottery class run by a local, family-owned business, where you’ll learn about the art of pottery and various techniques from the potter. After, head to lunch in a local Hindu home, where you’ll feast on a traditional vegetarian meal and learn more about the Hindu community in Jaffna. This afternoon, visit a beautiful library that was carefully restored after the war, and see the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil – an important local Hindu site. Then, return to your accommodation for a relaxing evening.

Say goodbye to Jaffna and move on to bright and sunny 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.

Visit a local village today and learn how local tappers extract toddy from palmyra trees, and how the leaves of the palmyra are woven into various household items. Then, join some local women to see how odiyal kool (Tamil seafood soup) is prepared and try some for yourself. You’ll have free time this afternoon, so maybe you’d like to visit the colourful and intricate Pathirakali Amman Hindu temple or sit back, relax and enjoy the lazy beach lifestyle.

Drive from Trincomalee towards Dambulla, stopping along the way to visit the Zero Plastic Impact Center. This Intrepid Foundation partner supports almost 100 local artisans producing plastic-alternative products like reusable woven basket bags and clay water bottles. Try your hand at bamboo and coconut shell crafting and take home your own traditional Sri Lankan mask. After, visit the Dambulla Cave Temple – this UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Many of the caves are full of large, colourful statues and paintings related to Gautama Buddha and his life. After returning to Dambulla, there’s the option of a wildlife drive in Minneriya National Park to seek out elephants, sambar deer and leopards in the evergreen scrublands. If you’d prefer to relax, don’t worry, there will be another wildlife outing tomorrow.

Today is a real Sri Lanka highlight – a visit to Sigiriya's Lion Rock. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this ancient, carved-rock fortress rises dramatically above the surrounding plains and, if you’re game, you can climb the many stairs to see the amazing views of the surrounding jungle. After, head out for a wildlife safari at Minneriya National Park – home to Sri Lankan elephants and sloth bears, and claimed to be the best park in the world to witness elephants in large herds in their natural habitat (the best sightings are in August and September). Later, return to Dambulla and enjoy a free evening.

Leave Dambulla this morning and head on to Kandy, the last capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient royal era. On the way, stop at a spice garden, where hints of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, clove, nutmeg and vanilla lace the air as you learn the secrets of cultivating these shelf favourites. When you arrive in Kandy, head to a Kandayan dance show full of colourful traditional costumes.

Start the day with a visit to the Giragama Tea Factory to learn how the famous local tea is grown. 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 to explore on your own. Perhaps you’d like to take a walk around the beautiful lake in the centre of town, visit the local Buddhist temple or while away the afternoon among 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, ending at Barefoot Fair-Trade Store for a spot of shopping. 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.