A Taste of Sri Lanka
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Negombo
Today you’ll arrive in Negombo, a modest beach town on the palm-fringed west coast, just 20 minutes from the airport. Your accommodation is within walking distance of the beach and local restaurants, so you could take a gentle stroll or hop in a tuk-tuk to explore the town – it’s completely up to you. It’s a peaceful spot to kick start your Sri Lanka holiday.
Day 2 – Climb Sigiriya and onto Polonnaruwa
Today you’ll depart the coast and head inland towards Sri Lanka’s ‘cultural triangle’. After a few hours drive you’ll see Sigiriya’s mighty rock fortress come into view. This is where the palace of King Kasyapa once stood. It’s a steep climb to the top of the rock but you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the wild green jungle. Then continue onto your hotel.
Day 3 – Polonnaruwa cycling & safari in Minneriya National Park
This morning you’ll explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Polonnaruwa by bike. The town was once the capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient capital and there are many interesting relics leftover from this period. After you’ve pedalled your way through the ancient ruins, it’s time for lunch in a small authentic restaurant.
In the afternoon, for something totally different, you’ll head into nearby Minneriya National Park on a jeep safari. The park is home to large herds of wild elephants, which are easy to spot and observe, due to the wide, open landscape. Between the drier months of June and September in particular, hundreds of elephants can be seen gathering around the park’s lakes in search of water.
Day 4 – Kandy’s cultural treasures
Positioned right in the heart of central Sri Lanka and nestled in the lush green ‘hill-country’, you’ll find the historical city of Kandy – which is the next stop on your itinerary. Every evening devotees flock in numbers for blessings at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This evening you can play a tiny part in this spiritual experience by placing flowers on the table and lighting your lamp and joss sticks at the altar of the temple.
Day 5 – Into the tea hills of Ella
This morning you’ll explore Kandy’s historical sights on a guided city tour. Then it’s time to head into the hills. Known for its breathtaking mountain views and endless rolling hills, Ella is a popular small town nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country. If you’d like to experience a train journey, the section between Nuwara Eliya and Ella is one of the most picturesque in the country. We can incorporate the train into today’s journey – just ask your Travel Specialist.
Day 6 – Trek into the mountains
This morning you’ll wake up to the endless mountain views that surround you. We’ve left your time in Ella free for you to explore independently, but we’d recommend lacing up your walking boots and following one of the area’s walking routes. Take a challenging four hour hike to Ella Rock, or a more gentle trek to Little Adam’s Peak.
Day 7 – The wild heart of Yala National Park
After breakfast, depart the hills and travel south towards Sri Lanka’s best-known national park – Yala. The park is famously home to the country’s largest concentration of leopards, but elephants, monkeys, crocodiles and sloth bears also inhabit this vast protected area. In the afternoon you’ll take a jeep safari into the park. You’ll stay overnight in a comfortable tent that comes equipped with a bed and en-suite toilet. In the evening, you can fall asleep to the sounds of nature. If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel, we have a selection of small scale properties close to the park. Ask your Travel Specialist for more details.
Days 8 & 9 – Beach time at Unawatuna
Time for some R&R! It’s a two hour drive (approx) from Yala to the tropical south coast beach of Unawatuna. Time to relax, soak up the sunshine and reflect on your Sri Lankan adventure.
We’ve included two nights in Unawatuna, but if you want to stay longer, let your Travel Specialist know and they will add more beach time into your travel plan.
Day 10 – The capital city of Colombo
After breakfast you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven north to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city, for your final night. This afternoon (or tomorrow morning depending on your preference and flight time), you’ll be picked up by a local guide who’ll take you on a unique city tour by tuk-tuk! It’s an exhilarating way to explore the city and get the true feel for what the capital’s all about.
Day 11 – Departure time
Today you’ll be transferred to the airport in time for your homebound flight. This is a jam-packed itinerary. If you have more time to spare we can add in extra nights here and there to slow down the pace of the trip. Your Travel Specialist will be happy to offer advice and suggestions. Or check out some of our longer roundtrips.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
A Taste of Sri Lanka - In Style
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.
