Sri Lanka Explorer
Tour Description
Day 1: Negombo
If you’re looking for a place where Hindu temples, Buddhist shrines, churches and mosques can all be found on the same stretch, Sri Lanka’s melting pot should be next on your list. On this 12-day adventure, you’ll head from laidback Negombo to ancient Anuradhapura. Explore the secrets of the north, the hidden places of Jaffna and the beautiful coastline of Trincomalee. Learn about the spiritual heart of the country in the temples of Kandy, look out for local wildlife on safaris and spend time with locals keen to share their homes, food and stories.
Itinerary
Day 1: Negombo
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.
Day 2: Anuradhapura
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.
Day 3: Jaffna
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.
Day 4: Jaffna
Today, you’ll explore more of Jaffna with your leader. Visit Nagadipa Temple on Nainativu Island – the only major Buddhist site in the north of the country (where Buddha himself is said to have visited to settle a dispute between two local kings) and accessible by local ferry. Just by the jetty is also the Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil – a colourful Hindu Temple dedicated to Meenakshi. Back in Jaffna, tour the city with your leader, heading to the beautiful library that’s recently been restored after being destroyed in the war. See the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil – an important local Hindu site. Tonight, visit a local home and learn to cook traditional Jaffna cuisine, then enjoy the fruits of your labour for dinner.
Day 5: Trincomalee
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.
Day 6: Trincomalee
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 climb aboard a local boat for some whale and dolphin watching in the bay. Or sit back, relax and enjoy the lazy beach lifestyle.
Day 7: Dambulla
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.
Day 8: Dambulla
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.
Day 9: Kandy
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.
Day 10: Kandy
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.
Day 11: Colombo
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.
Day 12: Colombo
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.
Departure Dates
| Start Date | End Date | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2024 | Oct 3, 2024 | $2,750.00 | |
| Sep 29, 2024 | Oct 10, 2024 | $2,740.00 | |
| Oct 13, 2024 | Oct 24, 2024 | $2,776.00 | |
| Oct 27, 2024 | Nov 7, 2024 | $2,362.00 | |
| Nov 17, 2024 | Nov 28, 2024 | $3,215.00 | |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Dec 19, 2024 | $3,265.00 | |
| Dec 15, 2024 | Dec 26, 2024 | $3,265.00 | |
| Dec 22, 2024 | Jan 2, 2025 | $3,330.00 | |
| Dec 29, 2024 | Jan 9, 2025 | $3,265.00 | |
| Jan 5, 2025 | Jan 16, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Jan 12, 2025 | Jan 23, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Jan 26, 2025 | Feb 6, 2025 | $3,278.00 | |
| Feb 9, 2025 | Feb 20, 2025 | $3,485.00 | |
| Feb 23, 2025 | Mar 6, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Mar 9, 2025 | Mar 20, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Mar 16, 2025 | Mar 27, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Mar 30, 2025 | Apr 10, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Apr 6, 2025 | Apr 17, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Apr 13, 2025 | Apr 24, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Apr 20, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Apr 27, 2025 | May 8, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| May 11, 2025 | May 22, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| May 25, 2025 | Jun 5, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Jun 15, 2025 | Jun 26, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Jul 6, 2025 | Jul 17, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Jul 13, 2025 | Jul 24, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Jul 20, 2025 | Jul 31, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Jul 27, 2025 | Aug 7, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Aug 3, 2025 | Aug 14, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Aug 10, 2025 | Aug 21, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Aug 17, 2025 | Aug 28, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Aug 24, 2025 | Sep 4, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Aug 31, 2025 | Sep 11, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Sep 7, 2025 | Sep 18, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Sep 14, 2025 | Sep 25, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Sep 21, 2025 | Oct 2, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Sep 28, 2025 | Oct 9, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Oct 5, 2025 | Oct 16, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Oct 12, 2025 | Oct 23, 2025 | $3,350.00 | |
| Oct 19, 2025 | Oct 30, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Oct 26, 2025 | Nov 6, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Nov 2, 2025 | Nov 13, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Nov 9, 2025 | Nov 20, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Nov 16, 2025 | Nov 27, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Nov 23, 2025 | Dec 4, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Nov 30, 2025 | Dec 11, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Dec 7, 2025 | Dec 18, 2025 | $3,320.00 | |
| Dec 14, 2025 | Dec 25, 2025 | $3,450.00 | |
| Dec 21, 2025 | Jan 1, 2026 | $3,450.00 | |
| Dec 28, 2025 | Jan 8, 2026 | $3,450.00 | |
| Jan 4, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Jan 11, 2026 | Jan 22, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Jan 25, 2026 | Feb 5, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Feb 8, 2026 | Feb 19, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Mar 5, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Mar 8, 2026 | Mar 19, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Mar 15, 2026 | Mar 26, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Mar 29, 2026 | Apr 9, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Apr 16, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Apr 12, 2026 | Apr 23, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Apr 19, 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Apr 26, 2026 | May 7, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| May 10, 2026 | May 21, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| May 24, 2026 | Jun 4, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Jun 14, 2026 | Jun 25, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Jul 5, 2026 | Jul 16, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Jul 12, 2026 | Jul 23, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Jul 19, 2026 | Jul 30, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Jul 26, 2026 | Aug 6, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Aug 2, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Aug 9, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Aug 16, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Aug 23, 2026 | Sep 3, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Aug 30, 2026 | Sep 10, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Sep 6, 2026 | Sep 17, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Sep 13, 2026 | Sep 24, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Sep 20, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 8, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | Oct 22, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 29, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Nov 19, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Dec 10, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Dec 17, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Dec 13, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | $3,490.00 | |
| Dec 27, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | $3,490.00 |