Twelve days from the west coast to the deep south, taking in just about everything Sri Lanka does well. You'll climb for the view over Sigiriya Rock Fortress, pick tea with the women who do it for a living, ride the Ella train that everyone bangs on about (deservedly), and go looking for wild elephants at sunrise in Udawalawe. Then it's straight to the coast — a surf lesson at Weligama, yoga at a beachfront eco retreat in Talalla, and a farewell dinner on the sand in Mirissa. For every booking on this trip, £1 / $1 / €1 goes to a local community project in Sri Lanka, and mangrove trees are planted. Small group, big country, zero admin. Let's goooo! 🇱🇰🐘
Negombo → Sigiriya → Kandy → Ella → Udawalawe → Talalla → Mirissa
Sri Lanka
7 stops
Land in Colombo and we'll be there to meet you and run you over to our beachfront hotel in Negombo. Take the rest of the day at your own pace — feet in the Indian Ocean, first Lion beer, first proper rice and curry. This evening you'll meet your leader and the crew you're spending the next 12 days with.
We start the only way you should in Sri Lanka: piled into tuk tuks for a spin around the seaside town of Negombo. There's a stop at the local markets before we point north to Sigiriya and check in to our hotel — pool, aircon, ensuites, the lot. Get an early night, because tomorrow you're climbing a rock.
This morning we climb the rock facing the ancient Sigiriya Rock Fortress — 360 degrees of jungle, lakes and that famous slab of stone right in front of you. Afterwards we head into a local village to see how rural Sri Lanka actually lives, travelling the way they do and crossing the lake by boat. It finishes with a cooking demonstration from the village ladies, and yes, you get to eat it.
Goodbye Sigiriya, hello Kandy — the cultural heart of the country. We break the drive at a spice garden to find out where cinnamon, cardamom and the rest of it actually come from, then visit the Temple of the Tooth, the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka.
Yes. This tour is for travellers aged 18 to 49 on the day it starts, and we can't book anyone outside that range. If you're outside it, get in touch and we'll help you find a tour that suits you.
Included: 11 nights' accommodation, 16 meals, every activity on the itinerary, all transport between destinations, your airport pick-up when you land, and a group leader with you for the whole 12 days. There are no local payments and nothing to pay on the ground.
Not included: international flights, travel insurance (which is compulsory), your Sri Lanka visa/ETA fee, and spending money for the meals that are not listed, drinks and shopping.
Because everything on the itinerary is already paid for, your spending money goes further than you would expect. Most travellers on this tour budget around £300 / $400 USD / €350 / $600 AUD for the 12 days, which covers the meals that are not included, drinks, souvenirs and any onward travel.
A Wise travel card is the easiest way to spend in Sri Lankan Rupee without your bank's exchange fees. ATMs are easy to find, but carry some cash too, as plenty of smaller places do not take cards.
Groups on this tour usually run between 8 and 14 people, with a maximum of 16. Everyone is aged 18 to 40s and they come from all over the world, so the mix is different on every departure.
Most people book on their own, so if you are travelling solo you are in very good company. You will get a welcome email from your group leader around two weeks before you fly, and we will add you to a Facebook group for your departure before that so you can say hello early.
An average level of fitness is plenty. There are a few hikes on this trip. The climb to the Sigiriya Rock viewpoint and Little Adam's Peak in Ella are the two big ones, and the views make them worth it, but neither is especially strenuous and most people get up without any trouble.
Everything is optional. If you would rather sit one out and stay by the pool, just tell your guide.
Of course! We encourage everyone to talk over our social networks. You can find a list of them at the bottom of this page. If you’ve joined a tour, we will send you an invite to a dedicated Facebook group made for your tour a few weeks before it starts. Your tour guide and a tour manager will also be in the group to answer any questions you may have. You can also join the General Discussion Board on Facebook!
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