A friendly ‘Ayubowan!’ from Sri Lanka, a beautiful island known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, and boasting rich biodiversity and stunning natural landscapes. After disembarking your international flight to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), you will be transferred to your hotel in cosmopolitan Colombo (approximately 50 minutes).
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure – relaxing at the hotel or set out to explore one of Asia’s most beguiling cities, known for its bustling street markets and enchanting cityscapes, blending Dutch colonial mansions and modern structures. Highly recommended are visits to the Colombo National Museum, offering countless unique insights into Sri Lanka’s fascinating past, and the Dutch Hospital, a beautiful terracotta-roofed complex now housing some of the country’s best restaurants, including the world-renowned Ministry of Crab.
After breakfast, head out to meet a senior tea broker at a leading tea-broking firm in Colombo. Discover what happens to the leaves after exiting the factory – you’ll learn how tea is identified, graded and auctioned at the Colombo Tea Auction House, and how it’s acquired and packaged before being sold. The tricks of the trade are laid bare, including how to identify the leaves’ unique geography and blend. The best part? You’ll leave with your own pack of Sri Lankan tea.
In the afternoon, embark on a food walk through the capital. Stroll through local markets, sample street food and visit beloved traditional eateries, taking in the sights, sounds and aromas of a city obsessed with food. Sri Lanka’s rich and fascinating food heritage rewards the hungry and the curious – dishes could include crispy, savoury ‘hopper’ pancakes, coconut flatbread, samosas and spicy, sweet and sour fish curries. To ensure you’ll get a chance to try it all, you’ll be joined by a knowledgeable local guide.
Finish the evening with a drive towards the southern beachside district of Wellawatta (meaning ‘sandy garden’ in Sinhalese). Arrive at The Beach Wadiya, one of Sri Lanka’s most acclaimed restaurants where you’ll be treated to an authentic seafood dinner, plucked straight from the ocean.
After breakfast, travel approximately four hours to the town of Dambulla, a sacred pilgrimage site famous for housing some of the best-preserved Buddhist cave temples in the country. After checking in to your hotel, head to a local restaurant, Saruketha, the perfect place to taste your way around Sri Lanka’s famously spicy cuisine. On arrival at your hotel, enjoy the afternoon at leisure, surrounded by the spectacular beauty of the island’s cultural hinterland.
Today, enjoy a cycling tour through the region’s countless picturesque villages, fertile plains and lush jungles, stopping occasionally to visit a handful of local homes. Meet a local fisherman (and sample the fish, naturally), dance instructor, coconut broom-squire, brick-maker and a village elder who specialises in Ayurvedic medicinal oils. Your journey ends with a short cooking lesson and a delicious lunch at your guide’s home.
Wake up before dawn and glide your way across a secret, lily-covered lake towards Sigiriya, the country’s famous Lion Rock. As the sun rises – bathing the distant outcrop in a mighty golden glow – your guide will share with you the rich folklore and history behind Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress built upon an imposing pillar of rock (the hardened magma plug of an extinct volcano). The site has been a favourite of kings, mystics and archaeologists for thousands of years, and stands at the heart of Sri Lanka’s historic identity.
Enjoy a delicious traditional Sri Lankan breakfast as you glide back across the lake and enjoy the morning at leisure.
In the afternoon, drive approximately one hour to Minneriya National Park, where you’ll enjoy a two- to three-hour jeep safari experience. Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Wewa – a basin built in the 3rd century by King Mahasena – the park is home to herds of grazing elephants, flocks of cormorants and storks and the occasional sambar deer.
Please note: Depending on the movement of the elephants, nearby Kaudulla National Park or Eco Park may be visited instead.
After breakfast, depart Dambulla and drive approximately three hours to Kandy, the island’s second-largest city. Renowned for being a pilgrimage destination for the Temple of the Tooth Relic – a significant spiritual site for Buddhists in Sri Lanka and abroad – the city also has a thriving street food scene.
On the way, stop en route via one of Matale’s many spice gardens, where you’ll be guided through the nation’s rich spice yield. Occasionally called the ‘Spice Island,’ Sri Lanka’s bounty has always drawn fame and fortune, especially its cinnamon, considered by many to be the best in the world. Other crops include pepper, curry leaves, lemongrass, cloves and cardamom. Your visit ends at a local spice shop.
Enjoy your lunch in a recreated ‘kamatha,’ a traditional paddy stack long revered by the island’s farmers (who in ancient times would dedicate their crop to Buddha). With low tables and cushions spread upon the kamatha, and the lush surrounding garden filled with vibrant flowers and greenery, it’s a lunch you won’t soon forget.
After arriving in Kandy – and checking in at the hotel – meet with your group at 6pm for a tour of the city’s most delicious street treats. Sip funky arrack (traditionally served, in Sri Lanka, with ginger beer) and graze on light bites at the city’s famed Royal Bar before heading out to discover what the city has on offer – egg rotis, fresh hoppers and fragrant, spice-fuelled kottu are all on the menu. As you eat, your host will tell you of Kandy’s rich past, vibrant present and exciting future.
After breakfast, head southwest (approximately 4.5 hours) for Galle, a beautiful coastal city steeped in colonial history. As soon as you arrive, head for a mouth-watering lunch at one of the city’s most beloved oceanfront restaurants, Wijaya Beach. Surrounded by sweeping golden sands and gently swaying palms, this venue offers a fabulous lunch overlooking the Indian Ocean’s shimmering waters. Afterwards, relax on warm sands with an included ice-cold beer, the perfect way to soak up the region’s serene ambience, before continuing to your hotel in Galle.
Today, embark on a culinary and cultural journey through Ahangama, known for its picture-perfect beaches and vibrant stilt fishing industry, still a snapshot of what it once was a hundred years ago. Try your hand at the craft, before enjoying a lunch feast of authentic Sri Lankan recipes made with fresh, local ingredients. With an emphasis on traditional methods of cooking, it’s a wonderful glimpse into life as it still exists in Ahangama.
In the afternoon, take a walking tour of Galle Fort, wandering through ramparts and the fortress’s iconic cricket ground. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1588 – and claimed by the Dutch almost a hundred years later – this fortified city offers an intriguing blend of old and new. Visit the lighthouse, old Portuguese harbour, plus countless historic churches and residences.
After one final breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the Jewel of the Indian Ocean. Transfer approximately 2.5 hours to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), where your unforgettable Sri Lankan escape concludes. Please note that your hotel checkout time is 12pm, and surcharges will apply for late stays.