Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure

12 Days | Take a bite out of Sri Lanka on a food-filled exploration

4.8 out of 5 based on 84 reviews submitted.
Food
From
EUR €1,841
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Hungry for adventure? This food-focused journey through Sri Lanka hits the spot. Explore the fish market in Negombo, take part in a Sinhalese cooking class in a local home in Kandy, tuck into a Tamil family lunch in Haputale and enjoy a cooking demonstration with a fisherman’s family in Mirissa. Lie back on the coast, cool down in the highlands and weave through the streets of the buzzing capital. When you’re not busy eating, you’ll explore the rich culture of Sri Lanka: elaborate temples, ancient fortresses and wildlife-filled countryside. So, what are you waiting for? Dig in!

Trip overview

Map of Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure including Sri Lanka
Start
Negombo, Sri Lanka
Finish
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Theme
Food
Destinations
Sri Lanka
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
HPZM
This trip generates 42 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Take a look behind closed doors when you’re invited for a home-cooked Tamil lunch in Haputale and feast on a freshly caught meal with a fisherman’s family in Mirissa.
  • Learn the secrets of Sri Lankan cuisine during a cooking class in a Sinhalese home in Kandy and a demonstration in a local home in Bandarawela.
  • Experience some of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable sights, including Lion Rock, the Dambulla Cave Temples, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Yala National Park and Galle Fort.
  • Spoil your tastebuds with flavour-filled curries, seriously fresh seafood, sweet desserts, roti, hoppers, dosa, idli and more.
  • Discover Sri Lanka’s favourite beverage when you visit a tea plantation in Bandarawela, meeting local tea pickers, learning about their craft and tasting a freshly brewed cuppa.

Is this trip right for you?
  • The cuisine of Sri Lanka includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Sri Lanka which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
  • We visit a number of temples on this trip, which requires a certain level of modesty. Please bring clothes that cover the arms and pants/skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.
  • Though its equatorial position means fairly constant year-round temperatures, the summer months in Sri Lanka are very hot with short, sharp monsoons in the south-west of the country. Be sure to use adequate sun protection and drink plenty of water.
  • The Rock Fortress – or Lion Rock – of Sigiriya is spectacular. However, those with a fear of (or even an aversion to) heights may wish to sit the excursion out. Scaling the rock involves walking up lots of rough, narrow steps and tight walkways.
  • In September and October, when Yala National Park is closed annually for infrastructure development and rejuvenation, we visit Udawalawe National Park.
  • Yala National Park is a beautiful, but popular tourist attraction. At times of high visitor numbers, we will change our itinerary to visit Udawalawe National Park. This is to minimise our impact on the wildlife and environment. Please refer to the Itinerary for more details.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024

Map of Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure including Sri Lanka

Inclusions

Meals

10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, train, jeep

Accommodation

Hotel (11 nts)

Activities
  • Negombo - Fish market
  • Madampe - Coconut plantation visit
  • Dambulla - Wholesale Markets tour
  • Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit
  • Sigiriya - Chena Cultivation tour by jeep
  • Dambulla - Cave Temples
  • Matale - Spice Garden tour and lunch
  • Kandy - Temple of the Tooth
  • Kandy - Cooking Class in a Sinhalese Home
  • Kandy - Tea factory visit
  • Kandy - Market wander & tastings
  • Bandarawela - Cooking demonstration & local meal
  • Haputale - Tamil family lunch
  • Bandarawela - Hike through tea fields
  • Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari
  • Tissamaharama - Curd and treacle tasting
  • Weligama - Home-cooked meal
  • Mirissa - Fisherman's Cooking Demonstration and Lunch
  • Galle - Dutch Fort
  • Galle - Walking tour
  • Colombo - City tour by bus
  • Colombo - Dutch Burgher Lunch
  • Colombo - Street food
Add on activities
  • Mirissa - Whale Watching (Nov to Mar) - USD70

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1.Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Intrepid trip commences. This has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Intrepid and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.

2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

3. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.

4. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 based on 84 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Karin · Traveled August 2024
I used Intrepid in the 90’s and loved it and fast forward to today, and still amazing! The Sri Lankan experience was 100% genuine without any hassles! Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
Review submitted 11 Sep 2024

Julia · Traveled August 2024
Sri Lanka is a beautiful island offering many unique experiences. A must do destination. The food tour provided a real grassroots view on Sri Lankan cuisine.
Review submitted 06 Sep 2024

Philip · Traveled August 2024
An excellent trip that got under the skin of Sri Lanka, its food, its people and its culture. Well recommended to all however the hotel by the coast although idyllic should be informed that it’s a party town and sleep is not possible as a consequence of adjacent bar music events.
Review submitted 03 Sep 2024

Daiana · Traveled August 2024
The trip is beautifully organised, excellent experience who brought me to see how people really live in Sri Lanka, the culture, the beauty of these people, the flavours, the green hills, the temples etc.. I’m going back with a smile on the face and I will always remember the smiles of The people here.. beautiful trip
Review submitted 19 Aug 2024

Alessandro · Traveled August 2024
If you really want to know Sri Lanka, not only from a naturalistic and cultural point of view but above all from the ancient culinary traditions rich in dishes and spices that make this territory unique, this is the tour for you
Review submitted 21 Aug 2024
Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure
From
EUR €1,841