11 Days | Spot wildlife on safari, soak up some beach-side sun and sip the finest Sri Lankan tea
.jpg?width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
.jpg?width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
.jpg?width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
.jpg?width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)

On this trip we’ve taken Sri Lanka, boiled it like the tea leaves the country is famous for and strained out the most delicious stuff. Wandering past barracuda at the Negombo Fish Market, searching for elephants in Yala, munching a spicy curry in Ella and getting horizontal on the beach in Unawatuna, this 11-day tour is a Sri Lanka snapshot.
Trip overview

- Start
- Negombo, Sri Lanka
- Finish
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Theme
- 18 to 29s
- 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
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 18 - Max 29
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- HPYL
Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences
Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time
You book, we donate to help support local communities
- Cruise around in a 4WD on a wildlife safari, searching for elephants and leopards, then relax lakeside at tranquil Tissa.
- Get a taste for the vibrant culture in Sir Lanka with visits to the sensational Negombo Fish Market, the bustling markets of Colombo, and the tranquil Kandy Lake.
- Learn the benefits of washing down a spicy curry with piping-hot Ceylon tea during lunch in a lush mountain village near Ella.
- Leave the imprint of you face on the train window as you stare out wide-eyed from Kandy to Ella – it’s basically a 6-hour movie of amazing scenery.
- Two nights on Unawatuna's golden, palm-lined beaches can cure almost all of life’s problems, including any residual tightness in your photo-taking finger.
- This trip puts the power in your hands – there are few inclusions, so you’ll have plenty of freedom to decide what you want to do.
- At 6 hours, the train ride from Kandy to Ella is the longest travel day. But the only reason you’ll want to get off this train is to charge your camera after what is basically a long, natural photoshoot.
- The road from Ella to Tissa Lake takes a winding road down the mountains to the coast, which means it can get frustratingly slow. But don't worry it also means that you’ll get to see the awesome scenery from literally every angle.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2025
Inclusions
10 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Public bus, Train, Private vehicle
Hotel (10 nights)
- Negombo - Fish market
- Mawanella - Spice Garden visit
- Kandy - Scenic train ride to Ella
- Ella - Trek to Ella Gap
- Ella - Nine Arch Bridge
- Ella - Lunch at a Local Family Home
- Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari
- Galle - Walking tour
- Colombo – Guided market visit
- Galle - Local train ride to Colombo
- Kandy - Cultural Dance Performance - USD7
- Kandy - Botanical Gardens - USD10
- Kandy - Temple of the Tooth - USD7
- Dambulla - Cave temples (entrance) - USD7
- Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress (entrance) - USD30
- Kandy - Cooking Class in a Sinhalese Home - USD12
- Mirissa - Whale Watching (Nov to Mar) - USD70
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. 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.
2. The Perahera Festival is a 10-day period of evening processions to honour the Sacred Tooth, which is enshrined at Kandy's Temple of the Tooth. Each night features thousands of perfomers, including dancers, drummers, and a parade of more than 50 decorated elephants. Due to Intrepid's stance on elephant cruelty we do not visit the Perahera Festival and cannot purchase tickets on your behalf.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
4. Train tickets are in very high demand. We always try our best to secure tickets, but on the rare occasion that we cannot book them, you will continue your journey by private vehicle.
5. All visitors to Sri Lanka will need to pay mandatory local covid insurance of 12 USD with one month cover of 50,000 USD
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 InformationReviews
Filter by rating