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Map of Sri Lanka Explorer including Sri Lanka

Explore ruins, relax on stunning beaches, and discover secrets and hidden beauty of Sri Lanka

Drive along the road in Sri Lanka and you can pass Hindu temples, Buddhist shrines, churches and mosques all on the same stretch. This fusion – found in the history, the culture, the Arabian, Indian and European-inspired food – makes Sri Lanka a delicious melting pot to explore. From laid-back Negombo venture through ancient Anuradhapura to the lesser explored north, the secrets and hidden places of Jaffna, and on to the beautiful coastline of Trincomalee. Discover the spiritual heart of the country in the temples of Kandy, and enjoy the natural world too, in a country that overflows with plants and wildlife. Spend time with locals keen to share their homes, food, and stories on an adventure that will leave you with many of your own to tell.

Start
Negombo, Sri Lanka
Finish
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Destination
Sri Lanka
Style
Original
Theme
Explorer
Code
HPSS
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Considered to be off-limits for years due to the civil war, the gates to culture filled Jaffna are open to adventurers once more. Discover Tamil culture in this colourful city.

  • Open skies, swaying palm trees and glittering waters – Trincomalee beach is a postcard-perfect landscape for relaxation. Kick back in the sun on this bright and sandy shoreline.

  • Witness ritual and devotion in the spiritual heart of the country during a visit to Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth and stop by a local village to join the community in making a traditional Tamil meal.

  • Observe wild elephants from basic 'tree houses' and hopefully catch an outstanding sunset in Wasgamuwa National Park, one of the most biodiverse protected areas in Sri Lanka.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Jaffna has opened up to tourism after being off-limits to visitors for the past 30 years, meaning it is quieter, less developed and services and accommodation are not yet quite up to the same standard as the rest of the country.

  • 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.

sri-lanka_kandy_temple-of-the-sacred-tooth_locals
Explore the Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress
Fire dance performance, Kandy
Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka
Wild elephants in Wasgamuwa National Park, Sri Lanka
Langur monkeys can be spotted all around Sri Lanka
Take a guided cycling tour around Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Itinerary
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Ayu-bowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the town of Negombo, located close to the international airport. You can arrive at any time on Day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting at 5.30 pm. Those arriving early can get into the spirit of seaside Sri Lanka by observing the local fishing craft and perhaps feasting on fresh seafood. The beautiful surrounding countryside is best explored on a bicycle, which you can rent with help from the hotel reception.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Negombo - Spirit of Negombo Urban Adventure - USD60
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information

Those who arrive early can dive straight into it by joining our local Urban Adventure - Spirit of Negombo. First check out the sights on foot and then take a leisurely boat tour, all while soaking up some epic views and learning all about the history and culture of Negombo. If you’d prefer to explore on your own, perhaps stroll the seaside observing the local fishing craft and perhaps feasting on fresh seafood. The beautiful surrounding countryside is best explored on a bicycle, which you can rent with help from the hotel reception.

Travel north by private vehicle (approximately 4 hours) to Anuradhapura. The grand ruins of Anuradhapura point to its status as Sri Lanka’s ruling city for almost one and a half millennia. Take a guided cycling tour of the large number of archaeological sites – the stupas, citadel and monasteries – and stop by the Bodhi Tree Temple, the second-most sacred site in Sri Lanka.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Anuradhapura - Bodhi Tree Temple
  • Anuradhapura - World Heritage Site of ancient kingdom ruins
  • Anuradhapura - Bike tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Following government travel advisories, we are currently unable to visit the Fish Market in Negombo at this time.

If you don't feel like cycling, there’s the option to have a wander around the ruins on foot or hire a rickshaw to follow the group.

Travel north (approximately 4 hours) to the coastal Tamil town of Jaffna, inaccessible for years due to the civil war. Journey around the Jaffna Peninsula, taking in Point Pedro (Sri Lanka’s northernmost point), 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.


Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaffna - Jaffna Peninsula tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Due to recent safety incidents in Sri Lanka we are unfortunately unable to take trains and public buses until further notice. These journeys will be completed by private vehicle.

Today we have plenty of time to explore more of Jaffna. 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 including the beautiful library that has been lovingly restored after being detroyed in the war, and the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, an important local Hindu site. In the evening, spend time with a local family and learn to cook traditional Jaffna cuisine.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jaffna - Nagadeepa Temple
  • Jaffna - Cooking class & family visit
  • Jaffna - Jaffna Library
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Sadly, two of the family members who host our groups for the culinary experience are seriously ill and will be given homecare treatments for the next few months. We wish them a full recovery and have offered our support during this difficult time. Dinner is still included and we will be providing you with a delicious alternative experience for you to enjoy.

Leave Jaffna today and travel to Trincomalee (approximately 4 hours). 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 beach.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Take the free day to enjoy a range of optional activities like visiting the colorful and intricate Pathirakali Amman Hindu temple, or climb aboard a boat for some whale and dolphin watching in the bay. Don’t feel like doing anything? Then simply sit back, relax and enjoy the peaceful beach lifestyle.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Snorkelling at Pigeon Island - USD40
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Drive from Trincomalee towards Habarana (approximately 2 hours), a small but scenic village that serves as a base to exploring the colourful Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple. This wondrous UNESCO Heritage-listed 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 Habarana, there’s the option of going elephant, sambar deer and leopard watching on a safari in the evergreen scrublands of Minneriya National Park.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Dambulla - Cave Temples
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today visit Sigiriya's Lion Rock, an ancient carved-rock fortress that rises dramatically above the surrounding plains. Then enjoy a wildlife safari at Minneriya National Park, home to Sri Lankan elephants and Sri Lankan sloth bears, and also claimed to be the best National Park in the world to witness elephants in large herds in their natural habitat, especially in the dry season from July to October. Return to Dambulla for the night and enjoy some free time in the evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sigiriya - Lion Rock
  • Minneriya National Park - Wildlife Safari
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

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.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kandy - Spice garden visit
  • Kandy - Private cultural dance performance
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Start the day off in Kandy 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. Afterwards, 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.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kandy - Temple of the Tooth with pooja ceremony
  • Kandy - Tea factory visit
  • Kandy - Palmyrah Toddy Experience
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Drive on towards Colombo today, the nation's capital. Stop by some of the city's main sights on a bus tour including Independence Square, Parliament, and past the National Museum, finishing with a shopping opportunity for a good cause 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 are lucky enough to be in Colombo on a Saturday, 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.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Colombo - City Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
As per government travel advice, we are avoiding visiting the Pettah Bazaar in Colombo at this time.

There are no activities planned for day 12 and you are able to depart the hotel at any time. Check out time from the hotel is 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel. Additional accommodation is available through your booking agent at the time of booking your trip.
Optional Activities
  • Colombo - Colombo by Tuk Tuk Urban Adventure - USD55
  • Colombo - Eat, Eat, Repeat Urban Adventure - USD55
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

10 breakfasts, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (11 nights)

Included activities

  • Anuradhapura - Bodhi Tree Temple
  • Anuradhapura - World Heritage Site of ancient kingdom ruins
  • Anuradhapura - Bike tour
  • Jaffna - Jaffna Peninsula tour
  • Jaffna - Nagadeepa Temple
  • Jaffna - Cooking class & family visit
  • Jaffna - Jaffna Library
  • Dambulla - Cave Temples
  • Sigiriya - Lion Rock
  • Minneriya National Park - Wildlife Safari
  • Kandy - Spice garden visit
  • Kandy - Private cultural dance performance
  • Kandy - Temple of the Tooth with pooja ceremony
  • Kandy - Tea factory visit
  • Kandy - Palmyrah Toddy Experience
  • Colombo - City Tour

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Sri Lanka Explorer trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

Travellers on Intrepid trips are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Read details here.

1. A single supplement is available on this trip and is valid for all nights on tour.
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.

PASSPORT DETAILS: Full passport details are required for the train journey. Without them we cannot purchase train tickets. Please advise them at the time of booking.

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.

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