Explore Sri Lanka through art & culture

Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport - Negombo

Tag 1: Relax on the coast

Hello, Sri Lanka! Touchdown in Colombo's international airport, meet a representative, and transfer for about 15 minutes to Negombo - a popular beach destination on the west coast.

There, check into your hotel and enjoy time to relax, soaking up the sun and comfort of soft, golden sands. If you'd rather be on your feet and exploring, set out into the old quarter's charming colonial-era streets and marvel at the Dutch Fort. Watch as fishermen untangle their nets along the network of Dutch canals connecting to the Negombo Lagoon, then settle down for a taste of the fresh local seafood.

Negombo - Kandy

Tag 2: Journey to Kandy

Today you will be transferred from coastal Negombo into the central highlands, where you will arrive into one of the country's more beautiful cities, Kandy - the capital of Sri Lanka's central province. The journey is expected to take about four hours, but is scenic and filled with wonder.

Spend the afternoon exploring the cultural jewel of Sri Lanka. Kandy is an enigmatic city full of local and colonial architecture, spiritual temples, and friendly locals who are passionate about their home city. The atmosphere is both charming and vibrant; luscious hills surround the urban center and enclose the Buddhist treasures that reside within.

Kandy

Tag 3: Immerse yourself in a world of art

Spend the day with a creative and nature-loving couple from Kandy; they are the proud owners of an endearing eco-lodge, which you'll go on to explore. The wife is a gifted creative writer with a passion for travel, destination writing and cultural history; over the years, she has contributed to a number of digital platforms and reputable magazines. The husband, meanwhile, is a gifted painter who spends his time depicting natural wonders, local people, and the colorful heritage that flows through Sri Lanka. His portfolio has been displayed at local art exhibitions, and is widely revered by both local and international art enthusiasts.

Today, you'll get your bearings and learn all about their lifestyle: immerse yourself in rural Kandy, get stuck into daily practices, and get ready for your upcoming painting classes.
A delicious home-cooked lunch is also included today.

Kandy

Tag 4: Deep-dive into writing & cooking lessons

Now that you've orientated yourself in the luscious surrounds of Kandy, spend another exciting day with your hosts. On the agenda today is a fantastic writing workshop. Under the expert guidance of your host, you'll learn the tricks of the trade and delve into a creative flow you didn't know you had.

After a pleasing morning putting pen to paper, you'll have worked up quite the appetite. Learn to cook a traditional meal with your host, and gain insight into the delicate balance of spices and ingredients that make Sri Lankan cuisine so distinctive. Prepare delicious local recipes from scratch and discover new dishes; many of the ingredients you'll be handling are harvested fresh from the luscious surrounds of Kandy. After a fortifying lunch, take a wander around the verdant grasslands and enjoy Kandy's splendid countryside.

Kandy

Tag 5: Explore Kandy, a painter's dream

With your talented host, head out into Kandy for the day to paint some of the its iconic, multicolored sites. The town is an artist's dream: it is brimming with a life longing to be captured.

Throughout the day, your host will give you a continual masterclass in landscape techniques; this will give you a newfound appreciation for the rolling hills and vibrant market settings of Kandy. Explore some local favorites, discover hidden gems, and perfect your artistic skills. You'll also be treated to a tantalizing Sri Lankan meal to fuel that creativity.

Kandy

Tag 6: Another day of painting in Kandy

Today you'll explore the delights of Kandy for a second day, with paints and an easel for company. Once again, you'll be under the creative guidance of your hosts. Implementing the landscape skills from yesterday, you'll finesse your technique and learn more about mastering the intricacies of a good painting. Discover brand-new sights and challenges as you deepen your inner artistic skills. A delicious lunch is included in the middle of the day, to help you refuel as you go.

Kandy - Sigiriya - Kandy

Tag 7: The artistic wonders of Dambulla & Sigiriya

Drive for about three hours from the hill station city of Kandy to Dambulla, where you'll immerse yourself in the aesthetic heritage of the country by visiting two historic sites: the Dambulla Cave and Sigiriya Fortress, both of which paved the way for the style of painting found in Sri Lanka.

The vividly colored frescoes on the cave's walls and ceiling make this the largest antique painted surface in the world. It’s recommended to visit the caves in reverse order, beginning with number five, to witness them in increasing degrees of magnificence. Meanwhile, the Sigiriya complex's frescoes form a huge tapestry that once covered an area of approximately 5,600 sq m. Only 19 paintings survive today, and you'll get the chance to marvel at them on your visit.

You will then be transferred back to the scenic city of Kandy, about two hours and 30 minutes away, to relax in your hotel.

Kandy - Ella - Yala National Park

Tag 8: Take a scenic train ride to Ella

Climbing aboard the famed train from Kandy to Ella is a must-do when visiting Sri Lanka. The nostalgic train ride was built by the British during the colonial period in 1864; back then, it was used to transport tea and coffee from Ella to the shipping port in Colombo. It remains one of most scenic train journeys in the world and has essentially become a tourist attraction in itself. The train winds through pretty tea estates, crosses bridges, and passes by cascading waterfalls, spanning a journey of about seven hours.

In Ella, descend through the scenic landscape to the countryside, towards the dry zone of southern Sri Lanka. Travel for about two hours and 30 minutes to reach your final destination for today: Yala National Park. There, enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner in your camp's serene surroundings and relax under the stars in front of a roaring fire.

Yala National Park - Galle - Negombo

Tag 9: Yala - Negombo

Take an early morning game drive (with breakfast included) through Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's leopard country, where the leopard density is higher than any other place in the world. In the cool hours of the day the park's residents are more active, so you may spot its beautiful Asian elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer, regal peacocks, and crocodiles.

Next, travel along the scenic south coast to the port city of Galle, well-known for its old Dutch heritage. Explore this historic place, whose fort is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved sea fort in South Asia, before kicking back with a chilled beer or glass of wine at one of the local restaurants.

You will then be transferred along the Matara - Colombo highway and taken to your hotel back in Negombo, less than three hours away. Relax and unwind in coastal bliss on your final night in Sri Lanka.

Negombo - Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport

Tag 10: Transfer to the airport

Today you will be transferred from your accommodation to the airport, about 15 minutes away, in time for your departing flight. Your art-filled Sri Lankan adventure has come to an end - have a safe journey home!