Off the beaten track: sustainable Sri Lanka

Negombo

Day 1: Welcome to Sri Lanka

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival, you'll be warmly greeted by your driver, who will then drive you to Negombo, a small fishing town on the west coast of Sri Lanka.

Check in to your hotel and relax and unwind getting ready for your trip ahead.

Negombo - Wilpattu National Park

Day 2: Journey to Wilpattu

After breakfast, you will be picked up in Colombo and driven to Wilpattu. The Wilpattu National Park is most popular for its sightings of majestic elephants, lithe leopards, spotted deer, sloth bears, and gigantic crocodiles. Spreading over 1805 square kilometers, it is Sri Lanka’s largest National park.

Upon arrival, check in before venturing for a nature walk with an expert guide to explore the flora and fauna living in the surroundings of your hotel.

Wilpattu National Park

Day 3: A day on safari

Early in the morning, you'll head out on a full-day jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park, which was reopened for visitors just in 2009. The park is home to a diversity of plants and animals like elephants, crocodiles, leopards, and sloth bears. After the safari, you will return to your hotel where you can relax for the rest of the day.

Wilpattu National Park - Sigiriya

Day 4: A scenic drive to Sigiriya

After breakfast, you will be driven to Sigiriya in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Upon arrival, you will check in at your hotel and have some time to relax.

In the afternoon, you can go on an optional jeep safari in the Minneriya National Park. This park is home to the most elephants in the isle!

Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya

Day 5: Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Polonnaruwa

Start the day early before it gets too hot - climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sri Lanka's most popular UNESCO site. Your guide will show you the gardens, amazing cave paintings, and the ruins of the ancient royal palace on the top which was built by King Kashyapa. At the top, you can enjoy a stunning view of the cultural triangle.

Afterward, visit Polonnaruwa where you explore the second medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa enthralls its visitors with a timeless reflection of the country’s glorious history. The “must-sees” of this trip are the remains of the royal palace, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath as well as the Gal Vihara temple.

Sigiriya - Kandy

Day 6: Temples & spices in Kandy

Today, journey to Kandy. On the way, you visit the UNESCO-certified Dambulla Cave Temple which is located on a 150-meter-high magma block. You will experience incredible wall paintings and countless Buddhas sculptured out of the rock!

Afterward, continue to journey. Visit a spice garden and see how spices like pepper and vanilla grow and learn everything about the use of spices in the kitchens of Sri Lanka.

Once you arrive in Kandy, visit the Holy Temple of the Tooth of Kandy where the canine tooth of Lord Buddha is preserved. This relic daily attracts many pilgrims. Together with the believers you attend the Pooja and explore the lived Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Kandy

Day 7: A cooking class & botanical gardens

Start the day with a cooking class; learn how to cook a traditional Sri Lankan dish 'rice and curry', tasting everything as you go!

After, you'll be driven to Peradeniya where you will visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens - Sri Lanka’s largest botanical gardens boasting 150 acres of land. The evening will then be free to enjoy at leisure.

Kandy - Nanu Oya - Ella

Day 8: Tea plantation tour & tasting

After breakfast, drive to Ella in the highlands. On the way, stop in Nanu Oya to visit a local tea factory and learn more about the production of tea and the life of the tea pluggers!

Ella - Bambarakanda - Ella

Day 9: Trek to Bambarakanda Waterfall

Fuel up at breakfast before you begin trekking from Ohiya to Babarakanda Falls, the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. The trail offers stunning views over the tea plantations, passing by abandoned estates, rolling hills, and bubbling streams. You'll navigate the "Devil’s Staircase," a narrow path with three hairpin bends, and then descend through a village and forest to reach Lanka Falls. Finally, you will arrive at Bambarakanda Waterfall and hike to the pickup point where your driver will take you back to your accommodation in Ella for a relaxing rest of the day.

Ella - Wellawaya

Day 10: Journey to Wellawaya

After enjoying breakfast in Ella, you'll be driven to a charming rural farm near Wellawaya. Along the way, you'll visit the stunning Rawana Waterfall, one of the highest in Sri Lanka. Since the final stretch to the farm is inaccessible by car, a jeep will take you the rest of the way. Upon arrival, you can spend the afternoon unwinding and soaking in the serene surroundings.

Wellawaya

Day 11: Explore local farmlife

Explore the farm and pick your own vegetables and fruits for a farm-to-table lunch. Afterward, embark on an exciting canoe tour and try your hand at catching fish. Relish a delicious village lunch before heading out on a safari around the farm. Keep an eye out for wild animals, birds, and breathtaking landscapes as you traverse the area.

Wellawaya - Yala

Day 12: Drive to Yala National Park

After breakfast, you'll be driven to Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka's most renowned wildlife reserves. Upon arrival, check into your unique accommodation, tucked away off the beaten path, and take some time to unwind. In the afternoon, embark on a guided nature walk to explore the diverse flora and fauna surrounding you. Let the scents and sounds of nature envelop you as you enjoy a free evening in your comfortable tented camp.

Yala - Koggala

Day 13: A search for leopards

Early in the morning, you will go on an exciting jeep safari in the Yala National Park. This park is known for its high population of Sri Lanka leopards (the highest population on the island). Besides these wild and shy cats, you have also the chance to see elephants, sambar deer, and reptiles.

Afterward, you will be driven to your hotel in Koggala at the Koggala Lake. Here you check-in to your hotel and have time to relax. The hotel is not located near the beach but your driver is always there for you if you wish to be driven to the beach.

Koggala

Day 14: A day of relaxation in Koggala

Spend the last days of your trip unwinding after an exciting journey. Soak in the serene surroundings of your hotel, take a leisurely walk around Koggala Lake, or let your driver whisk you away to the beautiful beaches of the south coast.

Koggala

Day 15: Your final day in paradise

Today, you can enjoy a variety of optional activities, such as a trip to Galle and its famous fort. The hotel offers bicycles for exploring the nearby areas, and there's also the option to go golfing.

Koggala - Negombo

Day 16: Goodbye, Sri Lanka

It's time to say goodbye to Sri Lanka. Your driver will transfer you to the airport with plenty of time for your safe flight home!