15-day trip | Sri Lanka hiking & wildlife adventure

Colombo International Airport - Negombo

Day 1: Arrival in Sri Lanka

Your driver will welcome you at the airport for your transfer to Negombo just a short drive away. After settling into your hotel, take a stroll around the city. You’ll soon see why Negombo is nicknamed ‘Little Rome’ with its wealth of churches. This is a character-packed seaside resort within which to start your Sri Lanka tour. Depending on your arrival time, you might like to head to the harbour to see the fishing boats coming in and the busy market nearby.

Negombo

Day 2: Tour the Muthurajawela Mangroves

After a relaxed breakfast, set off on a boat trip to the Muthurajawela Mangroves. As you cruise the waterways you’ll see many species of birds; you might also spot crocodiles, monkeys and otters. The rest of the day is free for you to relax at your hotel or enjoy the city.

Negombo - Pink Quartz Mountain - Habarana

Day 3: Hike the Pink Quartz Mountain

Today, you’ll begin your island tour by travelling northwards towards Sigiriya. On the way, visit the Pink Quartz Mountain located just past Dambulla, for a pleasant hike leading to a breathtaking observation point with views of the valley. Here, you'll also find the largest ironwood forest in Asia. Arriving in Habarana by late afternoon, you’ll check into your hotel and spend the evening at leisure, relaxing and enjoying dinner.

Sigiriya - Ritigala - Sigiriya

Day 4: Lion's Rock hike & Ritigala Mountain

After breakfast, visit the famous UNESCO-protected Fortress of Sigiriya, also known as Lion's Rock. The fortress complex includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, gardens, ponds, canals and fountains. The ruins of the palace are a must-see, renowned for their frescoes and panoramic views of the surrounding valley.

Later in the afternoon, you will take a short drive to Ritigala Mountain for a nature hike. There are many legends surrounding Ritigala, which means ‘A place of refuge’. Visit ruins scattered in the jungle and marvel at Ritigala's rare plant and animal species. Wander through a forest covered with orchids while colourful birds and naughty monkeys watch you from the treetops.

Sigiriya - Kandy

Day 5: Wander the Royal Botanic Gardens

Today you will leave Sigiriya and travel southwards to Kandy, the capital of Sri Lanka’s verdant hill country. En route, visit the impressive Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, a suburb of Kandy. This 147-acre complex was established in 1374 as a pleasure garden for the royal family of Kandy. There are more than 500 species of trees and plants here, some rare and some endemic, as well as colourful flora from the tropical world. The Spice Garden and Orchid House are particularly impressive. You'll then head to your hotel in Kandy to check in and relax for the night.

Kandy - Knuckles Mountain Range - Kandy

Day 6: Hike the Knuckles Mountain Range

This morning, make an early start for the village Digana. The route offers breathtaking views of mountains, valleys, lakes and emerald-green tea estates. Enjoy a trek into the Knuckles Mountain Range, walking a total of 12km with a chance of spotting the local wildlife along the way, including many bird species and perhaps even some rare lizards. Wonderful views of mountains, forests and gleaming waterways and streams await. Then, return to Kandy in the late afternoon where you can enjoy a well-earned meal and put your feet up.

Kandy - Kitulgala - Nuwara Eliya

Day 7: River rafting down Kelaniya Ganga

Enjoy your last breakfast in Kandy before hitting the road to Nuwara Eliya. Along the way, take a small detour to the adventure hub of Kitulgala for an exciting rafting experience on the rapids of Kelaniya Ganga. This classic descent crosses seven category 2 and 3 rapids over 7km.  You’ll arrive in the hill country town of Nuwara Eliya by late afternoon and the rest of the day is left free for you to relax.

Often nicknamed ‘Little England’, Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful mountain resort with a British colonial atmosphere, bordered by deep, moss-covered cloud forests and tea plantations. The weather here is mild, with seasonal mists and dry breezes creating the ideal conditions for tea cultivation. With a large lake to explore to one side, it's a lovely city to spend time in and recharge your batteries.

Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains - Nuwara Eliya

Day 8: Horton Plains wildlife hike

With a packed breakfast from your hotel, you will set off just before dawn to the Horton Plains and begin your trek through this national park at 6am. The reserve is home to elk, deer, giant squirrels, wild boar, wild hares, porcupines, and a variety of migratory species. There are also a small number of leopards in the park, so if you’re very lucky you could spot one. You’ll be heading to a beautiful clifftop viewpoint at World's End in time for sunrise, and you'll also stop to visit the gushing Baker's Falls. After your trek, return to Nuwara Eliya for the rest of the day.

Nuwara Eliya - Haputale - Ella

Day 9: Hike to Bambarakanda Falls

Begin today with a hike to the top of Sri Lanka's highest waterfall, Bambarakanda Falls. Located in the Central Highlands, the trail to the top of the falls winds through pines and along steep wooded cliffs. At the top, the view takes in Sri Lanka's eastern grassland plains. The walk is gentle and takes around two hours to complete, with plenty of time along the way to stop, rest and admire the views. Upon your return, set off for the hill country town of Ella.

Ella

Day 10: At leisure in Ella

Today is left free for you to enjoy the natural beauty of Ella. There are so many options to choose between, from gentle walks to more challenging hikes. If you’d rather take it easy, opt for a tuk-tuk ride and watch as trains cross the famous Nine Arches Bridge. For the more adventurous, a thrilling ride on the Ravana zipline should get the adrenaline pumping. At the end of the day, you might like to treat yourself to a moment of relaxation with an Ayurvedic massage.​​​

Ella - Hatton - Adam's Peak

Day 11: Train to Hatton & Adam's Peak night hike

Today you’ll enjoy a stunning train ride through Sri Lanka’s verdant hill country. You’ll be chugging through tunnels and crossing bridges amidst breathtaking scenery en route to Hatton. Upon arrival, you’ll transfer to a hotel for a rest before embarking on your next, challenging trek. With a local guide, you will start your Adam's Peak night hike at about 2am. This will give you plenty of time to reach the misty peak at an elevation of 2,240m, in time for a spectacular sunrise. It is believed that the Buddha engraved his footprint on the summit of the rock here on his third visit to the island - in fact, many make the pilgrimage to the peak to worship this footprint between December and April every year.

Adam's Peak - Sinharaja

Day 12: Sinharaja rainforest walk

Today you'll enjoy a relaxing day in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the morning, take a gentle half-day hike with a local guide through its grounds, exploring the country's last remaining zone of primary rainforest and its incredibly rich flora and fauna. It’s a small reserve yet it's home to so many different types of endemic trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Sinharaja - Galle - Bentota

Day 13: Journey to the coast

Today you'll head for the coast and the seaside resort of Bentota. On the way, stop to visit the famous Dutch Galle Fort and take a brisk walk along its ramparts. The view of the Indian Ocean is stunning from this vantage point. The next stop is Balapitiya where you'll take a boat cruise on the Madu River - a good opportunity for spotting water monitors and an abundance of other wildlife. Along this stretch of river, there are no fewer than 66 islands, one of which is home to a large Buddhist temple featuring brightly-coloured paintings and sculptures. You will also visit an island where the locals cultivate and manufacture cinnamon. Arrive in Bentota by late afternoon and settle into your hotel.

Bentota

Day 14: Free day in Bentota

Enjoy a day of ultimate relaxation at the beach. Bentota is the ideal place for water sports activities, though if you'd like to explore the local area more, you could visit the Sea Turtle Research Project and learn about their conservation efforts. Alternatively, simply take a stroll along the sands and enjoy a day of doing nothing.

Bentota - Colombo International Airport

Day 15: Transfer to the airport

After breakfast, you'll take a private transfer from Bentota to Colombo International Airport for your homeward flight.