The spice trails of Sri Lanka

Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport - Kuliyapitiya - Horathapola

Day 1: Welcome to Sri Lanka

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Your chauffeur will receive you at the airport arrivals lounge and transfer you to Kuliyapitiya, a countryside hamlet north of the airport, about an hour and 15 minutes away. Take time to relax and unwind at your accommodation in Horathapola after checking in.

Horathapola

Day 2: Explore local life through food & traditional practices

Today, you'll indulge on tasty delicacies and learn about everything that goes into their preparation, getting the chance to grate, chop, sauté and savor local ingredients alongside an expert Sri Lankan chef. This cooking experience will be guided by the culinary team at the Horathapola estate.

Afterwards, you'll explore the sprawling plains of a neighboring village. This is an ideal opportunity for meeting and chatting with the friendly community and spotting a variety of birdlife. Along the way, stop off at an organic coconut oil manufacturing plant where you can witness coconut plucking and husking, in addition to observing the coconut processing mill. In the village, get to know the locals and take a look at how raw cashewnuts are peeled by the village women, a skill to be admired.

Horathapola - Sigiriya Rock Fortress - Habarana

Day 3: Journey to Habarana via Sigiriya Rock

Drive through the rural countryside to Habarana, about four hours away. En-route you'll stop to climb one of the most famous historical sites in Sir Lanka: the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The steep walk to the summit of Sigiriya Rock requires a good level of physical fitness, and is best done in the early mornings and late afternoons - don't forget to bring water and a hat with you.

The remains of the fortress’s extensive network exist to this day. Its palace is surrounded by vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys and fountains that you could explore; they're definitely worth the extra walk. While you're here, take time to marvel at its western wall which is almost entirely covered in painted frescoes.

Habarana - Minneriya National Park

Day 4: Tour local villages & Minneriya National Park

Take a walk through the rural communities of Sigiriya and Habarana, accompanied by an expert guide, to meet the local villagers and experience their lifestyles, culture and hospitality. Tour rice fields and vegetable farms, and learn about agricultural practices, beekeeping, crafts, and more. Visit a villager's home for a cup of Ceylon tea served with jaggery, then meet fish vendors selling freshwater fish brought from the nearby lakes.

Afterwards, you'll venture into Minneriya National Park for an afternoon Jeep safari. An important feeding ground for elephants, hundreds of these gentle giants can be seen here each year, feeding on the grasslands bordering the tank while others cool off in its refreshing water. The park is also home to 24 species of mammals, plus a number of resident and migratory bird species. It's a true paradise for wildlife-lovers!

Habarana - Dambulla - Kandy

Day 5: Explore a cave monastery & cooking traditions

A pilgrimage site for the last 22 centuries, Dambulla's extensive cave monastery is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka, and a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site located. Today you'll get to explore its fascinating grounds, before making tracks for the hill country to arrive into Kandy - a sacred Buddha site surrounded by leafy green landscape.

For tonight’s dinner, you'll be making string hoppers - a crispy Sri Lankan delicacy made up of rice flour and coconut milk. Fortunately, the process doesn’t require you to be too nimble-fingered; it involves pouring the mixture into a mould, then onto circular trays to be fried or steamed. Enjoy them with an egg cracked on top and some spicy onion sambal or lunu miris.

Kandy

Day 6: The spice trails of Kandy

Today you'll take a guided village walk to learn about its unique spice trail and the impact it has on day-to-day life. Look out for spice trees, pepper plants, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon, which flourish in home gardens - if you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of them being harvested and processed.

Pay a visit to a centuries-old ancestral mansion and a nearby temple, before continuing on to partake in a group cooking class: in your host's home kitchen, and under expert guidance, you'll magic up tantalizing traditional food using herbs and spices sourced locally. Witness the spices being ground, powdered, mixed and fried, before preparing a traditional meal together. The dish will likely include jackfruit, fried fish, and fluffy rice.

Kandy

Day 7: Learn about rich culinary traditions in Kandy

Immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of Kandy's food markets with a local family, who will show you the tricks of the trade and unique spices found nowhere else. Choose some tasty ingredients, then head to their home in the village of Kobbekaduwa to prepare a Sri Lankan feast! Chop vegetables, pound herbs and spices, and break coconuts to scrape out the flesh. Extract coconut milk by hand and kindle a traditional wooden hearth, then take a seat on the veranda and enjoy your meal together.

Later, you'll learn all about traditional sweetmeats, rooted in a rich cultural tradition that began thousands of years ago; they typically contain rice flour, coconut milk, local spices, treacle and jaggery. Then, stroll Kandy's winding streets towards a traditional bakery, where a rustic clay oven is the star attraction. Their pastries make ideal snacks for full-day excursions!

Kandy - Ella

Day 8: Take a scenic train 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 in 1864 during the the colonial period; back then it was used to transport tea and coffee from the hill country 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 cascading waterfalls. You can expect lush, verdant vistas and spectacular views of the undulating landscape. At each station the train fills with hawkers selling delicious treats like freshly cut pineapple and mango with cinnamon, corn with salty butter, freshly made rice and curry, chilli fritters, and crispy poppadoms. The trip will take about seven hours in its entirety.

Ella

Day 9: Spend the day at leisure in Ella

Find a sense of tranquility in the remote hamlet of Ella, a hidden gem in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, surrounded by lush countryside. At your hotel, you'll be completely immersed in nature whilst enjoying the comforts of luxury accommodation.

Spend the day reading by the pool or being pampered at the spa. If you want to explore the beautiful surroundings, you'll find plenty to keep busy with; ample hiking, trekking and biking trails surround the property, and are all great ways to enjoy the tropical scenery. For breathtaking views, climb Little Adam’s Peak or Ella Rock, or take in the cascading waters of the Ravana and Bambaragama Falls.

Ella - Negombo

Day 10: Historic tea estates & panoramic views

Enjoy a tuk-tuk ride to the Dambatenna Tea Factory and Lipton Seat, including a tea estate walk with an expert guide. This particular factory was built in 1890 by Sir Thomas Lipton and has become something of an institution in the region; here, you'll get to learn all about the insightful tea-making process.

After the tour, head past rolling tea estates all the way up to Lipton Seat, a viewpoint offering some of the best panoramas in the country - as long as the weather is clear! From up there, hike through tea estates to enjoy more incredible views over the surrounding countryside, as you wind your way among the plantations and learn more about the history of tea-making with your local guide. The walk takes between three and four hours, with breaks included.

Afterwards, you'll pack up and travel through beautiful valleys to the busy coastal city of Negombo, about six hours away.

Negombo

Day 11: At leisure in Negombo

Soak up the sun and relax! Now that you've reached the coast, you'll have plenty of leisure time to unwind on Negombo's soft sands, or else tour its old quarter to soak up its cultural draws. If you're in the mood for seafood, you'll find ample restaurants to settle down in here, with a cool beer in hand as you see the day out.

Negombo

Day 12: Canal cruising & seafood feasting in Negombo

Set your alarm for an early wake-up call to cruise the calm waters of the Hamilton Canal, a Dutch-built canal system later fortified by the British in 1802. This picturesque boat trip will take you on an authentic journey into Sri Lankan fishing culture.

Pass through the quaint seaside village of Negombo to visit the families that reside there, and see a glimpse of their daily lives. Continue to the Negombo Lagoon and visit Lellama, a fresh fish market on the seashore. The catches of the day vary, but typically include cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and shrimp. Take your pick of the freshly-caught fish, and a local family will teach you how to prepare and cook an authentic seafood meal - this mouthwatering feast will leave you wanting to recreate such rich flavors for years to come!

Negombo - Colombo - Negombo

Day 13: Take a foodie tour of Colombo

From Negombo, transfer to Colombo for the day to explore the capital's electric food scene by Jeep - a truly unforgettable experience! Climb into an open-top World War II Jeep, and journey through the thrumming streets - you'll be stopping off at some favorite local haunts along the way.

Throughout the tour, pause at long-established snack stalls, and try popular foods such as fresh cashews, achcharu and egg hoppers. Gain an extraordinary insight into the local cuisine that most visitors don't get a chance to see. The tour is tailored to you, so if there's anything in particular you want to try, your guide can make it happen!

Negombo - Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport

Day 14: Return to the airport

At a suitable time, you will be transferred from your accommodation to the airport, a journey of about 15 minutes. Your spice-infused Sri Lankan adventure has come to an end, but hopefully you'll have a suitcase packed full of happy memories - and a desire to visit again soon!