Itinerary
- Day 1
Negombo
You'll arrive in Negombo on Sri Lanka's west coast and check into your beachfront resort. The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the resort's facilities. Around 6pm, you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travelers for the first time. Your leader will arrange a welcome cocktail and optional group dinner to get everyone acquainted.
Optional Activities
- Group dinner
- Day 2
Negombo to Habarana
After breakfast, you'll travel to Habarana, about four hours from the coast. Along the way, you'll stop at Umandawa Global Buddhist Village to walk through gardens and farms, then have a freshly prepared organic lunch there. Next, you'll visit the Dambulla cave temple complex with its intricate murals and 150 Buddha statues spread across five caves before arriving in Habarana for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Freshly prepared organic lunch at Umandawa Global Buddhist Village)
Included Activities
- Visit Umandawa Global Buddhist Village
- Organic lunch at Umandawa Global Buddhist Village
- Visit Dambulla cave temple complex
Landmarks/POIs Umandawa Global Buddhist Village Dambulla Cave Temple Complex - Day 3
Habarana
Following breakfast, you'll tour the Habarana village on a hand-tractor ride near the pond, then board a boat to cross the water. You'll walk through paddy fields to a local family home and participate in an alms-giving session at a nearby temple, helping prepare a traditional vegetarian meal you'll share with monks. Later in the afternoon, you'll climb the 1,500 steps up Sigiriya, the fifth-century rock fortress, to see ancient frescoes and take in views from the 200m summit.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional vegetarian meal of curries and steamed rice, shared with monks and host family)
Included Activities
- Village tour around Habarana
- Hand-tractor ride near village pond
- Boat crossing
- Walk through paddy fields and vegetable gardens
- Alms-giving session at Buddhist temple
- Traditional meal preparation with family
- Traditional vegetarian meal
- Visit Sigiriya rock fortress
- Climb Sigiriya to summit viewing frescoes
Landmarks/POIs Sigiriya - Day 4
Habarana to Kandy
After breakfast, you'll head toward Kandy, roughly three hours away. En route, you'll stop at a spice garden for a guided walk through different plants and learn about their uses, then plant a tree to help regenerate the garden. Once in Kandy, the ancient capital, you'll check into your riverside hotel. The afternoon is yours to explore local bazaars, visit the royal botanical gardens, or relax by the pool.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit spice garden with guided tour
- Tree planting activity at spice garden
Optional Activities
- Explore local bazaars
- Visit royal botanical gardens
- Relax at hotel pool
Landmarks/POIs Royal Botanical Gardens 
- Day 5
Kandy to Gal Oya
Following breakfast, you'll visit the Temple of the Tooth, one of Buddhism's holiest sites where the tooth relic of Lord Buddha is housed. You can take part in Buddhist rituals throughout the day if you'd like. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll transfer to your glamping site near Gal Oya National Park, about 3.5 hours away. You'll settle into the remote village of Rathugala in Veddha community territory, surrounded by forested mountains, then unwind by the pool.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of the Tooth
- Participate in Buddhist rituals (pooja)
- Lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Temple of the Tooth Gal Oya National Park 
- Day 6
Gal Oya
After breakfast, you'll take a boat safari on Senanayake Samudraya, Sri Lanka's largest lake, about 40 minutes away. Watch for elephants gathering to drink and swimming between islands, plus birdlife, crocodiles and deer. You'll stop for snacks and tea with views across the water. In the afternoon, a village chief from the Veddha community will lead you through the jungle, explaining medicinal plants, ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat safari on Senanayake Samudraya lake
- Snack, tea or coffee during boat safari
- Guided jungle walk with Veddha community village chief
Landmarks/POIs Senanayake Samudraya Gal Oya National Park - Day 7
Gal Oya to Ella
Early risers can join a naturalist guide for a morning walk through Rathugala village to Kiri Oruwa Lake, often full of birdlife and sometimes elephants. You'll return for breakfast, then drive to Ella, about three hours away. Once settled, you'll visit a private tea plantation and factory. You'll walk through tea fields watching workers pick young leaves, see the processing from withering through fermentation, then finish with a cup of freshly brewed Ceylon tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning walk to Kiri Oruwa Lake with naturalist guide (optional)
- Visit private tea plantation
- Visit tea factory with processing demonstration
- Freshly brewed Ceylon tea tasting
Optional Activities
- Early morning walk to Kiri Oruwa Lake with naturalist guide
Landmarks/POIs Kiri Oruwa Lake 
- Day 8
Ella
After breakfast, you'll hike 5.4 miles following a train track through Ella Forest Reserve to the Nine Arches Bridge, a colonial-era structure. The 2.5-hour walk takes you through scenic forest before a tuk-tuk ride brings you to a local restaurant. There you'll prepare traditional Sri Lankan dishes like coconut roti, garlic curry and dhal curry, then enjoy lunch. The afternoon is free to wander Ella's main street with its shops, cafes and restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic Sri Lankan lunch prepared during interactive cooking experience including coconut roti, garlic curry, eggplant pickle, dhal curry, coconut sambal, papadam and rice)
Included Activities
- Hike through Ella Forest Reserve to Nine Arches Bridge
- Visit Nine Arches Bridge
- Interactive cooking experience preparing Sri Lankan dishes
- Authentic Sri Lankan lunch
Optional Activities
- Explore Ella town shops, cafes and restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Nine Arches Bridge Ella Forest Reserve 
- Day 9
Ella to Yala National Park
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Yala National Park, roughly two hours away. On the route, you'll visit the Elephant Transit Home where orphaned elephant calves are rehabilitated before returning to the wild. Arriving at Yala, known for having one of the world's highest leopard concentrations, you'll board 4x4 vehicles for an evening safari in Block 5. This lesser-visited area has denser vegetation and fewer vehicles, giving you better chances to spot elusive leopards, sloth bears, elephants and more.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Elephant Transit Home
- Evening 4x4 safari in Yala National Park Block 5
Landmarks/POIs Elephant Transit Home Yala National Park 
- Day 10
Yala National Park to Weligama
You'll start with a second 4x4 safari in Yala's Block 5 to search for wildlife in this pristine area. After breakfast, you'll transfer to Weligama on the south coast, about two hours away. This beach town is popular for swimming, snorkelling and surfing. From November to April, it's also a top destination for whale-watching, with blue, sperm and bryde whales plus dolphins passing through.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning 4x4 safari in Yala National Park Block 5
Landmarks/POIs Yala National Park Weligama Beach 
- Day 11
Weligama
Today is yours to relax on the beach or wander around local shops and people-watch from a beach bar. Weligama's calm waters are safe for swimming. If you're traveling between November and April, this is one of the world's best spots for whale-watching, with blue and sperm whales and large dolphin pods visiting regularly.
Optional Activities
- Surf lessons
- Snorkelling
- Whale watching tour (November to April)
- Beach relaxation
- Explore local shops
Landmarks/POIs Weligama Beach - Day 12
Weligama to Galle
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Galle, about an hour away. This ancient seaport is believed to have been King Solomon's source of gems and spices and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll explore the 17th-century fort and its ramparts, which contain old Dutch churches, monuments, an imposing gateway, well-preserved houses and narrow alleys bearing Dutch names from the Portuguese and Dutch periods.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Galle Fort (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Optional Activities
- Explore Dutch churches in Galle Fort
- Explore monuments and Dutch houses
- Wander narrow alleys in Galle Fort
Landmarks/POIs Galle Fort 
- Day 13
Galle to Colombo
After breakfast, you'll take a boat safari on the calm Madu Ganga river through lush mangrove forests. Knowledgeable guides will share information about local plants and animals. You'll stop at Cinnamon Island to learn about the traditional cinnamon industry and visit Kothduwa Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple on an isolated island. Later you'll arrive in Colombo, the commerce capital blending Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences with modern character. Your leader will give a brief city tour before taking you out for a farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Boat safari on Madu Ganga river
- Stop at Cinnamon Island
- Visit Kothduwa Temple
- Brief city tour of Colombo
- Farewell dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Madu Ganga Cinnamon Island Kothduwa Temple 
- Day 14
Colombo
Your adventure ends today with a transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your international flight home. If you'd like to stay longer, you can speak to your sales representative about extending your trip to explore more of Sri Lanka.
Optional Activities
- Extend stay in Sri Lanka
