Original
Explorer
Best of Sri Lanka
15 Days | Hill country to Colombo, fuelled by curry and cups of tea
4.9
Excellent
293 reviews
15 days
Start
Negombo, Sri Lanka
Finish
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Code
HPSH
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - null
Physical Rating
Meals
12 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Public Bus, Train, Bicycle
Accommodation
Hotels (11 nights), Lodge (1 night), Guesthouse (1 night), Permanent Tented Camp (with basic facilities) (1 nt)
From £1,954(15 days)
Trip Informations
This tour eliminates guess work and immerses you in the must-sees, must-tastes and must-meets of this beautiful country. In other words, the best stuff. Like summiting Lion Rock in Sigiriya, cycling through sprawling ancient city ruins in Anuradhapura and touring massive granite Buddha carvings in Polonnaruwa. But the best doesn’t just mean the biggest. The best is also having lunch with a Tamil tea worker in their home, relaxing with a cold beer and your feet in the sand in Mirissa and hiking between plantations and villages in Haputale. In fact, we think the best is doing all that and more in one 15-day tour.
Why you’ll love this trip
Ride around the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura on a bike tour, cycling through the jungle to see the dagobas, palaces, and pools of a city abandoned over 1000 years ago.
Climb the rock fortress of Sigiriya to the ancient ruins that lie atop the 200-metre-high summit and get panoramic views over the surrounding wilderness.
Explore the divine city of Kandy, mingling with pilgrims at the Temple of the Tooth, touring a tea factory, and taking in the views of this lush lakefront town.
Fall in love with Sri Lankan food and get to know locals during experiences like lunching with a Tamil tea worker and a home-cooking demonstration.
Unwind on the sandy beaches of Mirissa, where the waters are clear and warm, and monkeys play in the swaying palms that line the shores.
By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Tuuur Foundation partner, Zero Plastic. Donations help them educate Sri Lankan communities about the impact of plastic on the environment and reduce plastic pollution in the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya.
Is this trip right for you?
The summer months in Sri Lanka are very hot with short, sharp monsoons in the southwest of the country. Please consider your suitability to the time of year you wish to travel and be sure to use adequate sun protection and drink plenty of water.
This trip includes hiking on Days 9 and 10, an awesome way to see the picturesque hill country and interact with the local Tamil people. The hike is over relatively flat ground and covers approximately 10-12 km each day. We recommend a basic level of fitness as some have found the experience physically demanding. Parts of the trails are on rough ground which can be muddy and slippery if it’s been raining. If you feel you are not able to complete these walks, we can arrange vehicle transport for you.
The views from the top of Lion Rock in Sigiriya are spectacular, but getting there involves walking up uneven, narrow steps and navigating tight walkways. If you’ve got a fear of heights or conditions that affect mobility you may wish to sit this activity out.
The drive to Mirissa on Day 11 is downhill, windy and slow. Motion sickness has been an issue for some travellers in the past. If you believe you might be affected, speak with your GP before travelling about medication that can help.
Itinerary
Inclusions
Meals
12 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Public Bus, Train, Bicycle
Accommodation
Hotels (11 nights), Lodge (1 night), Guesthouse (1 night), Permanent Tented Camp (with basic facilities) (1 nt)
Activities
Anuradhapura - Bodhi Tree Temple
Anuradhapura - Bike tour
Polonnaruwa - Bike Tour
Dambulla - Cave Temples
Kandy - Temple of the Tooth
Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit
Kandy - Tea factory visit
Bandarawela - Cooking demonstration & local meal
Kandy to Bandarawela – Scenic train ride
Hill Country trek
Galle - Walking tour
Galle - Traditional Sri Lankan Wood Carving - demonstration and participation
Colombo - City tour by bus
Dates and availability
Starting
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Important notes
1.Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Tuuur trip commences. This has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Tuuur and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. In the wet season, we occasionally need to alter the length and itinerary of the Hill Country hike due to weather conditions.
4. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
5. Train tickets are in very high demand. We always try our best to secure tickets, but on the rare occasion that we cannot book them, you will continue your journey by private vehicle.
Reviews (282)
5 stars
256
4 stars
24
3 stars
2
Helen
Oct 19, 2024
Sri Lanka is one amazing country, so much history, beautiful people, amazing scenic and environmental visits. Feel very privileged to have experienced this amazing country which is looking so positively forward to the future.
Allan
Oct 18, 2024
Sri Lanka is an amazing country with a great history and beautiful landscapes. Our tour was filled with visits to historic, religious, and wildlife sites. We enjoyed the jungles, the beaches, the ruins. Our guide and drivers were outstanding. It exceeded all of my expectations.
Nadine
Oct 14, 2024
What an amazing trip. Highly recommend it to anyone who is keen on history, inspired by natural beauty, loves food and wants to explore a well kept secret. Tour leader and his team were fabulous and made sure we all had the best time possible.
Kathy
Oct 14, 2024
Best of Sri Lanka was a fabulous experience. Our tour guide Asanga was so knowledgeable and passionate about his country. He entertained us with his stories and his sense of humour constantly as well. Overall the concept of Intrepid and their style of tourism is great and I liked the idea of the tipping pool by letting Asanga organise that aspect and we were welcomed warmly everywhere we went!
Andrea
Oct 10, 2024
Good mix of activities, food was excellent. Lochana was a great guide.
Karen
Oct 04, 2024
This is an amazing trip. A beautiful country, warm people and amazing food.
Lena
Oct 03, 2024
easy and nice way to travel, be close to the locals, lern a lot about their culture, eating delicious local food, see a lot of different places in a short time without caring how to get there, and having nice people in the group. I enjoyed the time a lot and would do it again.
Jackie
Oct 03, 2024
Amazing trip with a vast variety of destinations and activities Loved and would definitely recommend
Lauren
Sep 30, 2024
The Best of Sri Lanka tour really was the best! I loved every minute of my time on the tour. There was incredible variety in the daily itinerary, including cycling and hiking. The tour leader made sure that the trip ran smoothly while offering us extra opportunities to interact with local people and to enjoy their hospitality and delicious food. My highlight was seeing wild elephants as well as an array of animals and birdlife in their natural environment. I highly recommend this trip.
Shenali
Sep 27, 2024
This trip was one I will never forget due to the incredible memories that were made. Our tour leader was nothing short of perfect. He made it an enjoyable trip and I recommend Intrepid to anyone!
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