Basix
18 to 35s
Essential Sri Lanka
11 days • 4.8
5
Excellent
76 reviews
11 days
Start
Negombo, Sri Lanka
Finish
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Code
HPYL
Min Age
18
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
10 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Transport
Train, Private vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights)
From £624(11 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Cruise around in a 4WD on a wildlife safari, searching for elephants, lone leopards and aquatic birdlife in Yala National Park.
Learn the benefits of washing down a spicy curry with piping-hot Ceylon tea during lunch in a lush mountain village near Ella in a local home.
Kick back on the warm sands of paradisical palm-lined Unawatuna, with plenty of free time to relax and soak up the sun at the beach.
Leave the imprint of your face on the train window as you stare out wide-eyed on a journey from Kandy to Ella – this scenic rail ride is basically a 6-hour nature documentary, there’s so much amazing scenery!
Enjoy super fun included activities mixed with plenty of free time to choose your own adventure – maybe use some of it to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya. These palace ruins sit atop a massive rock structure surrounded by gardens and are a must-see for any Sri Lanka visit.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip puts the power in your hands – there’s tonnes of free time for optional activities, so you’ll have plenty of freedom to decide what you want to do.
The journey from Ella to Tissamaharama takes a winding road down the mountains to the coast, which means the drive can feel a little slow. But don't worry, it also means that you’ll get to see the awesome scenery from literally every angle.
Itinerary
Spot wildlife on safari, soak up some beachside sun and sip the finest Sri Lankan tea
Take Sri Lanka, boil it like the tea leaves the country’s famous for and strain out all the best stuff. On this 11-day trip through natural paradise, small villages and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you’ll wander past barracuda at the Negombo Fish Market, search for elephants in Yala National Park, feast on spicy curry prepared by a local in Ella, hike through lush mountains and get horizontal on the beach in Unawatuna – Sri Lanka’s idyllic beach spot, perfect for lounging and sipping cocktails. With a local leader who knows where to find all the best teahouses and a group of likeminded travellers, this one’s gotta be an adventure of a lifetime!
Inclusions
Meals
10 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Transport
Train, Private vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights)
Included activities
Negombo - Fish market
Matale - Spice garden visit
Kandy - Scenic train ride to Ella
Ella - Trek to Ella Gap
Ella - Nine Arch Bridge
Ella - Lunch at a Local Family Home
Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari
Galle - Walking tour
Colombo – Guided market visit
Galle - Local train ride to Colombo
Optional activities
Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress (entrance) - USD35
Dambulla - Cave temples (entrance) - USD7
Kandy - Cooking Demonstration and Dinner in a Local Home - USD12
Kandy - Botanical Gardens - USD10
Kandy - Cooking Class in a Sinhalese Home - USD12
Kandy - Temple of the Tooth - USD7
Kandy - Cultural Dance Performance - USD7
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. 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.
2. The Perahera Festival is a 10-day period of evening processions to honour the Sacred Tooth, which is enshrined at Kandy's Temple of the Tooth. Each night features thousands of perfomers, including dancers, drummers, and a parade of more than 50 decorated elephants. Due to Intrepid's stance on elephant cruelty we do not visit the Perahera Festival and cannot purchase tickets on your behalf.
3. 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.
4. Train tickets are in very high demand. We always try our best to secure tickets, but if we cannot book them, you will continue your journey by private vehicle.
Reviews (70)
5 stars
55
4 stars
14
2 stars
1
Ashleigh
Apr 28, 2025
The weather was great, only rained once in the day despite being monsoon season. The early morning trip to sigiriya rock was a highlight. Recommend the optional extra to minneriya national park for fun close encounters with elephants. Accomodation was good, but unawatuna was a decent walk/ tuk tuk to the beach.
Mikaela
Apr 23, 2025
This trip was a fantastic way to see Sri Lanka. My highlights were the optional elephant safari in Dambulla, the train ride through Ella and the cooking class in Ella (can not be missed). I'd recommend this trip to anyone who's looking for a fun way to make friends, broaden their palette and see a beautiful country. 10/10 would recommend!
Dionie
Apr 23, 2025
Brilliant trip, a great balance of scenery and city.
Connor
Apr 03, 2025
I had and absolutely incredible time on this tour, the most scenic sights I’ve ever seen, delicious food, a flourishing natural world to see in the national parks. Our knowledgeable tour guide made this an unforgettable trip.
Åsne
Apr 03, 2025
Great trip, the perfect length, amazing country, and the best tour leader Darshana. Everyone that gets to do a tour with him are lucky. Can definitely recommend this tour. Amazing experience in so many ways.
Rachel
Apr 02, 2025
Such a great introduction to Sri Lanka with all the key spots completed with ease and plenty of free time to do what you like. Had a great group of many solo travellers and an amazing group leader, Darshana, and couldn’t recommend him enough. Such a special tour that I’ll remember for years to come.
Claire
Apr 01, 2025
Memories that we shall treasure forever. A fantastic tour of Sri Lanka. We would of struggled to do a lot of the iternary without this tour. Our tour guide Darshana was exceptional he was so knowledgeable and taught us so much about his beautiful country. Our tour group were also the best, friends made forever. We are a couple who usually arrange our own trips, this was our first tour and we are so thankful for the time we have had. The accommodation was good, the activities great, the country so beautiful.
Simone
Mar 30, 2025
Sri Lanka was beautiful. Arnold made our trip such an amazing experience - his energy and passion were incredible.
Rebecca
Mar 29, 2025
A perfect and stress free way to see the highlights of Sri Lanka- couldn’t have asked for more!
James
Mar 27, 2025
Essential Sri Lanka was a good trip. Our guide Bhagya was great. Accomodation we stayed in was all really good. Especially Unawatuna with the wildlife and pool. Would have liked a few included activities in Unawatuna to keep us busy.
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