An Insider's Journey into the Island of Serendipity
Sri Lanka
Overview
Join our veteran Trip Leader Annie Hawkins to discover the golden temples, tea plantations, and 2,000-year-old culture of Sri Lanka. We'll explore the 12th century temple-ruins of Polonnaruwa, with its Buddhist and Hindu shrines, and hike up the stone steps of King Kashyapa's fortress at Sigiriya. We'll also visit cool green highlands where tea is cultivated, sample Sri Lanka's famous fish curries, and look for wildlife at Yala National Park, haunt of elephant and leopard. Annie's deep local connections bring us into the heart of Sri Lanka as we meet an array of people, from tea planters to art collectors to Buddhist monks.
Arrive: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Depart: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Highlights
- Explore Anuradhapura, where Buddhist shrines date to the 3rd century BC, colonial Nuwara Eliya, and the Buddhist cave temples of Dambulla
- Enjoy charming accommodations, from seaside hotels to chalets set among rice paddies
- Be welcomed into Sri Lankan culture, meeting monks, tea planters, artists, and students
Itinerary
After a visit to Colombo's markets, we head to our lovely resort hotel near Sigiriya. Here we'll look for wild elephants in Kaudulla National Park, then visit the garden pavilions of Anuradhapura, the graceful pagodas of 10th century Polonnaruwa, and King Kashyapa's impressive citadel of Sigiriya, a towering rock outcrop rising from the green jungle plains. All three places are World Heritage Sites. Near Ritigala, we visit a local school, then head to a Buddhist monastery to participate in an almsgiving ceremony.
After a climb up to the cave-temple complex at Dambulla, we’ll be welcomed for a private lunch in the home of a local professor and art collector. We continue to Kandy, nestled in hill country, home to the famous 16th century Temple of the Tooth. From our heritage hotel above colonial Nuwara Eliya, we walk through tea plantations and learn the fine art of “tasting” tea. A short rail journey brings us to the peaceful town of Ella, where we can enjoy a village bike ride and a lesson in preparing Sri Lankan cuisine.
In Yala, we look for fabulous birdlife, troops of monkeys chattering in the trees, and herds of wild elephant. After walking the ramparts of the historic seaside trading post of Galle, founded as a Dutch fort, we depart on Day 13 via Colombo.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, with some optional short hikes and several nature walks at archaeological sites. Accommodations are in lovely hotels, including one night in a converted tea factory! Comfortable walking shoes are recommended and occasionally we must take off shoes to visit temples.
Review Trip Level Details
Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with high humidity, tempered by sea breezes on the coast. The average temperature is about 81°F. In the highlands in places like Nuwara Eliya, it is in the 60s during the day and can get very cold at night, with lows in the 40s, so you'll need a sweater. Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons. The southwest part of the island gets a monsoon between May and July while the northeast monsoon is December and January. Humidity is high year round and you can expect some rain showers most days.
Client Testimonials
"From beginning to end, this trip exceeded all my expectations. The trip’s timing for the cultural events we experienced was spot on."
Anne W.
Gardnerville, NV
"Trip was well designed and executed, with plenty of diversity. Well done!"
Ginger K.
Adairsville, GA
"We very much enjoyed the diversity of experiences—visiting historic and religious sites, interacting with local people, viewing wildlife, and experiencing different environments. Each day was a new adventure!"
Jo L.
Santa Barbara, CA
"It was a great trip to an amazing country not many people know about. Every day had many new discoveries."
Keith R.
New Orleans, LA
"How lucky we were! Annie loves the country, and knows it well. She provided an amazing mix of culture, nature, and history."
Lisa T.
Hamden, CT
"A remarkable and heartwarming experience. The visit to the local elementary school was a special treat!"
Melissa S.
Kailua-Kona, HI
"A wonderful experience. I so enjoyed the diversity of the island."
Nancy B.
Charlestown, MA
"Annie was an excellent guide. She has a great passion for life, travel, and Sri Lanka that consistently comes through. She also did a very good job, as we were a small group, of being flexible and taking advantage of the moment. Loved the planning for so many special meals and different experiences."
Zac G.
San Marino, CA
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
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- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.