Essential Sri Lanka 8D/7N
Ancient cities, misty tea country and turtles in the surf — Sri Lanka, in one unforgettable week.
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Service Description
Sri Lanka packs more into 65,000 square kilometres than most countries manage in ten times the space. Ancient kingdoms carved into rock. Tea plantations rolling down emerald hills. Spice gardens, surfing beaches, sacred temples, a train ride that's been called one of the world's most beautiful. All on an island you can drive across in a day. Day 1 — Welcome to Sri Lanka Land at Colombo, meet your driver, and head 30 minutes up the coast to Negombo. Settle into your hotel, wander down to the beach as the fishing boats come in, and grab your first proper Sri Lankan curry. Stay: Negombo. Day 2 — Fish markets & lagoon time Up early for the buzz of Negombo's famous morning fish market, then a relaxed city tour and the rest of the day to swim, read or take an optional lagoon boat tour through the mangroves. Stay: Negombo. Day 3 — Into the Cultural Triangle Drive north into the Cultural Triangle to Sigiriya — Sri Lanka's most iconic landmark. The afternoon is yours: tackle the climb to the cliff-top palace (optional) or take a village safari with a traditional lakeside lunch. Stay: Sigiriya. Day 4 — Cave temples & a Kandyan welcome Morning at the Dambulla Cave Temple, then through a working spice and herbal garden on the way to Kandy. Evening: a traditional Kandyan cultural dance performance — drums, fire and centuries-old choreography. Stay: Kandy. Day 5 — Tea country Kandy city tour and a stop at a gem lapidary before climbing into the hills. Tour a working tea plantation and factory in Nuwara Eliya — the heart of Ceylon tea — then continue into the mountains to Ella. Stay: Ella / Bandarawela. Day 6 — Hikes, bridges and natural pools Sunrise on Little Adam's Peak (gentler than the name suggests), the photographer's-dream Nine Arches Bridge, and a swim in a natural rock pool. Stay: Ella / Bandarawela. Day 7 — Southern coast Down through the mountains to Ahangama on the south coast. Evening on the beach, and a swim with the resident sea turtles at Thalpe before sunset. Day 8 — Colombo & departure Visit a moonstone mine and a working cinnamon plantation on the drive into Colombo. City tour, a farewell Sri Lankan dinner, then your transfer to the airport.