Discover the best that Sri Lanka has to offer on this week-long schedule, exploring its natural beauties and cultural sites. You will see the vibrant fish market in Negombo, explore ancient temples in Kandy and Sigiriya, and learn about tea growing in Hill Country. There are plenty of chances to witness elephants, monkeys, and uncommon species in their native environments thanks to the two Jeep safaris scheduled in national parks.
Highlights
Day |
Highlights |
Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Explore “Little Rome” in Negombo | Negombo |
| Day 2 | Visit the Fish Market in Negombo & Continue to Wilpattu | Wilpattu |
| Day 3 | Go on a Safari in Wilpattu & Sightsee in Anuradhapura | Sigiriya |
| Day 4 | Visit Temples in Dambulla & Sigiriya | Kandy |
| Day 5 | Tour Kandy & Learn About Tea in Nuwara Eliya | Nuwara Eliya |
| Day 6 | Spot Elephants in the Wild in Udawalawe National Park | Udawalawe |
| Day 7 | Depart Sri Lanka – End of Trip |
Day 1: Explore "Little Rome" in Negombo
Good welcome to Sri Lanka! Starting in Negombo, sometimes dubbed “Little Rome,” you will find great Catholic influence. The town passed under Dutch, Portuguese, and British colonial control, and traces of their civilizations still show today. As you meander past colonial architecture and calm canals to reach a lagoon brimming with marine life, the city’s fascinating past will be clear.
Day 2: Visit the Fish Market in Negombo & Continue to Wilpattu
Local fishermen in Negombo have been gathering prawns, crab, and lobsters for millennia. Early this morning, you will personally learn about it when you visit the Negombo Fish Market, which is open every day except Sunday. This vibrant and traditional market is the best place to observe the local fishing trade in action and witness the incredible range of fish and seafood offloaded from the boats.
To investigate a safari camp, go to Wilpattu. You’ll then embark on a Jeep safari around Sri Lanka’s largest national park, Wilpattu National Park. Over thirty mammal species, including leopard, sloth bear, Sri Lankan elephant, and spotted deer, call the park home. The flora and fauna are shockingly diverse. Several wetland bird species, such as the white ibis, whistling teal spoonbill, and pintail, can be found here.
We set out early in the morning for a second Jeep tour in Wilpattu National Park. The Sri Lankan Leopard, currently the largest species in Asia, is a sight to behold. Wilpattu National Park is well-known for providing lots of chances for pictures and movies of these amazing creatures. Sri Lankan sloth bears are also visible at Wilpattu, most commonly observed in June and July.
Day 4: Visit Temples in Dambulla & Sigiriya
Visit the historic rock fortification of Sigiriya today; UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1982. Some argue that the location should be the world’s eighth wonder. The name, which translates to “Lion Rock,” alludes to the custom of guests commencing their final ascent to the monument’s summit by traversing the gaping jaws and throat of a lion. Unfortunately, the only remnants of this lion form left today are the enormous paws shaped into the rock’s side. The fortification, which rises majestically from the forest, is breathtakingly beautiful.
Maintain Dambulla. The biggest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, it is well-known for its cave temple. It is a holy pilgrimage site and a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasting outstanding mural paintings and 157 statues, including a large Buddha monument. King Valagambahu sought sanctuary here in the first century BCE, thus marking the beginning of the place’s history. Nowadays, it’s worth seeing the cave temple and the breathtaking perspective over the countryside. You would spend an overnight at Kandy.
Day 5: Tour Kandy & Learn About Tea in Nuwara Eliya
Arrive in Kandy, which is strategically nestled between three mountain ranges. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands out mostly. Comprising many buildings ornamented with paintings and carvings depicting Buddha, the remarkable temple complex dates back to the 16th century. As the name implies, it is home to a significant relic—the tooth of the Buddha—which is under constant protection by security night and day.
Then continue to Nuwara Eliya, also known as “Little England.” Despite being colonized by the British, Nuwara Eliya, the highest town in Sri Lanka, exudes a timeless beauty. There are many rose gardens, a golf club going back to 1889, and ancient colonial-style hotels. Unlike somewhere else in Sri Lanka, this area has a particular climate. Its high elevation provides a cooler, revitalizing environment that makes the trip to a tea plantation in the afternoon enjoyable.
Day 6: Spot Elephants in the Wild in Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park, on the edge of both wet and dry areas of Sri Lanka, is one of the best places on earth to see wild elephants. Given the approximately 400 residents, it is not unusual to find sizable herds arriving to feed and wash near the waterholes. Apart from its main attraction, Udawalawe features a vast variety of birds, lizards, sambar deer, monkeys, and water buffalo. You will have plenty of opportunity to spot native species on an afternoon wildlife drive in the park before spending the evening in a posh tented camp.
Day 7: Depart Sri Lanka - End of Trip
Today marks the end of the tour. You will go to the airport to catch a flight out. Travelling safely!
