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Immerse yourself in Sri Lanka’s history, cuisine and culture!
The remnants of a spiritual past await your discovery in Sri Lanka, from the ancient cliff-built complex of Lion Rock in Sigiriya to the ruins of the Sinhalese capital in Anuradhapura. Explore wonders of nature and humanity – often both at once – on this 8-day adventure through the cities, jungles and caves of Sri Lanka. Beginning in Negombo, travel through verdant countryside, past tea plantations, into the wildlife-filled Minneriya National Park and to the thriving capital of Colombo. An immersive and cultural Sri Lankan escapade awaits – the only thing left to choose is when to go.
Inclusions
Meals
7 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Transport
Private vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights)
Included activities
Kandy - Cultural Dance Performance
Kandy - Home-cooked lunch
Kandy - Temple of the Tooth
Nuwara Eliya - Tea factory tour
Kandy - Scenic train ride to Nuwara Eliya
Dambulla - Cave Temples
Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit
Matale - Spice Garden
Sigiriya - Home-cooked lunch
Minneriya - Jeep safari
Anuradhapura - Bodhi Tree Temple
Anuradhapura - Sacred City bike tour
Colombo - City tour by bus
Colombo – Guided market visit
Optional activities
Kandy - Botanical Gardens - USD10
Itinerary
Day 1 • Negombo
Ayu-bowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the town of Negombo, located close to Bandaranaike International Airport. You can arrive at any time today as there are no activities planned until an important welcome meeting at 6pm. Those arriving early can get into the spirit of seaside Sri Lanka by observing the local fishing craft and perhaps feasting on fresh seafood. The beautiful surrounding countryside is best explored on a bicycle, which you can rent with help from the hotel reception.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.
Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Intrepid trip commences. This has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Intrepid and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.
Day 2 • Kandy
After breakfast, take a private transfer to the lush, rainforest-rimmed Kandy where you’ll enjoy a delicious home cooked lunch on arrival. Refresh with a home grown juice welcome drink then feast on traditional Sri Lankan cuisine with a slice of sweet kithul thalapa for dessert. After lunch, check in to your hotel then visit the temple that holds a tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. Aptly named Temple of the Tooth, it is
one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred places and no matter your spiritual inclination, the hush of the temple and the atmosphere of reverence is incredibly powerful. If you have spare time this afternoon, you may like to visit the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens which were once a private playground for Kandyan royalty. This evening, join your group for a traditional dance performance set to traditional music with percussive rhythms.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Included activities
Kandy - Cultural Dance Performance
Kandy - Home-cooked lunch
Kandy - Temple of the Tooth
Optional activities
Kandy - Botanical Gardens - USD10
Special information
Today’s driving time is approximately 3.5 hours.
Day 3 • Kandy
The gorgeous highlands await you today, so rise and shine for the scenic train journey to Nuwara Eliya. The evergreen hills and cool climate made this town a primary retreat for British colonialists in the 19th century, and many buildings remain from this period. Stop in at a tea factory and learn about the process of cultivating the region’s fragrant, highly regarded varieties. Nuwara Eliya remains an incredibly important tea-growing area, and the plantations that dot the hillside make for lovely scenery. After the tour, drive back to Kandy and maybe ask your leader where you can grab a nice kottu roti (chopped roti with vegetables and plenty of spices). Kandy was one the world’s primary source of cinnamon and a variety of spices are grown the area, which makes for food that is bursting with flavour.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Nuwara Eliya - Tea factory tour
Kandy - Scenic train ride to Nuwara Eliya
Special information
Today’s travel time is approximately 6.5 hours.
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.
Day 4 • Habarana
This morning, bid farewell to Kandy and transfer to Habarana, located just 12 km from Sigiriya, where the immense Lion Rock dominates the landscape. This afternoon you will explore this behemoth, but first some other unique sites await. Visit a spice garden and see how the popular spices you use at home are grown then travel onward to the cave temple of Dambulla with its five caves filled with paintings and statues of Lord Buddha. Murals cover the rough walls and sloping ceilings of the caves, which once served as dwellings for prehistoric Sri Lankans before the arrival of Buddhism. Check into your hotel then set off to experience Lion Rock which features ancient paintings, the remains of a great lion sculpture and some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. Climb the winding walkways and explore this incredible example of ancient urban planning as you take in the beauty of the sunset.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Dambulla - Cave Temples
Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit
Matale - Spice Garden
Special information
Today’s travel time is approximately 3 hours.
Day 5 • Habarana
This morning, enjoy a relaxing sleep in then join your leader and group for a home-cooked lunch with a local family. After a welcome drink made with home-grown tropical Sri Lankan fruits, head outside to the garden and take a seat under the trees where you’ll dine on traditional dishes like rice and curry, perhaps made with fresh fish caught from the local lakes. After lunch, jump in a jeep and go on safari at Minneriya National Park where elephants, sambar deer and leopards can be spotted amongst the evergreen forests and scrublands.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Included activities
Sigiriya - Home-cooked lunch
Minneriya - Jeep safari
Special information
Scaling Lion Rock involves walking up lots of rough, narrow steps and tight walkways. Good walking shoes and a reasonable level of fitness are recommended for this activity. If you prefer not to participate, you will be able to enjoy the gardens and museum at the base of Lion Rock.
Depending on the time of year we may move the safari from Minneriya National Park to Kaudulla National Park or Hurulu Eco Park in effort to give you the best chances for wildlife sightings. All three of these parks border each other and wild animals, including elephants, move freely between them.
Day 6 • Anuradhapura
Say ayubowan – used for both greetings and farewells – to the verdant plains of Sigiriya and travel to Anuradhapura where you’ll discover some of the best-preserved ancient ruins in the country. Take a guided bike tour around Anuradhapura City, an impressive World-Heritage listed site, soaking up the splendour of the ruins as you gain an appreciation of what this area must have looked like during its heyday hundreds of years ago. If you would prefer to skip the bicycle, a tuk tuk is available to take you on the tour. Anuradhapura is also home to a sacred, ancient Bo tree, which originally came from a branch of the famous Bo tree in Budda Gaya.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Anuradhapura - Bodhi Tree Temple
Anuradhapura - Sacred City bike tour
Special information
Today’s travel time is approximately 1.5 hours.
Tuk tuks are available for those who prefer not to ride a bike.
Day 7 • Colombo
After breakfast, watch the world go by on the drive to Colombo and take in some of the city's main sights on a bus tour including Independence Square, Parliament and the National Museum, exploring Pettah Market on foot, and finishing with a shopping opportunity for a good cause at the Barefoot Fairtrade Store. Here you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. If you are lucky enough to be in Colombo on a Saturday, visit Good Market – a local market full of stalls showcasing social enterprises and responsible businesses. Tonight, there's the chance to have a group dinner with your travel crew to celebrate your Sri Lankan journey together.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Colombo - City tour by bus
Colombo – Guided market visit
Special information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5.5 hours.
Day 8 • Colombo
With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave any time after breakfast, provided you comply with the hotel’s internal check-out times. If you would like to spend more time in Colombo, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Meals
Breakfast
Dates/Pricing
*** Price based on 21 Sep 2025 departure ***
Applicable Travel Dates
1 June – 30 November 2025
Booking terms and conditions apply.
*
Term and conditions apply: All pricing subject to change and availability. Advertised prices are per person twin share unless stated otherwise. Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Itineraries are subject to change. Booking Conditions and Phil Hoffmann Travel Schedule of Professionalism* applies. Please speak to your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant for more information.
