Freedom Days

Sri Lankan cuisine is famed for its delicate spicing and vivid flavour combinations, influenced by the nation’s different ethnicities and rich history. This optional activity gives us the opportunity to prepare a delicious meal with a local host whose culinary skills have brought her much fame in the Galle area. Whether it’s an authentic biryani, a seafood feast or hot hoppers with accompaniments,..

Brightly painted, wooden masks are a familiar sight throughout Sri Lanka, and this excursion to an artist’s gallery in Galle Fort will teach us about the painting of these traditional masks. Hailing from Ambalangoda, an area in the South known for traditional masks, a renowned artist will tell us about these masks which are an important part of Sri Lankan culture and the painting methods used whic..

Following an early start, we will be taken to the harbour to meet our naturalist guide for the day and his crew before boarding our vessel and heading out to sea. The crisp, early morning air will energise us for an exciting morning of marine nature watching, as we look out for Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Killer Whales and several species of dolphins between 20 – 40 nautical miles from the coast. T..

Yala National Park is the second largest of Sri Lanka’s National Parks, but probably its best known. Stretching over 97,800 hectares in extent, the park is home to a multitude of species, including elephants, bears, crocodiles and wild boar. The park also has the world’s highest concentration of leopards per square kilometre thanks to its ongoing leopard research, conservation and identification p..

This is a fun-filled ‘off the beaten track’ adventure taking us to explore lesser-known areas of Galle. Distinctive and characterful, the tuk tuk is a brightly coloured, three-wheeled vehicle, and our friendly and knowledgeable driver will transport us to some of the most authentic spots in Galle, along busy back streets and rural lanes. You’ll uncover sights and enjoy experiences you might not ot..

For a taste of authentic Sri Lankan rural life, join this afternoon’s visit to the village of Hiriwaduna. Home to around 2,000 people, the village is unspoilt and scenic. Stroll along its meandering paths, where wild flowers and medicinal ginger grow, laundry is strung between the trees and butterflies flutter among the low shrubs. We make our way to the peaceful shores of a reservoir, where cormo..

For something a little different today, hop on a tuk tuk to be taken to the rural setting of Gampola to explore three lesser-known temples with a knowledgeable guide. Start off with Gadaladeniya Viharaya, one of the so-called ‘Three Temples’ or "Western Shrines’. Built of stone by Gampola’s King Bhuvanekabahu IV and perched on a rock cliff, the temple is a fine example of the Dravidian style of ar..

Mihintale is a site of great importance for Sri Lanka, as the city is regarded as the place from which Buddhism developed in Sri Lanka. This optional excursion will introduce us to the legend of King Devanampiya Tissa, who in 247 BC was taking part in a deer hunt on the Mihintale mountain when he was approached by Mahinda, the son of the great Buddhist emperor Ashoka. Mahinda tested the king’s wis..

Highlights: Experiencing Mumbai City Sassoon Docks Flower Market Vegetable Market Tour Description: It is a rare privilege to see the beginning of the day in a city as busy and crowded as Mumbai; to witness the underbelly of Mumbai as it greets the dawn, and to gain an insight into what makes this magnificent city tick. This early morning tour starts at the newspaper vendor distribution network, b..

Highlights: Talking to the women of Sadhna Tour Description: Sadhna is a social enterprise established in 1988 to provide alternative means of livelihood for women in Udaipur’s rural and impoverished areas. Starting with just a small group of 15 women, it has grown to a large family of 714 women artisans, who create exquisite traditional handicrafts. We will visit the women of Sadhna in the villag..