Treasures of Sri Lanka – Exclusively Solos Tour

Depart from London Heathrow, Manchester or Birmingham with Emirates. All flights to Colombo operate via Dubai.

On arrival, we transfer to the coastal town of Negombo, for our first two nights in Sri Lanka. Our accommodation is the scenic Jetwing Sea Hotel. Later, enjoy a welcome drink with our Tour Manager and fellow travellers, followed by dinner

Following a leisurely morning, we take a sightseeing tour of Colombo, with its fascinating mix of cultures, religions, and colonial influences. We see the stately New and Old Parliament, Independence Square, the Pettah – a neighbourhood famed for open-air bazaars – and the captivating architecture of Gangaramaya Temple. We then embark on a walking tour of Colombo’s thriving food scene, sampling local street food, browsing artisanal markets, and visiting traditional eateries.

If you’re an early bird, don’t miss out on the optional visit to Lellama village, where we see the second-largest fish market in the country, where over 4000 boats depart daily. Chat with locals while admiring the day’s catch. We return to the hotel for a hearty breakfast before travelling to Dambulla. On arrival, we check in at Amaya Lake Hotel, where we will stay for the next two nights. This afternoon, experience a game drive in either Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park, both set in the mesmerising Sri Lankan countryside, where wild Asian elephants roam in abundance.

Tour Highlight

We take an early breakfast before visiting the famous site of Sigiriya to discover its fascinating history. Surrounded by the remains of extensive gardens, the most celebrated site is Sigiriya Rock, with its flat-topped summit some 200 metres above sea level, amidst the ruins of an ancient civilisation. The more energetic amongst us can climb to the summit, passing remarkable frescos and the famous ‘Lion’s Paws’ along the way. Later, we enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan lunch before travelling to the medieval city of Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the grand Royal Palace complex, including the majestic Kings Palace and Audience Hall. We witness the spectacular Gal Vihare complex featuring four gigantic images of Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite – a dramatic highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving.

This morning, we embark on our journey to the Last Kingdom of Sri Lanka, Kandy. En route, we visit the Cave Temple of Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex of magnificent caves dates back to the 1st century BC. Later, we stop at the Sri Lankan Spice Garden in the rural village of Matale, a working spice and fruit farm, to learn about the local trees and crops in the company of our host. Enjoy a traditionally-prepared rice and curry lunch, then continue to Kandy and the Cinnamon Citadel Hotel, or the charming Earl’s Regent Hotel for our next two nights.

After breakfast, we enjoy a village walking tour. We visit Yatiwawala, walking through lush jungle paths and verdant rice fields, spotting the roaming buffalo. See spices at their source and visit an Ambalama, a shelter built by ancient kings to house weary travellers. Afterwards, we take a tuk-tuk to Menikkumbura market, where we meet the village’s Ayurvedic doctor. We will then prepare and sample an authentic Sri Lankan meal and return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure. In the early evening, we visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth, also known as ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’. A significant shrine for Buddhists worldwide, the temple holds the blessed tooth relic of the Lord Buddha himself. We arrive in time for the evening ceremony, followed by a cultural show – a fascinating performance of traditional Sri Lankan dances.

Tour Highlight

Today, we journey towards the cooler climates of Sri Lanka’s hill country, as we join a local train travelling through an idyllic panorama of forests, villages, tea estates, and waterfalls. Please note, whilst we endeavour to arrange seats on the train as soon as tickets become available to book, this included rail journey is always subject to availability. Disembarking in Nuwara Eliya, enjoy a brief city tour before arriving at the Jetwing St Andrew’s Hotel, offering scenic views of the countryside.

After breakfast, enjoy a tea-plucking experience. Prepare to be decked out in local attire as we head to the organic tea fields. We are taught the art of which leaves to pluck and the tricky techniques to ensure the leaves end up in our baskets and not on the ground! Accompanied by professional tea pluckers along the way. We’ll conclude the day with High Tea at the hotel.

After enjoying our breakfast, we travel to Udawalawe, where we stay the night in either the Hotel Centauria Wild or the Grand Udawalawe. After settling in, embark on an afternoon safari in Udawalawe National Park. The park is renowned for its elephants, so get ready to admire these majestic creatures up close. The park is also a birders’ paradise, and you can spot deer, buffalo, and crocodiles from the comfort (and safety) of our guided vehicle.

For those interested, there is the option to purchase a further early morning safari in Udawalawe National Park. After breakfast, we visit the Elephant Transit Home, a wonderful facility which rehabilitates orphaned baby elephants, aiming to release them back into the wild. We continue our journey towards Yala and our overnight stay at the Cinnamon Wild Hotel. This afternoon, we embark on a safari in Yala National Park, the largest National Park in Sri Lanka, located approximately 24km northeast of Tissamaharama. Yala is the best location to see rare leopards. Other highlights of Yala include elephants, bears, wild boars, buffalos, deer, crocodiles, and many species of birds. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle, with an abundance of water for the wildlife.

We have an opportunity this morning to take a second safari (own expense) in Yala National Park, before we begin our journey to Kalutara, via Galle. We experience a city tour in Galle, a striking and historic city on the southwest coast. The main maritime port for the country for more than 200 years, Galle is famous for its Dutch fort with its colonial buildings, stylish cafés, and quirky boutique shops. We continue to Kalutara beach and spend our final two nights in Sri Lanka at the Anantara Kalutara Resort.

Today, we have the chance to spend the day at leisure. Alternatively, there are various optional excursions for you to further explore the area. The first is a Madu River Boat Safari, heading out into the wetland estuaries to discover their mangroves. Lunch is included in this excursion, and so is a visit to Kosgoda Beach, one of Sri Lanka’s most important nesting grounds for marine turtles. Admire these beautiful creatures and learn about the conservation efforts. The other optional excursion is a tour to Ahangama to participate in the local art of stilt fishing! This excursion also includes a visit to local villages to learn about finger-weaving and how various artisanal household items are made.

After 14 amazing days full of unforgettable memories, it’s time to say goodbye to Sri Lanka. We depart early this morning for Colombo airport for our Emirates flight home. All flights will operate via Dubai. We arrive at our chosen UK airport this evening, bringing to a close our amazing Sri Lankan adventure.