Classic Sri Lanka
11 days
Under the gaze of a tropical sun, the exquisite sand beaches and placid blue waters of Sri Lanka unfold. The flavours of coconut and abundant seafood conspire with ever-friendly locals to shape the most exquisite beach holiday destinations. Add stopovers at the seaside colonial fort city of Galle, and whale and dolphin watching tours down the coast. Variety is the spice of this island nation. Further east, in the rainforests and open grasslands of Yala national park, you’re sure to spot elephants and crocodiles, among numerous other birds and beasts. A little to the north is the hill station of Nuwara Eliya, a place of swirling mists and verdant tea estates, memorable with every cup of Ceylon tea you will ever consume. Before heading back north to the capital Colombo, stop and climb the rock fortress of Sigiriya, the Lion Rock rising from forested plains.
Itinerary Summary
Colombo
2 Nights
The legacies of colonial Colombo’s garden roots are still very much intact along its often-shady boulevards. Fort is a compelling place thanks to ongoing restoration of its landmark colonial architecture, while Pettah brims with markets and rampant commerce. Although it’s unlikely it will reclaim its 19th-century moniker ‘the garden city of the East’, Colombo has nevertheless emerged as a must-see stop in Sri Lanka. No longer just the sprawling city you have to endure on your way to the beaches, it has become a worthy destination in its own right and makes an excellent start – or finish – to your Sri Lankan adventures.
Highlights: Traditional Puppet Art Museum, Geoffrey Bawa House, Seema Malakaya Meditation Centre
Kandy
3 Nights
Rated among the major cities of Sri Lanka, Kandy is a special city. Surrounded by dense forests and mountain ranges, acquiring a height of 500 meters from the sea level, the tourist places in this town gives you a feeling that you are living in a modern valley. Nature supports this place immensely and makes it the city with a pleasant climate. A city with lakes and special landscapes is always a delight when you plan to spend some romantic evenings and playful late nights while mooning around. Kandy has a rich historical background covering the major events of the medieval era and colonial era. Every square inch of this nicely planned town has a piece of Sri Lankan history to share with you.
Highlights: Temple of the Tooth, Ceylon Tea Museum, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Yala
3 Nights
Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most popular wildlife park due to the presence of many leopards. Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world where the population lives side-by-side with free-roaming animals. It isn’t uncommon to see elephants crossing roads or sneaking into a hotel lobby – a unique and beautiful way of living. An enormous part of the Sri Lankan southeast corner is Yala National Park. The park is divided into five blocks. They stretch from the jungles inland to the beaches on the Indian Ocean. Only blocks one and five are open to the public, to preserve the natural habitat as much as possible.
Highlights: Yala National Park
Galle
3 Nights
Galle is a jewel. A Unesco World Heritage Site, this historic city is a delight to explore on foot, an endlessly exotic old trading port blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Wandering its rambling lanes you’ll pass stylish cafes, quirky boutiques and impeccably restored hotels owned by local and foreign artists, writers, photographers and designers. Most travellers are utterly seduced by Galle’s ambience, and its undoubtedly southern Sri Lanka’s one unmissable sight.
Highlights: Galle Fort, Sea Turtle Farm, Old town
Negombo
2 Nights
Negombo is a modest beach town located just 10km from Bandaranaike International Airport. With a stash of decent hotels and restaurants to suit all pockets, a friendly local community, an interesting old quarter and a reasonable (though somewhat polluted) beach, Negombo is a much easier place to find your Sri Lankan feet than Colombo. The Dutch captured the town from the Portuguese in 1640, lost it, and then captured it again in 1644. The British then took it from them in 1796 without a struggle. Negombo was one of the most important sources of cinnamon during the Dutch era, and there are still reminders of the European colonial days.
Highlights: Angurukaramulla Temple, Negombo Beach, Dutch Fort
