9 days
Daily Tour
12 people
English
Explore Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean’s gem.
Discover a nation that exudes warmth, from its brilliant sunshine to its spicy food and hospitable locals. Discover the rich cultural diversity of Sri Lanka on this nine-day Premium experience. You will see rare and exquisite animals in their native habitats, discover the historic ruins of former civilizations, and unwind amidst expanses of green tea fields at a mountaintop resort. Meet local guides, enjoy home-cooked meals, stay in an 1891 Feature Stay, and discover the mysteries of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka’s renowned UNESCO World Heritage site, while being greeted warmly by the locals. Explore the teardrop island, a brilliant treasure in the Indian Ocean.
Ayubowan! Greetings from Sri Lanka. An Intrepid staff will greet you at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo and take you to your hotel in nearby Negombo. for 6 p.m. tonight, you will meet your local leader and group members for a welcoming meeting. Perhaps take a stroll to explore your surroundings or unwind on the beach if you get there early. After your meeting, enjoy a welcome meal of traditional Sri Lankan food and a round of complimentary cocktails to get to know your group a bit better. Get ready for rich aromas, potent spices, and delectably distinctive flavors.
We will be gathering insurance and emergency contact information during the welcome meeting, so it is crucial that you attend. Please notify the hotel reception or your travel agent if you will be running late. To find out more about the location of the meeting, ask reception or search the lobby for a note.
Before their Intrepid journey begins, several travelers have reported being accosted by locals proposing activities. This has been especially common in and near the hotels that Intrepid uses. Since these guides have no affiliation with Intrepid, we are unable to guarantee the quality or safety of their trips. Customers are advised not to participate in any tour provided by unlicensed guides.
Today, head inland to Dambulla. Make a stop at the Ridi Vihara shrine, a Buddhist cave temple from the second century BC, en route. At its height, these hillside caves are thought to have been home to around 500 monks. Discover the crafts and customs of the past, including wood and stone carving, palm leaf writing, and exploring the caverns that are home to Buddha statues and floral offerings. Before heading to Dambulla, where you will spend the following three nights, have lunch at a nearby eatery. The remainder of the afternoon is free once you've checked into your accommodation.
Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.
Go to Sigiriya (Lion Rock) early this morning before the heat gets too bad. A ruined palace sits atop this striking rocky outcrop that rises from the surrounding plains, making it one of Sri Lanka's most famous views. As you ascend, your guide will tell you tales of the ancient civilization that once called this place home. Although the hike is strenuous, the expansive views from the summit make it worthwhile. Go back to your hotel for a restful morning and a well-earned breakfast. Head to the village of Muriya Kadawala after lunch at a local home to learn about traditional Sri Lankan pottery techniques and give it a try. Additionally, you will have a piece of halapa (a sweet dessert) and a local herbal beverage.
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
After breakfast, make your way to Polonnaruwa. Hop on a bicycle to discover well-preserved temples, tombs and stupas in the ancient Quadrangle complex – it’s not hard to imagine what this place looked like in all its former glory. Visit the remains of a seven-story royal palace, the rock temple of Gal Vihara and the statue of 12th century king Parakrama I. For lunch, you’ll visit a local grandmother’s house, who will show you how to make dhal curry and pol sambol from scratch – you'll even shred coconut yourself using a traditional scraper tool! This afternoon, head to Minneriya National Park to see Sri Lankan elephants in the wild. You're likely to spot plenty of these gentle giants around the watering hole, plus macaques, spot-billed pelicans and more.
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Depending on the time of year, and to provide the best chance of wildlife sightings, you may visit Kaudulla National Park or Hurulu Eco Park instead of Minneriya National. All three of these parks border each other and wild animals, including elephants, move freely between them.
Today, you’ll travel to Kandy. Along the way, stop by the city of Matale where you’ll visit a local spice garden and learn about the spices that have played an important role in Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. In Kandy, take a guided tour of the city, stopping to admire the Buddhist Sri Dalada Maligawa, otherwise known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (the important shrine houses a relic of Buddha’s tooth, taken from his funeral pyre). Despite being Sri Lanka’s second largest city, Kandy is remarkably laid back. Spend your free evening searching for a taste bud-tingling curry, wandering around the glittering lake or enjoying an optional cultural dance performance.
Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.
After a leisurely morning, drive to Ambagasthenna village, where hotel and tea plantation owner Mr Thilina will guide you around his neighbourhood. For lunch, feast on a delicious home-cooked meal made by Mr Thilina’s mother. You’ll visit the tea plantation, learn about the cultivation process and try a cup or two served the Sri Lankan way. He’ll share inside knowledge about local crops, sustainable farming and ancient landscaping traditions. After a culture-packed day, there’s only one way to end it – by cracking open a beer and watching the sunset from one of the best viewpoints in Sri Lanka.
Depart Kandy and board a morning train bound for Nuwara Eliya. Nestled deep in tea plantation country, Nuwara Eliya sits at an elevation of 1800 m, giving it some of the coolest temperatures in Sri Lanka. When you arrive, take an orientation walk of Nuwara Eliya, wandering the peaceful shores of Gregory Lake. Check into the Grand Hotel – a gorgeous National Heritage Property and your Feature Stay for the night. Your rooms feature classic decor and modern amenities, but the hotel’s real charm is its sustainable approach – the owners have eliminated single-use plastic and are striving for a zero-waste future. Enjoy a high tea featuring pots of Ceylon black, green or spiced tea, plus finger sandwiches and sweet treats when you arrive.
Due to the impacts of cyclone Ditwah train lines are expected to be unavailable until 2027. If your train journey cannot run, we’ll arrange vehicle transport instead so your adventure can continue without interruption.
To secure a reserved seat for your train journey we require your full passport details at least 45 days before departure. If we receive your passport details after this, we may not be able to secure your train ticket. We always try our best to secure tickets, in cases where train tickets are unavailable due to high demand, you will continue your journey by private vehicle.
Your feature stay at Nuwara Eliya does not have air-conditioning in the rooms as it's not essential in this mountainous area where the temperature tends to be lower than other regions.
Say goodbye to the green hills of Nuwara Eliya and make the journey to Sri Lanka’s coastal capital, Colombo. On the way, visit a tea factory and plantations near the town of Labukelle and stop for lunch at a local restaurant. After arriving in Colombo, take an orientation walk with your leader, who’ll show you Sri Lanka’s old parliament building, the National Museum and the best spots for fairtrade souvenir shopping. Tonight, share a final farewell dinner with your group at a modern restaurant focused on creating dishes that celebrate Sri Lankan spices, such as peanut-crusted tuna with gotu-kola (pennywort) sambol and fragrant vegetable curry.
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay in Colombo, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Feature Stay (one night), Hotels (seven nights)
The daily itinerary's suggested lodging options are merely suggestions and are subject to change. Sometimes the availability of rooms at our desired lodging necessitates making other arrangements. We shall use a comparable quality of accommodation in these situations.
We ask that our accommodations be ready for us when we arrive, particularly if we are arriving before the regular check-in time. But this isn't always feasible, so in some places we won't be able to check in right away. On certain visits, we can use shared day rooms until all accommodations are available, or we can stow our bags and explore our new location.
Jetwing Blue Hotel
Ethukala, Negombo SRI LANKA
Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure.
Bandaranaike International Airport is located in a suburb of Negombo, approx. 35km north of the capital Colombo.
For your confirmed arrival transfer please head towards the travel counters in the arrival hall where you will see your driver with a signboard displaying the Intrepid logo and your name. Please identify yourself to the transfer rep, they will assist you to the vehicle for your onward transfer to your hotel. If you have any trouble locating your transfer representative wait near the Dialog mobile counter at the rear of the arrivals hall.
In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly:
+94 (0) 000 00000
+94 (0) 000 00000
Taxis are easy, safe and cheap.
A taxi from Bandaranaike International Airport takes approx. 15 minutes and costs approx. 5000 LKR (15 USD).
If you are staying in Colombo prior to the tour, it is approximately 30km from Colombo, which will cost about LKR10000 (USD30).
For trips departing on the following dates, use this joining point.
14 Jun 2026 (HPPC260614)
Jetwing Beach
Ethukala,Negombo,Sri Lanka. Negombo SRI LANKA
Phone: +94 000 00000
Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure.
Bandaranaike International Airport is located in a suburb of Negombo, approx. 35km north of the capital Colombo.
For your confirmed arrival transfer please head towards the travel counters in the arrival hall where you will see your driver with a signboard displaying the Intrepid logo and your name. Please identify yourself to the transfer rep, they will assist you to the vehicle for your onward transfer to your hotel. If you have any trouble locating your transfer representative wait near the Dialog mobile counter at the rear of the arrivals hall.
In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly:
+94 (0) 000 00000
+94 (0) 000 00000
Taxis are easy, safe and cheap.
A taxi from Bandaranaike International Airport takes approx. 15 minutes and costs approx. 5000 LKR (15 USD).
If you are staying in Colombo prior to the tour, it is approximately 30km from Colombo, which will cost about LKR10000 (USD30)
Member Since 2026
A Brilliant Trip