12 days
Daily Tour
12 people
English
Sri Lanka’s melting pot should be at the top of your list if you’re searching for a location where churches, mosques, Buddhist shrines, and Hindu temples can all be found in one area. You will travel from relaxed Negombo to historic Anuradhapura during this 12-day journey. Discover the mysteries of the north, Jaffna’s hidden gems, and Trincomalee’s stunning coastline. Spend time with locals eager to share their homes, cuisine, and stories, visit the temples of Kandy to learn about the country’s spiritual core, and go on safaris to spot local wildlife.
Ayu-bowan! Greetings from Sri Lanka. The town of Negombo, which is near the international airport, is where your journey starts. Tonight at 5:30 p.m., there will be a welcome meeting to start your adventure. Early arrivals can experience the essence of coastal Sri Lanka by taking in the local fishing techniques and perhaps indulging in some fresh seafood. Bicycles, which you can rent with assistance from the hotel reception, are the best way to explore the surrounding countryside. Perhaps go to an optional group dinner to get to know one another after your meeting tonight.
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 trip begins, some travelers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions. This has been especially common in and around the hotels that Intrepid uses. Since these guides have no affiliation with Intrepid, we are unable to guarantee the quality or safety of their tours. Customers are advised not to participate in any tour provided by unlicensed guides.
Travel north by private vehicle to Anuradhapura today. Along the way, you’ll visit the Negombo Fish Markets. The grand ruins of Anuradhapura point to its status as Sri Lanka’s ruling city for almost one and a half millennia and you’ll take a guided cycling tour of the many archaeological sites when you arrive. See the stupas, citadel and the monasteries, stopping by the Bodhi Tree Temple – the second-most sacred site in Sri Lanka. The rest of your evening is free.
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
If you don't feel like cycling, there’s the option to wander around the ruins on foot or hire a rickshaw to follow the group.
The Negombo Fish Markets are closed on Sundays and Catholic Holidays.
Travel north by train to the coastal Tamil town of Jaffna – inaccessible for years due to the civil war. Journey around the Jaffna Peninsula, soaking in the views of Point Pedro – Sri Lanka’s northernmost point. You’ll also stop to see the healing waters of Keerimalai Spring, the ruined dagobas of Kantarodai and Nilawari – a bottomless well where it’s said that the Hindu God Rama shot an arrow to get water. Tonight, visit a local home and learn to cook traditional Jaffna cuisine, then enjoy the fruits of your labour for dinner.
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Due to the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah, some train lines are currently unavailable. Where train services are unable to run, we’ll arrange a private vehicle 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.
Today, you’ll explore more of Jaffna with your leader. First, you’ll head to a hands-on pottery class that’s run by a local, family-owned business. The local potter will show you the different techniques and teach you about the art of pottery. Then, you’ll get to shape and mould your own creations, making a small pot to take home! After, you’ll head to lunch in a local Hindu home. Feast on a traditional vegetarian meal and learn more about the Hindu population in Jaffna. This afternoon, you’ll head to a beautiful library that’s recently been restored after being destroyed in the war. See the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil – an important local Hindu site – then return to your accommodation for a relaxing evening.
Leave Jaffna today and travel to Trincomalee. Discover the beach vibes of ‘Trinco’, relax in the shade of a palm tree and try ‘toddy’ straight from its flowers. Trincomalee was one of the world’s finest deep-water harbours, attracting famous sailors like Marco Polo to its shores. There are no activities planned today, so there's plenty of time to relax around the pool or head to the beach.
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Today, visit a local village and learn how local tappers extract toddy from Palmyrah and learn how palmyrah leaves are weaved to make different items. Then, join the local women and see how odiyal kool is prepared (Tamil seafood soup), then try some for yourself. In the afternoon you’ll have free time to maybe visit the colourful and intricate Pathirakali Amman Hindu temple or sit back, relax and enjoy the lazy beach lifestyle.
Drive from Trincomalee towards Dambulla and on the way visit the Zero Plastic Impact Center, an Intrepid Foundation partner supporting almost 100 local artisans producing plastic-alternative products like reusable woven basket bags and clay water bottles. Try your hand at bamboo and coconut shell crafting, plus take home your own traditional Sri Lankan mask as a keepsake.Dambulla is your base to explore the colourful Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple – this UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, many of which are full of colourful, large statues and paintings related to Gautama Buddha and his life. After returning to Dambulla, there’s the option of going elephant, sambar deer and leopard watching on a safari in the evergreen scrublands of Minneriya National Park.
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Today you’ll visit Sigiriya's Lion Rock – this ancient carved-rock fortress that rises dramatically above the surrounding plains is a UNESCO World Heritage site and if you’re game, you can climb the many stairs to see the amazing views of the surrounding jungle. Then, head out for a wildlife safari at Minneriya National Park – home to Sri Lankan elephants and sloth bears, and claimed to be the best National Park in the world to witness elephants in large herds in their natural habitat (between July and December). Return to Dambulla for the night for a free evening.
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.
Leave Dambulla and head onwards to Kandy (approximately 3.5 hours), the last capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings era. As you continue on, a stop in at a spice garden might yield scents of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, vanilla and more as you learn the secrets of cultivating these palate pleasers. After arriving in Kandy, visit a Kandayan dance show to experience the colourful traditional costumes and evocative performances live in action.
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
Start the day with a visit to the Giragama Tea Factory for an insight into local production techniques, then head to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This golden roofed temple is home to Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. After, enjoy the rest of the day with free exploration of the city. Perhaps take a walk around the beautiful lake in the centre of town, explore the local Buddhist temple or while away the afternoon amongst the trees and flowers of the Royal Palace Park.
The Tea Factory will be closed on Poya and Public Holidays.
Drive to Colombo today – the nation's capital. Stop by some of the city's main sights on a bus tour, including Independence Square, Parliament and the National Museum. End your tour with a spot of shopping at the Barefoot Fair-Trade Store. Here, you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. If you’re lucky enough to be in Colombo on a Saturday, you can visit Good Market – a local market full of stalls showcasing social enterprises and responsible businesses. Tonight, there's an optional final group dinner to celebrate your journey together.
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
There are no activities planned for today and you can depart the hotel at any time. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the Itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin share basis, unless otherwise stated in the Itinerary. There may be times when facilities are shared, rather than ensuite, which will also be mentioned in the Itinerary if applicable.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination before checking in.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
AIR CONDITIONING
All hotels on this trip have fans, but not all will have air conditioning.
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