The Grand Sri Lankan Explorer - 20 Nights / 21 Days

When you arrive at Colombo International Airport, you will be received by our representatives, and later you will be transferred to Kalpitiya. On the way, you can visit the city of Negombo and fish market.

Negombo is one of Sri Lanka’s largest towns; it is situated on the west coast of the island at the mouth of the Negombo lagoon. It is the 5th largest city in Sri Lanka behind Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna and Galle and boasts of a large sandy beach, luscious mangroves and a collection of little restaurants and bars. With its population of 128,000, it is one of Sri Lanka’s most important commercial hubs. Once a fishing village, it is most famous for its fresh and dry fish markets. Due to the influence of the Portuguese and Dutch, there exists a heavy Roman Catholic influence and presence in and around Negombo, which is why it is referred to as “little Rome.” After the visit, continue to Kalpitiya; after arrival, you will spend the remaining day at leisure, stay in Kalpitiya.

This morning after breakfast you will take an excursion to the Baththalangunduwa Island. You will find the boat that takes passengers to the island every day (except on Sundays). While fishermen and boat operators in the area say the island is more easily accessible from Puttalam, however, boats operating from Kalpitiya are the only ones allowed to make the trip to this island. Weaving through the hustle and bustle of the jetty, travellers can then reach the ferry boat bound for Baththalangunduwa. As names and identification numbers of passengers are hurriedly written down, orders to wear the safety jackets barked out by the coast guard and obediently complied with by the passengers, the three-hour-long ferry journey to the island begins at 8.30am.

Around 38 kilometres or 20 nautical miles from the town of Kalpitiya off the Dutch Bay lies the island of Baththalangunduwa. A thin strip of an island about a mere five square kilometres in size, it is one of the few inhabited ones off the coast of Kalpitiya.

However, despite Baththalangunduwa being a thriving fishing village, the island in its recent times has also become a popular destination for travellers looking for adventure off the beaten track, such as kitesurfing, whale watching, deep-sea fishing and visiting this extraordinary islet depicting its own culture & attractions. After the visit you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kalpitiya where you will spend the night.

Today morning after breakfast, you will travel to the ancient city of Anuradhapura which was the capital of the king’s country (Rajarata among locals) for around 1400 years. At the peak of its glory, the city is said to have been spread out over 52 km² with a population of tens of thousands. With its magnificent monuments, intricate sculptures and imposing stupas, Anuradhapura is the perfect testament to ancient Sri Lankan culture. A few of the notable sites you can visit spread across this world heritage site include: Temple of the Sacred Fig Tree (Sri Maha Bodhi), Isurumuniya, Jetawanaramaya, Abhayagiriya, Thuparama and the Twin Baths. Return to the hotel for dinner & overnight stay. Stay in Anuradhapura

Today morning after breakfast, you will check out from the hotel and you will take a morning train to Jaffna (09h17) (approx. 02 hrs & 45 mins journey to Jaffna).

After arrival you will be transferred to your hotel in Jaffna; later in the evening you will enjoy the city tour of Jaffna. 

Jaffna is the capital of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, located on a peninsula of the same name. With a population of around 90 thousand, Jaffna is Sri Lanka’s 12th largest city. Nallur, a suburb of Jaffna, served as the capital of the medieval kingdom of Jaffna for over 4 centuries. After the visits you will be transferred to your hotel in Jaffna, where you will spend the night. 

Today morning after breakfast, proceed to visit Nagadeepaya by boat first & then later visit Delft Island.

Nagadeepa island where there is a Buddhist Temple and Hindu Temple (only accessible by boat), the local market, the statue of Shivaji, and the Jaffna public library. 

Naagapoosani Amman Kovil is an ancient Hindu temple on the island of Naina-theevu (also known as Nagadeepa) located off the coast of the Jaffna peninsula. According to historians, a magnificent stone temple stood where the current temple stands now, only to be destroyed by the Portuguese Colonialist who invaded and overthrew the kingdom of Jaffna. The current temple was built during the 17th century in various stages by Hindus in the region after the Dutch and Portuguese, who surprised the local’s religion freedom, left the country. Today, the temple is a symbol for the Tamil people and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature.

Delft Island is in the Palk Straight located in the north of Sri Lanka. The sovereign Sri Lankan island is also known by its name of Neduntheevu or Neduntivu. Oval-shaped, the island is 50 km² in size with a maximum length of 8 km and a width of 6 km. The island was named Delft after the Dutch city of the same name when it was made one of the seats of the Dutch East India Company by its governor general, Rijckloff van Goens (1619 – 1682). On the island one can find an old Dutch fort, gigantic Baobab and Banyan trees, wild horses, small fishing villages and small houses typical of Delft. After a busy day of visits, you will return to your hotel in Jaffna, where you will spend the night.

Today morning you will have a long journey towards Trincomalee, after arrival you will spend the remaining day at leisure at your hotel, or you can also explore the Trincomalee town on your own. Stay in Trincomalee.

Today morning you will visit the Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, later in the day you will travel to the beautiful beach destination of Passikudah. After arrival you will spend the remaining day on the beaches of Passikudah.

Today morning after breakfast, check out from your hotel and travel to Sigiriya, en-route visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa was established as Sri Lanka’s medieval capital after the fall and destruction of Anuradhapura at the hands of the Cholan invaders from India. Polonnaruwa contains various masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture and architecture, as well as remarkable feats of engineering that are widely regarded as ahead of their time. The most famous of these masterpieces is the Gal Vihara, with its famous rock carvings of Lord Buddha; The Sacred Quadrangle, which includes the Vatadage, used to hold the Tooth of Lord Buddha; and the Parakrama Samudra, or the sea of Parakrama in English, is a man-made reservoir (or tank) stretching over 23 kilometers which is a prime example of the advanced engineering of that time. After the visits you will be transferred to your hotel in Sigiriya where you will spend the night. 

Today early morning before breakfast, proceed to visit/climb Sigiriya Lion Rock. Found in the centre of the cultural triangle, Sigiriya, is another exceptional architectural, artistic and engineering landmark of ancient Sri Lanka. Carved into the rock on the orders of King Kashyapa, he used the rock to build his fortress to provide him the ultimate protection against an attack. The king built himself a palace a top the rock along with a village for his followers at the bottom of the rock decorated with water gardens containing baths and fountains that still work to this day. Often referred to as “Lion Rock”, Sigiriya, is also famous for its frescos that depict the “Damsels of Sigiriya” which date back to the 5th century AD. Afterwards, return to the hotel for breakfast & rest of the day relax at the hotel. Stay in Sigiriya.

Today you will spend the day at leisure at your hotel in Sigiriya, where you will engage with a Pottery demonstration at the hotel on how to manufacture the earthen pottery used in traditional Sri Lankan cooking. After that you can stroll around the vegetable & fruit gardens in the hotel and enjoy picking up some vegetables for lunch.

Afterwards, enjoy a wood fire cooking demonstration on a traditional wood fire stove using clay pots and spice remedies, followed by a vegetarian lunch. Overnight stay in Sigiriya.

Today morning after breakfast, you will travel to the Knuckles Mountain Range, en-route you will visit Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, which is also known as the Golden Temple, was founded in the 1st century AD by King Valagamba who is said to have fled to the caves during an invasion from South India. This UNESCO World Heritage site is filled with various sculptures and paintings of Lord Buddha and his devotees, various Hindu divinities and gods as well as Sri Lankan kings. Spread out over 5 caves, each cave depicts statutes and paintings from a different period of Sri Lanka’s rich history, thus showcasing the evolution of Sri Lankan artistic style. After the visits, you will travel to the beautiful hill station in Knuckles. After arrival you will spend the remaining day at leisure and stay in a tented camp in Knuckles.

Today you can enjoy a trek in the Knuckles mountains range with an experienced trekker, and below are the options you can choose from:

Option 01 – High Knuckles Trek 

Early breakfast at the campsite and leave the campsite (around 06.00 hrs) with packet lunches for a trek to the High Peak in the Knuckles mountain range. 

(Approximate duration: 8-9 hrs)

Knuckles Massif, or the Knuckles Mountain Range, is part of the Hill Country of Sri Lanka which is also above 3000 ft, or 915 m, from sea level and covers an area of about 90 sq miles, or 234 sq km, of land extent. This is also called the Knuckles Range or Knuckles Peaks or simply the Knuckles. The reason to call it Knuckles is because there is a mountain with five peaks in itself that looks like the knuckles of a clenched fist when seen from the Kandy area ( or the SW direction of that mountain named as Knuckles with a height of 6112 feet). The Sri Lankan name for this mountainous area is " Dumbara Mitiyawatha " which means " The Misty Vally ". Since this inner mountainous area is off the motoring roads, it remains as an unspoilt nature reserve even today. 

Option 02 – Water Fall Trek 

Early breakfast at the campsite and leave the campsite (around 06.00 hrs) with packet lunches for Water fall trek 

(Approximate duration: -5-7 hrs)

A trek still within the Knuckles National Park that starts from the Wild Glamping Campsite and initially takes you through some tea plantations and some forests to a beautiful waterfall and viewpoint. 

Option 03 – Heel Oya Village Trek 

Early breakfast at the camp site and leave the Camp site (around 06.30 hrs) with Packet lunch for the Heel Oya Village Trek 

(Approximate duration: 4-5 hrs)

Get a feel of the life in a typical village in addition to trekking and sightseeing in true Sri Lankan style at Heeloya, which is a rural, remote agricultural village.

After a busy day of explorations, you return to your hotel, where you will spend the night, stay in Knuckles.

Today morning after breakfast, you will travel to the city of Kandy.

Later in the afternoon you will enjoy a city tour of Kandy which is Sri Lanka's second city is Kandy, a beautiful historical city in the citadel of the country. It is not only known for its great kings who ruled the city for almost 225 years independently until the British took over in 1815, but it is also the place where the Sacred Tooth of Lord Buddha is laid in a magnificent temple. The incomparable Perahera celebration, a procession of more than 100 elephants, is held every year in July/August here.

Known as the Temple of the Tooth, this temple houses the famous relic of Lord Buddha’s tooth and is without a doubt the city’s most important landmark. The temple holds daily ceremonies called Puja’s (Thevava) every morning and night to honour the relic. Visitors get to see the Golden casing where the relic is kept during the ceremony where the rooms gates are opened. The ritualistic ceremony which includes traditional drums is a must for all those visiting the holy city of Kandy.

Return to the hotel for dinner & overnight stay.

Today morning after breakfast, you will travel to Tea country of Mandaramnuwara (approx. 60 km – 02 hrs & 05 mins drive from Kandy to Mandaramnuwara)

After arrival in Mandaramnuwara, check-in and rest of the day relax at the hotel (Note, that a shuttle vehicle will be provided to reach the hotel due to road conditions). Dinner & overnight stay in Mandaramnuwara.

Today you will enjoy a day of exploring the entire process of tea making from leaf to cup. You will start by plucking the tea leaves yourself, and you will witness the process of how the tea leaves are being processed, and you will go home with a packet of tea which was plucked by you. This will be a unique experience with a lot of learning and discovering. Stay in Mandaramnuwara.

Today morning after an early breakfast, check-out & transfer to Yala via Ella.

En-route explore Ella city & if the time permits visit Nine Arch Bridge. Ella is nestled between “little adams peak” and Ella rock peering straight through the Ella Gap to the plain nearly 1000m below, and across to the coast where, on a clear night, you can see the Great Basses lighthouse. Its location makes it the perfect place for hiking with waterfalls, peaks, and tea plantations in the surroundings. The town is full of quirky little restaurants, cafes and bars to unwind after a day of hiking. After your arrival in Yala you will spend the remaining day at leisure, stay in Yala.

Today early morning enjoy a wildlife jeep safari at Yala National Park with picnic breakfast packets. The Yala National Park is situated in the south eastern corner of the island. It is mainly thorny shrub forest, reminiscent of the African bush, which provides the visitors the best bet for seeing leopards, with the highest concentration in the world. Other mammals such as elephants, deer species, wild buffalo, wild boar and monkeys can be found in the park. Other species such as crocodiles, peacocks and if you are lucky, sloth bears, can be found.

After the Jeep safari you will check out from the hotel and you will be transferred to Sinharaja. 

(Approx. 180 kms – 04 hrs & 50 mins drive from Yala to Sinharaja) After arrival you will spend the remaining day at leisure, stay in Sinharaja.

Today morning after breakfast, proceed to do a trek in Sinharaja with a local trekker. The Sinharaja Rainforest will leave a nature enthusiast quite bedazzled. Birdwatchers particularly will have an astonishing range of avifauna to observe. The rare birds present include the Red-faced Malkoha, the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the Ashy-headed Babbler and the White-headed Starling, the Green-billed Coucal is considered the rarest. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the presence of mixed-species foraging bird flocks, which is a phenomenon usually only found in rainforests.  100 flocks have been systematically observed, and studies have revealed that some flocks contained 48 species including 12 endemics. 

After a morning of trekking, you will check out from your hotel and will be transferred to the beautiful beach destination of Weligama (Approx. 85 km – 02 hrs & 35 mins drive from Sinharaja to Weligama)

After arrival you will spend the remaining day in the beautiful beaches of Weligama, stay in Weligama.

Today you will have a free day at leisure in the beaches of Weligama without any planned activities, stay in Weligama.

Today morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Colombo (Approx. 180 km – 02 hrs & 50 mins drive from Weligama to Colombo) En-route you will visit Galle Dutch Fort with your chauffeur.

Galle is the south coast’s major city, whose oldest landmark is the massive 17th-century Portuguese and Dutch Fort in which the central city is contained. The fort is perhaps the best example of colonial architecture in the country, and as you walk through the streets, you can see strong Dutch influences in the architecture, along with some old British residences and various mosques with Arabic touches. Most of these old buildings have been restored to their former glory, with many being home to a vibrant culinary scene, with various hip restaurants and cafes. In addition, the city has thriving art scene; you’ll find boutiques selling handicrafts, old posters, antiques and home deco among other things. 

After a day of visits in Galle you will be transferred to Colombo, where you will do some shopping and spend the night, stay in Colombo.

Today morning you will enjoy a city tour of Colombo which is Sri Lanka’s largest city and commercial capital. The city really grew to prominence during the reigns of the Dutch and the British who made it their capital. Colombo is divided into separate neighbourhoods; the three most important are Fort, the former administrative zone and the central business district; Pettah, the major commercial area; and Cinnamon Gardens, a residential neighbourhood. While crossing through these neighbourhoods one would come across Independence Square, Galle Face Green, The Town Hall, old colonial buildings around Fort, including the old Parliament and the current Parliament in Kotte. This tour is done by vehicle.

After the visits you will be transferred to Colombo Airport, where you will take your flight back home.