Arrive: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Depart: Colombo, Sri Lanka
After a visit to Colombo’s markets and mix of Hindu and Buddhist temples, we head to our lovely resort hotel overlooking the rock fortress of Sigiriya. Here we’ll look for wild elephants in Kaudulla National Park, then visit the graceful pagodas of 10th century Polonnaruwa (Sri Lanka’s lovely medieval capital) and King Kashyapa’s citadel of Sigiriya, a towering rock outcrop rising from the jungle plains. Both places are World Heritage Sites. Near Ritigala, we visit a local school, then head to a Buddhist monastery to participate in an almsgiving ceremony.
We climb up to the cave-temple complex at Dambulla, then head to Kandy, home to the famous 16th century Temple of the Tooth. Kandy is also the center of the island’s handicraft industry, which includes exquisite silver and gold jewelry. In colonial Nuwara Eliya in the heart of hill country, we walk through tea plantations and learn the fine art of “tasting” tea. A short rail journey brings us to the peaceful town of Ella, where we can enjoy a nature walk among the rice paddies and a lesson in preparing Sri Lankan cuisine.
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
"From beginning to end, this trip exceeded all my expectations. The trip’s timing for the cultural events we experienced was spot on."
Anne W.
Gardnerville, NV
"Trip was well designed and executed, with plenty of diversity. Well done!"
Ginger K.
Adairsville, GA
"We very much enjoyed the diversity of experiences—visiting historic and religious sites, interacting with local people, viewing wildlife, and experiencing different environments. Each day was a new adventure!"
Jo L.
Santa Barbara, CA
"It was a great trip to an amazing country not many people know about. Every day had many new discoveries."
Keith R.
New Orleans, LA
"How lucky we were! Annie loves the country, and knows it well. She provided an amazing mix of culture, nature, and history."
Lisa T.
Hamden, CT
"A remarkable and heartwarming experience. The visit to the local elementary school was a special treat!"
Melissa S.
Kailua-Kona, HI
"A wonderful experience. I so enjoyed the diversity of the island."
Nancy B.
Charlestown, MA
"Annie was an excellent guide. She has a great passion for life, travel, and Sri Lanka that consistently comes through. She also did a very good job, as we were a small group, of being flexible and taking advantage of the moment. Loved the planning for so many special meals and different experiences."
Zac G.
San Marino, CA
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Submit the form below to download itinerary
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.