Journeys: Discover Sri Lanka

Day 1  Colombo    
Arrive in Colombo at any time and transfer to your hotel.      

Day 2  Colombo to Wilpattu NP    
Begin the day with a visit to a coconut plantation. Continue north to Wilpattu National Park, one of the oldest parks in the country and home to a significant leopard population. Explore the park on a 4WD with a local expert. Spend the night at a safari camp located just outside the park.    

Day 3  Wilpattu NP to Anuradhapura      
Travel to the sacred city of Anuradhapura, an ancient capital of Sri Lanka dating to the third century B.C. Take your time to wander the palaces, gardens, Buddhist temples, and monasteries of this splendid UNESCO World Heritage site.    

Day 4  Anuradhapura to Dambulla    
Venture to the thriving village of Habarana, for a chance to glimpse daily rural life. Explore the area by traditional bull cart, visiting lush vegetable fields and rice paddies. Float along a picturesque lake and sit down for a lunch of local specialties. Later, continue to Dambulla for the evening.    

Day 5  Dambulla    
This morning, discover one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic sights—the striking fortress of Sigiriya, or the Lion’s Rock. This royal city was built in the fifth century on the slopes of an imposing granite peak. Enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding jungle before returning to Dambulla for the evening.    

Day 6  Dambulla to Kandy    
Set out to explore the impressive Dambulla Cave Temple, the largest and best-preserved collection of cave shrines in Sri Lanka. Admire stunning Buddhist murals and a trove of Buddha statues, then visit a spice garden in Matale to learn about the therapeutic uses of local spices. Continue to Kandy and enjoy a tour of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, an important pilgrimage site which houses a tooth of the Buddha.      

Day 7  Kandy    
Spend the day exploring the city, visiting the breathtaking Royal Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya, once accessible only to the royal family. Afterward, stop by Sthree Craft Shop and Café, a G Adventures–supported social enterprise that works to empower local women and youth.  

Day 8  Kandy to Nuwara Eliya      
Travel through scenic mountains to the town of Nuwara Eliya, in the heart of Sri Lankan tea country. Visit a tea plantation to gain insight into the cultivation of this beloved beverage and savour a cup of perfectly blended Ceylon tea. Then head out on a tour of Nuwara Eliya and its lush surroundings.    

Day 9  Nuwara Eliya to Udawalawe NP    
Venture out early this morning into Horton Plains National Park, enjoy a picnic breakfast and culminate your trek at a point known as World’s End—a majestic drop that provides incredible views over the verdant plains and coastline to the south. Then continue to our tented camp on the border of Udawalawe National Park. This evening, enjoy a cooking demonstration by the camp chef, learning about local specialties.    

Day 10  Udawalawe NP    
Embark on a jeep safari through the park seeking out the abundant wildlife, including water buffalo, jackals, and various species of deer. Afterward, visit the Elephant Transit Home, a refuge and rehabilitation center for orphaned elephants.  

Day 11  Udawalawe NP to Negombo    
Drive to Negombo and spend the day at leisure. Choose to visit the Old Dutch Fort, step into one of the town’s ornate Catholic churches, or enjoy a stroll on the beach.

Day 12  Negombo    
Depart at any time.