Discover Sri Lanka

• Accommodation: 11 Superior nights (hotels), 3 Classic nights (hotels)
• Travel by private air conditioned bus and one train journey
• Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

Allow about 9,000 rupees (US$30) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in Sri Lanka and your leader will provide recommendations for where to eat locally however, the options may not always be suited to larger groups. Some locations you stay may have limited local restaurant choice, in which case meals will be at the hotel. Hotel meals are generally buffets; the majority offer an à la carte menu, but service can be slow. Where suitable, your tour leader will be happy to arrange a shuttle transfer into the local town or, if you prefer to be more independent, take a tuk tuk or taxi. Your leader can help recommend some good places to eat. Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s heritage; there is a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought to the island over the centuries. Despite (or perhaps because of) these influences, Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to as simply rice and curry. This is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as various pickles, sambols (condiments), and a handful of tiny poppadum – all using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and garlic. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent in Sri Lanka. For example, wheat- or dairy-free options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this and you may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food. Mineral water is provided by our local operator in large containers throughout the trip so please bring a bottle with you to refill. Please note, restaurant service can be quite slow.

Generally, you should expect rain at some time but with plenty of sunshine. On the plains, day and night time temperatures are warm to hot with Colombo having an average daytime temperature of 30C (86F). The temperatures drop as we go higher into the hills and especially at Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains where seasonally daytime temperatures can be a low as 12C-15C (53F-59F) and night temperatures will be about 8C-10C (46F-50F) minimum. If travelling between December and February, we recommend you pack a warmish jacket.

Please note, occasionally low cloud and rains over Horton Plains can be prohibitive to the day 10 walk to World’s End viewpoint. In case of inclement weather, your leader will make an alternative plan taking you through Ella Gap earlier in the day.

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

Suitability: This is not a demanding trip, although there are a few long drives on bumpy, twisty mountain roads but regular stops help to break up the journeys. The buses we use are comfortable and air conditioned. Some included activities that are more on the moderate challenge side than easy. Walking up Sigiriya Rock on day 3 and Horton Plains walk on day 10 are enjoyable and a relaxed pace but may not be suitable for someone with reduced fitness or mobility issues. Your tour leader can advise on the trip if you have any concerns.

Sigiriya: When visiting Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion Rock) the final ascent to the top is on metal open stairs fixed against the side of the rock. There are handrails on either side but those with a strong fear of heights may prefer to stay on the lower level (where the lion “paws” are) and not continue to the rock plateau. You will be able to rejoin the group when they return to the plateau.

Horton Plains: For Horton Plains, the walk unfolds in four distinct terrain phases. Phase one entails an easy initial walk followed by a brief uphill climb and then a descent along a rocky riverbed, where caution is advised, especially on wet days. Phase two transitions to a path of fine soil and peat, which may become slippery when wet, leading to Greater World’s End. Phase three involves an undulating walk with varying degrees of incline and descent which has been classed as easy/moderate challenge, including steep steps, culminating in a 45-degree uphill stretch. The final phase, four, continues with undulating terrain, featuring gravel and grass paths and moderately steep steps, ultimately leading to the exit point of the excursion. Trainers/trail shoes with good grip are recommended for this activity.

Climate: Occasionally there can be inclement weather which prevents a safe and pleasant walk at Horton Plains. If this occurs, your Leader will advise of a “plan B” where you will travel directly to Ella and visit the Nine Arch Bridge (approximately a 30-minute walk to the bridge), an iconic construction also known as the Bridge in the Sky. Following that, if time permits you will join the trailhead for Mini Adam’s Peak (also known as Little Adam’s Peak). The Mini Adam’s Peak route is a relatively easy hike (approximately 1.2mi/2km) but the final ascent includes about 10 to 15 minutes of steps – save energy for that!

April Departures, Sinhala and Tamil New Year: A unique celebration to the people of Sri Lanka, this important New Year national festival, known as Avurudu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil, is not celebrated by any other nation. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities are observed by both Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus across Sri Lanka for two days in April. If you are travelling in Sri Lanka over these dates you can expect to see religious ceremonies, family activities, traditional foods, and a general feeling of good will toward neighbours and friends. Parties can go on into the night and it can be quite loud during this period. Your tour leader will be happy to show you some of the activities where your itinerary allows. Please note, during the New Year public holiday, there will be heavy traffic and busy places at times, but your tour leader can modify the itinerary as required to ensure minimal disruption.