Discover Sri Lanka

• 14 nights comfortable hotels
• Travel by private air conditioned bus and one train journey
• Cycling and walking activities
• Game Drive in Yala/Udawalawe National Park
• Some long journeys by private bus

All breakfasts and one lunch are included. We suggest allowing about 7,000 rupees (US$20) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in Sri Lanka, but if you mainly eat at the more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested amount. 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 by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the Dutch, Portuguese and English. 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 daytime temperatures are 10C-15C (50F-59F) and night temperatures will be about 8C (46F) minimum. You will need a warmish jacket.

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate)

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 leisurely. 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 Leader can advise on the trip if you have any concerns or would like to sit out.

Temperatures can vary between the tropical heat of the coast to the cool of the mountains.

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 on the 12 - 13 April 2024 and 13 – 14 April 2025 (may vary slightly year on year). If you are travelling in Sri Lanka over these dates you can expect to see religious ceremonies, family activities, traditional foods, colourful decorations 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 Leader will be happy to show you some of the activities where your itinerary allows. Please note, during the New Year public holiday, most shops, monuments and attractions will be closed however, your Leader will modify the itinerary as required to ensure minimal disruption.