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Peregrine Travel Centre

Sri Lanka Express

Sri Lanka Express

From $ 2,295 AUD

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Description

Travel from Colombo into Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, where you’ll meet a local farmer, share a village lunch and search for wild elephants on safari. Climb Sigiriya’s Lion Rock, visit Kandy’s sacred Temple of the Tooth and continue into the cooler highlands for its tea country and the beautiful Horton Plains National Park. Ride the train towards Ella, stop at the Nine Arch Bridge, then head south to Unawatuna. Along the coast, cook with a local fishing family and explore Galle’s UNESCO-listed fort, then return to Colombo after nine days of wildlife, food, history and friendly locals.

Trip Name
Sri Lanka Express
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
9
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Climb the rock fortress of UNESCO-listed Sigiriya to the ancient ruins that lie atop the 200 m (656 ft) summit and be rewarded with panoramic views over the surrounding wilderness.
  • Explore the city of Kandy, mingling with pilgrims at the golden-roofed Temple of the Tooth – the tooth of the Buddha, which is Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic, is housed here in a gold stupa-shaped casket.
  • Fall in love with Sri Lankan food like hoppers (bowl-shaped pancakes with crispy edges and a spongey centre) and mud crab curry, then get to know a local fisherman and his family during a homecooked meal on the coast.
  • Look for elephants within the beautiful Minneriya National Park during a jeep safari with expert local guides by your side.
  • Visit peaceful tea plantations near Nuwara Eliya and Ella and learn how Sri Lanka's famous cuppa is made.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and may be on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Colombo
Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the seaside city of Colombo with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe head out onto the walkable streets for a stroll through the leafy neighborhoods or head to one of the waterfront promenades for a drink by the water. After your meeting, maybe head out to dinner with your group – your leader will have the best recommendation.
Day 2 - Dambulla
This morning, travel inland towards Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, where rural life and wildlife encounters await. Begin with a visit to a traditional chena cultivation farm and learn about this age-old agricultural practice directly from a local farmer. After, enjoy a freshly prepared lunch made with homegrown ingredients in the village. In the afternoon, set out on a safari in Minneriya National Park. Board a 4WD jeep and venture into the wilds of the park in search of elephants, often seen gathering near the reservoir, along with other wildlife like deer, birds and reptiles.
Day 3 - Kandy
Rise early and make the short drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya, where Lion Rock rises 200 m (656 ft) above the surrounding plains. Climb to the top of the ancient fortress complex – these defensive capital remains include 5th-century frescos, terraced gardens and fountains. Then, return to the hotel to fuel up with some breakfast before visiting a local impact centre to learn how community initiatives are supporting sustainable livelihoods. Later, travel to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, and visit the Temple of the Tooth – one of the country’s most sacred Buddhist sites.
Day 4 - Nuwara Eliya
Journey into the cooler hill country, where rolling green landscapes dominate the scenery. Visit a working tea plantation to learn about the process behind Sri Lanka’s world-famous tea, from leaf to cup. In the afternoon, explore the area on two wheels, starting at Gregory Lake and pedaling past some of Nuwara Eliya’s viewpoints, tea plantations and tea estates. Along the way, pop into a local home to enjoy a cup of tea, some tasty traditional snacks and warm, local hospitality.
Day 5 - Nuwara Eliya
Rise early for a visit to Horton Plains National Park – a highland plateau known for its unique biodiversity and dramatic viewpoints. Set out on a guided walk through misty grasslands and cloud forests, visiting park highlights like Baker’s Falls and the famous World’s End escarpment, where sheer cliffs drop dramatically into the plains below. This evening, maybe join your group for dinner. Your leader will have some great recommendations where you can try a local curry or idiyappam (also known as string hoppers, this dish is a soft, lacy nest of steamed rice noodles) with dhal.
Day 6 - Ella to Unawatuna
Hop aboard a local train today for a ride through Sri Lanka’s highlands and tea country towards Ella, passing emerald-green hills, waterfalls and small villages along the way. When you arrive in Ella, take a tuk-tuk to the picturesque Nine Arch Bridge – an iconic British-bridge set in the jungle and tea plantations where you might see one of Sri Lanka's trademark blue trains passing. Then, continue south to the coastal town of Unawatuna.
Day 7 - Unawatuna
Today, you'll see a slice of coastal life on a visit to a local fisherman’s family home. Help cook a traditional Sri Lankan meal using fresh ingredients, then sit down together and savour what you’ve made as you chat with your hosts. Later, head further down the coast to Galle – home to the impressive UNESCO World Heritage-listed Galle Fort, known as the best surviving European fort in Asia. With extensive walls and many historic buildings, there’s heaps to explore here.
Day 8 - Colombo
Head north to Colombo – Sri Lanka’s commercial heart and the final stop in your adventure. You’ll have some free time to explore the city’s mix of street markets, historic buildings, museums, restaurants and shops. When you arrive, maybe join your group for a farewell dinner and toast to an awesome journey.
Day 9 - Colombo
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast today, with no further activities planned. If you'd like to stay longer and continue exploring Colombo, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
23-01-202731-01-2027AUD $ 2,295-
06-02-202714-02-2027AUD $ 2,295-
13-02-202721-02-2027AUD $ 2,295-
20-02-202728-02-2027AUD $ 2,295-
06-03-202714-03-2027AUD $ 2,295-
13-03-202721-03-2027AUD $ 2,295-
20-03-202728-03-2027AUD $ 2,295-
03-04-202711-04-2027AUD $ 2,295-
17-04-202725-04-2027AUD $ 2,295-
15-05-202723-05-2027AUD $ 2,295-
12-06-202720-06-2027AUD $ 2,295-
03-07-202711-07-2027AUD $ 2,295-
17-07-202725-07-2027AUD $ 2,295-
07-08-202715-08-2027AUD $ 2,295-
21-08-202729-08-2027AUD $ 2,295-
04-09-202712-09-2027AUD $ 2,295-
18-09-202726-09-2027AUD $ 2,295-
02-10-202710-10-2027AUD $ 2,295-
16-10-202724-10-2027AUD $ 2,295-
06-11-202714-11-2027AUD $ 2,295-
20-11-202728-11-2027AUD $ 2,295-
27-11-202705-12-2027AUD $ 2,295-
11-12-202719-12-2027AUD $ 2,295-
18-12-202726-12-2027AUD $ 2,295-
25-12-202702-01-2028AUD $ 2,295-
08-01-202816-01-2028AUD $ 2,295-
15-01-202823-01-2028AUD $ 2,295-
22-01-202830-01-2028AUD $ 2,295-
05-02-202813-02-2028AUD $ 2,295-
12-02-202820-02-2028AUD $ 2,295-
19-02-202827-02-2028AUD $ 2,295-
04-03-202812-03-2028AUD $ 2,295-
11-03-202819-03-2028AUD $ 2,295-
18-03-202826-03-2028AUD $ 2,295-
01-04-202809-04-2028AUD $ 2,295-
15-04-202823-04-2028AUD $ 2,295-
13-05-202821-05-2028AUD $ 2,295-
10-06-202818-06-2028AUD $ 2,295-
01-07-202809-07-2028AUD $ 2,295-
15-07-202823-07-2028AUD $ 2,295-
05-08-202813-08-2028AUD $ 2,295-
19-08-202827-08-2028AUD $ 2,295-
02-09-202810-09-2028AUD $ 2,295-
16-09-202824-09-2028AUD $ 2,295-
30-09-202808-10-2028AUD $ 2,295-
14-10-202822-10-2028AUD $ 2,295-
04-11-202812-11-2028AUD $ 2,295-
18-11-202826-11-2028AUD $ 2,295-
25-11-202803-12-2028AUD $ 2,295-
09-12-202817-12-2028AUD $ 2,295-
16-12-202824-12-2028AUD $ 2,295-
23-12-202831-12-2028AUD $ 2,295-

Accommodation

Hotels (8 nights)

Transport

Private vehicle, Public Bus, Train

Map

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