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Peregrine Travel Centre

Sri Lanka Explorer

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Sri Lanka Explorer

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Description

If you’re looking for a place where Hindu temples, Buddhist shrines, churches and mosques can all be found on the same stretch, Sri Lanka ticks every box. On this 12-day adventure, you’ll head from laidback Negombo to ancient Anuradhapura. Explore the secrets of the north, the hidden places of Jaffna and the beautiful coastline of Trincomalee. Learn about the spiritual heart of the country in the temples of Kandy, look out for local wildlife on safaris and spend time with locals keen to share their homes, food and stories.

Trip Name
Sri Lanka Explorer
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
12
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Explore Jaffna, an area of Sri Lanka only recently opened to tourism, where you’ll learn about Tamil culture and visit Point Pedro – Sri Lanka’s northernmost point.
  • Find the perfect spot to kick back under a swaying palm tree along Trincomalee Beach’s sandy shoreline. Then, stop by a local village to join the community in making a traditional Tamil meal.
  • Observe wild elephants from basic tree houses and hopefully catch an outstanding sunset in Wasgamuwa National Park – one of the most biodiverse protected areas in Sri Lanka.
  • Visit Sigiriya's Lion Rock – a UNESCO World Heritage site – and if you’re game, climb the steps to the top for amazing views over the jungle.
  • Witness ritual and devotion in the spiritual heart of the country during a visit to Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth.

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 - Negombo
Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the town of Negombo with a welcome meeting at 5.30 pm tonight. If you arrive early, you can get into the spirit of seaside Sri Lanka with a walk, checking out the local fishing boats and maybe feasting on some fresh seafood. You might also like to explore the surrounding countryside on a hired bicycle. After your meeting tonight, maybe head out to an optional group dinner to get to know each other.
Day 2 - Anuradhapura
Travel north by private vehicle to Anuradhapura today. Along the way, you’ll visit the Negombo Fish Markets and get a feel for daily life in the local fishing community. Continue to Anuradhapura – the grand ruins here point to its status as Sri Lanka’s ruling city for almost one and a half millennia. Hop on a bike for a guided cycling tour of the various archaeological sites like the stupas, citadel and the monasteries. You’ll also stop by the Bodhi Tree Temple – the second-most sacred site in Sri Lanka. The rest of your evening is free to explore on your own. Your leader will have some great suggestions for dinner.
Day 3 - Jaffna
Travel north today by train to the coastal Tamil town of Jaffna – inaccessible for years due to the civil war. Journey around the Jaffna Peninsula, soaking in the views of Point Pedro – Sri Lanka’s northernmost point. You’ll also stop to see the healing waters of Keerimalai Spring, the ruined dagobas of Kantarodai and Nilawari – a bottomless well where it’s said that the Hindu God Rama shot an arrow to get water. Tonight, visit a local home and learn to cook traditional Jaffna cuisine, then enjoy the fruits of your labour for dinner.
Day 4 - Jaffna
Head out to explore more of Jaffna with your leader today. First up, you’ll head to a hands-on pottery class run by a local, family-owned business, where you’ll learn about the art of pottery and various techniques from the potter. After, head to lunch in a local Hindu home, where you’ll feast on a traditional vegetarian meal and learn more about the Hindu community in Jaffna. This afternoon, visit a beautiful library that was carefully restored after the war, and see the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil – an important local Hindu site. Then, return to your accommodation for a relaxing evening.
Day 5 - Trincomalee
Say goodbye to Jaffna and move on to bright and sunny Trincomalee. Discover the beach vibes of ‘Trinco’, relax in the shade of a palm tree and try ‘toddy’ straight from its flowers. Trincomalee was one of the world’s finest deep-water harbours, attracting famous sailors like Marco Polo to its shores. There are no activities planned today, so there's plenty of time to relax around the pool or head to the beach.
Day 6 - Trincomalee
Visit a local village today and learn how local tappers extract toddy from palmyra trees, and how the leaves of the palmyra are woven into various household items. Then, join some local women to see how odiyal kool (Tamil seafood soup) is prepared and try some for yourself. You’ll have free time this afternoon, so maybe you’d like to visit the colourful and intricate Pathirakali Amman Hindu temple or sit back, relax and enjoy the lazy beach lifestyle.
Day 7 - Sigiriya
Drive from Trincomalee towards Dambulla, stopping along the way to visit the Zero Plastic Impact Center. This Intrepid Foundation partner supports almost 100 local artisans producing plastic-alternative products like reusable woven basket bags and clay water bottles. Try your hand at bamboo and coconut shell crafting and take home your own traditional Sri Lankan mask. After, visit the Dambulla Cave Temple – this UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Many of the caves are full of large, colourful statues and paintings related to Gautama Buddha and his life. After returning to Dambulla, there’s the option of a wildlife drive in Minneriya National Park to seek out elephants, sambar deer and leopards in the evergreen scrublands. If you’d prefer to relax, don’t worry, there will be another wildlife outing tomorrow.
Day 8 - Dambulla
Today is a real Sri Lanka highlight – a visit to Sigiriya's Lion Rock. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this ancient, carved-rock fortress rises dramatically above the surrounding plains and, if you’re game, you can climb the many stairs to see the amazing views of the surrounding jungle. After, head out for a wildlife safari at Minneriya National Park – home to Sri Lankan elephants and sloth bears, and claimed to be the best park in the world to witness elephants in large herds in their natural habitat (the best sightings are in August and September). Later, return to Dambulla and enjoy a free evening.
Day 9 - Kandy
Leave Dambulla this morning and head on to Kandy, the last capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient royal era. On the way, stop at a spice garden, where hints of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, clove, nutmeg and vanilla lace the air as you learn the secrets of cultivating these shelf favourites. When you arrive in Kandy, head to a Kandayan dance show full of colourful traditional costumes.
Day 10 - Kandy
Start the day with a visit to the Giragama Tea Factory to learn how the famous local tea is grown. Then, head to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This golden-roofed temple is home to Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. After, enjoy the rest of the day to explore on your own. Perhaps you’d like to take a walk around the beautiful lake in the centre of town, visit the local Buddhist temple or while away the afternoon among the trees and flowers of the Royal Palace Park.
Day 11 - Colombo
Drive to Colombo today – the nation's capital. Stop by some of the city's main sights on a bus tour, including Independence Square, Parliament and the National Museum, ending at Barefoot Fair-Trade Store for a spot of shopping. Here, you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. If you’re lucky enough to be in Colombo on a Saturday, you can visit Good Market – a local market full of stalls showcasing social enterprises and responsible businesses. Tonight, there's an optional final group dinner to celebrate your journey together.
Day 12 - Colombo
There are no activities planned for today and you can depart the hotel at any time. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
29-11-202610-12-2026AUD $ 2,886-
20-12-202631-12-2026AUD $ 3,780-
27-12-202607-01-2027AUD $ 2,971-
30-12-202610-01-2027AUD $ 2,608-
03-01-202714-01-2027AUD $ 2,632-
10-01-202721-01-2027AUD $ 2,750-
17-01-202728-01-2027AUD $ 2,750-
24-01-202704-02-2027AUD $ 2,780-
07-02-202718-02-2027AUD $ 2,699-
14-02-202725-02-2027AUD $ 2,984-
21-02-202704-03-2027AUD $ 2,631-
28-02-202711-03-2027AUD $ 2,686-
14-03-202725-03-2027AUD $ 2,660-
21-03-202701-04-2027AUD $ 2,660-
28-03-202708-04-2027AUD $ 2,678-
04-04-202715-04-2027AUD $ 2,699-
11-04-202722-04-2027AUD $ 2,699-
25-04-202706-05-2027AUD $ 2,699-
09-05-202720-05-2027AUD $ 2,622-
23-05-202703-06-2027AUD $ 2,622-
06-06-202717-06-2027AUD $ 2,546-
20-06-202701-07-2027AUD $ 2,546-
04-07-202715-07-2027AUD $ 2,546-
11-07-202722-07-2027AUD $ 2,546-
25-07-202705-08-2027AUD $ 2,546-
01-08-202712-08-2027AUD $ 2,622-
15-08-202726-08-2027AUD $ 2,622-
29-08-202709-09-2027AUD $ 2,622-
05-09-202716-09-2027AUD $ 2,546-
19-09-202730-09-2027AUD $ 2,546-
26-09-202707-10-2027AUD $ 2,546-
03-10-202714-10-2027AUD $ 2,622-
17-10-202728-10-2027AUD $ 2,622-
24-10-202704-11-2027AUD $ 2,699-
07-11-202718-11-2027AUD $ 2,699-
28-11-202709-12-2027AUD $ 2,699-
12-12-202723-12-2027AUD $ 2,750-
19-12-202730-12-2027AUD $ 3,235-
26-12-202706-01-2028AUD $ 3,235-
29-12-202709-01-2028AUD $ 3,235-
02-01-202813-01-2028AUD $ 3,395-
09-01-202820-01-2028AUD $ 3,395-
16-01-202827-01-2028AUD $ 2,995-
23-01-202803-02-2028AUD $ 3,395-
06-02-202817-02-2028AUD $ 3,335-
13-02-202824-02-2028AUD $ 3,335-
20-02-202802-03-2028AUD $ 3,240-
27-02-202809-03-2028AUD $ 3,240-
12-03-202823-03-2028AUD $ 3,240-
19-03-202830-03-2028AUD $ 3,240-
26-03-202806-04-2028AUD $ 3,240-
02-04-202813-04-2028AUD $ 3,335-
09-04-202820-04-2028AUD $ 3,395-
16-04-202827-04-2028AUD $ 3,335-
23-04-202804-05-2028AUD $ 3,335-
07-05-202818-05-2028AUD $ 3,240-
28-05-202808-06-2028AUD $ 2,995-
18-06-202829-06-2028AUD $ 3,145-
02-07-202813-07-2028AUD $ 3,145-
09-07-202820-07-2028AUD $ 3,145-
23-07-202803-08-2028AUD $ 3,145-
30-07-202810-08-2028AUD $ 3,145-
06-08-202817-08-2028AUD $ 2,995-
13-08-202824-08-2028AUD $ 3,240-
20-08-202831-08-2028AUD $ 2,995-
27-08-202807-09-2028AUD $ 3,240-
10-09-202821-09-2028AUD $ 3,145-
17-09-202828-09-2028AUD $ 3,145-
24-09-202805-10-2028AUD $ 3,145-
08-10-202819-10-2028AUD $ 2,995-
22-10-202802-11-2028AUD $ 3,335-
05-11-202816-11-2028AUD $ 3,335-
12-11-202823-11-2028AUD $ 3,335-
26-11-202807-12-2028AUD $ 3,335-
17-12-202828-12-2028AUD $ 3,395-
24-12-202804-01-2029AUD $ 3,395-
31-12-202811-01-2029AUD $ 2,995-

Accommodation

Hotel (11 nights)

Transport

Private vehicle, Train

Map

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