Premium Sri Lanka | March 2026

Sri Lanka is a wonderland for adventurers: Buddhist temples and colonial architecture; tea plantations and spice gardens; safari parks and palm-fringed beaches. Book this Premium trip to explore it beyond the typical tourist track. We join a family to cook traditional curries (which we share with our hosts and local monks) and explore Gal Oya with a chief from the forest-dwelling Veddha community. Of course, there are a few highlights we couldn’t miss, including the rock fortress of Sigiriya and safari in Yala National Park, and we’ve scheduled downtime in beachside on the south coast for a chance to kick back and relax.

Deposit + Highlights + Inclusions/Not Included

Non-refundable Deposit: $1500

Single Supplement--VERY LIMITED: $1700

Highlights

Climb the ancient rock fortress at Sigiriya for breathtaking views
Explore Gal Oya with a chief from the indigenous Veddha community
Take a boat safari on Senanayake Samudraya, the largest lake in Sri Lanka
Enjoy a unique glamping experience in an indigenous village
Hike through Ella Forest, stopping at the Nine Arches Bridge
Seek out elephants and leopards in Yala National Park

Key Information

Accommodation: 9 Premium nights (hotels), 4 Superior nights (glamping and boutique hotel)
Travel by air-conditioned private bus
One leisurely/moderate trek (two to three hours)
Boat safari and 4x4 game drives
Relaxing beach stay
Small group size (maximum 16 clients). Minimum age: 16
Countries visited: Sri Lanka

What's Included

All breakfasts, five lunches & six dinners
All accommodation
Tips for local staff
All transport
Entrance fees to all monuments and activities
Boat safari in Gal Oya
Two Game drives in Yala
All activities (except where "optional" is stated)
Tour leader, chosen for their expertise and great customer feedback
Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Tips for your tour leader
Visas or vaccinations

Sunday Mar 22

Arrive in Negombo

Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, you are met by our airport representative and guide and transferred (approximately 20 minutes) to the west-coast city of Negombo. We then have the afternoon at leisure, allowing us to enjoy the many facilities at the resort.

We come together as a group for a welcome cocktail before dinner, and the tour leader provides a welcome briefing – a great opportunity to meet and mingle with your travel companions for the next two weeks.

Premium accommodation: Heritance Negombo (or similar)

Monday Mar 23

Arrive in Negombo

Premium accommodation: Heritance Negombo (or similar)

Tuesday Mar 24

Morning village tour; evening visit to the Sigiriya rock fortress

Following breakfast, we take a village tour around Habarana (approximate drive time: 20 minutes). We start with a short ride in a hand-tractor/land-master near the village pond, before boarding a boat to cross the water. After a short walk through paddy fields and vegetable gardens, we reach a family home and have the opportunity to participate in an alms-giving session at a nearby Buddhist temple. We help the family to prepare and cook a traditional meal of vegetarian curries and steamed rice before observing various rituals performed by a local monk for the alms-giving ceremony. The meal will be shared between us, the monks, and the host family.

Late afternoon, we visit Sigiriya, an icon of Sri Lanka. Built in the fifth century by King Kashyapa, this magnificent rock fortress sits on a flat-topped granite plateau 655ft (200m) above the scrub jungle. We take the 1,500 steps to the top, visiting renowned frescoes, enjoying expansive views from the summit.

Premium accommodation: Habarana Village by Cinnamon (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wednesday Mar 24

Drive to Kandy via a spice garden

After breakfast, we head to Kandy (approximate drive time: three hours). Along the way, we visit a spice garden for a delightful sensory experience. Our guide takes us on a leisurely walk through the garden, pointing out different plants and explaining their significance. We also have an opportunity to plant a tree with assistance from the staff, helping to regenerate the garden.

We then continue to Kandy (also known as Mahanuwara), the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. After checking into our riverside hotel, we have the afternoon at leisure. You may wish to explore the local bazaars, stroll through the royal botanical gardens just outside the city or just relax by the hotel pool.

Premium accommodation: Cinnamon Citadel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Thursday Mar 25

Kandy city tour; afternoon transfer to Gal Oya

After breakfast, we visit the Temple of the Tooth. The last king of Kandy, having embraced Buddhism, made the town home to the tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. It was said the protector of the relic would also be the ruler of the land and so it was placed close to the royal palace in what is now the Temple of the Tooth. This temple is one of the holiest places of worship in Sri Lanka and a pilgrimage site for Buddhists around the world. Visitors can take part in Buddhist rituals, or pooja, throughout the day, a spiritual and special experience.

We have lunch at a local restaurant and then proceed to our glamping site near Gal Oya National Park (approximate drive time: 3hr 30min). Our home for the next two nights is an idyllic spot in Rathugala, a village inhabited by the indigenous Veddha community and wrapped by forested mountains. Take the opportunity to unwind by the pool and immerse yourself in nature.

Superior accommodation: Wild glamping, Gal Oya

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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