The little isle of Sri Lanka is a kaleidoscope of culture and experiences. Unique native traditions from Sinhala and Tamil cultures inter-twine with influences from over 400 years of colonization from the Portuguese, Dutch and the British, and trade ties with the Middle east and Far east from the 7th century to give rise to a fascinatingly diverse tapestry of culture and lifestyles. Today, with a fast-growing economy the commercial capital of Colombo is fast becoming a modern Asian metro but country-side lifestyles remain vastly different.
“Live like a local” is not all about Sri Lanka’s rural and farming communities. It’s an insightful journey across many vividly different local lifestyles, livelihoods, food and cultures while staying at local homestays.
We pick you up from the international airport or any hotel or address of your choice from Colombo 01 -15. If your arrival at the Airport is after 11 am on this day, we suggest taking an overnight transit option in Negombo or Colombo and commencing your holiday tour the next day. Drive to Sigiriya to experience rural Sri Lanka amidst agricultural communities, while having easy access to some of the most popular attractions of the country. Stay in the humble home of a hospitable family from the community who have added a number of mud-hut type accommodation units typical of rural Sri Lanka with some small creature comforts within these walls to make their guests feel comfortable. Conventional luxuries cannot be expected.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Sigiriya
Entrance tickets included: None – kept flexible for guest to decide
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
After breakfast, choose to spend the day exploring the luxuries of village life; the chirping of birds, fresh air, fields of various agricultural products, farmers busy at work and the sights and sounds of everyday village life. Take a stroll through the village or opt to cycle, experience some of the rural forms of transportation such as riding on a bullock cart and boating on a rural catamaran across a scenic lake. Enjoy some fresh fruit and typical rural rice and curry dishes including fried freshwater fish and lotus root curry, served up in lotus leaves.
You may choose to visit Sigiriya rock fortress or the Golden temple of dambulla, or take a safari to the nearby Minneriya or Kaudulla national parks to see herds of wild elephants. Check our Things to do in Sigiriya for more ideas and top things to do and your chauffeur will assist you to get about.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Sigiriya
Entrance tickets included: Village tour, Bullock cart ride, Catamaran ride
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle up to 100 km, guiding services
Drive to the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy en route stopping by the famous Spice Gardens of Matale to stroll through these musky gardens and understand the benefits of Sri Lankan spices. Kandy to date, has a unique and aristocratic culture with its own forms of art, architecture and crafts. Your base for the next two days would be the beautifully constructed home of a young man of aristocratic Kandyan descent, whose lovely wife, although not from Kandy herself, has brought many aspects of unique Kandyan design in to their home, including open plan verandahs, art and artefacts. Set slightly away from the hustle of Kandy city, enjoy your peace and quiet to wander around in the cool climes of Kandy.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Kandy
Entrance tickets included: Excursions mentioned do not require entrance fees
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Early in the morning with a packed breakfast, visit the Bahirawakanda temple, which is known as gnome mountain, its gigantic white Buddha statue prominently visible for miles around Kandy city. Climb the top of the hill for panoramic views of the Kandy city. Take your time driving/strolling along the Kandy Lake, a key landmark of the city and enjoy the town, and the Kandy Market Hall. In the evening watch a typical Kandyan dancing and cultural show. Overnight in Kandy.
Optional excursions – You may visit the iconic Kandy temple of the tooth relic, or stroll through the Royal botanical gardens of Peradeniya, visit famous temples of the Kandyan era such as Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka and Embekke or choose from a wide range of Things to do in Kandy from our list.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Kandy
Entrance tickets included: All except those marked as “Optional excursions”
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle up to 100 km, guiding services
Hop aboard the train from Kandy to Ella, a 6.5-hour journey where you may have a seat or not and will generally spend most of your time sandwiched between locals with the wind gushing through open windows, gazing at the breathtaking scenery that unfolds. Fondly referred to as the “Cloud Train” it is one of the most scenic train journeys in the world and a primary allure for tourists in recent times. Your base for the next two days will be the charming little place of two expats who have made Ella their home for over 14 years. For a tiny little town in the highlands of Sri Lanka, you will be amazed to witness how cosmopolitan Ella is, and how the local community has adopted their lifestyle to support this trend. Spend the evening soaking in the atmosphere of quaint Ella using tuk tuks to get about. Overnight in Ella.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Ella
Entrance tickets included: Kandy to Ella Train
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Take an easy half hour hike to reach the top of Little Adam’s peak in the morning hours, earlier the better, to witness the beautiful panorama of misty hills surrounding Ella. You will spend almost an hour in awe of what’s before you and making the most of your amazing photo opportunities. Descent and drive to the Ella railway station where you will again take an easy trek to the famed Nine Arched Bridge, which is an engineering marvel from the colonial era of Sri Lanka. The location also offer spectacular scenery. Partake in a Yoga class. Check our list of things to do in Ella to arrange your own programme for the day with the help of your guide.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Ella
Entrance tickets included: Yoga class and other excursions mentioned do not require entrance fees
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle up to 100 km, guiding services
Drive to the southern coastal town of Hikkaduwa, famed for its beaches, coral reefs, giant sea-turtles and vibrant culture. Your will drive through the hill country and enter the southern coastline at Matara, thereafter taking a scenic coastal drive that takes you past the popular beach destinations of Mirissa, Weligama, Koggala, Unawatuna and Galle up to Hikkaduwa. We recommend taking a slow drive, stopping by the Matara Paravi Duwa temple which is on a tiny island connected to the shore by a bridge, and the Batik art cottage industry of Weligama. Watch the uniquely Sri Lankan stilt fishermen of Koggala. Visit the Galle Fort and take a walking tour enjoying this time capsule from Sri Lanka’s Dutch heritage. Ask your chauffeur to take you to a local seafood restaurant in Galle or Hikkaduwa to make the most of your experience in the South.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Hikkaduwa
Entrance tickets included: Matara Paravi Duwa, Batik Art and Stilt dishermen. Other excursions mentioned do not require entrance fees
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Enjoy your quaint little homestay, which is a mere 5 minute walk to the beach. Wake up to the sounds of birds and enjoy your open-shower amidst a garden of lush tropical foliage or swim in the common pool. Spend your day as you choose, on the beach or choosing from a variety of optional excursions including diving, snorkelling or taking surfing lessons. Walk to the town, try some street food, ask to be taken to a nearby mask-making workshop, or browse through our comprehensive list of things to do in Hikkaduwa to plan your day.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Hikkaduwa
Entrance tickets included: None – kept flexible for guest to decide
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Drive to the commercial capital of Colombo. Drive past the high-rises and the emerging skyline of the city to the old town of Pettah. Walking through Pettah’s streets is an amazing cultural experience; bargain and make purchases at wholesale prices, try an iced Faluda from a sweet shop, visit the iconic Red Mosque and more during this tour. Later take a drive through the city of Colombo and its key highlights, The Colombo Fort and its colonial and traditional aspects, ask for some classic Colombo retail therapy at a popular mall or department store and visit Galle face green at sundown for a casual stroll along Colombo’s public beachfront park enjoying the best street food in the city.
Later check in to the plush villa of the daughter of a Colombo industrialist for your dose of a Colombo luxury home. The penthouse suite is occupied by your hosts, a young family of 3, who have opened their tastefully designed home to guests. You may choose to order dinner at their home-front café, take a swim in their pool to cool down or simply lounge around and relax in their common spaces.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Homestay in Colombo
Entrance tickets included: None – Excursions mentioned do not require entrance fees
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Your charmingly hospitable hosts will serve you breakfast personally for as long as you stay with them, provided that they are home. Depending on your flight time choose from our list of things to do in Colombo to decide on your programme for the day.
Tour ends in Colombo, Negombo or at the Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
Entrance tickets included: None – kept flexible for guest to decide
Other inclusions: Transport in air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
INCLUSIONS
