Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure

12 days4.991 reviews
Food
From
AUD $2,958

Take a bite out of Sri Lanka on a food-filled exploration

Hungry for adventure? This food-focused journey through Sri Lanka hits the spot. Explore the fish market in Negombo, take part in a Sinhalese cooking class in a local home in Kandy, tuck into a Tamil family lunch in Haputale and enjoy a cooking demonstration with a fisherman’s family in Mirissa. Lie back on the coast, cool down in the highlands and weave through the streets of the buzzing capital. When you’re not busy eating, you’ll explore the rich culture of Sri Lanka: elaborate temples, ancient fortresses and wildlife-filled countryside. So, what are you waiting for? Dig in!

Map of Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure including Sri Lanka
Trip code: HPZM
Start
Negombo, Sri Lanka
End
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Destinations
Sri Lanka
Meals
10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, train, jeep
Accommodation
Hotel (11 nts)
Days
12
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Ages
Min 15
Theme
Every trip caters to specific interests and activities, such as wildlife or family.
Food
Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: 4+ star accommodation, exclusive premium inclusions, our most experienced leaders
Original
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
This trip generates 42 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip

Take a look behind closed doors when you’re invited for a home-cooked Tamil lunch in Haputale and feast on a freshly caught meal with a fisherman’s family in Mirissa.

Learn the secrets of Sri Lankan cuisine during a cooking class in a Sinhalese home in Kandy and a demonstration in a local home in Bandarawela.

Experience some of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable sights, including Lion Rock, the Dambulla Cave Temples, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Yala National Park and Galle Fort.

Spoil your tastebuds with flavour-filled curries, seriously fresh seafood, sweet desserts, roti, hoppers, dosa, idli and more.

Discover Sri Lanka’s favourite beverage when you visit a tea plantation in Bandarawela, meeting local tea pickers, learning about their craft and tasting a freshly brewed cuppa.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2024.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

Itinerary

Map of Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure including Sri Lanka

Inclusions and activities

Meals

10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, train, jeep

Accommodation

Hotel (11 nts)

Included activities
  • Negombo - Fish market
  • Madampe - Coconut plantation visit
  • Dambulla - Wholesale Markets tour
  • Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit
  • Sigiriya - Chena Cultivation tour by jeep
  • Dambulla - Cave Temples
  • Matale - Spice Garden tour and lunch
  • Kandy - Temple of the Tooth
  • Kandy - Cooking Class in a Sinhalese Home
  • Kandy - Tea factory visit
  • Kandy - Market wander & tastings
  • Bandarawela - Cooking demonstration & local meal
  • Haputale - Tamil family lunch
  • Bandarawela - Hike through tea fields
  • Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari
  • Tissamaharama - Curd and treacle tasting
  • Weligama - Home-cooked meal
  • Mirissa - Fisherman's Cooking Demonstration and Lunch
  • Galle - Dutch Fort
  • Galle - Walking tour
  • Colombo - City tour by bus
  • Colombo - Dutch Burgher Lunch

Optional activities
  • Mirissa - Whale Watching (Nov to Mar) - USD70

Is this trip right for you?

  • The cuisine of Sri Lanka includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Sri Lanka which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
  • We visit a number of temples on this trip, which requires a certain level of modesty. Please bring clothes that cover the arms and pants/skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.
  • Though its equatorial position means fairly constant year-round temperatures, the summer months in Sri Lanka are very hot with short, sharp monsoons in the south-west of the country. Be sure to use adequate sun protection and drink plenty of water.
  • The Rock Fortress – or Lion Rock – of Sigiriya is spectacular. However, those with a fear of (or even an aversion to) heights may wish to sit the excursion out. Scaling the rock involves walking up lots of rough, narrow steps and tight walkways.
  • In September and October, when Yala National Park is closed annually for infrastructure development and rejuvenation, we visit Udawalawe National Park.
  • Yala National Park is a beautiful, but popular tourist attraction. At times of high visitor numbers, we will change our itinerary to visit Udawalawe National Park. This is to minimise our impact on the wildlife and environment. Please refer to the Itinerary for more details.

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1.Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Intrepid trip commences. This has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Intrepid and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.

2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

3. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.

4. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 91 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Nicola · Traveled November 2024
Review submitted 29 Nov 2024

Alexandra · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 28 Oct 2024

Jeannie · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 28 Oct 2024

John · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 28 Oct 2024

Yvonne · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 28 Oct 2024
Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure
From
AUD $2,958