11 Days | Spot wildlife on safari, soak up some beachside sun and sip the finest Sri Lankan tea
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![GISL-srilanka-ella-tea-plantation-leader-group](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt39e713ecbfc1458e/63c8fb773099d279f956e10d/GISL-srilanka-ella-tea-plantation-leader-group.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Take Sri Lanka, boil it like the tea leaves the country’s famous for and strain out all the best stuff. On this 11-day trip through natural paradise, small villages and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you’ll wander past barracuda at the Negombo Fish Market, search for elephants in Yala National Park, feast on spicy curry prepared by a local in Ella, hike through lush mountains and get horizontal on the beach in Unawatuna – Sri Lanka’s idyllic beach spot, perfect for lounging and sipping cocktails. With a local leader who knows where to find all the best teahouses and a group of likeminded travellers, this one’s gotta be an adventure of a lifetime!
Trip overview
![Map of Essential Sri Lanka including Sri Lanka](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/bltda67f58d219a634b/64ee9d4749db800d510dbfad/HPYL_2024.gif?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
- Start
- Negombo, Sri Lanka
- Finish
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Theme
- 18 to 35s
- Destinations
- Sri Lanka
- 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
- Style
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 18 - Max 35
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- HPYL
Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences
Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time
You book, we donate to help support local communities
- Cruise around in a 4WD on a wildlife safari, searching for elephants, lone leopards and aquatic birdlife in Yala National Park.
- Learn the benefits of washing down a spicy curry with piping-hot Ceylon tea during lunch in a lush mountain village near Ella in a local home.
- Kick back on the warm sands of paradisical palm-lined Unawatuna, with plenty of free time to soak up the sun at the beach and the opportunity for an optional whale-watching tour.
- Leave the imprint of your face on the train window as you stare out wide-eyed on a journey from Kandy to Ella – this scenic rail ride is basically a 6-hour nature documentary, there’s so much amazing scenery!
- Enjoy super fun included activities mixed with plenty of free time to choose your own adventure – maybe use some of it to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya. These palace ruins sit atop a massive rock structure surrounded by gardens and are a must-see for any Sri Lanka visit.
- This trip puts the power in your hands – there’s tonnes of free time for optional activities, so you’ll have plenty of freedom to decide what you want to do.
- The road from Ella to Tissamaharama takes a winding road down the mountains to the coast, which means the drive can feel a little slow. But don't worry, it also means that you’ll get to see the awesome scenery from literally every angle.
Itinerary
Inclusions
10 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Train, Private vehicle
Hotel (8 nights), Hostel (Multi-share) (2 nights)
- Negombo - Fish market
- Matale - Spice garden visit
- Kandy - Scenic train ride to Ella
- Ella - Trek to Ella Gap
- Ella - Nine Arch Bridge
- Ella - Lunch at a Local Family Home
- Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari
- Galle - Walking tour
- Colombo – Guided market visit
- Galle - Local train ride to Colombo
- Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress (entrance) - USD35
- Dambulla - Cave temples (entrance) - USD7
- Kandy - Cooking Demonstration and Dinner in a Local Home - USD12
- Kandy - Botanical Gardens - USD10
- Kandy - Cooking Class in a Sinhalese Home - USD12
- Kandy - Temple of the Tooth - USD7
- Kandy - Cultural Dance Performance - USD7
- Mirissa - Whale Watching (Nov to Mar) - USD70
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement is not available on Days 3 and 4 (Kandy) and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. The Perahera Festival is a 10-day period of evening processions to honour the Sacred Tooth, which is enshrined at Kandy's Temple of the Tooth. Each night features thousands of perfomers, including dancers, drummers, and a parade of more than 50 decorated elephants. Due to Intrepid's stance on elephant cruelty we do not visit the Perahera Festival and cannot purchase tickets on your behalf.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
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.
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