Don’t Miss
- Find total serenity in scenic rural locations
- Engage with local village life at Anamaduwa
- Trek through the glorious Knuckles Mountain Range
- Marvel at the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura
- Hike to an ancient temple atop a towering rock
- Try your hand at cooking local dishes
- Spend time spotting Sri Lanka’s diverse birdlife
- Visit a tea factory in the hills to learn the art of making tea
- Stroll along near-deserted tropical beaches in Sri Lanka’s deep south
PACKAGE INCLUDES
- Accommodation in a shared double / twin room
- Chauffeur-guide and vehicle for the duration of the tour (including leisure days)
- Both airport transfers
- Expert advice and support prior to and during the tour
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- Price shown is a starting price and is subject to change, depending on travel dates / the number of people travelling etc.
- Price shown is based on two people sharing a double / twin room
- See our Booking Conditions for more details
Day 1 & 2 Anamaduwa, North-West Coast
On arrival, head straight to the remote village of Anamaduwa in Sri Lanka’s rural north-west. Your down-to-earth accommodation, a collection of rustic wattle-and-daub huts with limited electricity, embraces the natural beauty of this area and gives travellers an in-depth insight into local village life in Sri Lanka. Find bliss in going back to basics: spend time by the lake, either kayaking across it, doing a spot of birdwatching or just lazing in a hammock; go cycling through the nearby village, or hike up a rock to visit its crowning ancient temple, and learn to cook authentic Sri Lankan curries on an open fire.
Accommodation: The Mudhouse
Recommended Activities: Wilpattu National Park
Day 3, 4 & 5 Habarana, Cultural Triangle
Travel south to Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, the centre of the island’s ancient heritage. Discover details of Sri Lanka’s fascinating history through a variety of activities which keep you on the move: hike up Sigiriya Rock to see the ruins of a 5th-century fortress-palace, ancient cave paintings and glorious views, and go on a guided bike ride around Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first civilisation which dates back to 1st century BC. You could also spot wild elephants and other animals on a jeep drive through Minneriya National Park. Your accommodation is a haven for birds and butterflies and offers relaxing yoga sessions to help you unwind in these utterly peaceful surroundings.
Accommodation: Galkadawala
Recommended Activities: Sigiriya Rock Fortress , Minneriya National Park , Anuradhapura , Dambulla Cave Temple
Day 6, 7 & 8 Digana, Kandy
Make your way to Knuckles, the spectacular off-the-beaten-track mountain range which surrounds Kandy, a city with much historic and religious significance. Spend the next three days at Polwaththa Eco Lodge which offers unadulterated no-frills living in an utterly picturesque environment. Trek through Knuckles; indulge in some birdwatching; dine of delicious local fare, and enjoy some time for self-reflection. As the name suggests, Polwaththa Eco Lodge provides eco-friendly accommodation for travellers looking to immerse themselves in the peace and beauty of Sri Lanka’s central hills.
Accommodation: Polwaththa Eco Lodge
Recommended Activities: Hike in the Knuckles
Day 9 & 10 Ella, Hill Country
Proceed deeper into Sri Lanka’s tea country until you arrive at Amba Estate, a small organic farm with awe-inspiring vistas that will be your abode for the next two days. Watch the day of a tea plucker unfold; take a tour of the farm; go on gentle walks through the tea fields, and learn the process of turning tea leaves into the enduringly popular brew loved the world over. Amba Estate is a total escape from everyone and everything, offering you the simple pleasures of stunning scenery, tranquillity, cosy rooms and home-cooked meals.
Accommodation: Amba Estate
Recommended Activities: Walking in Ella
Day 11, 12 & 13 Tangalle, South Coast
Your last stop is a simple barefoot-living property by the beautiful beaches of Tangalle on Sri Lanka’s south coast. Walk along the sandy shores and find peace in the sounds and colours that surround you, enjoying the time away from all of the stresses of day-to-day life. Those interested in wildlife conservation might like to visit the nearby Rekawa Turtle Hatchery to have the chance of seeing marine turtles laying eggs at night.
Accommodation: Mangrove Garden
Recommended Activities: Rekawa Turtle Watch
The Mudhouse
Anamaduwa, North-West
Share a simple lifestyle with welcoming hosts in the rural splendour of Sri Lanka’s north-west coast. The Mudhouse is a secluded eco retreat nestled at the foot of the ancient Parmakanda Rock temple in the lightly-populated district of Puttalam. It is set amidst six acres of untouched wilderness, tranquil lakes and abundant fauna and flora.
Galkadawala
Habarana, Cultural Triangle
Galkadawala is a rustic eco-retreat offering an authentic back-to-nature experience in a remote part of the cultural triangle. This unassuming five-bedroom eco-retreat is an ideal holiday retreat for nature lovers. An appealing tropical wilderness that follows enlightened eco-friendly policies.
Polwaththa Eco Lodge
Wepathana, Kandy
Polwaththa Eco Lodge is a rustic nature retreat situated on an 11-acre fruit and vegetable plantation in the remote village of Wepathana, which is about 45 minutes north of Kandy. Accommodation is in five simple earthy cottages. This simple spot, with no mains electricity, is in great walking country.
Amba Estate
Ambadandegama, Hill Country
Amba Estate is a small organic farm and holiday retreat with a remote, escapist setting in the Southern highlands with views across Ella Rock and Lipton’s Seat. The estate is perched above the Ravana Ella waterfall, a windy 40-minute drive from Ella. Accommodation is in either a four-bedroom estate bungalow or a two-bedroom cottage nearby.
5
Mangrove Garden
Tangalle, South Coast
Mangrove Garden offers rudimentary wooden cabanas on a gorgeous stretch of beach in the south coast village of Tangalle. This deliberately rustic settlement has been an instant hit with independent travellers yearning for tranquil and natural surroundings. Marine Turtles often come ashore here at nights to nest.
Following are recommended optional activities
Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu, North-West Coast
Wilpattu National Park is arguably Sri Lanka’s most beautiful park. Its varying natural habitats – coastal belt, natural lakes, scrublands, open grasslands and dense forest – house numerous animals.
Minneriya National Park
Habarana, Cultural Triangle
Minneriya National Park is a small but popular wildlife park home to a wide range of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. It is also the site of the world-renowned wildlife event ‘The Elephant Gathering’.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, Cultural Triangle
Discover the majestic remains of Sri Lanka’s first capital, originally built in the 4th century BC, the ruling place for over 100 Sri Lankan kings. You can explore these extensive ruins by bike.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambulla, Cultural Triangle
The most famous cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, the ancient Dambulla Cave Temple boasts the largest number of Buddha statues to be housed in one place, as well as stunning ceiling paintings.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle
Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most majestic, awe-inspiring and stunning historical locations in the world, built in the 5th century AD by ‘mad’ King Kasyapa.
Hike in the Knuckles
Knuckles, Kandy
The Knuckles Mountain Range is perfect for hiking – a land of mystical peaks, chattering waterfalls and hidden hillside villages, with breathtaking visas and a remoteness that will appeal to experienced and novice hikers alike.
Walking in Ella
Ella, Hill Country
Ella is one of the most beautiful spots in the hills for walking, offering trails of varying levels of difficulty – make the short climb up Little Adam’s Peak or hike to the summit of Ella Rock.
Rekawa Turtle Watch
Rekawa, South Coast
Five of the seven species of marine turtle come ashore at Rekawa to lay their eggs. Join the night watch to observe these fascinating creatures up close.
