Treks n Temples
Day 01 – Airport | Habarana
We’ll be there to warmly welcome you at the airport and whisk you off, through woodlands and rice paddies, to Habarana in the rural heartland of Sri Lanka.
*Overnight stay in Habarana
Day 02 – Anuradhapura | Mihintale
After an early start you’ll be leaving on a cycling tour of the ancient ruins of the sacred city of Anuradhapura; a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is one of Buddhism’s holiest places and home to the world’s oldest historically authenticated tree, the Sri Maha Bodi, at more than 2,200 years old. The tree was a sapling taken from the original “Bo-tree” under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.
After that, you’ll head over to Mihintale where you’ll be in for more exploration and adventure.
*Overnight stay in Habarana
Day 03 – Sigiriya | Polonnaruwa
Be ready for an early start and a packed day full of history. You’ll visit the world-famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress; 8th wonder of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll see the famous frescoes dating back over a thousand years, an ancient water garden and a pleasure palace built on top of a rock fortress for one of Sri Lanka’s most famous kings.
In Polonnaruwa, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll see the ancient ruins of a walled garden city, which is one of the world’s best ancient examples of a planned city. You’ll stroll through the ruins of ancient palaces, royal rooms and Buddhist shrines. Polonnaruwa is the history buff’s dream.
*Overnight stay in Habarana
Day 04 – Dambulla | Kandy
On your way to the hill capital of Kandy, you’ll visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is an amazing experience as the temple is built into a cave at the top of a rock. The ornate artwork covers the walls and ceilings and it isn’t difficult to imagine monks peacefully meditating there through the ages.
You’ll also stop at a spice garden in Matale on your way to Kandy, where you’ll be taken on an enchanting garden tour of the locally grown spices and learn how these spices come together to create the magical flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine and about their use in ayurvedic medicine.
The same evening, you’ll visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth in the historic city of Kandy. The temple is home to a tooth relic collected from the funeral pyre of the Buddha.
*Overnight stay in Kandy
Day 05 – Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, you’ll be heading further into the hills by train through tea estates and gorgeous countryside. Within just a few hours and with plenty of amazing scenery to take in, you’ll arrive in Nanu-Oya from where you’ll take a 15-minute drive to Sri Lanka’s “Little England”, Nuwara Eliya. Home to arguably the best tea in the world, this hill station is one of the highest towns in Sri Lanka by elevation at 6,129 feet above sea level.
*Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Day 06 – Horton Plains
Get ready for the adventure of the outdoors, you’re heading to the Horton Plains National Park, located on a plateau in the hills and home to the famous World’s End precipice. The scenery is simply indescribable and the 9km trek through the wilderness will take about 3 hours to complete.
*Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Day 07 – Deniyaya
Today you’ll drive down to Deniyaya, a town in the south of Sri Lanka that’s the most popular gateway to the Sinharaja Rainforest, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a long 6-hour drive, so try to get as much rest as possible before trekking through the rainforest.
*Overnight stay in Deniyaya
Day 08 – Sinharaja Rainforest
After an early start, you’ll go out on an excursion into the Sinharaja Rainforest. It’s home to many of Sri Lanka’s endemic species and is a paradise for those who love trekking through the wilderness. There’s plenty of stuff to see and do in the rainforest and your friendly guides will make sure you experience the best it has to offer.
*Overnight stay in Deniyaya
Day 09 – Airport
As your trekking adventure in Sri Lanka draws to a close, we’ll drive you straight to the airport and bid you farewell as you head off home or continue with your travels full of memories from Sri Lanka. Optionally, you can choose to extend your stay and wind up your holiday relaxing on the island’s exquisite beaches.