Pure Sri Lanka

Asia Sri Lanka
OVERVIEW
Say Ayubowan to Southeast Asia's gem, Sri Lanka. This adventure is going to take you all over – from national parks to beaches to ancient fortresses and temples, we’ve squeezed in all the highlights & a few lesser-known secrets to create the perfect 11-day trip. With hand-picked inclusions and extra free time add-ons, this trip delivers the best Sri Lanka has to offer.
EXPERIENCES
Colombo: Explore this bustling melting pot of a city with 20 of your new besties. It’s home to some seriously cool sights.

Ella: Who doesn’t love a nice cuppa? And now you’ll get to see where the magic happens.

Kandy: Fire-eating. Acrobatics. Epic costumes. All based on the dances of Indian shamans. Why not recreate it on TikTok with your crew?

Kandy: One of the world’s most scenic train rides. Pass tea plantations and lush greenery, via mountain tunnels and steep valleys.

Kandy: This pristine-white sanctuary is an ultimate pilgrimage for Buddhists. It holds a relic of Lord Buddha’s tooth.

Sigiriya: A fortress on top of a giant rock. And did we mention it has massive lion’s paws at the front? Amazing!

Sigiriya: See rice fields and jungle landscapes as you ramble around this rural Sri Lankan village. Then refuel with a traditional lunch.

Sigiriya: Want peace and tranquillity, or an array of Insta-ops? These cave temples offer both. But hide your wallet from the cheeky monkeys.

Udawalawe National Park: Hang out with elephants, leopards, crocodiles – the whole jungle crew.

Udawalawe National Park: This rehabilitation centre for orphaned elephants is seriously cute. You won’t ever want to leave.

Unawatuna: Colonial buildings meet modern life in this UNESCO-listed spot. There are heritage walks, foodie hotspots and fun nightlife, all up for grabs.

Unawatuna: Meet some baby sea turtles and learn about their release back into the wild.

Unawatuna: Wanna learn more about Sri Lankan village ceremonies? We'll visit a traditional mask painting centre to see how these masks (that are still used in rural villages today!) are created.
DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES
Tour
Departs		 Tour
Returns		 Starting From
(price per person)		 Definite Departure
What's this?		 Book Now!
03/10/2025 13/10/2025 £1,553 Book
14/11/2025 24/11/2025 £1,553 Book
28/11/2025 08/12/2025 £1,553 Book
05/12/2025 15/12/2025 £1,553 Book
26/12/2025 05/01/2026 £1,815 Book
16/01/2026 26/01/2026 £1,553 Book
23/01/2026 02/02/2026 £1,553 Book
20/02/2026 02/03/2026 £1,553 Book
06/03/2026 16/03/2026 £1,553 Book
20/03/2026 30/03/2026 £1,553 Book
03/04/2026 13/04/2026 £1,553 Book
17/04/2026 27/04/2026 £1,553 Book
ITINERARY

Our Sri Lankan adventure begins in Colombo. Find your feet in this diverse city, buzzing with modern life, colonial buildings & historical monuments. This evening you'll meet up with your Trip Manager and your team for a full brief of the travels about to unfold, before heading out for the first taste of some local delicacies.

This morning we'll drive inland to Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress town in the Matale District. Home to palace ruins set on a giant ancient lava rock, and surrounded by ancient relics of gardens and reservoirs, Sigiriya is a hotspot of historical significance here in Sri Lanka. After checking in to our accommodation, we'll begin our explorations with a guided visit to Hiriwadunna village, a spiritually important site where Prince Siddhartha was said to have attained Buddhahood. We'll sit down for an authentic Sri Lankan lunch here at the village, surrounded by greenery and wildlife. After waving goodbye to Hiriwadunna, we'll head back to our hotel.

We couldn't visit Sigiriya without exploring the incredible Sigiriya Rock Fortress that's been dominating the skyline ever since we've arrived, and morning is the best time to visit. After our included breakfast we'll take a trip to the fortress to check out the UNESCO-listed 'Lion's Rock', with it's 5th-century buildings, painted rock frescoes and massive pair of lion paws at the entrance. We're back on the road, this time to visit the nearby town of Dambulla where you'll have the chance to find your own lunch. Here we'll find another World Heritage Site, the sacred Dambulla Cave Temple, the largest best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka complete with five inner sanctuaries, 150 gilded Buddha statues, and Buddhist murals. We'll then head back to our hotel where we'll join together for an included dinner tonight.

Feel like a morning adventure? You'll have the opportunity to explore the Pidurangala Rock –a rite of passage for Sigiriya first-timers – on a sunrise trek. Otherwise, catch some extra sleep and save your energy for later. Awed by our time brushing with the ancient world in Sigiriya, it's time to move on to the vibrant cultural scene in Kandy. Today we're gathering to watch history and mythology explode into colour & rhythm at a traditional Kandyan Folkdance show. Later tonight, you're free to do what you want. But we've got a hunch that the street food here might catch your eye...

Today we head further into the hill country on the train, passing lush green hills & waterfalls en route to Nuwara Eliya. This small town is found in the heart of Sri Lanka's famous Ceylon tea industry, so it'd be rude not to visit a tea plantation (& sample some of the best) before continuing on to our next destination of Ella. We've arrived at Ella where new adventures await!

The day is yours to explore the beautiful countryside and laid-back backpacker hub of Ella, nestled among green cloud forests and tea plantations. Spend the day in Ella doing the local walks that show off the incredibly insta-worthy views down through the Ella Gap, including the cascading waterfalls this small town is famous for. If you're lucky, you might even get to meet one of the locals: the leaf-eating Langur monkey.

Our journey continues south, as we head down from the hill country into the southern plains where a rich abundance of wildlife awaits us.Our first stop is at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are cared for before being released back into the wild. In this unmissable experience that's sure to pull a few heartstrings, we'll get to watch the babies at feeding time, while you try to restrain yourself from adopting one then and there. But tear yourself away, because next, we'll jump aboard our Safari Jeep to explore the park's wildlife and then we're heading to our Special Stay accommodation for the night. Glamping alongside the Walawe riverbed in full Safari style, surrounded by the vibrant flora and fauna of the Sri Lankan jungle.

Say goodbye to the wilderness as we head along the South West coast to Unawatuna, here we'll take a trip to explore the UNESCO-listed fort city of Galle & in the evening you can learn the ways of Sri Lankan cooking with locals. At Mirissa, why not head out whale watching for an unmissable up-close encounter. The afternoon is yours to unwind on the beach or opt in for a surf lesson at nearby Weligama Bay.

Today is yours to unwind on the tropical palm-studded beach with clear turquoise waters, or opt in for a surf lesson at nearby Weligama Bay.

Today we'll be heading back to where it all began - the bustling capital city of Colombo. En route we'll make a stop to learn about the traditional art of balsa-wood mask painting, followed by a visit to the Kosgoda Turtle Conservation centre. Once we hit Colombo, the best way to continue is with a sightseeing tour of this sprawling, richly multicultural city. Marvel at the atmospheric temples & showstopping mosques, check out the rose-tinted colonial buildings and, if you're brave enough, pick up some hot cobra chillies or souvenirs from the truly authentic (and famously chaotic) Pettah Bazaar. Tonight you can put on your party pants, because we've already sussed out the best rooftop bars and we're going out in style - the perfect way to cap off the last incredible 10 days with your Sri Lanka crew.

Your Contiki trip finishes this morning in Colombo. Hold back the happy tears as you say goodbye to your newest life-long friends & plan a meet up somewhere in the world soon.
ACCOMMODATION
DAY 1: Fairway Hotel (or similar) - Meals:
DAY 10: Fairway Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 2: Habarana Village by Cinnamon (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 3: Habarana Village by Cinnamon (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4: Queen's Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5: Oak Ray Ella Gap Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6: Oak Ray Ella Gap Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: Athgira River Camping (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8: Insight Resort Ahangama (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9: Insight Resort Ahangama (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast