Explore Sri Lanka: Colombo, Kandy & Sigiriya

Arrive in Colombo and welcome to Sri Lanka! After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, meet your guide in the arrivals lobby. Your guide accompanies you for most of your journey across the island. Transfer to your hotel in Colombo, about an hour's drive, and settle in.

In the evening, meet a Colombo local who leads you on a food walk through one of the island's most diverse cities. Colombo's population is split almost evenly across several ethnic communities, and each brings its own dishes and cooking traditions. Try South Indian-influenced Tamil favorites such as vadai, dosai, and appam (hoppers), Muslim specialties like samosas and watalappan for dessert, and Sri Lankan staples including isso vadai and kottu roti. Your host shares the story behind each dish as you go. Along the way, your insider also introduces you to the city's bar scene, from polished lounges to the no-frills spots locals call "dodgy bars," where arrack, a strong local spirit, is the drink of choice.

Please note there is no set plan for this experience. Before your trip, let the team know about any dietary restrictions or dishes you would like to try, and your host does their best to accommodate them. Be ready to eat with your hands and share the food portions.

After breakfast, head to Kandy for a cooking class at a local homestay.

The lady of the house welcomes you and guides you through a traditional Sri Lankan cooking experience. The session begins with an introduction to Sri Lankan spices and how to combine them to create the perfect curry. One of the highlights is cooking in fired clay pots, which enhance the flavor of the curries. You are hands-on throughout the process, chopping vegetables, mixing spices, and stirring the gravy, and at the end you sit down to a lunch made from your efforts.

Later in the afternoon, explore Kandy and visit the Temple of the Tooth. While Sri Lanka was under Portuguese and Dutch control, the Kings of Kandy remained defiant and independent, and it wasn't until British rule that Kandy eventually fell to the world's largest empire. Today, Kandy is a busy city that still shows traces of its colonial past, with landmarks like the Queen's Hotel, a 19th-century neoclassical building. Stroll around the lake, explore the streets, and browse the local markets. Instead of the tourist-focused spice gardens, visit the Kandy town market, where vendors sell cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, pepper, and turmeric. These spices connect to the age of exploration and Sri Lanka's 500-year history under Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule. You also find a variety of seasonal fruits worth trying. At the heart of Kandy is the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the city's most iconic building. In ancient times, possession of the Sacred Tooth Relic symbolized the right to rule the island, and it was the king's duty to protect it. Today, the temple still holds deep significance for Buddhists across the country.

Continue to Digana, about an hour away, and check in to your eco lodge, set among the trees away from the crowds. The staff all come from the surrounding villages and also lead the treks during your stay.

Please note the lodge has no air conditioning, and bags are carried in by hand with help from the staff, so pack a small backpack with the essentials for your stay.

Transfer from Colombo to Kandy - Approximately 4 hours

After breakfast, set out from the lodge on a village walk that ends with a swim at a hidden waterfall. Your route passes through villages and their Kandyan forest gardens, where residents go about their daily routines. You are invited into homes to see how treacle and jaggery, a syrup and sugar blocks made from palm sap, are produced. Your host gives you a botany lesson along the way, pointing out cloves, pepper, nutmeg, coffee, cocoa, jackfruit, breadfruit, areca nut, mangosteen, mango, passion fruit, rambutan, banana, papaya, and more. You also pass rice fields and, time permitting, reach a viewpoint over a lake surrounded by mountains.

You can walk the full 10 km (6.2 miles) to the waterfall or as little as 4 km (2.5 miles), covering the rest by tuk-tuk or jeep. The route covers 4 km (2.5 miles), mostly downhill, on village paths, 3.5 km (2.2 miles) on a paved village road, and 2.5 km (1.6 miles) on a jungle path to and from the waterfall.

After your swim, make your way back to the lodge, where you take part in a tree-planting session that helps protect the Kandyan forest gardens you walked through earlier. This ancient agroforestry method grows fruit and spices among native forest trees and is found across the wet zone of central Sri Lanka, including Kandy and Matale. These gardens are home to deer, giant squirrels, endangered toque macaques, and more than 60 bird species. Many farmers are now selling their land for development or turning to unsustainable farming because of financial pressure, so planting a tree helps preserve these forests while offsetting your own carbon footprint. With the planting done, the rest of the day is yours to relax at the lodge.

Hiking Length: 4-5 hours
Hike Distance: 2.5-6.2 miles / 4-10 kilometers

After breakfast, depart Digana and drive about an hour to Matale, where a local villager leads you on a walk through his village, set away from the main roads. Rather than visiting the spice gardens Matale is known for, you see village life up close, passing paddy fields where farmers are at work, with views of the Knuckles mountain range in the distance. A river runs through the village, and spice trees such as pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and coffee line the way. As you walk, your village guide shares local stories and folklore. The easy walk covers about 3 to 4 km (1.9 to 2.5 miles) and takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on your pace.

At the end of the walk, sit down to an all-you-can-eat rice and curry lunch served traditionally on a lotus or banana leaf, followed by a few traditional sweets. In the afternoon, continue to Sigiriya, about 1 hour and 45 minutes away, and check in to your hotel to relax for the rest of the day.

Please note there is no backup vehicle on this walk to reduce the carbon footprint, though one can be arranged if needed. Your main guide joins the walk to help with translation.

Hiking Length: 1-2 hours
Hike Distance: 1.9-2.5 miles / 3-4 kilometers

Start early today with a short drive of about 20 minutes to Pidurangala Rock for a climb that rewards you, if you're lucky, with some sweeping views.

Pidurangala is believed to have been the royal temple during the reign of King Kashyapa. The hike takes about an hour, depending on fitness level. The last part involves some scrambling over rocks, but it's manageable with caution. From the top, you look out over green forest with Sigiriya Rock rising in the distance, and with far fewer visitors than its famous neighbor, it's a peaceful spot away from the busier tourist sites. Afterward, return to the hotel for breakfast.

In the late afternoon, drive about 1 hour and 15 minutes to the Ritigala Archaeological Monastery. It has an Indiana Jones feel, untouched and far removed from Sri Lanka's more famous sites, and the visit combines history with a forest walk. Take your time to explore the site thoroughly, walking up to the higher parts of the complex. Long meditation pathways lead into the dense jungle past large stone-lined reservoirs, and there are places to pause and sit quietly on these ancient meditation grounds. Return to your hotel to relax for the evening.

Start the day early with a hike to Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, is one of Sri Lanka's best-known landmarks. This ancient rock fortress was built by King Kashyapa, who aimed to create an impenetrable fortress with a royal palace within. The climb of 1,200 steps rises above the dry plains of Sigiriya, and along the way, you pass the famous Sigiriya frescoes, depicting graceful maidens holding flowers. Nearby, the Mirror Wall bears the inscriptions of ancient visitors, inspired by these vibrant paintings. Though challenging, the ascent rewards you with wide views of the green plains and surrounding villages, and the ruins at the top offer a glimpse into the advanced urban planning of 5th-century Sri Lanka. The entire Sigiriya experience takes 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on your pace.

Please note an early start is recommended to avoid the crowds and the heat. The cooler morning air makes the climb easier and provides the best light for photos.

Return to the hotel for breakfast and a relaxed morning. In the late afternoon, head to a scenic spot on the outskirts of Sigiriya for a Sri Lankan-style picnic high tea. While high tea traditionally comes from England, featuring pastries, scones, sandwiches, and tea, this version has a local twist. The main highlight is pol roti, a popular Sri Lankan dish made from shredded coconut mixed with flour. It's best enjoyed with seeni sambol, a mix of caramelized onions and chili flakes. Also on the menu is kokis, a crispy, deep-fried snack made from coconut milk and rice flour that is considered to have been passed on from the Dutch. For something sweet, there are pancakes stuffed with pani pol, a blend of treacle and coconut. Sip on ginger black tea while you relax, surrounded by natural scenery and a gentle breeze. Afterward, return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

After breakfast, depart for Hunumulla, with a stop to visit the Dambulla Cave Temple along the way, about 45 minutes from Sigiriya.

For over 22 centuries, the Dambulla Cave Temple has been a center of worship. Carved out of a massive rock, the complex features intricate craftsmanship and murals depicting the life of Lord Buddha. Its five caves are home to 153 statues of Buddha, as well as statues of gods, goddesses, and kings who contributed to the temple's development. Different architectural styles can be seen throughout, and the temple, at an altitude of about 1,118 feet (341 meters), offers panoramic views from Ritigala to the north to the Kurunegala Plains to the southeast. The climb takes some effort, and the views from the top are well worth bringing a camera for.

Please note an early visit is recommended to avoid the midday heat and the crowds. Do not feed the macaques that roam the area, and keep food and personal belongings secure.

Arrive at your hotel in Hunumulla and spend the rest of the day at leisure before dinner.

Transfer from Dambulla to Hunumulla - Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes

After breakfast, enjoy some free time before your transfer to Colombo Airport, about 40 minutes away, for your departure flight. If you'd like to extend your stay in Sri Lanka, talk to your Trip Planner about adding more days.

Note: Check-out time varies by hotel. Please confirm the details with your Trip Planner.