Sri Lanka guesthouse explorer
| country: | Sri Lanka |
| departures: | This trip can be tailor made to suit your budget, interests and requirements |
| price: | From £405 (15 days) excluding flights. Price includes B&B accommodation on twin-sharing basis, first-class train tickets from Kandy to Ella & Galle to Kosgoda, entrance fees to Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla Cave Temples, Temple of the Tooth and Yala National Park |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
The ‘Sri Lanka Guesthouse Explorer’ includes the best that Sri Lanka can offer – ancient cities, tea-growing hills, wildlife parks and Indian Ocean beaches – with stays in the most unique guesthouses and eco retreats in the island.
We have carefully selected our favourite properties with charming, scenic locations and friendly staff. In some sections of the trip we have also used the train to help you trim the costs of your holiday. As it happens, rail travel is also great fun in Sri Lanka, allowing you to mix with interesting personalities and experience the myriad of landscapes that this island is blessed with.
Holiday highlights: Palm-fringed sandy beaches, ruined cities of ancient kingdoms, rock fortresses and hilltop palaces, Dambulla’s serene Buddhist cave temples, Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, spectacular tea country, train journey in the hill country and along the west coast, Yala’s untouched wilderness, body surfing in Mirissa and marine turtles in Kosgoda.
We have carefully selected our favourite properties with charming, scenic locations and friendly staff. In some sections of the trip we have also used the train to help you trim the costs of your holiday. As it happens, rail travel is also great fun in Sri Lanka, allowing you to mix with interesting personalities and experience the myriad of landscapes that this island is blessed with.
Holiday highlights: Palm-fringed sandy beaches, ruined cities of ancient kingdoms, rock fortresses and hilltop palaces, Dambulla’s serene Buddhist cave temples, Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, spectacular tea country, train journey in the hill country and along the west coast, Yala’s untouched wilderness, body surfing in Mirissa and marine turtles in Kosgoda.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Upon arriving in Sri Lanka, transfer to the Ice Bear, the most interesting beachfront guesthouse in Negombo, a popular and youthful beach resort just a few minutes drive from the airport. This is an ideal location from which to explore Negombo’s vibrant cultural heritage: ride on a catamaran as it sets sail in to the sunset; take a boat ride along the centuries-old Dutch canals that wind through the town; experience Negombo’s Colonial heritage including Catholic churches and the ruins of the Dutch Fort; visit the harbor early morning to see the catamarans come ashore, filled with the night’s catch of numerous varieties of fish, prawns, crab and lobster. For those interested in nature and the wilderness, take a boat ride into the Muthurajawela marshes and the Negombo Lagoon, home to numerous species of birds and fish, dragon flies and monitor lizards. |
| Day 3-4: | Today you head to Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Check into Hotel Sigirya situated just minutes from the magnificent Sigirya rock fortress. Over the next two days, explore the ancient ruins of the Sigiriya Fortress built in the 5th century by King Kasyapa. The ruins of the fortress upon the huge rock, the wall frescoes, and the symmetrical royal gardens surrounding the rock are amazing feats of this period. Dambulla Cave Temple is also a must-see with its rock ceiling covered in one large sweep of colorful frescoes, some of which dates back to over 2,000 years. This cave temple has the largest number of Buddha statues all housed in one place including a 14 meter long, colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the rock. |
| Day 5: | The journey from the cultural triangle to Sri Lanka's hill capital - the small lakeside city of Kandy - will occupy most of the morning. On the way, visit the ancient Aluvihara rock temple, located in Matale. Aluvihara is of great significance in the history of Buddhism. It was here that the oral teachings of the Buddha were committed to writing – the Tripitika - for the first time in 3rd century AD. Once in Kandy, check into the Sharon Inn, perched high on the hillside overlooking the city and the tranquil lake. Wander around Kandy’s lake and visit the Temple of the Tooth where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined since 4th Century A.D. The temple has decorative walls, a golden roof and fine woodwork. Religious services (pooja) are held daily at dawn, mid-day, and in the evening where guests can participate. The services are accompanied with traditional music and drumming. We also recommend a visit to Peradeniya’s Royal Botanical Gardens with over 60 hectares of tranquil, immaculately designed lawns, borders, pavilions and plant houses. |
| Day 6-7: | Today you head for the southern highlands, a stirring land of lush tea plantations, majestic peaks and rushing waterfalls. We recommend you jump aboard the train – one of the great rail journeys in the world – and head for Ella, a small village that sits high on a ridge with magnificent views. Spend two nights at Ambiente – a small and welcoming guesthouse which has one of the most enchanting vistas in the world. Go on treks to nearby caves and waterfalls, visit the Dowa cave temples and the Maligavila Buddhist statue. |
| Day 8-9: | Today you travel southeast to the serene and tranquil town of Tissamaharama (or “Tissa” as it is most frequently referred to), which was the capital of the ancient Ruhunu Kingdom in the 2nd century B.C. Tissa is dominated by lakes and gigantic semi-circle shaped Buddhist Dagobas (temples), lush green paddy fields and lotus-filled lakes. Check into Tissa’s Rest House - a Government Resthouse - an old colonial stop-off with a great lakeside location. Visit the Yala National Park located nearby. With a total protected area of 126,768 hectares, Yala consists of scrub plains, lagoons and rocky sections and offers the broadest cross-section of the country’s flora and fauna. In terms of game-viewing this is probably the best place to see all of the ‘big three’: elephant, leopard and water buffalo. It is estimated that Yala is home to about 35 leopards making it one of the world's densest leopard populations. However, they are not always easy to spot. Countless other animals including sloth bear, deer, wild boar, crocodiles, monkeys and numerous species of birds can also be seen. We also recommend a visit the sacred jungle shrine of Kataragama. This holy shrine was built by the warrior King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century B.C. to pay homage to God Kataragama. This shrine is worshipped by people of many faiths. Each day at specific times, the shrines come alive when poojas (devotions) are presented to the Gods. The baskets filled with fruit and flowers, the aromas from burning incense and oil lamps, the sounds of dashing coconuts, clanging bells and continuous chanting all combine to provide a mesmerizing experience. |
| Day 10-12: | Drive along the beautiful southern coast to Thalpe just 15 minutes away from the historic town of Galle. We’ve recommended staying at Rockside, a cabana-style property right on the beach. The beach is popular for swimming and surfing. Spend three nights here. You may like to explore the local area too. The UNESCO-protected Galle Fort is in the midst of an cultural and architectural revival. Several hours can be spent wandering through the narrow streets and along the ramparts, browsing through art galleries and sipping lime sodas on the veranda of Galle Fort hotel. There are beautiful beaches just south of Galle, including Unawatuna and Mirissa that are also worth visiting. Based at Mirissa Harbour, Mirissa Water Sports offers several activities including whale watching, snorkeling, sailing, river trips, and sea kayaking. Mirissa Water Sports is a charitable organization helping to generate employment for the youth from the tsunami affected coastal areas. |
| Day 13-14: | Travel north by train up the west coast to Kosgoda, a small fishing village where you will stay at the Garden Beach Hotel. This is a treat for those interested in marine conservation as it is one of only two hotels on the turtle beach at Kosgoda, where Marine Turtles regularly come ashore to lay their eggs. The hotel has good relations with the nearby Kosgoda turtle hatchery, which enables its guests to make responsible, eco-friendly night-time treks, only a short distance up the beach, to see the turtles at work. The fishing village along the west coast shares a vibrant cultural heritage including folklore, music and dance as well as architectural influences from the Dutch period. Many temples, kovils, churches and mosques are situated along the coast. Cottage industries such as basket-weaving, mask-carving and antique restoration provide for interesting shopping. Experience the vibrant music and dances of the south including Devil Dance at the local dance school. |
| Day 15: | Depart in good time for your flight home |
travellers' tales
The wonderful diverse countryside of Sri Lanka and the people was the most memorable part. (more)
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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This tour steers clear of large resort-style hotels that are filled each year with package tourists. Instead, this tour uses our favourite guesthouses that are unique and also provides much needed employment to the people from the surrounding towns and villages. Hotels such as Garden Beach in Kosgoda – just one of two hotels located on the beach where Marine Turtles come to nest along the west coast, promotes the conservation of this species.
Globally, all seven species of marine turtles existing are endangered. Out of these seven, five species of sea turtles come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka. The process of marine turtles nesting, hatchlings being born, and swimming back to sea is an ancient and phenomenal ritual that is fascinating to observe. You have an opportunity to contribute the Marine Turtle Conservation efforts through the project in Kosgoda where you will observe this endangered species without interfering with its natural breeding habits. With regards to activities, Mirissa water sports, a charitable organization helps to generate employment for the youth from the tsunami affected coastal areas by training these them as guides and handling of various water sports activities. Using these services and facilities itself is an invaluable contribution towards uplifting their standard of living. The tour operator uses only experienced local drivers and guides who are ever willing to share their knowledge with you. All drivers are employed on fair terms, ensuring they receive a proper wage for their services and have access to acceptable facilities, including good, clean, comfortable accommodation. In addition local staff is employed for Sales, IT and technical development, web production, writing, and handling holiday enquiries. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |