Itinerary - Sri Lanka 360° Summer

Roundtrip flights or transportation to reach the destination are not included in the package, so you can decide from where and when you want to leave! This gives you complete freedom of choice to adjust your travel itinerary to your needs.

Check-in at the hotel in Negombo. Here we are close to the country's capital, the gateway to the start of an incredible adventure. In the evening, we begin to get to know each other better and, as per tradition, we will start making friends with "feet under the table" . Although similar to Indian cuisine, Sri Lankan recipes are original and delicious: being an island with a tropical climate,  coconuts and fish will not be missing from the table!

After having breakfast in our hotel in Negombo we immediately begin to move south. We will pass through the capital of the island, Colombo, where it will be possible to make a short visit at the discretion of the group.

We will then move on to Galle - this historic city, a Unesco World Heritage Site , is a delight to explore on foot, made up of an old trading port, impressive Dutch colonial buildings, old mosques and churches, grand palaces and museums.

As we stroll through the narrow streets of the old town we will pass elegant cafes, quirky boutiques and impeccably restored hotels owned by local and foreign artists, writers, photographers and designers. But before arriving in Galle, along the road, there will be the opportunity to visit a renowned sanctuary for the protection of turtles : in these wonderful waters, some specialists take care of controlling the hatching of the eggs; as soon as they are born, the turtles are looked after in special tanks, and it is a visit not to be missed! Holding one of these little turtles in hand for a few moments is an experience of a lifetime! After lunch we set off again towards our tonight destination: Udawalawe - we'll sleep in a tented camp in the nature!

We are located 160 km from Colombo, in one of the national parks established to preserve the fauna of this country, mainly elephants! Since 1972, the 30 hectares of nature reserve overlooking the Walawe river has been home to around 600 elephants divided into various herds of around 50 members each. The vegetation in this park is not very dense - and they are not exactly small, let's say - so the chances of spotting them are very good. If we look up we will also be able to see many species of birds: such as the black-headed ibis, peacocks, hawks and eagles.

After this, we head towards Ella ; along the way it will be possible to stop at the Buduruwagala temple , an ancient Buddhist temple dating back to the 10th century and carved directly into the rock with 7 Buddha statues.

Finally we arrive in Ella, a very small town but equipped with all services: restaurants, guesthouses, markets, tea shops, tuk-tuks. Surrounding the village is a mountain air and natural attractions are varied, such as rocky peaks, groves with lakes and waterfalls, streams and rivers.  Another part of Sri Lanka has unfolded before our eyes.

Today we will wake up before dawn and set off to reach little Adam's Peak . Why, you say?! 

The answer is super simple: Getting to the top of Little Adam's Peak is one of the most epic things you can do in Ella. The peak can easily be walked without a guide, as there is a marked trail that will get us up the mountain just in time to watch the sunrise: starting from the main road in Ella, the hike to the top of Little Adam's Peak shouldn't take more than 1 hour.

After watching the sunrise we will take another trail that will take us up to the famous Nine Arch Bridge and then finish at Ella Rock for a breathtaking view. 

And since we walked a lot today, how about a nice cold beer?! And food, lots of food…

Have you heard of the most spectacular train journey in the world? This is how the Nuwara Eliya–Ella route is described ; through a special track that climbs between the mountains and tea plantations : a two-hour journey in the midst of unique panoramas of the world, an explosion of colours that will imprint on your mind forever . 

We then arrive in Nuwara Eliya and can't not visit one of the most unique tea plantations in the area: tasting this drink directly from the artisan factories - where the leaves are processed - is an unmissable experience.

Another short transfer and we will arrive at our final destination, finally off the beaten track!

Are we ready for some adventure? Surrounded by nature, we will let ourselves be carried away by the explosive force of the water in an exciting and fun white water rafting experience!

We will then continue towards Kandy where, after visiting the Temple of the Tooth , we will have the opportunity to test our culinary skills during an authentic cooking class of local specialties…hungry eh?! Get ready for some awesome food!

Today we will wake up in Kandy but immediately after breakfast we will have to say goodbye to this pleasant town and head north; our first stop will be Dambulla , an ancient site consisting of 5 expertly excavated and beautifully decorated caves, full of Buddhist statues and breathtaking green views. A must in Sri Lanka! Watch out for the monkeys: they will try to steal everything from you, even your glasses!

We will then continue to Sigiriya - or to be more precise - Pidurangala Rock for a breathtaking sunset!

We wake up in Sigiriya to go and see one of the most famous symbols of Sri Lanka, the Lion's Rock  - considered by some to be the eighth wonder of the world . 
Even today we have to put ourselves to the test with 1200 steps but... it's worth it: the usual photo in front of the 'lion's claws', a short stop to examine the beautiful frescoes painted on the walls and, having reached the last step, we will have a dizzying panorama : we will be above an infinite expanse of trees and Sri Lanka will become part of us to all intents and purposes.
After lunch, we will head to Polonnaruwa, an archaeological complex of monuments and temples. The best thing to do is to rent bikes or tuk tuks to move comfortably between one area and another. Not to be missed: the Royal Palace, the Sacred Quadrilateral, and the Gal Vihara – which, seen at sunset, leaves you breathless. 
We will also spend this night in Sigiriya, before setting off again towards the next destination.

After some intense travelling, 2 days of relaxation by the sea is just what is needed to recharge our batteries! There will be two days of relaxation, at your complete disposal, to be exploited at will between sunbathing, surfing lessons, swimming, beach volleyball matches and anything else that crosses your mind: the important thing is to relax and enjoy these 48 hours of pure enjoyment!

The journey is long but the intermediate stage is really worth a visit: we are talking about Anaradhapura, the sacred city of Sri Lanka . One of the leading civilisations of Asia and the world lived here, making the city a UNESCO World Heritage Site . It is located about 200 km from Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, in the North Central Province of the country.

Covering an area of ​​40 sq km, the archaeological site of Anuradhapura Sri Lanka is one of the largest in the world . The many ruins can be divided into 3 types:

• the stupas, bell-shaped buildings, made of bricks, with dimensions ranging from a few meters to 340 meters in circumference; 

• the Monasteries, of which columns, platforms and foundations have been found; 

• the Pokuna, or the tanks that supplied drinking water to the city. Here there is also the Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred fig tree, which originated from a shoot of the tree under which the Buddha was enlightened.

All this before returning to Negombo just in time for our last dinner together to celebrate the end of our journey and to relive the highlights of the many adventures together . This is our last night in Sri Lanka - let's make it unforgettable!

Check-out and goodbye – until your next WeRoad adventure!