Essential Sri Lanka

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Booking Type Instant booking
duration 11 days
tour type Small group Request as private
age requirement 18-35 yrs
max group size 16
guiding method Fully guided
Tour Code BM-16940
Footprint Carbonneutral CO₂ emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
Operated in English

Starts Negombo, Sri Lanka
Ends Colombo, Sri Lanka

HIGHLIGHTS

Cruise around in a 4WD on a wildlife safari, searching for elephants, lone leopards and aquatic birdlife in Yala National Park.
Learn the benefits of washing down a spicy curry with piping-hot Ceylon tea during lunch in a lush mountain village near Ella in a local home.
Kick back on the warm sands of paradisical palm-lined Unawatuna, with plenty of free time to soak up the sun at the beach and the opportunity for an optional whale-watching tour.
Leave the imprint of your face on the train window as you stare out wide-eyed on a journey from Kandy to Ella – this scenic rail ride is basically a 6-hour nature documentary, there’s so much amazing scenery!
Enjoy super fun included activities mixed with plenty of free time to choose your own adventure – maybe use some of it to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya. These palace ruins sit atop a massive rock structure surrounded by gardens and are a must-see for any Sri Lanka visit.

The "Essential Sri Lanka" tour starts in Negombo and ends in Colombo. It is an adventure trip that takes 11 days taking you through Ella, Tissamaharama, Negombo and 3 other destinations in Sri Lanka. "Essential Sri Lanka" is a guided small group tour that includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

Take Sri Lanka, boil it like the tea leaves the country’s famous for and strain out all the best stuff. On this 11-day trip through natural paradise, small villages and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you’ll wander past barracuda at the Negombo Fish Market, search for elephants in Yala National Park, feast on spicy curry prepared by a local in Ella, hike through lush mountains and get horizontal on the beach in Unawatuna – Sri Lanka’s idyllic beach spot, perfect for lounging and sipping cocktails. With a local leader who knows where to find all the best teahouses and a group of likeminded travellers, this one’s gotta be an adventure of a lifetime!

ITINERARY Expand All

Day 1: Negombo
Day 2: Dambulla
Day 3: Kandy
Day 4: Kandy
Day 5: Ella
Day 6: Ella
Day 7: Yala National Park
Day 8: Unawatuna
Day 9: Unawatuna
Day 10: Colombo
Day 11: Colombo

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights), Hostel (Multi-share) (1 night)

Meals

10 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch

Transport

Train , Private vehicle

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Negombo - Fish market
Matale - Spice garden visit
Kandy - Scenic train ride to Ella
Ella - Trek to Ella Gap
Ella - Nine Arch Bridge
Ella - Lunch at a Local Family Home
Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari
Galle - Walking tour
Colombo – Guided market visit
Galle - Local train ride to Colombo

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

Any international flights to Negombo and from Colombo are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.
Travel insurance is not included in this Essential Sri Lanka tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. World Nomads' travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 197 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6 rating.

REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:

Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected Travel within your own bubble.
Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.

Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.

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GOOD TO KNOW

CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Essential Sri Lanka tour. You can cancel the tour up to 60 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 59 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 09 November 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 09 November 2024, a deposit of 400 USD is required to confirm the tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 59 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Essential Sri Lanka tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this Essential Sri Lanka tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

Is this trip right for you

This trip puts the power in your hands – there’s tonnes of free time for optional activities, so you’ll have plenty of freedom to decide what you want to do.
The journey from Ella to Tissamaharama takes a winding road down the mountains to the coast, which means the drive can feel a little slow. But don't worry, it also means that you’ll get to see the awesome scenery from literally every angle.

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