Tour overview

This 12-day trip explores Sri Lanka through its food, from fish markets to tea estates. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than twelve. You stay eleven nights in hotels, with breakfast daily and many lunches and dinners.

You start at the fish market in Negombo, then climb Sigiriya and explore the cave temples of Dambulla, with village cooking along the way, before reaching Kandy for its markets and the Temple of the Tooth.

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A scenic train takes you into the hill country at Bandarawela to visit tea plantations, then you head to Yala National Park for a safari, the old fort of Galle and the beach at Mirissa, before finishing in Colombo.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits food lovers who want Sri Lanka's highlights with plenty to taste.

Trip highlights

  • Negombo fish market (Day 2)
  • Sigiriya (Day 3)
  • Kandy (Day 5)
  • The hill-country train (Day 6)
  • Tea plantations (Day 7)
  • Yala National Park (Day 8)

Your route

12 stops from Negombo to Colombo

12-day route: Negombo – Dambulla – Sigiriya – Kandy – Bandarawela – Yala – Galle – Mirissa – Colombo
  1. Negombo Day 1
  2. Madampe Day 2
  3. Dambulla Days 2–3
  4. Sigiriya Day 3
  5. Matale Day 4
  6. Kandy Days 4–5
  7. Bandarawela Days 6–7
  8. Haputale Day 7
  9. Tissamaharama Day 8
  10. Mirissa Days 9–10
  11. Galle Day 10
  12. Colombo Days 11–12

Why choose this tour

Sri Lanka through its food. Many meals with locals included.

Best suited to

  • Food lovers
  • First-time visitors to Sri Lanka
  • Solo travellers
  • Culture lovers
Traditional sailing fishing boats at Negombo, Sri Lanka

Day-by-day itinerary

12 days from Negombo, Sri Lanka to Colombo, Sri Lanka

  1. Day 1 · Negombo Negombo

    Welcome to Sri Lanka.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Negombo fish market, Dambulla Dambulla

    A fish market.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Sigiriya Sigiriya

    The Lion Rock.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Dambulla cave temples, Kandy Kandy

    Cave temples.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Kandy Kandy

    The Temple of the Tooth.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Hill-country train, Bandarawela Bandarawela

    A scenic train.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Tea plantations Bandarawela

    Tea country.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  8. Day 8 · Yala National Park, Tissamaharama Yala

    A safari.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Galle, Mirissa Mirissa

    An old fort.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  10. Day 10 · Mirissa Mirissa

    Beach time.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  11. Day 11 · Colombo Colombo

    The capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  12. Day 12 · Colombo Colombo

    The trip ends.

A tea plantation in the highlands

Where you stay

  • Negombo (1 night) Hotel
  • Dambulla (2 nights) Hotel
  • Kandy (2 nights) Hotel
  • Bandarawela (2 nights) Hotel
  • Tissamaharama (1 night) Hotel
  • Mirissa (2 nights) Hotel
  • Colombo (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 11 nights in hotels
  • Meals 10 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 3 dinners
  • Overland transport and the hill-country train
  • Sigiriya, Dambulla and the Temple of the Tooth
  • Tea plantation visit
  • Yala National Park safari
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 1 breakfast, 3 lunches and 8 dinners
  • Sri Lanka travel authorisation
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
A vegetable stall in Colombo

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luxury hotels
  • You dislike spicy food
  • You want a beach-only holiday
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–11 · Lunch: Days 2–4, 7 and 9–11 · Dinner: Days 5–6 and 8
Sigiriya Rock Fortress above the lake

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,526 per person, twin share, tour only. 85 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka?

Yes, UK citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, applied for online before travel.

Is the food very spicy?

Dishes range from mild to hot, and you can ask for milder versions.

Is the train ride included?

Yes, when tickets are available; otherwise a private bus is used.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast daily and many lunches and dinners.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement may be available; otherwise solo travellers share with someone of the same gender.

How many people travel together?

No more than twelve travellers, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £1,526
See dates & prices