Sri Lanka: Beyond The Ordinary

Arrive Colombo, foodie experience

On arrival in Sri Lanka, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel. Late afternoon head out with your guide for a culinary exploration of the town’s vibrant foodie scene. Head for the sociable seaside promenade and lawns of Galle Face Green, where numerous streetfood vendors congregate. Try spicy isso wade prawn fritters, and traditional achcharu sweet-sour pickles, washed down with fresh lime juice. Nana’s serves arguably the best Tandoori Chicken in the city, and is a Galle Face institution - you can’t leave without trying some! Tuk-tuk to The Old Dutch Hospital (tastefully revamped to house shops and restaurants) to sample some of Sri Lanka’s finest tea and Pol Roti Kottu coconut-infused stuffed flatbreads. Leave room for traditional Sri Lankan jaggery sweets, and return to your hotel with your appetite fully satisfied

Drive to The Mudhouse, Anamaduwa

Morning departure for Anamaduwa, passing through a number of regional towns & villages en route. Surrounded by the unspoilt Sri Lankan wilderness, the Mudhouse retreat leads the way in sustainable accommodation within the region. Upon arrival, you’ll be given a tour of this unique site, before being left to settle in to your very own traditional wattle and daub mudhouse chalet. Try a range of complimentary activities during your stay including nature walks, kayaking, bike riding, and learning to prepare traditional Sri Lankan dishes, or simply sit back, soaking up the undisturbed sights and sounds of the surroundings that will be yours to explore over the next couple of days.

Activities at The Mudhouse

Your day can be as relaxing or active as you wish. Take a tuk-tuk to the Paramakanda temple, explore the countryside by bike, kayak on the lake, or simply relax and soak up the serenity.

Drive to Jaffna

Depart north for Jaffna, stopping at Vavuniya, which was on the front line during past hostilities, but is now a friendly, bustling gateway to the north. Continue through the old territory checkpoint at Omanthai, and stop at Killinochi, the Tamil Tigers’ de facto capital until the end of the war. Carry on to the striking Elephant Pass Causeway which connects the Jaffna peninsula to the Sri Lankan mainland across the beautiful Jaffna Lagoon, where you’ll see some of the waterway’s diverse bird population, and travel up the coast to Jaffna town, where the remainder of your day will be at leisure to settle in or begin exploring.

Explore Jaffna Fort & other significant sites

Head out for a morning’s sightseeing, starting on the outskirts of Jaffna at the 10th century temple complex of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil. This huge, significant site, with numerous shrines, a five-storey, ornately carved tower and a beautiful courtyard surrounded by unique red and white striped walls, attracts thousands of devotees every year, especially during the month-long Nallur Kovil festival. Continue to the atmospheric ruins of Jaffna Palace at Manthri Manai, then on to the ruins of the 17th century Jaffna Fort. Stop at Nilavarai’s natural ‘bottomless’ well, imbued with spiritual significance, before arriving at Point Pedro: the northernmost point on Sri Lanka. Enjoy an afternoon strolling around this bustling port town, peppered with pre-colonial Hindu temples, Portuguese catholic churches and some of Sri Lanka’s oldest schools.

Sail Lanka Cruise

There are a number of small islands, rich in history and culture, that are dotted off the Jaffna peninsula in the Palk Strait that separates Sri Lanka from Southern India. Most visitors to the region typically only visit sites of interest on the mainland, however by joining a Sail Lanka cruise you will have the opportunity to explore these interesting off-lying islands. Over the course of the day you’ll sail to, and explore, Delft Island with its colonial ruins and Nainativu, an island of significance to both Buddhists and Hindus.

Villages & Islands

Visit the small village of Kandarodai, also known as Kandurugoda. After exploring its fascinating archaeological finds - from Roman coins, to Buddhist relics, to 2000-year-old coral stone stupas - head across the narrow Pannai Bridge to a series of small, sparsely populated islands. There are no big tourist attractions here, just timeless Tamil and Dutch architecture, and intriguing religious buildings, including churches, mosques and temples; a testimony to the religions that have coexisted and clashed here over the centuries. Stop at Kayts village, once home to a large, bustling port, now a somewhat quieter place with remnants of colonial buildings, and stroll along the curved sandy shore of Chaddy beach, before crossing to the tiny island of Pungudutivu to see one of the region’s most colourful Hindu temples. Return to Jaffna where the remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Drive to Kalpitiya

Morning departure for Kalpitiya, where, having checked in to your hotel, the remainder of your day will be at leisure to relax.

A day of R&R

Your day will be at leisure to kick back and relax on the beach.

Dolphin spotting

Start out before sunrise for a morning of dolphin-spotting. The waters off the Kalpitiya Peninsula offer some of the best dolphin watching opportunities in Sri Lanka, especially between November and March when the seas are relatively calm. Board a traditional boat and head out into the open sea, where it’s not uncommon to see sizeable pods of Spinner Dolphins playing in the water, as well as bottlenose, risso and Indo-Pacific species. Savour the moment at each sighting, keeping your camera close at hand for those once-in-a-lifetime shots, and return to the mainland late morning for an afternoon at leisure.

Wilpattu National Park safari

Head out into Wilpattu - the largest of Sri Lanka’s national parks - where you’ll be joined by a tracker for a wildlife-spotting jeep safari. Wilpattu covers a range of forest terrains that are home to a wide array of wildlife, including leopards, and a dense population of Sri Lankan sloth bears that exist only on the island. There are over 30 recorded species of mammal within the park’s boundaries, and you can expect to see Sri Lankan elephants and spotted deer as well as wetland bird species such as the Pin Tail, Whistling Teal Spoonbill, and White Ibis. After three hours soaking up the park’s natural magic, make the return journey to Kalpitiya.

Drive to Kaleliya

After a leisurely morning, depart for Kaleliya and check in to the Casa Heliconia Hotel. The remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Depart Colombo

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.