Art, Faith & Flavours of Ceylon

A classic round tour woven through with genuine cultural depth, a climb of the multi-faith Ambuluwawa Tower and a hands-on village cooking class, so faith and flavour sit alongside the standard heritage stops rather than being an afterthought.

Unique to this Tour

A climb of the Ambuluwawa Tower, a spiral structure shared by four faiths, paired with a hands-on village cooking class – faith and flavour woven into a classic round tour.

Signature Moment

Shopping for spices at a local market before cooking a traditional Sri Lankan curry lunch alongside a village family.

Tour Highlights

  • Sigiriya Rock Fortress
  • Village cooking class
  • Ambuluwawa spiral tower climb
  • Scenic hill country train
  • Yala leopard safari
  • Galle Fort

Suggested Stays

  • Negombo (beachfront hotel)
  • Sigiriya (rock-view lodge, 2 nights)
  • Kandy (heritage hotel)
  • Nuwara Eliya (tea estate hotel, 2 nights)
  • Ella (hillside guesthouse)
  • Yala (safari lodge)
  • Galle (boutique fort-area hotel, 2 nights)
  • Bentota (design-led boutique hotel)

Day by Day

The route, step by step

Colombo - Negombo - Sigiriya - Kandy - Ambuluwawa - Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Yala - Galle - Bentota - Colombo

Day 01
Arrival - Negombo

Transfer from the airport to Negombo.

Overnight in Negombo.
01
Day 02
Negombo - Sigiriya

Drive north (approx. 3.5 hours) via the Dambulla Cave Temple.

Overnight in Sigiriya.
02
Day 03
Sigiriya Rock Fortress - Village Cooking Class

Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the morning. In the afternoon, a hands-on cooking class in a local village home, shopping for spices at a nearby market before preparing a traditional Sri Lankan curry lunch together.

Overnight in Sigiriya.
03
Day 04
Sigiriya - Kandy

Drive to Kandy (approx. 3 hours). Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the afternoon.

Overnight in Kandy.
04
Day 05
Kandy - Ambuluwawa Tower - Nuwara Eliya

Drive south toward Gampola, stopping to climb the Ambuluwawa Tower – a striking 48-metre spiral structure at the heart of a multi-faith complex where Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian shrines sit side by side. Continue into the highlands to Nuwara Eliya.

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.
05
Day 06
Nuwara Eliya: Tea Country

A tea factory tour and tasting and a boat ride on Gregory Lake.

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.
06
Day 07
Nuwara Eliya - Ella

Scenic train from Nanu Oya to Ella. Visit the Nine Arch Bridge on arrival.

Overnight in Ella.
07
Day 08
Ella - Yala

Morning walk to Little Adam’s Peak. Drive south (approx. 2.5 hours) via Wellawaya for an afternoon jeep safari through Yala National Park.

Overnight near Yala.
08
Day 09
Yala - Galle

Dawn safari, then drive to the south coast (approx. 3 hours). Afternoon walking the ramparts of Galle Fort.

Overnight in Galle.
09
Day 10
Galle Fort Day

A full day exploring Galle Fort’s ramparts, boutique lanes and Dutch colonial architecture.

Overnight in Galle.
10
Day 11
Galle - Bentota

Drive to Bentota (approx. 1.5-2 hours). Afternoon at leisure on the beach.

Overnight in Bentota.
11
Day 12
Departure

Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport (approx. 1.5 hours).

12

Good to Know

What's covered,  what's not

Tour Includes

  • All private ground transport throughout the tour
  • Village cooking class
  • Private guide for cultural and heritage sites
  • Ambuluwawa Tower entry and climb
  • Private jeep safari at Yala
  • Scenic train tickets, Nanu Oya to Ella
  • Guided Galle Fort walking tour
  • All airport transfers (arrival and departure)
  • 11 nights accommodation as specified above
  • Daily breakfast at each property
  • 24/7 on-ground support throughout

Tour Excludes

  • International flights to/from Colombo
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Lunches and dinners unless specified
  • National park entrance fees – Yala approx. USD 25-35pp
  • Personal spending, souvenirs and tipping

Gallery

Frames from the journey