Compare Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak by Intrepid Travel vs Bestseller of Sri Lanka by Payless Tours India

Day 1 Negombo

Ayu-bowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the beachside town of Negombo with a welcome meeting at 5.30 pm. Known for its centuries-old fishing industry, Negombo is a historic port city close to Sri Lanka's international airport. If you arrive early, maybe watch the fishing boats head out to sea, stroll along the beach to see the daily catch drying in the sun or indulge in a seafood feast. The surrounding countryside, with its network of canals, is a fascinating slice of Sri Lankan rural life and is best explored by bicycle.

Day 2 Sigiriya

Leave bright and early this morning and travel to Dambulla – home to the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. After checking into your accommodation, make the short drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya for your first activity – a hike up the 1200 steps of the famed Lion Rock. This ancient carved-rock fortress rises dramatically above the surrounding plains, elevating Sigiriya high into the air. On the way you’ll visit the water and boulder gardens, frescoes and the mirror wall. The next section of the climb takes about half an hour along steep walkways and steps all the way up to the rocky plateau, which soars 200 m above the jungle. From here, the views over the surrounding area and the nearby Pidurangala Rock are jaw-dropping. Make your way back down and head back to Dambulla for a relaxing evening.

Day 3 Minneriya National Park & Knuckles Mountain Range

Today you’ll head out on a relaxed jeep safari for about 3 hours through the nearby Minneriya National Park. The park is home to a mix of evergreen forest and scrublands – look out for sambar deer, leopards and elephants roaming the wild. After the safari, travel by private vehicle to the Knuckles Mountain Range – your home for the next two nights. Named after its striking visual likeness to human knuckles, this UNESCO World Heritage site features 34 mountains that range from 900 to 2000 m. Surrounded by dense forest, waterfalls and terraced rice fields, they are home to some of Sri Lanka’s best hiking trails. Tonight, get closer to nature as you set up camp next to the pristine waters and natural rock pools of the Thelgamu Oya stream. To keep you fresh for tomorrow’s hike your activity is limited to an evening walk around the village before relaxing by the riverside with a group dinner.

Day 4 Knuckles Mountain Range Hiking

Today you’ll head out early for a full-day guided hike along the Manigala Trek through the Knuckles region. Start hiking after breakfast and wind your way through emerald forests and hillsides, past cliffs and alongside fast-flowing rivers. Maybe stop to explore a few of the villages along the way, which are surrounded by sweeping rice terraces. Have lunch by the river and continue up the stone and dirt trail all the way up to the imposing Manigala Rock, for the panoramic views of the peaks and valley below. After taking in the views, make your way back down to camp to enjoy a hearty dinner after a long but rewarding day of hiking.

Day 5 Kandy & Knuckles/Mini World’s End Hiking

Begin the day with a moderate hike through the forest to Knuckles’ renowned Mini World’s End – an observation point overlooking the Thelgamuwa Valley and a sheer drop of 1192 m (4000 ft) to the forest floor below. The panoramic views over the misty valley and distant mountain peaks are truly spectacular, you’ll want your camera today! After the hike, you’ll drive to Kandy, passing the gorgeous scenery along the way. Lying in the hills of the Kandy plateau, this city previously served as the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries – maybe visit the golden roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Housed inside, the relic of the tooth of the Buddha has played an important role in local politics due to the belief that whoever holds the relic holds governance of the country. Kandy’s temple and its status as the last city of the Sri Lankan Kings have made it a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 6 Hatton & Tea Country Cycling

Start your day with a scenic train journey to Hatton. When you arrive, cycle from the train station to the small village of Norton Bridge, passing vast tea estates and scenic, tree-lined hills along the way. Check in to your hotel and if you’re still feeling energetic, maybe opt to hike up to Adam’s Peak. The peak is often visited by pilgrims who climb a candle-lit trail in the evening, passing shrines and food stalls along the way. Or you can simply put your feet up with a nice cup of Ceylon tea – the afternoon is yours.

Day 7 Tea Country Cycling & Mirissa

After breakfast, it’s back on your mountain bike for a mostly downhill ride through the heart of tea country. Pedal from Hatton through Bogawantalawa – home to premium Ceylon Tea – to Balangoda. Cycle through the sculpted green hills of ‘the Golden Valley of Ceylon’. Your ride will be broken up with snack breaks and a lunch stop, providing plenty of fuel (and photo opportunities) for your ride. Then, transfer to the delightful coastal town of Mirissa. This town is part fishing village, part beachside resort and is the perfect place to sit back and relax by the beach after a few active days. For those looking to keep their heart rate up, you can visit nearby Weligama – the ideal place to hit the waves at one of the local surf or bodyboarding schools.

Day 8 Gin River Kayaking & Galle Cycling

Start your day with a short drive to the small town of Unanwitiya – your starting point for an exciting day of kayaking down the Gin River. After instruction from your expert guides, you’ll cruise down the clear waters as it winds its way downstream. Paddle past dense forests, sandbanks, tea plantations and rice paddy fields while keeping an eye out for monitor lizards, birds and the occasional troop of monkeys. After kayaking, head to the boathouse for a delicious local lunch and then head to UNESCO World Heritage city of Galle for a countryside cycling tour. Once the main port for local cinnamon trade, this city features a maze of streets with mansions, ancient churches, a lighthouse and the imposing 17th-century fort. Surrounded on three sides by the ocean, this is surely one of the most dramatic structures in all of Sri Lanka. Start your exploration of Galle Fort on a walking tour along the ramparts and winding streets of the Fort. Return to Mirissa in the evening for a well-earned rest tonight.

Day 9 Colombo

Depart Mirissa after breakfast and transfer to Colombo. When you arrive, check into your hotel and then take a leader-led walk past the bustling Petta Bazaar, Independence Square, Parliament, and the National Museum. Your walk finishes with a shopping opportunity at the Barefoot fairtrade store. Here, you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. Tonight, there's an optional group dinner to celebrate your journey – if you opt in, you’ll go on a fun food crawl along the city's many market stalls.

Day 10 Colombo

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

1 Day: Colombo

You will be picked up from the central location of Colombo or the International airport the Bandaranaike International Airport by the driver and the tour escort and transferred to the hotel for resting and sleeping.

After refreshing sightseeing of Colombo starts. You will be taken for sightseeing of Colombo visiting the clock tower, Pettah bazaar, a Hindu as well as a Buddhist temple as well as the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH)- an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People' Republic of China. You will be taken to see a famous spot for a walk called Galle Face green promenade where you can observe life of the local people. Overnight at Colombo,

2 Day: Anuradhapura

After breakfast travel to the ancient city Anuradhapura. The place was the First Capital of Sri Lanka in the 3rd Century BC. Declared as a World Heritage Site. It remained the residence and royal capital for 119 successive Singhalese kings till the year 1000 AC when it was abandoned and the capital moved to Polonnaruwa. You will see some of the most famous as well as the tallest Dagoba of Sri Lanka, remains from palaces, temples, monasteries, ceremonial baths and the temple of the holy Bo tree. This tree was grown from a sampling of the very tree under which more than 2500 years ago the Buddha found enlightenment. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Mihintale and Nilaveli Beach

After breakfast travel to Mihintale.Mihintale in the Sinhalese language means Mahinda’s hill – a Buddhist monk in the 11th century. This city was declared a wildlife sanctuary more than 2,200 years ago, making it the oldest of shelters in the world.

Later on travel to Nilaveli beach where you will have a perfect opportunity to relax. Overnight at the hotel in Nilaveli.

Day 4: Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa

After breakfast does the sightseeing of Trincomalee. Visit The Koneswaram Temple is a popular place of worship in Sri Lanka and is one of the Pancha Ishwarams (five abodes) of Lord Shiva. Next, you will see places like the Fort Frederick, Hoods tower museum and Kanniya Hot springs. After that travel to Polonnaruwa which is the second capital (846 AD-1302 AD) of Sri Lanka is a well-preserved city of ancient dagobas, moonstones, beautiful parks, massive buildings and stunningly beautiful statues. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Dambulla, Sigiriya

After breakfast do sightseeing in Dambulla which is a huge town in Sri Lanka and is popular for its rock cave temple which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. This iconic temple is also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla has just this world architecture. It is a signature tourist spot in Sri Lanka. The paintings, wall murals and statues related to Lord Buddha which you’ll find in this cave complex here are simply amazing.

Next, you will have to climb up 1200 steps to the Sigiriya Rock. There are several platforms that break up the steps and allow for a little break if you need it. From some places along the path you also get an amazing view of the surrounding area. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Kandy

After breakfast travel to the town of Kandy which is famous for a temple of the tooth, a Buddhist temple. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Next, you will enjoy the cultural dance show. Overnight at Kandy.

Day 7: Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast travel up to the mountains to a picturesque town Nuwara Eliya famouse for its lush green scenic tea plantations. Visit a famous tea factory with the possibility of buying some very good quality tea. You will also visit the temple of Seetha in Seetha Eliya. This place is believed to be the site where Sita was held captive by king Ravana, and where she prayed daily for Rama to come and rescue her in the Hindu epic, Ramayana.On the rock face across the stream are circular depressions said to be the footprints of Lord Hanuman. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Ella, Yala National Park

After breakfast drive to the city called Ella. On the way, you will have an opportunity to stop for a picture of the beautiful Ravana waterfall. Later on, drive to Yala National Park where you will enjoy a safari adventure. It’s an experience of epic proportions that brings you up, close and personal with the untamed world of wildlife. Whether you are an avid nature lover or visiting a wildlife park for the first time, if you come here with a mind that’s eager to explore and learn, you will go away with newfound meaning in life. Overnight at the hotel.

Please note that

On your request instead of car travelling, you can choose to travel by local train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella can be organised. Please note that due to a very big number of travellers we don't guarantee a sitting place on the train. The train journey takes around 4 hours and you will get a perfect opportunity to take pictures and admire the beautiful and lush green nature of Sri Lanka: tea plantations, mountain views, waterfalls and other landscapes. You will be dropped off by our driver at the Ella station.

Day 9: Galle

After breakfast travel to the city Galle. Enjoy sightseeing the places like the Turtle hatchery centre and enjoy walking in the beautiful Galle fort with the possibility of taking pictures of stunning landscape and doing the shopping. You can also visit the Dutch and English churches and the Lighthouse. After that, you will be taken for a boat safari during which you will be able to spot many bird species and admire the beautiful nature of Sri Lanka. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 and Day 11 Mirissa Rest

 After breakfast, you will be dropped at a serene and beautiful Mirissa beach where you will have an opportunity to relax and do some of the most popular activities such as snorkelling, surfing, diving or whale watching.

Day 12: Colombo Drop Off

After hotel check out you will be dropped off at Colombo airport or another central location in Colombo.

Please note that there is a possibility of extending a relaxing stay on Mirissa beach.