Experience rugged adventure in Sri Lanka

And so your Sri Lanka adventure begins. Upon arrival, an airport transfer will greet you off your flight, ready to take you to your coastal hotel. Meet your fellow travellers and guide over a cold beer, then head out together for your first-night meal at a local restaurant in Negombo. You’re officially on holiday-time.

This morning, go into town for a true flavour of local life, putting your bartering skills to the test at Negombo’s Fish Market. You’ll then head onto Kitulgala, checking into your new lodge just in time for lunch. Fuel up here, because this afternoon you’ll be white water rafting. Spend a few hours letting the wild river currents throw you around (it’s fun, we promise), then you’ll unwind for the night with a well-earned dinner overlooking the river.

The jungles of Kitulgala are calling. Explore its rivers, forest trails and dense foliage on a morning trek, making your way to a secluded waterfall in the heart of the rainforest. We hope you’re feeling brave, because you’ll then launch yourself from the top of the waterfall, abseiling through the rushing waters down to the rainforest. Simply lean back off the edge and walk straight down – easy, right? Recover after your light adrenaline hit with lunch, then head onto the (elegantly named) Knuckles Mountains – your new home for the night.

Today you’ll be trekking through the misty mountains. The landscape is perpetually shrouded in a delicate fog, owing to its location on the frontier between wet and dry zones. Home to spotted deer, purple-faced leaf monkeys and mongeese – among many other species – this is a region of blooming biodiversity and eerie beauty.

Say goodbye to the highlands – you’re off to Kandy. Boasting UNESCO World Heritage status, this city is one of the most sacred sites of the Buddhist world, as well as the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. Upon arrival in the sacred city, you’ll visit a local family, where you’ll learn a few Sri Lankan recipes – with a chance to gorge afterwards, of course. The afternoon is yours to explore the city, from the banks of Kandy Lake (the ‘Sea of Milk’ in local lore) to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. One of the most sacred sites in the country, the temple houses what’s believed to be the Buddha’s tooth.

Now for Sri Lanka’s beautiful tea country. Expect lush slopes threaded with tea plantations, and cascading waterfalls streaming through the greenery. Your first stop will be the town of Nuwara Eliya, the old stomping ground of English and Scottish tea traders – with colonial cottages and Tudor-style hotels adding to the effect. Explore the town by foot, before your spectacular train journey that will see you cutting through the misty highlands. Arrive at your new hotel together, surrounded by sweeping views of the tea hills.

Start the day with a gentle hike through the Horton Plains National Park. Explore the slopes of this grasslands plateau, until it plummets suddenly to a sheer drop known as World’s End. Shrouded in cloud forest, and flowing with rivers, this is a region of abundant beauty. Enjoy a picnic lunch with your group, before hiking onwards to the thundering waters of Bambarakanda Falls, the last stop of the day and the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka.

We like to keep things balanced; you’ve spent days hiking through the mountains, which means it’s beach time. Make your way to the south coast, where soft white sands and warm seas await. Arrive on the coast just in time for a late afternoon swim, ready to savor these last few days with new friends beneath the sun.

Savor a leisurely lie-in, unwind on the beach with a book or take a stroll through your coastal surroundings. Historically, the south was harder for Indian invaders to colonize, meaning that the region flourished as a hub of Sinhalese culture. Today, this sea-swept landscape is peppered with ancient temples and spiritual sites – perfect for an afternoon of sightseeing. If you’re still raring for action, get stuck into an afternoon of SUP or river canoeing. In the evening, gather with your group for a beach BBQ party, enjoying your final evening together.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel, then your adventure has come to an end. It’s now over to you to make your own way to your next destination. Not quite done with South Asia? See how you could extend your adventure with our trip to Northern India.