DAY 01 – COLOMBO – NEGAMBO
This nation, known as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean," charms visitors with its palm-lined beaches, sprawling plantations, and historic buildings. It's also a cuisine lover's food in Sri Lanka is like nowhere else on earth. Your journey starts in the coastal city of Negombo, where you'll meet your local guide and other travelers at a welcoming meeting at 6 o'clock. Enjoy the seaside on your first night while getting to know your fellow travelers and admiring the fishing boats as they pass by. To experience Sri Lankan food for the first time, you might wish to go out to dinner together.
DAY 02 – NEGOMBO - DAMBULLA
To catch the activity at the Negombo fish market, get up early today. The market, which is located at the northern end of a lagoon, is well known for its lobster, crab, and prawn offerings. Get a terrific view of local business as you navigate among stands filled to the brim with seafood and listen to the vendors shout out their offerings. Visit a coconut plantation next to learn why Sri Lankans place such a high value on this superfood. Discover how each part of the tree contributes to daily life, drink from a king coconut, observe "toddy tappers" as they separate the palm wine from the coconut sap, and then sample the end product. Take in a Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch before traveling inland to Dambulla, which is a region known for its ornately painted cave temples and is surrounded by historical landmarks and natural treasures. You are free to explore this evening. You might like to accompany your guide on an optional street food tour to learn about some popular Sri Lankan "snack foods," such as hoppers (bowl-shaped savoury pancakes).
DAY 03 – DAMBULLA
Take a short drive to Sigiriya after breakfast. Here, you'll have the chance to ascend Lion Rock and explore its extensive old fortification complex (approximately 2.5 hours round-trip on foot, including stairs). Lion Rock, a 200-meter-high ancient ruin that was once a fearsome king's fortified citadel, is home to frescoes from the fifth century as well as terraced gardens and gushing fountains. Next, visit a local chena cultivation region to witness centuries-old customs. Chena cultivation is one of the earliest types of agriculture that people have ever used. The main crops include tropical vegetables, cereals, grains, yams, and corn, and it is especially well-liked in the country's dry zone where it only rains for a few months of the year. After that, gorge on fried fish fished in the neighboring lake, tropical veggies, and tapioca curry for lunch. Visit the wholesale market when you return to Dambulla in the late afternoon. This is the ideal location to understand Sri Lanka's agricultural diversity because it offers an amazing variety of fresh foods, a lot of which are shipped to Colombo for sale. You can go on your own culinary adventures the rest of the evening. Spend the evening exploring the town or relaxing with a drink. Your captain will be able to recommend the best roti in town from among the several restaurants that surround the marketplace. Hotel as a place to stay.
DAY 04 – DAMBULLA
The magnificent Dambulla Cave Temples can be found perched high on a cliff wall. You'll have time this morning to visit these and take in the numerous Buddha statues, frescoes, and paintings. See a spice garden in the renowned spice-growing region of Matale for lunch on the way to the country's physical and spiritual center and the historic residence of the last Sri Lankan king. Sri Lankans are experts in the use of spices, and you can learn here how they are utilized not only in food but also in cosmetics and ayurvedic medicine. Before savoring pumpkin curry flavored with flavorful fenugreek and served with a side of dry chilli sambol and the distinctive coconut roti from Sri Lanka, inhale the delicious aromas of cumin, cinnamon, and curry leaves. In the late afternoon, reach Kandy by continuing on. The charming city of Kandy, which is encircled by a verdant landscape, has a charming lake, antique stores, a thriving market, and several excellent restaurants. See people praying this evening at the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy, one of Sri Lanka's holiest sites and the location of a tooth relic belonging to the Lord Buddha. During your spare time, you might follow the sound of rhythmic chopping to witness a cook transform a ball of dough into a sizable sheet of wafer-thin roti, deftly slice, cook on the griddle, combine with veggies and spices to make kottu-roti, and more.
DAY 05 – KANDY
Start the day off right with a tour of the Central Market and a guided stroll through Kandy's bustling city center, which will also include samples of the freshest local fruits. You may explore the rest of the day at your leisure. A National Museum and several monasteries can be found in Kandy, and the city offers many beautiful walks. These are some of Asia's best botanical gardens. Join a Sinhalese family for a dinner and cooking lesson in the early evening that is filled with Kandyan sweets to satisfy your sugar craving. Try making string hoppers or a chicken curry that is more akin to a Thai curry than a North Indian curry, made with coconut milk that has been spiced. Consume specialty sweets with Dutch and Portuguese influences after that.
DAY 06 – BANDARAWELA
Bring your camera along as you travel through the highlands to Bandarawela. On the way to this town in the cool highlands, once a favorite of British plantation managers, travel past waterfalls, villages, and up through the mountains. Take in the expansive view below, which is dotted with vegetable gardens and tea bushes in vibrant green. Tonight, you're invited into a local home for a cooking demonstration and a traditional dinner. This is your chance to peek inside closed doors and get a glimpse of local life.
DAY 07 – BANDARAWELA
Get up early and travel to the region's tea estates' lush surroundings. Discover more about the nation's top export while meeting local tea pickers who will demonstrate their trade and let you experience picking and weighing tea before it is sent to the mill. Have a freshly brewed cup at the source before traveling to Haputale to join a Tamil family for a hearty lunch. Take a bite of some Those, typical Tamil dishes made of crispy rice pancakes (a savoury steamed rice cake served with curry sauces or chutneys). In the late afternoon, return to Bandarawela and take in the rural charm of the community and the stunning surroundings.
DAY 08 – YALA
The park contains a vast assortment of animals, including sloth bears and numerous birds, and it encompasses a number of different ecosystems. Take a safari excursion in the evening and get out your binoculars to look for the elusive leopards that sunbathe in trees or prowl through the underbrush, crocodiles that monitor the river, or wild elephants that graze across the grasslands. It is important to remember that visiting national parks may not be possible during bad weather conditions, such as prolonged downpours; instead, an alternative activity will be planned.
DAY 09 – MIRISSA
Learn about one of Sri Lanka's favorite ingredients first thing in the morning. Try buffalo curd, which is frequently consumed as a snack, a meal's complement, or a dessert, and is served in vibrant terracotta pots with thick, golden treacle. This is about as sweet as it gets, and Sri Lankans are known for having a sweet appetite. Take in a scrumptious meal of biryani and watalappam while traveling to the lovely coastal village of Mirissa (coconut custard pudding). You can relax or explore the southern coastline of Sri Lanka's golden sands for the remainder of the day. The beach is a long, curving stretch of sand with nice, tranquil waves for swimming in addition to breathtaking sunsets; this is a heaven you won't want to leave. You might enjoy riding a bike or taking a tuk-tuk to see the vibrant fishing boats return with their catch of fresh fish to sell along the shore, or you might want to hire a boat to see whales and dolphins. Do you prefer to unwind? Have a beverage and relax while you watch surfers battle the waves.
DAY 10 – MIRISSA
This morning, meet a local fisherman to hear about their trade and how their lives have changed after the tsunami. This will give you a new perspective on local life. A delicious crab curry is probably on the menu as you have the freshest seafood lunch you can with a fishing family. Continue on to Galle, a beautifully preserved colonial township with a mix of European and South Asian cultures. Take a tour of the Royal Dutch Fort in the evening to learn more about its 400 years of rich history and its maze-like network of streets lined with galleries. for the evening, return to Mirissa.
DAY 11 – COLOMBO
Travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka's commercial hub, for the last stop on your culinary adventure. The city is a multicultural blend of vibrant street markets, old buildings, fascinating museums, upscale dining options, and fantastic shopping. Explore laneways brimming with quick bites, street food, and well-liked local eateries. Celebrate the end of your culinary journey with new acquaintances as you indulge in one last Dutch Burgher-inspired meal.
DAY 12 – COLOMBO
This morning, your culinary journey through Sri Lanka comes to a close. On this final day, there are no organized activities, and you are free to go whenever you like.
