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Highlights of Sri Lanka, a tour by Explore Worldwide

Tour · 6 nights · with Explore Worldwide

Highlights of Sri Lanka

A six-night small-group tour with Explore Worldwide through Sri Lanka’s ancient cities, a seldom-visited wildlife park, and calm east coast beaches, balanced by gentle hikes and traditional village visits.

Duration
6 nights
Departures
12 dates
Choose a month below
Countries
Sri Lanka
Operator
Explore Worldwide
From
£810
per person

Highlights

What makes this one worth it

  1. Jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park away from the crowds

  2. Climb to Mihintale summit and panoramic views

  3. Visit to 3rd-century Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee

  4. Traditional village lunch at Hiriwaduna after a bullock cart ride

  5. Morning ascent of Sigiriya 'Lion Rock' fortress

About the trip

This six-night escorted tour by Explore Worldwide begins beside the fishing town of Negombo, where catamarans skim the Indian Ocean and the fish market sets the tone for what’s to come. The route then heads north to Wilpattu National Park for an afternoon jeep safari, chosen over Yala for fewer crowds and a better chance of spotting elusive leopards and elephants.

Subsequent days include a climb up Mihintale, said to mark the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, followed by the colourful Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee and some quiet time on its calm beaches. The inland journey takes in a bullock cart ride through a village on the edge of Hiriwaduna Lake before visiting the cave temples of Dambulla. The climax is an early morning ascent of the sheer Sigiriya 'Lion Rock' fortress and an afternoon in Kandy, the cultural and spiritual heart of the hill country.

The final day offers a straightforward transfer to Colombo’s airport. Each step, from quiet temples to low-tide coastal waters, invites a slower kind of travel – leaving plenty of room for fresh air and simple observation without hurried itineraries or long delays.

7°N8°N
The route in outline: places are joined in the order visited, not by the roads or sea lanes taken.
  1. 1 Negombo
  2. 2 Wilpattu National Park
  3. 3 Anuradhapura
  4. 4 Mihintale
  5. 5 Trincomalee
  6. 6 Dambulla
  7. 7 Sigiriya
  8. 8 Kandy
  9. 9 Colombo

Itinerary

The route

  1. Negombo

  2. Wilpattu National Park

  3. Anuradhapura

  4. Mihintale

  5. Trincomalee

  6. Dambulla

  7. Sigiriya

  8. Kandy

  9. Colombo

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.

When to go

Departures and prices

Lowest price each month, per person.

Explore Worldwide confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.

Need to know

Before you book

Price based on
Per personThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
Travelling alone
Check with Explore Worldwide
Flights
Not included: you book your own to the start
What’s included
Check with Explore Worldwide
Accessibility
Check with Explore Worldwide

For full details of what’s included, check with Explore Worldwide. See the full details on their site

Questions people ask

How long is Highlights of Sri Lanka?
Highlights of Sri Lanka is a 6 nights tour holiday.
Who operates Highlights of Sri Lanka?
Highlights of Sri Lanka is operated by Explore Worldwide.
How much does Highlights of Sri Lanka cost?
Prices for Highlights of Sri Lanka start from £810, subject to availability.

The operator

Explore Worldwide

Small-group adventures, walking and wildlife

Small groups with local leaders, and a fondness for the places at the end of the road. Trips are graded so you know how active they are.

You book with Explore Worldwide directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.

New to Sri Lanka? Our Sri Lanka guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

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