Time Out in Sri Lanka
Overview
A slower-paced eleven days built around genuine downtime as much as sightseeing — a village and lake tour at Hiriwadunna, the cultural triangle, tea country, a Yala safari, and a proper stretch on Bentota's beaches.
Gallery
Highlights
- A traditional village and catamaran tour at Hiriwadunna
- Sigiriya rock fortress and Dambulla cave temple
- Kandy's Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
- A boat ride on Lake Gregory, Nuwara Eliya
- Yala jeep safari
- Bentota's beaches and water sports
Included & excluded
- Accommodation, 3–4 star hotels or similar, half-board basis
- Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle for the full itinerary
- Assistance of a chauffeur guide
- Government taxes
- 1 litre bottled water per person per day
- Hiriwadunna village & lake tour by catamaran
- Entrance fees to sights in Sri Lanka
- Airfare and visa fees
- Early check-in / late checkout charges
- Tips and porterage
- Lunch and any other meals not mentioned
Day by day
Arrival — Negombo
Arrive at Katunayake and transfer to Negombo for a relaxed first afternoon by the beach.
Negombo → Habarana
Travel inland to Habarana, a good base for exploring the cultural triangle.
Sigiriya
Climb Sigiriya rock fortress for views over the surrounding jungle.
Habarana → Hiriwadunna
A traditional village tour at Hiriwadunna — a bullock cart ride, a catamaran paddle across the lake, and a home-cooked village lunch.
Habarana → Dambulla → Kandy
Visit the Dambulla cave temple en route to Kandy.
Kandy
See the Temple of the Tooth and the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens at an easy pace.
Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
Drive up through tea plantations, with a stop at a working tea factory.
Nuwara Eliya → Yala National Park
Continue to Yala for a jeep safari in search of leopards and elephants.
Yala → Bentota
Head to the south-west coast for a stretch of beach time at Bentota.
Colombo
A city tour of Colombo — markets, temples and modern landmarks.
Colombo → Departure
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Map
Frequently asked questions
What happens on the Hiriwadunna village tour?
A bullock cart ride, a catamaran paddle across the lake, and a home-cooked village lunch — a slower, more local day between the bigger sights.
Is this itinerary more relaxed than your other 11-day route?
Yes, deliberately — it's built around genuine downtime (the village day, a boat ride on Lake Gregory, two nights at Bentota) rather than maximising the number of sights.
Can the village tour be swapped for something more active?
Yes, it's easy to substitute a hike or a different half-day activity if a slower village visit isn't what you're after.