Undiscovered Sri Lanka
Explore the hidden northeast
Begin your Sri Lankan adventure in cosmopolitan Colombo, before heading north to the Tamil heartland of Jaffna, exploring Hindu temples and hidden islands. Next, travel to the port town of Trincomalee for whale-watching and beaches. Continue your wildlife watching with a visit to lesser-touristed Wilpattu National Park. Its ten lakes attract leopards, elephants, sloth bears and many others. End your trip in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, where you can see the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Fly back out from Colombo.
Key information
| Destinations | Colombo, Wilpattu National Park, Trincomalee, Jaffna |
|---|---|
| Activity | Luxury, Beach, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
| Physical Level | Mild |
 Season |
January - December |
Suggested itinerary
Historic markets and modern malls in Colombo
Day 1–2 in Colombo
Cosmopolitan Colombo is more than just the gateway to Sri Lanka.
Here, you can learn about Sri Lanka’s multi-ethnic history, with churches, mosques and temples all in a line, street food with influences from around the world, and shopping in a mix of ancient markets and huge malls in Pettah.
Don't miss
Sample diverse Sri Lanka cuisine
From Jaffna crab curry to breakfasts of hoppers (fermented rice crepes), Sri Lankan food has a distinct identity depending on where you visit.
Explore Tamil culture in Jaffna
Day 3–5 in Jaffna
Jaffna, in Sri Lanka’s far north, offers an insight into the country’s Tamil culture.
For several decades, Jaffna and its surrounding regions were at the centre of Sri Lanka’s civil war between the Tamil north and Sinhalese south. Today, Jaffna is a strikingly cosmopolitan city emerging from its troubled past.
There aren’t lots of specific tourist sites here, but it is still an interesting place to visit, baring the scars of the civil war. The public library, clock tower and the Jaffna fort are all worth visiting, with a number of religious sites such as St Mary’s Cathedral.
There are trains and buses from Colombo, with buses or cars to travel locally as well as hiring bicycles from guest houses.
Don't miss
Explore Jaffna’s remote islands
Experience castaway life on Jaffna’s lesser-explored islands, where wild ponies roam and enormous baobab trees grow.
Hindu temples and whale watching in Trincomalee
Day 6–9 in Trincomalee
The port city of Trincomalee is best-known as a gateway to the beaches and resorts on Sri Lanka’s east coast. However, it’s worth lingering to see the town’s Hindu temples and for whale watching between March and August.
Don't miss
Go scuba diving at Pigeon Island
One of just two marine national parks in Sri Lanka, Pigeon Island offers some of the best remaining coral reefs in the region. Look out for parrotfish, lionfish, moray eels and turtles.
Explore Wilpattu National Park’s lakes
Day 10–11 in Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu translates as ‘natural lakes’ in Sinhala and ‘10 lakes’ in Tamil, so it’s no surprise what the main attraction is in this national park. The many watering holes provide shelter for elephants, deer, sloth bears and elusive leopards.
Relax in the jungle
Day 12–13 in Paramakanda Rock temple
Head north to The Mudhouse, an enchanting jungle lodge surrounded by lakes and forest, and at the foot of the mysterious Paramakanda Rock Temple.
Where to stay
Classic
The Mudhouse
Surrounded by lakes a nestled in sixty acres of forest at the foot of the Paramakanda Rock Temple lies The Mudhouse — a traditional jungle lodge that combines charming, thatched hut accommodation with a vast range of off-the-beaten-track excursions.
Superior
Lake Lodge
Situated next to the Beira Lake in Colombo's city centre, Lake Lodge is a small, smart and multifunctional hotel, offering 12 spacious double rooms, fabulous views across the lake and the city beyond and a breezy open-air restaurant.
Book this itinerary
This route booked with one of our specialist tour operators may cost between £3,375 and £4,200pp. Pricing varies by accommodation class, and can be tailored to suit your budget.
Pricing is typically inclusive of hotels, transfers, meals, and all guided excursions and activities.
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