(For other information on solo travel with no single supplements and solo-priced lodging, go to our free search tool, the SoloTravelPricingTracker.net, and for our complimentary “Updated 2020-2021 Solo Travel Guidebook”, be sure to register while there.)

Walking Tour of Enchanting Sri Lanka:

UPDATE 2021: Sri Lanka is open to foreign tourism!

To book or receive more information, send an email directly to janath@nkartravelhouse.com, and be sure to say Solo Trekker 4 U sent you!

Trip Overview  

 Touch down in the paradise isle and hit the coast right away! Head to the party center of Negombo before you will be presented with a buzzing wilderness experience across Island – the land of the Leopard. Meanwhile, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa flanked by Sigiriya are guaranteed to be top tier cultural attractions in your bucket-list. Take some time to admire the heartfelt smiles of the village folk of Hiriwadunna before heading to the last Royal Capital of Sri Lanka which treasures the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. Blessed with its virtues, feel free to spread your arms to the cool climes of Nuwara Eliya as your train will ‘hiss and swish’ through the heats of lush tea estates and hollow tunnels. You will also be fortunate enough to witness Horton Plains and the World’s End before you can get ‘whaled’ off the Mirissa shores where the giant-finned rise and crash into the deep blue sea. Wrapped in a blanket of memories, take some time to buy few memorabilia for your loved ones at home while you spend your last night in Colombo!

 

Trip Highlights 

 

• Negombo , a fishing village closer to the International Airport
• Sigiriya Rock Fortress – UNESCO World Heritage Site
• MInneriya National Park
• Trek to Meemure the beautiful village hidden in Matale District
• Kandy Temple of The Tooth Relic – UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Scenic Train journey through lush green mountains.
• Trek through Horton Palins National Park in the hills
• Visit to the little England
• Galle Dutch fort visit – UNESCO world Heritage Site
• Rain forest in Sinharaja – UNESCO site                                    

 

DAY 01: AIRPORT / NEGOMBO – KOTUGODA

 

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality. A representative from NKAR Travels & Tours (Pvt) Limited will welcome you & you will be transferred to your hotel in Negombo.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight Stay in Negombo

 

DAY 02:                NEGOMBO / SIGIRIYA / HABARANA

 

After breakfast proceed to Habarana.

As the journey begins, catch glimpses of Coconut cultivation Fields and vast areas of Paddy Fields in the outskirts of the city, as well as natural & man-made reservoirs that support the agricultural industry of the village folk.

As your journey deepens into the northern part of the island you will be able to witness exotic birds, Monitor Lizards, grey Buffalos and overly friendly Monkeys

You could stop on the way to freshen up with a king coconut.

Arrive at the stayover hotel. Relax by the pool after a long journey. In the evening climb the Sigiriya rock fortress.

This will be your first hand encounter with  the  natural  surroundings  of  Sri  Lanka therefore please do be adequately prepared for a warm tropical weather – especially in the north Central region of the Island where you’ll be for the next few days.

Sigiriya is situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka close to Dambulla. It is a fortress complex of a ruined palace and one of the World Heritage sites declared by UNESCO. Undoubtedly the most treasured historical monument in Sri Lanka and probably the most visited tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, the most looked forward feature of the fortress isthe frescoes. Another fascinating detail is its mirror wall. Every step from the entrance to the top is a marvel on its own, and the interesting surroundings makes the tedious climb to the top easy

Overnight Stay in Sigiriya

 

DAY 03:                HABARANA / MINNERIYA / HABARANA

 

After breakfast take a short drive to Magallena temple Junction from where you commence your first Trek.

This first trek takes you through the remote village areas and leads you to the Magallena Temple, a temple located next to a scenic rock.

The very mild climb up this rock will give you a breathtaking view of the World Famous

Heritage Site: Sigiriya Rock fortress as well as Pidurangala.

You will have the privilege of enjoying a cup of tea at the temple after which you will continue your journey through dry farming region passing paddy fields, forest patch & man made reservoir. You will see the village life that will surround you until you reach the vehicle.

Head back to the Hotel.

In the afternoon there will be a chance to do an Optional Safari to the Minneriya National Park where you will be able to see Elephants in their natural habitat.

Minneriya Park is a national park in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population.  Sri Lankan Leopard and Sloth  bear which are rare and endangered species also inhabit this area. The park was declared as a wild life sanctuary in order to protect the watershed of Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is historically important for the country as it was built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD.

(Please note that you will visit Minneriya in Summer for Elephant Gathering and Kaudulla, Hurulu or Eco Park in Winter based on migration of Elephants in the area)

Return to Hotel

Overnight stay in Sigiriya

 

DAY 04:                HABARANA / RANAMUREGAMA / MEEMURE / KNUCKLES

 

After Breakfast we drive to Ranamuregama via  Bakamuna  for  Trek  from  Narangamuwa Temple. The trek you start from this temple will take you through a scenic journey through the village passing paddy fields. You will be led to an isolated region through a forest patch that will bring you to a very remote village in Meemure.

By this time, you would have entered the Knuckles mountain range where your trek will take you alongside streams and waterfalls with crystal clear water. The path used for this trek was once used by villagers to go from one village to the next but is now more or less a no man’s land where you will only see an occasional villager passing by if you’re lucky.

You will experience breathtaking fauna and very unique bio diversity during your trek where you can enjoy a rich source of bird life and butterflies. However, since rains are a norm in the Island, there are possibilities of encountering leeches – for which you need to be adequately prepared.

 

Dinner and Overnight stay in Knuckles.

 

DAY 05:                KNUCKLES /KANDY

 

After breakfast   proceed to the city of Kandy, the Hill Capital of Sri Lanka.

Kandy is a popular charming hill capital of Sri Lanka is surrounded by hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It is the cultural center of the island and a UNESCO heritage city. The sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined at the Dalada Maligawa, the temple of the tooth.

After visiting this historic Temple which is situated in the heart of the city of Kandy, you will

to Upper lake observation point of the city and proceed for City tour by foot with walk around the Kandy Lake before checking in to your Hotel in Kandy.

You can choose to spend the rest of the day at leisure or choose an optional activity: Paying a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens where you can see around 4000 species of plants. The arts and crafts center in Kandy, the main Buddhist monasteries Malwatta and Asgiriya Monasteries are places that you can visit while you’re there too. Kandy is a great place for souvenir shopping and to learn about its rich culture and history. Later in the evening you will have the option of doing a bit of exploring on our own and maybe do your own personal shopping or maybe even go out to a local pub and enjoy a relaxing drink before returning to hotel.

 

Overnight stay in Kandy.

 

DAY 06:                KANDY / NUWARAELIYA

 

After Breakfast, we continue our journey uphill by taking a scenic drive to Watagoda passing through the mountainous hill country which is rich with tea plantations.

The Tea plantation trek starts from Watagoda  to Nanu Oya will give you the privilege  of experiencing the contrast in the climate change from very warm to moderately cool. This trek will take you through proper tea plantations with beautiful views of more m ountains, tea endless tea plantations as well as tea factories. You will continue the trek until you reach the ‘Great Western’ railway station which is yet another beautiful and scenic railway station in the hill country.

You will stop close to the station at a relaxing resting area where you will be able to enjoy a unique delicious lunch based on South Asian (Indian) cuisine which is available in plenty in the region.

After lunch you proceed your trek to Nanu Oya via Radalla – which is a trek that takes you through higher grown tea plantations passing villages & isolated forest reserve. Along today’s trek you will see a few interesting sights which will include: Mountain   peaks   including

• Adam’s Peak, Kirigal  poththa   and   Great   Western Mountains  –  which  are  the  2nd,  3rd  and  6th   Highest  mountains  in  the  country respectively as well as Thotupola Kanda
• Beautiful cascades including Devon and Nanu Oya Waterfall
• A glimpse of the Tea industry of Sri Lanka through more Tea Plantations, Factories as well as worker line rooms, tea weighing sheds and maybe some tea pluckers too.

Upon reaching Nanu-oya you will be driven to Nuwara Eliya (the Little England of Sri Lanka)

for overnight stay.

 

Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya

 

DAY 07:                NUWARAELIYA / HORTON PLAINS / NUWARAELIYA

 

After an early breakfast you  will  be  driven  to Horton  Plains  to commence  your  Trek  to World’s End. Experience the micro climatic zone of highlands at World’s End which is a high windy plateau at the elevation of 2100m from sea level consisting of beautiful grassland and cloud forests.

Horton Plains National Park in  Ohiya  is  a protected  area in  the  central  highlands  of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 meters (6,900–7,500 ft) is  rich  in biodiversity and  many  species  found  here are endemic to the region.

Drive back to Nuwara Eliya.

 

Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

 

DAY 08:                NUWARA ELIYA / BANDARAWELA

 

After Breakfast you will have a few hours to explore the city of Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara  Eliya  is  a  city  in  the  hill  country  of  the  Central  Province,  Sri  Lanka.  The  city  is considered to be one of the most important locations for tea cultivation and well known for its  cool  climate  being  the  coolest  area  in  Sri  Lanka.  Many of  the  buildings  have  still preserved  features  from  the  colonial  period.  Many private  homes  have  also  maintained their old English-style lawns and gardens. The town wakes up with many activities in April for the Sinhalese and Tamil New year. Main allure during April season include the motor and horse racing events.

You can visit the Race Course and even go watch the locals taking a stroll along Gregory lake or visiting Little England to shop for their Winter Clothing before an overseas trip.

The best sights of Nuwara Eliya includes ‘Pidurutalagala’, the Tallest Mountain in the Island, the beautiful green of the Golf Course, the Victoria Park and which is situated in the very heart of the city as well as Colonial structures in the region including some creatively built hotels and the city’s Post Office.

You will  then  be  driven  to  the  Nanu  Oya  Station  to  take  a  very  Scenic  Train  ride  to Bandarawela.  This journey will take you past the Railway station of the highest elevation through misty mountains, waterfalls as well as stunning tea plantations and factories as you descend about 600m (from 1700m to 1100m from sea level).

Drive to Hotel in Bandarawela for overnight stay

 

Overnight stay in Banadarawela.

 

DAY 09:                BANDARAWELA / TISSAMAHARAMA

 

After breakfast proceed to Tissamaharama

Afternoon safari at the Yala National park well known for its high density of Leopards in the region where a handful is lucky to spot the sloth bear.

Yala National park is one of Sri Lanka‘s premier eco-tourism destinations and is among the oldest and best known of Sri Lanka‘s National Parks. Here you will witness the wonder of Sri Lankan Wildlife for it is a sprawling paradise of birds, reptiles, leopards and more! You will also see families of deer, wild boars as well as monkeys crashing through the trees, peacocks in their finest frocks and elephants ambling about as you go along.

Note: Please be aware that every year (usually in September) the National Park closes for maintainance purpose thus cannot be visited. At such an instance all Yala visitors will be re- directed to the ‘Wilpattu National Park’

 

Overnight stay in Tissamharama/Yala

 

DAY 10:                TISSAMAHARAMA / SINHARAJA / GALLE

 

After breakfast proceed to Sinharaja.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is  a national  park and  a biodiversity  hotspot in Sri Lanka.    It    is    of    international    significance    and    has    been    designated    a Biosphere

Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging  by its inaccessibility,  and was designated  a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve’s name translates as Lion Kingdom.

The reserve is only 21 km (13 mi) from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km (4.3 mi) from north   to   south,   but   it   is   a   treasure   trove   of endemic   species,   including   trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

An interesting phenomenon is that birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks, invariably led by  the  fearless greater  racket-tailed  drongo and  the  noisy orange-billed  babbler.  Of  Sri Lanka’s 26 endemic birds, the 20 rainforest species all occur here, including the elusive red- faced malkoha, green-billed coucal and Sri Lanka blue magpie.

Reptiles include the endemic green pit viper and hump-nosed vipers, and there are a large variety  of  amphibians,  especially tree  frogs.  Invertebrates include the  endemic common birdwing butterfly and the inevitable leeches.

 

Overnight stay in Galle

 

DAY 11:                                GALLE

 

Breakfast at hotel

Take the local   train to Galle which gives you an experience of the local transportation.

Visit the Galle city by foot

Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

The fort has a colorful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking  at making  this one of the modern  wonders  of the world. The heritage value  of  the  fort  has  been  recognized  by  the UNESCO and  the  site  has  been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv, for its unique exposition of “an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.”The Galle Fort,  also  known  as  the  Dutch  Fort  or  the  “Ramparts  of Galle”,  withstood the Boxing Day tsunami which damaged part of coastal area Galle town. It has been since restored.

 

Overnight stay in Galle

 

DAY 12:             GALLE / AIRPORT

Breakfast at the Hotel

Transfer from Galle to Bandaranayake International Airport for the flight back home.

For more solo travel deals and tours with no single supplement, see:

Sri Lanka: Custom Tour from Kandy, the Last Royal Capital | Solo Trekker (solotrekker4u.com)

Sri Lanka Safari Wildlife and Ecotourism | Solo Trekker (solotrekker4u.com)

Solo Travel Cultural Adventure Sri Lanka One Trip Many Journeys (solotrekker4u.com)

Sri Lanka Adventure with Optional Maldives Add-On (solotrekker4u.com)

For tips on packing, budgeting and tracking travel expenses, check out our free Solo Sherpa available at the App Store and the Google Play Store.