Wild Yoga Adventure

Arrive at Colombo International Airport, where you’ll meet your guide who’ll be whisking you away to your first hotel in Negombo, a traditional fishing town and a gourmet food lover’s paradise. The town has a majority of Roman Catholics along with Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims while it has been given the name ‘Little Rome’ due to the highly ornate Portuguese-era Roman Catholic churches found within the township. Spend your afternoon here relaxing at the beach, and then in the evening, enjoy the lively restaurants and bars along the famous Lewis Place.

Travel south to the coastal town Mirissa, and spend two nights in the bustling beachside tourist town. On the way to Mirissa, we will visit Galle fortress, one of the top destinations in Sri Lanka. Enjoy a stroll around the historic fort and lose yourself in stunning vernacular Dutch architecture. There will also be time for shopping. Once in Mirissa, simply kick back on the golden beach and enjoy a few days of relaxing on the Southern Coast.  

Wake to the sound of the ocean and enjoy energising yoga sessions. And if you’re feeling a little stiff, possibly have the best massage ever in Mirissa. And maybe even see turtles!

Drive to Haputale, visiting the Elephant sanctuary at Udawalawe along the way. The Elephant Transit Home is home to young elephants, mostly babies, who have been orphaned or recovering from injuries, and are being rehabilitated before release into the wild. The elephants can be observed during milk feeding times – it is bound to be an unforgettable experience. We will also make a stop at the charming town of Ella for its famous chocolate and banana roti! Once we’ve arrived in Haputale, you’ll soon see why it’s known as ‘Little England’ with its cottages, rolling hills and cooler breeze. The hill country with its picturesque landscape is largely a product of the British colonial era, when tea was introduced to the island, an industry that continues to shape the economy and scenery of the region today. Enjoy an evening stroll here and sip black Ceylon tea at the local cafes.

Early morning, we will see the sunrise at the oldest tea plantation, Lipton’s Seat, and practice yoga in the clouds. We may even have time for a hike through the cool hills cloaked in tea plantations.

A trip highlight, hopping aboard a train to Kandy, one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. The journey will take us past verdant tea plantations, through winding mountain passes, across suspension bridges and much more. At each train station on the way, the train cabins are filled with sellers hustling treats like freshly cut pineapple and mango with cinnamon, corn with salty butter, freshly made rice and curry, chilli fritters and crispy poppadoms. Hidden away amid the hills at the heart of the island, Kandy is Sri Lanka’s second city and cultural capital. With its old Kandyan and colonial buildings, scenic highland setting and pleasantly temperate climate, Kandy retains a surprisingly small-town atmosphere. Visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens, probably the most popular garden in the country. It’s a glorious expanse of well-kept trees, flowers and pathways, some of which are centuries old. In the late afternoon, we visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a sacred Buddhist temple. It contains the tooth relic of the Buddha, which was brought to Sri Lanka 1600 years ago. Afterwards, we head into the city for the chance to explore its vibrant array of shops and architecture, and perhaps try a Sri Lankan delicacy – Kottu Rotti. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Head further into the highlands to the Knuckles Mountain range, one of the loveliest nature attractions of Sri Lanka. The changing terrain of grasslands, rugged mountain peaks interspersed with streams and cascading waterfalls make Knuckles Mountain range a trekker’s paradise. Staying at a quiet location near a water stream, so make the most of your beautiful surroundings with some nature chillin’ or perhaps cool off with a dip. Come evening, we’ll be spoiling you with another authentic meal, sitting around a campfire listening to the sound of cascading water and birds. Two night stay in Knuckles Mountain Range.

Early morning, set out on a hike taking in the natural beauty of the area, perhaps visiting Mini World’s end, a fine observation point. From this location, the panoramic view of the Knuckles Range and some of the villages situated in the foothills of Knuckles can be seen. Finish the hike with a dip in the cooling waters of a waterfall. As far as hikes go, things don’t get much better than this!

We’re hitting the road and heading to Sigiriya. Built over 1500 years ago, this beautiful citadel stands 200 meters high in the middle of the verdant jungle and is one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic sites. Along the way, take the chance to unwind with a traditional Ayurveda massage and a visit to Minneriya National Park for the largest wild Elephant gathering in the world. Climb up 1,200 steps to the top of Sigiriya (Lion) rock fortress in the evening in time for a picturesque sunset across the rolling plains and hopefully see the glow of the quartz crystal stairs. Discover UNESCO-listed ruins with its Water Gardens, the Mirror Wall and ancient graffiti, just make sure you’ve got your camera is all I’ve going to say. After descending the steps back down to ground level, the rest of the evening can be spent drinking beer or, for the brave, some arrack – a traditional coconut spirit!

Make the journey to Anuradhapura, perhaps stopping to drink refreshing king coconuts from the roadside. In the evening, enjoy incredible sunset views at Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the best sunset point in the Anuradhapura region. The beautiful shrines, stupas (dagobas), rock caves enhanced by the wondrous setting, make Mihintale unforgettable. Enjoy the vibrant chanting while contemplating life in temples and forest monasteries. Three night stay in Anuradhapura.

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Anuradhapura. The sprawling complex contains a rich collection of archaeological and architectural wonders: enormous dagobas (brick stupas), ancient pools and crumbling temples. This world heritage city was the longest and the first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka, founded in 377 BC. Sights to see include Isurumuniya temple, Vessagiriya forest monastery and the largest stupa in Anuradhapura – Jetavanarama Stupa. Come evening; immerse yourself into the culture with an authentic dinner with Sri Lankan locals to get a taste of the local lifestyle and music. Expect hearty curries and plenty of singing and dancing. June is the festival month in Anuradhapura so you can expect a lively atmosphere.

If there’s time, a visit to the sacred bo-tree – the oldest documented tree in the world and one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Plus the gigantic white dome, which denotes Ruwanwelisaya (Great Stupa). See the hundreds of carved elephants, which surrounds it making it a marvel for its architectural qualities.

Today it’s time to say goodbye to glorious Sri Lanka as we make the journey back to Negombo and the airport. We’ll pay a visit to a coconut plantation along the way. Learn how the coconut palm has been harvested for generations to make Toddy (a local alcoholic drink), coconut syrup and palm sugar and see how toddy tappers face danger as they work, walking tightropes between trees obtaining the sap from the coconut flower. Allow a full day to get to the airport. We will arrive at the airport no earlier than 5pm, so be sure to leave plenty of time to catch your flight. The best time is the 12am flights, which is the majority of airlines.