Pure Sri Lanka

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Pure Sri Lanka



Tour Description:

Say Ayubowan to Southeast Asia's gem, Sri Lanka. This adventure is going to take you all over – from national parks to beaches to ancient fortresses and temples, we’ve squeezed in all the highlights & a few lesser-known secrets to create the perfect 11-day trip. With hand-picked inclusions and extra free time add-ons, this trip delivers the best Sri Lanka has to offer.

Map for Pure Sri Lanka
Click for larger view.

Dates & Pricing

Monday 07 Oct 24 — Thursday 17 Oct 24Starting at $1,573Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 03 Nov 24 — Wednesday 13 Nov 24Starting at $1,573Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 02 Dec 24 — Thursday 12 Dec 24Starting at $1,573Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 30 Dec 24 — Thursday 09 Jan 25Starting at $1,809Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 13 Jan 25 — Thursday 23 Jan 25Starting at $1,679Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 27 Jan 25 — Thursday 06 Feb 25Starting at $1,679Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 24 Feb 25 — Thursday 06 Mar 25Starting at $1,679Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 24 Mar 25 — Thursday 03 Apr 25Starting at $1,679Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 07 Apr 25 — Thursday 17 Apr 25Starting at $1,679Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 03 Oct 25 — Monday 13 Oct 25Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 17 Oct 25 — Monday 27 Oct 25Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 31 Oct 25 — Monday 10 Nov 25Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 07 Nov 25 — Monday 17 Nov 25Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 14 Nov 25 — Monday 24 Nov 25Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 21 Nov 25 — Monday 01 Dec 25Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 28 Nov 25 — Monday 08 Dec 25Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 05 Dec 25 — Monday 15 Dec 25Starting at $1,805Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 12 Dec 25 — Monday 22 Dec 25Starting at $1,931Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 19 Dec 25 — Monday 29 Dec 25Starting at $1,805Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 26 Dec 25 — Monday 05 Jan 26Starting at $1,976Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 02 Jan 26 — Monday 12 Jan 26Starting at $1,704Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 09 Jan 26 — Monday 19 Jan 26Starting at $1,619Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 16 Jan 26 — Monday 26 Jan 26Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 23 Jan 26 — Monday 02 Feb 26Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 06 Feb 26 — Monday 16 Feb 26Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 20 Feb 26 — Monday 02 Mar 26Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 06 Mar 26 — Monday 16 Mar 26Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 20 Mar 26 — Monday 30 Mar 26Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 03 Apr 26 — Monday 13 Apr 26Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 17 Apr 26 — Monday 27 Apr 26Starting at $1,715Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

Dining Summary
10 Breakfast (B)
1 Lunch (L)
2 Dinner (D)

Included Experience
Sigiriya: See rice fields and jungle landscapes as you ramble around this rural Sri Lankan village. Then refuel with a traditional lunch.
Sigiriya: A fortress on top of a giant rock. And did we mention it has massive lion’s paws at the front? Amazing!
Sigiriya: Want peace and tranquillity, or an array of Insta-ops? These cave temples offer both. But hide your wallet from the cheeky monkeys.
Kandy: Fire-eating. Acrobatics. Epic costumes. All based on the dances of Indian shamans. Why not recreate it on TikTok with your crew?
Kandy: This pristine-white sanctuary is an ultimate pilgrimage for Buddhists. It holds a relic of Lord Buddha’s tooth.
Kandy: One of the world’s most scenic train rides. Pass tea plantations and lush greenery, via mountain tunnels and steep valleys.
Ella: Who doesn’t love a nice cuppa? And now you’ll get to see where the magic happens.
Udawalawe National Park: This is the one day you won’t mind getting up early for. Hang out with elephants, leopards, crocodiles – the whole jungle crew.
Unawatuna: Colonial buildings meet modern life in this UNESCO-listed spot. There are heritage walks, foodie hotspots and fun nightlife, all up for grabs.
Unawatuna: Learn how these amazing Sri Lankan masks are created. That’s next year’s Halloween costume sorted.
Colombo: Explore this bustling melting pot of a city with 20 of your new besties. It’s home to some seriously cool sights.

Make Travel Matter®
Udawalawe National Park: This rehabilitation centre for orphaned elephants is seriously cute. You won’t ever want to leave.
Unawatuna: Meet some baby sea turtles and learn about their release back into the wild.

ITINERARY

Start Negombo
Our Sri Lankan adventure begins in Negombo. Find your feet in this diverse & laid-back town with coastal beaches, local fish markets and a working Dutch-style canal system. This evening you'll meet up with your Trip Manager and your team for a full brief of the travels about to unfold, before heading out for the first taste of some local delicacies.

Negombo to Sigiriya
This morning we'll drive inland to Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress town in the Matale District. Home to palace ruins set on a giant ancient lava rock, and surrounded by ancient relics of gardens and reservoirs, Sigiriya is a hotspot of historical significance here in Sri Lanka. After checking in to our accommodation, we'll begin our explorations with a guided visit to Hiriwadunna village, a spiritually important site where Prince Siddhartha was said to have attained Buddhahood. We'll sit down for an authentic Sri Lankan lunch here at the village, surrounded by greenery and wildlife. After waving goodbye to Hiriwadunna, we'll head back to our hotel where we'll join together for an included dinner tonight.

Sigiriya
We couldn't visit Sigiriya without exploring the incredible Sigiriya Rock Fortress that's been dominating the skyline ever since we've arrived, and morning is the best time to visit. After our included breakfast we'll take a trip to the fortress to check out the UNESCO-listed 'Lion's Rock', with it's 5th-century buildings, painted rock frescoes and massive pair of lion paws at the entrance. We're back on the road, this time to visit the nearby town of Dambulla where you'll have the chance to find your own lunch. Here we'll find another World Heritage Site, the sacred Dambulla Cave Temple, the largest best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka complete with five inner sanctuaries, 150 gilded Buddha statues, and Buddhist murals.

Sigiriya to Kandy
Feel like a morning adventure? You'll have the opportunity to explore the Pidurangala Rock –a rite of passage for Sigiriya first-timers – on a sunrise trek. Otherwise, catch some extra sleep and save your energy for later. Awed by our time brushing with the ancient world in Sigiriya, it's time to move on to the vibrant cultural scene in Kandy. Today we're gathering to watch history and mythology explode into colour & rhythm at a traditional Kandyan Folkdance show. Then tonight, you can choose to tuck into some local street food on a tuk-tuk food tour. Ever tried a 'Hopper'? We promise you've never eaten a curry like this before, and you haven't really tried Sri Lankan street food until now.

Kandy to Ella
Today we head further into the hill country on the train, passing lush green hills & waterfalls en route to Nuwara Eliya. This small town is found in the heart of Sri Lanka's famous Ceylon tea industry, so it'd be rude not to visit a tea plantation (& sample some of the best) before continuing on to our next destination of Ella. We've arrived at Ella where new adventures await!

Ella
The day is yours to explore the beautiful countryside and laid-back backpacker hub of Ella, nestled among green cloud forests and tea plantations. In the early morning, feel free to head to Horton Plains National Park and walk to "World's End", one of the highlights here. Or spend the day in Ella doing the local walks that show off the incredibly insta-worthy views down through the Ella Gap, including the cascading waterfalls this small town is famous for. If you're lucky, you might even get to meet one of the locals: the leaf-eating Langur monkey.

Ella to Udawalawe National Park
As our journey continues south towards lush jungle & rich wildlife, we'll stop en route at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home before heading to our accommodation for the night: riverside glamping at The Udawalawe National Park. Next morning we'll jump aboard our Safari Jeep to explore the park's wildlife. You're free to spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, or hire a bike for your own cycle adventure.

Udawalawe National Park to Unawatuna via Galle
Say goodbye to the wilderness as we head along the South West coast to Unawatuna, here we'll take a trip to explore the UNESCO-listed fort city of Galle & in the evening you can learn the ways of Sri Lankan cooking with locals. At Mirissa, why not head out whale watching for an unmissable up-close encounter. The afternoon is yours to unwind on the beach or opt in for a surf lesson at nearby Weligama Bay.

Unawatuna
The Southern tip of Sri Lanka is a favourite hangout spot for some of the most majestic creatures in the world: whales. We're heading to Mirissa, considered to be the best place to get a glimpse of the blue whale, sperm whale and dolphins, and this morning is your chance to head out whale-watching for an unmissable up-close encounter. After the morning's excitement, the afternoon is yours to unwind on the tropical palm-studded beach with clear turquoise waters, or opt in for a surf lesson at nearby Weligama Bay.

Unawatuna to Colombo
Today we'll reach our final destination, the bustling capital city of Colombo. En route we'll make a stop to learn about the traditional art of balsa-wood mask painting, followed by a visit to the Kosgoda Turtle Conservation centre. Once we hit Colombo, the best way to continue is with a sightseeing tour of this sprawling, richly multicultural city. Marvel at the atmospheric temples & showstopping mosques, check out the rose-tinted colonial buildings and, if you're brave enough, pick up some hot cobra chillies or souvenirs from the truly authentic (and famously chaotic) Pettah Bazaar. Tonight you can put on your party pants, because we've already sussed out the best rooftop bars and we're going out in style - the perfect way to cap off the last incredible 10 days with your Sri Lanka crew.

End Colombo
Your Contiki trip finishes this morning in Colombo. Hold back the happy tears as you say goodbye to your newest life-long friends & plan a meet up somewhere in the world soon.

Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.