Negombo - Unawatuna
From elephant safaris to glamping in the jungle and more! Sri Lanka is a 10/10 bucket-list ticking group trip
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From U$1,250
U$750 / person
Just U$75.00 per day
Pay a U$280 deposit and spread the rest interest-free.
Balance due 60 days before departure.
This small group Sri Lanka tour, designed for 18-35s, has everything you could want from 10 days in this amazing country! TruTravels' Sri Lanka Tours offer the best tastes, views, communities, and traditions jam-packed into 10 days (or longer if you want to join our 23-day India and Sri Lanka tour instead!) From staying in an epic glamping spot moments away from the famous Udawalawe National Park to an early morning hike to one of the best viewpoints in the world... know we shouldn't have favourites but this might just be one of ours...👀
Our Classic trips are the perfect balance of culture, adventure, beaches and parties, all rolled into one seamless adventure. They're built for 18-40s who want the big highlights and the hidden gems without the stress of planning a thing.
5 Experience Types · 1 Intentional Journey
Local Lens
Experiences
Direct connections with local culture, traditions, and communities. Cooking with families, exploring neighbourhoods with locals, and participating in generational cultural practices.
Rise Up
Experiences
Intentional challenges in supportive settings. Summit hikes, independent navigation, and experiences that push your limits.
Bucket List
Experiences
World-famous landmarks, extraordinary landscapes, and universally recognised destinations that inspire travel aspirations.
Tru-ly Unique
Experiences
The moments you won’t get anywhere else! These experiences are exclusive to Tru trips and really are something special!
Unplugged
Experiences
Intentional slowness, presence, and tech-free moments in nature or group settings enable reflection and authentic connection.
You made it. Land in Negombo, catch up on sleep or head straight for the beach. Tonight sets the tone: a beachfront welcome dinner and drinks as the sun goes down, and your first proper chat with the crew. Then get your head down, because you've got nine big days ahead.
Today we head into Sri Lanka's cultural heart. First, the Dambulla Cave Temple, a sacred shrine carved deep into the rock face. Then up to the Golden Buddha, a giant gilded statue on a hilltop. After plenty of walking, we check in near Sigiriya in the evening and eye up Lion Rock. We're climbing it in the morning.
Early start. This morning we climb Sigiriya Rock, the UNESCO-listed ancient fortress towering nearly 700ft, for jaw-dropping views from the top. Back down, a big breakfast at the hotel, then out to explore town. As night falls we visit a local farming village, where villagers welcome us into their community and cook dinner for us around a crackling bonfire.
Today we travel to Kandy and step into Sri Lanka's royal history at the Temple of the Tooth, inside the Royal Palace complex. Its sacred relic was long believed to hold the power to govern the country. As evening falls, we finish with a few cold beers and a view over Kandy city and lake from the mountainside viewpoint.
Up bright and early, we drive through Nuwara Eliya to a local tea plantation to learn how tea goes from leaf to cup. Next, a family-run cooking school, where we learn Sri Lanka's best dishes and eat lunch. Then we board the famous train to Ella, often called Asia's most scenic ride, watching waterfalls, wildlife and village life roll by.
Ella's icons today. We start the morning at the Nine Arch Bridge, the perfect photo spot, and if we're lucky we'll catch a train rolling across. After lunch we head for Little Adam's Peak and climb up for a huge view over Ella Gap, a gorge full of waterfalls. Worth every step.
Another scorcher. We kick off at the waterfalls near Ella, then head for Udawalawe National Park and a jeep safari to spot elephants, monkeys, buffalo and more. Bucket list, ticked. Tonight we check into our glamping tents for an evening with the crew. Look up: the stars out here are something else.
After a day of waterfalls and wildlife, it's time for some history. We explore Galle's Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest living forts in the world, where cobbled streets mix old and new. In the afternoon we head back to the hotel in Unawatuna to chill, play cards and look back on the trip.
Our second-to-last day is all about the beach. Sink into golden sand, swim in the sea and keep an eye out for turtles. No plans, no alarm, just sun and good company. Once we're all sun-kissed, we head back to the hotel for our farewell dinner. Have the tissues ready.
You came for Sri Lanka and left with a new family. Now it's time to say goodbye. Whether you're travelling onwards, heading home or going back to bed for a week to recover from those early starts, we're here to help plan your onward travel. We've loved having you. Can't wait to hear what's next.
Our 3-star hotel in Negombo is a nice and stylish place in a great location, a few minutes walk to Negombo beach. If hangin' by the pool is more your thanggg though, no problem as the hotel has an outdoor pool and a great sun terrace where you can lay out and start working on that tan. There's free WiFi in public areas.
The rooms are modern and have a flat-screen TV, air-con, and en-suite bathrooms.
Our hotel in Sigiriya is located near some great restaurants and it's also super close to the Pidurangala Rock (the famous Sigiriya landmark) so it's the perfect base for our TruTravellers.
The rooms are air-conditioned and come with free WiFi.
Next up, we head to Kandy! Our hotel has an impressive terrace, where you can have breakfast and enjoy views of the mountains and is located just a few minutes walk to the famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - the main reason that tourists go to Kandy!
Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, free WiFi and a private bathroom with a bath or shower. Some rooms even have views of the lake or city!
Our 4-star hotel in our next stop, Ella, is perfectly situated next to Little Adam's peak and has panoramic mountain views... dreamy right!?
Rooms have a private bathroom with a bath or shower and a spacious private balcony, so you can enjoy the beautiful views. There's also free WiFi in all the public areas.
Talk about being close to nature...in Udawalawe we stay somewhere a little different. We stay at a responsible luxury eco campsite! One of the most exciting ways to sleep, next to the Rakwana River, listening to the sounds of the animals! It's an amazing place to relax and spend the day too, watching the birds and wild animals is incredible!
Last but certainly not least, our hotel in Unawatuna is a modern and stylish place, which is just a 2-minute walk from the beach. It also has an outdoor pool, so whether you're more of a beachgoer or you prefer lounging by the pool, we've got you covered!
Just done an amazing Sri Lanka 10 day tour, Hasi was our tour guide and he was amazing!! He brought so much fun, energy and knowledge to the tour and is one the nicest people. There is so much to do in Sri Lanka from hiking in the hills, sun bathing on the beach and going on amazing safari’s to see the elephants and other animals. We tried different foods and took part in different cultural activities. We have learnt lots about Sri Lanked culture, the people here anre so welcoming and we have learnt what they do for conservation and future generations including education and caring for the ...
You will need to fly in to Colombo Airport (Bandaranaike International Airport) CMB.
The closest airport to the end destination is Colombo Airport (Bandaranaike International Airport) CMB.
If you want to get back to Colombo you can take a taxi which takes around 2-3 hours. This can be done with the help of your tour leader during your tour!
Although it depends on your nationality, the chances are you will need a VISA to enter Sri Lanka. These are easy to obtain so don't worry!
We recommend looking at your government's travel advice page to get the correct information.
If you have any more questions about VISAs or travelling to Sri Lanka please contact the sales team on info@trutravels.com :)
All your breakfasts are included on this trip! We'll also have lunch included after learning how to cook some of the amazing local dishes! Food in Sri Lanka is cheap and you can usually pick up a meal for less than £7 in most restaurants.
The majority of the accommodation on this trip is twin share although we do use triples rooms on occasion.
The currency in Sri Lanka is Sri Lanka Ruppee (LKR)
Yep! You will never lose your money. You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe.
You can book pre-nights, airport transfers and other extras at the time of booking or up to 7 days before the tour starts.
These can be booked:
-Through your online account area
-Through our sales team, you can contact them at info@trutravels.com
Most of the people that join us on tour are 18-thirtysomethings! We do have an upper age limit of 45 on our tours. If you are over 45 and have travelled with us before please contact our sales team at info@trutravels.com.
Our Essentials trips are exclusively built for travellers aged 18-29! Don't worry if this isn't you - our incredible Classic, Flashpacker, Limited Edition, Multi-country and Ski tours are open to everyone under 45! There's a perfect style of tour for everyone - happy browsing!
Yes! Let us know when you are booking your trip about any requirements you might have we can plan ahead and make sure this doesn’t affect your trip!
Yes, the majority of our travellers will be travelling on their own! Roughly 65% of our TruTravellers come solo! We have designed our trips specifically with solo travellers in mind, so you can be assured you’ll meet lots of others travelling alone like yourself along the way. This of course doesn’t mean our trips are only for solo travellers, but it does mean that you don’t need to worry you’ll be surrounded by a group that already knows each other.
Yes, of course! You will receive a welcome email from your tour leader a week before your tour starts. This will include a QR code to join the group chat on WhatsApp and other important information before joining. In the meantime, you can join our Facebook group TruTravellers to connect with others.
No! Whether you love a sunset beer or prefer an early night in order to make the most out of every day, or even a bit of both, it's up to you how you spend your time on tour! Our guides are always on hand to suggest a range of evening activities on tour. From night markets to rooftop bars, fire shows and local cultural experiences, there's a huge variety of options! There's no pressure, ever - it's your adventure after all!
You’re welcome to arrive at any time on Day 1 of the tour. Hotel/hostel check-in is usually from around 2 pm, so most people tend to plan their arrival for around this time. However, if you’d like to arrive a little earlier, we can also help arrange pre-nights at the starting accommodation.
There are no planned activities during the day on Day 1, giving everyone plenty of time to arrive, check in and settle in before the tour officially begins. In the evening, the group will usually head out for a welcome dinner at around 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet your group leader and fellow travellers. Your guide will also give you a quick overview of the trip and help break the ice, so everyone can get to know each other before the adventure begins!
Yes! If you are more than 60 days out from your tour you can change the date of your tour once. You can also switch to another tour which is the same value or more.
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Our 3-star hotel in Negombo is a nice and stylish place in a great location, a few minutes walk to Negombo beach. If hangin' by the pool is more your thanggg though, no problem as the hotel has an outdoor pool and a great sun terrace where you can lay out and start working on that tan. There's free WiFi in public areas.
The rooms are modern and have a flat-screen TV, air-con, and en-suite bathrooms.
Our hotel in Sigiriya is located near some great restaurants and it's also super close to the Pidurangala Rock (the famous Sigiriya landmark) so it's the perfect base for our TruTravellers.
The rooms are air-conditioned and come with free WiFi.
Next up, we head to Kandy! Our hotel has an impressive terrace, where you can have breakfast and enjoy views of the mountains and is located just a few minutes walk to the famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - the main reason that tourists go to Kandy!
Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, free WiFi and a private bathroom with a bath or shower. Some rooms even have views of the lake or city!
Our 4-star hotel in our next stop, Ella, is perfectly situated next to Little Adam's peak and has panoramic mountain views... dreamy right!?
Rooms have a private bathroom with a bath or shower and a spacious private balcony, so you can enjoy the beautiful views. There's also free WiFi in all the public areas.
Talk about being close to nature...in Udawalawe we stay somewhere a little different. We stay at a responsible luxury eco campsite! One of the most exciting ways to sleep, next to the Rakwana River, listening to the sounds of the animals! It's an amazing place to relax and spend the day too, watching the birds and wild animals is incredible!
Last but certainly not least, our hotel in Unawatuna is a modern and stylish place, which is just a 2-minute walk from the beach. It also has an outdoor pool, so whether you're more of a beachgoer or you prefer lounging by the pool, we've got you covered!
Deposit U$280.00. Free date change up to 60 days before departure
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