Sri Lanka Uncovered

You made it! Arrive, catch up on some sleep or head to the beach! To give you a taste that we don’t do things by halves, we’ll be having a beachfront welcome dinner and drinks at sunset, the perfect start to your adventure. Then hey, get your head down. You’ve got an enormous 9 days ahead of you.

Keeping things local, we’re heading into the heart of Sri Lanka to explore the local culture, history and heritage. We’ll take you to the Dambulla Cave Temple, a sacred temple carved deep into the rock face, then up to the Golden Buddha, a giant (aptly named), majestic, golden statue on a picturesque hilltop. After a fair bit of walking (- you’re doing great btw), we’ll head to our next accommodation stop in the evening, check-in and scope the spectacular views of Sigiriya Rock. Best get eyeing up your route as we’ll be climbing the face of it in the morning. Yep! Night!

So it’s your first early start. Are you ready for this? Pack your bag and get a wiggle on, as this morning we’re heading to the top of one of Sri Lanka’s most famous landmarks - Lion Rock (known locally as Sigiriya Rock). This proper beauty is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so we best be on our best behaviour. A giant rock formation standing nearly 700ft tall (that’s enormous, FYI), an ancient fortress, with mind-blowing views from the top; well worth the trek up. Now we know you’ve been up since the crack of dawn and you haven’t had your Weetabix yet but RELAX. We told you we’d look after you. Once we’ve scaled our way back down, it’s time for a feast back at the hotel before heading back out to explore the town. There ain’t no rest for the wicked, hun. Now, we promised you some wholesome activity and we weren’t lying. As night falls, we’re heading to a beautiful, authentic, local farming village to be spoiled rotten and have our dinner cooked by the loveliest villagers. Enjoy a mouth-watering, authentic meal around a crackling bonfire with our locals as they welcome you too, into their homes and our community. Big #blessed vibes.

Who fancies a spy of our royalty? Today we’re getting another taste of the rich history of Sri Lanka as we travel to Kandy to visit the Temple of the Tooth, located in the Royal Palace complex. Note the significance of the royal temple, which bears great ancient political power and the famous relic which is believed to hold the governance of the country. Finally, we’ll enjoy the evening view of Kandy city and Lake, with a few beers (FINALLY) from a restaurant or our hotel on the mountainside.

Today we are up bright and early to drive through the beautiful town of Nuwara Elia to spend the morning at a local tea plantation, where we’ll learn all about the tea brewing process, from leaf to cup. We’ll then spend some time at a local family-run cooking school, where we’ll learn about some of Sri Lanka’s best dishes and get to try some of the delicious food that this amazing country is famous for! Then it’s time to board ‘the most scenic train journey in Asia’ - and it really is as epic as it sounds. We’ll board the famous train from Nuwara Eliya to the chilled town of Ella. Keep an eye out for cascading waterfalls, roaming wildlife and another glimpse at the locals.

Today we are headed to some of the most iconic and beautiful spots in Ella. We'll start with a morning at the famous Nine Arch Bridge - if we're lucky we might even see a train or two pass through. This bridge is a perfect photo opportunity. After snapping a few photos and taking in the amazing structure we'll have some lunch before heading over towards Little Adams Peak. We'll climb up, for a stunning view of Ella Gap - a gorge full of beautiful waterfalls and stunning backdrops. Get ready to have your breath taken away by this epic view!

Another scorcher of a day, as per. So we’re starting things off with a visit to the neighbouring waterfalls ahead of a day at Udawalawe National Park. Now that’s how to start a day. The bucket list moments don't stop there because our next activity is a Safari! This isn’t the trip of a lifetime for nothing. Scope out Elephants, Monkeys and Buffalos to mention just a few. After that incredible experience we’ll check into our glamping tents for the evening, with some more wholesome activities and some questionable behaviour will commence. Don’t forget to look up as the stars are pretty spectacular.

After a jam packed day of waterfalls and animals yesterday today it's only right that today we through in a bit of history too! The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the oldest living forts in the world. There's so much to discover here with a blend of modern and historic sites so get ready to explore the day away. In the afternoon we will head back to the hotel, to chill, maybe play some cards and process the tour so far with the Trufam!

For our second-to-last day, we’re heading to the stunning golden sands of the beach on the other side. Soak up some Vitamin D, have a swim in the sea, enjoy the simple pleasures and beauty of the shore and maybe even see a turtle! What a life! Once we're all sun-kissed, we’ll head back to the hotel for our farewell dinner. We hope you’ve still got those tissues!

So you’ve extended your family, it’s Tru. We’ll be over to kiss your Nan on Christmas Day, but for now, it’s time to say goodbye. What a ride. We’re here to help plan the next steps of your adventure, whether it’s onwards, homebound or back to bed for a week of catching up on those early starts. We’ve loved having you and can’t wait to hear what’s next. Big love!