Insider's Sri Lanka - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Sri Lanka, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel.

Meander around the labyrinthian Pettah Market, the biggest and busiest bazaar in Colombo, lined with stalls selling a sensory overload of fresh fruit and veg, meat, seafood, jewellery, clothing and electronic goods. Having perused the market’s cornucopia of fresh, local ingredients there will be plenty of time to relax back at your hotel or continue exploring independently, until late afternoon when you will be met by your guide for a culinary exploration of the town’s vibrant foodie scene. Head for the sociable seaside promenade and lawns of Galle Face Green, where numerous streetfood vendors congregate. Try spicy isso wade prawn fritters, and traditional achcharu sweet-sour pickles, washed down with fresh lime juice. Nana’s serves arguably the best Tandoori Chicken in the city, and is a Galle Face institution - you can’t leave without trying some! Tuk-tuk to The Old Dutch Hospital (tastefully revamped to house shops and restaurants) to sample some of Sri Lanka’s finest tea and Pol Roti Kottu coconut-infused stuffed flatbreads. Leave room for traditional Sri Lankan jaggery sweets, and return to your hotel with your appetite fully satisfied.

Morning departure for the sacred city of Kandy. In the afternoon, take a walk through the forest reserve of Udawatta Kele, once declared a ‘forbidden forest’ by the Sinhala Kings as only members of royalty were permitted to visit. Continue on to Kandy's most famous site - the Temple of the Tooth Relic - where Buddhists believe a tooth of the Lord Buddha is enshrined.

Hop aboard a train at Kandy station for a scenic ride through the tea country that surrounds the city. From the comfort of your carriage, you’ll get a different outlook on the idyllic countryside, at a pace reminiscent of travel’s Golden Age. Meet your guide at Haputale train station, and head to the boutique Living Heritage Koslanda for an afternoon at leisure. Trek through the surrounding forest to impressive waterfalls, sample tea at the nearby Poonagala tea estate, learn how to cook Sri Lankan cuisine with the hotel chef, and soak up the scenery from a lounger beside the infinity pool.

Spend a day at leisure at the Living Heritage Koslanda, being as active or laid back as you wish.

Descend from the hills in the direction of the east coast. Your destination is the laid-back beach resort of Arugam Bay. Having checked in to your hotel the remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Enjoy a few days relaxing on the beach.

Depart Arugam Bay in a southerly direction to Kumana National Park. Meet the local Mahoora team at the park entrance and travel by safari jeep to the Mahoora campsite deep within the park itself. This immersive camp experience includes a generously sized tent complete with a comfortable bed and fully equipped en-suite with a hot-water shower, allowing you to enjoy a little luxury within the wild surroundings. Settle in and freshen up before heading out on a dusk drive through the park, accompanied by a local naturalist, spotting the animals as they wake to hunt or find water. Return to camp as darkness falls to tuck into a BBQ dinner around the campfire before settling down in your tent. Fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

Rise at dawn to join your naturalist for a morning drive through the park, looking for wildlife. For many, the morning is the most exhilarating time, watching and listening as the park's inhabitants noisily greet the new day. Find a shady spot for a picnic breakfast, and head back to the campsite mid-morning. Spend a few hours relaxing in your tent before boarding your jeep again and heading even further into the park for a final dusk safari, returning for another campfire dinner and last night under canvas.

Enjoy a final dawn safari through Kumana before departing in a westerly direction to Uda Walawe National Park, which is home to hundreds of elephants. Having settled into your lodge or luxury camp, the remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Set out on an early morning safari drive through Uda Walawe, hoping to spot the animals as they wake and look for food. After breakfast, head for the south coast, stopping at the Uda Walawe Elephant Transit Home to learn about how orphaned elephants are cared for before being released back into their natural habitat. All efforts are made to minimize human contact with the elephants, but you’ll be able to watch them being fed and bathed. Continue to Galle, arriving mid-afternoon where the remainder of your day is at leisure to explore the town’s rich history, or find a cafe to sit in and watch the world go by.

Saddle up at Unawatuna for a morning of cycling. Follow your local guide along side roads and gravel tracks, passing a lagoon, mangroves, paddy fields, temples and villages; witnessing the rhythms of daily local life as you explore the scenic landscape. After around 3 hours of leisurely cycling, return to base where your guide will meet you for the journey back to Galle to enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Transfer to Colombo airport for your onward flight.