2 Weeks in Sri Lanka

Step off the plane in Colombo to find your chauffeur waiting for you. Welcome to Sri Lanka!

Receive a warm welcome at the Hotel Ayur Ayur Ayurveda - the triple name stands for triple satisfaction ;) If you arrive early, feel free to relax by the pool after your long journey, or optionally treat yourself to a massage in the hotel's spa. Your holiday has begun!

Once everyone has arrived, let's get to know each other over an Ayurveda dinner. Here's to our journey!

We spend our first day together in Sri Lanka getting to know the country on two wheels. We cycle along the coast, watching fishermen go about their daily business. We observe rural life in the crop fields and marvel at the many coconut plantations.

On one of our stops, we'll learn how the famous local liquor called arrak is made. Thirsty from all that cycling, we all deserve a little shot! At the end of the tour we catch a ride to Kurunegala, where a delicious lunch menu is waiting for us.

Afterwards, we'll head towards the so-called cultural triangle, to Dambulla. Here, we will spend the next three nights and discover the most impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Can't wait!

Today we'll experience beautiful landscapes as well as cultural highlights. First, we explore the highest mountain in Northern Sri Lanka's Ritigala, which - thanks to its biodiversity - is a strictly protected nature reserve. Ritigala is also where Sri Lanka's largest Buddhist monastery can be found. The monks lead a particularly secluded and ascetic life. We marvel at buildings dating back to the eighth century that are thought to have been constructed by members of a unique Buddhist sect.

In the afternoon we hike up Pidurangala. Insiders know that this place provides the best views of the famous Sigiriya Rock. We enjoy the breathtaking view over the supposed royal palace as the sun sets. This is the kind of moment you travel for.

End the day with sparkling eyes and relax back at the hotel.

Polonnaruwa has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982 - and today you'll understand why! 800 years ago, the city was the spiritual and commercial center of Sri Lanka, which explains why it is so rich in archaeological treasures. Cycle through the former royal city in awe, past the temples, 14 metre tall Buddha statues and remains of dagobas.

In the afternoon you have some free time to do whatever you feel like. Maybe you want to climb the 1200 steps of Sigiriya rock fortress (optional - approx. USD35) and enjoy the view from a height of 200 meters?

Or maybe you'd rather chill out at the resort's pool, or treat yourself to an optional massage at the hotel spa?

In the evening, let's regroup for a delicious dinner together.

After a relaxing night in a beautiful nature resort, the journey continues: we drive up into the mountains near Kandy. Spirituality is very important in Sri Lanka. To gain a better understanding of the country's religious side we explore two very different temples.

First we stop at Nalanda Gedige. The stone temple dating back to the 10th century is special because of its decorations in the South Indian Pallava style. It's a bit naughty - if you look closely, you can make out tantric stone carvings. Afterwards we visit the lesser known Bambaragala-Teldiniya monastery nestled between the mountains. Stone steps lead us through the enchanted grounds, where we find an impressively painted cave and soak up the spiritual atmosphere of the devotional site.

In the evening, after dinner, we gather around a campfire to enjoy the flickering flames.

Rise and shine: The mountains are calling! Today we go hiking in the Knuckles Mountain Range area. Make your way past scrubby hills, open woodland and rice paddies to the village of Heeloya. On the way we encounter beautiful waterfalls - fancy a refreshing shower?

In Heeloya we get to know the traditional way of life in Sri Lanka. The village is very remote and therefore must be self-sufficient. We're welcomed by the village elder, who will tells us more about traditional customs. We also have the opportunity to accompany the local farmers to their rice paddies, learning more about their farming techniques while we harvest fresh fruit and vegetables for our lunch.

We head back to our accommodation, where we'll have enough time to freshen up before we meet again for dinner.

When you think of Sri Lanka, you probably think of trains traversing the pretty countryside - and today we get to experience the most beautiful train ride of them all! Once on board, it's all about relaxing as we chug through tea plantations and breathtaking landscapes for several hours. Locals mingle with tourists and there is always something to see on and off the train. Bring your camera, as we've booked seats in a compartment with windows that open so we can capture our impressions of this magnificent route.

We get off at the backpacker's paradise of Ella. Freshen up at the hotel and then explore the village, visit the bars or relax at the hotel enjoying the view of famous Ella Rock.

The early risers among you might want to watch a beautiful sunrise at the famous Nine Arches Bridge today. The view is truly spectacular and a popular photo motif!

For those who'd rather sleep in, the day starts after breakfast with a ride on the country's most popular mode of transport. What is that? That's right, the tuk-tuk!

Now let's taste another Sri Lankan staple: tea! We hop out of our tuk-tuks and enjoy Lipton Seat, one of the most magnificent viewpoints on the island and the favorite spot of Sir Thomas Lipton (right, namesake of the tea we all know!).

Afterwards we continue through tea plantations to a tea factory, where you can learn more about tea cultivation and of course taste it, too. Sri Lanka was called Ceylon in colonial times - this is where the famous Ceylon Tea comes from.

In the afternoon we have more free time in Ella. If you want, you can climb Little Adam's Peak. Alternatively, you can walk along a beautiful trail, past slopes full of tea plants and traditional villages, until you arrive at a magnificent viewpoint. From here you can see Ella Gorge, the pristine mountain landscape, and even the Indian Ocean.

In the evening, feel free to join the scene of international backpackers in the local bars.

Today you say goodbye to the backpackers of Ella and dive into the heart of Sri Lankan village life. We make our way to a remote village, where we will spend the night in a homestay: the best way to really experience the life of the locals up close! As is customary in Sri Lanka, we are welcomed by the village leader. The houses are located amidst rice paddies, by a beautiful river.

Look forward to meeting new people and seeing traditional dances. We have lunch and dinner together with the villagers, and we also stay the night with a local family. This gives you a unique insight into everyday life in the village.

Of course, a cooking class is a must on a trip to Sri Lanka! It tastes even better when you gather your ingredients yourself. Together with our countryside hosts, we harvest vegetables in the garden. Afterwards, they show us how to cook a delicious, authentic curry. Definitely take notes, so you can impress your friends back home!

In the late afternoon we head south to Udawalawe National Park, where a real highlight awaits us tomorrow. Before that, though, we'll catch our first glimpse of the national park. We take a boat trip on Lake Udawalawe, where we enjoy a sundowner and learn more about the local flora and fauna.

We spend the night in a gorgeous eco safari camp, where we talk about our impressions of the national park over a delicious dinner. Can you hear the animals at night?!

Today is a very special day that will surely be a dream come true for many of us. We're so lucky to see elephants in their natural habitat! On our 3-hour safari tour we can also spot water buffalo and many different species of birds.

Before venturing out, enjoy the camp and its surroundings. Do sunrise yoga on nearby rocks, hop in the river for a swim or rent a bike to cycle around the area (all optional).

At safari o'clock, remember that these elephants are fortunately wild animals. We cannot guarantee that we will see them, but we have chosen Udawalawe National Park specifically to give us the best chance: it's known for its large elephant population and offers good visibility through its open vegetation. So don't forget your camera!

In the evening, share your favorite snaps over a shared dinner.

Today is a day to unwind and simply enjoy life.

After a short drive, we reach our beautiful seaside hotel near Tangalle. From now, it's all about relaxing. The hotel is located right on an untouched dream beach that stretches for kilometers. Enjoy the sound of the waves, lie by the pool and forget all worries. If you feel like doing something more active, you can join the hotel team to collect wood for our evening barbecue and campfire at the beach. You can also lend a hand at the grill. There will be delicious beer to cool down afterwards!

After dinner, we quietly and carefully make our way to a nearby beach to look for turtles that lay their eggs in the sand at night. With a bit of luck, we might see baby turtles hatching from their eggs and making their way across the beach into the sea!

After breakfast, we drive to a school that is financed by the NGO Foundation of Goodness. We support the project through our visit. The Foundation of Goodness was founded after the devastating tsunami of 2004 and leads a variety of initiatives to help people in rural areas. The students challenge us to a round of cricket - who's in?

By having exhausted ourselves with the energetic kids, we have definitely earned some time out. Our final accommodation is a beach camp. We arrive with plenty of time to read, go for a swim in the ocean and fill up on vitamin D before our journey home.

Together we reminisce about the trip over our last dinner - and perhaps already make plans for the next trip?

After our last precious hours together, we start our journey towards the airport. As we'll take a shared shuttle, you should book your flight for after 3pm. Those who can't get enough say their goodbyes now and spend a few more days at the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka.

The rest travel back home with many new beautiful memories.