Sri Lanka - North to South Tour.

Take stunning portraits in the teardrop of India.

The Tour.

Welcome to our North-to-South photography tour of Sri Lanka, where we invite you to embark on an unforgettable journey through captivating landscapes and cultural wonders. Prepare to immerse yourself in the beauty of this vibrant island nation and capture moments that will forever be etched in your memory.

We begin our adventure in the picturesque coastal town of Negombo, renowned for its idyllic beaches and charming fishing villages. Here, we will indulge in the local atmosphere, photographing the vibrant boats and bustling marketplaces that dot the shoreline. As we journey north, we arrive at the ancient city of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here we explore the ruins and sacred Buddhist temples, as we uncover the secrets of this ancient civilization. Our next stop takes us to Mihintale, a sacred site believed to be where Mahinda Thero introduced Buddhism to the island.

In Trincomalee, we witness the harmonious blend of Tamil and Sinhalese cultures, capturing the essence of this diverse region. We explore the ornate Hindu temples, bustling fish markets, and the tranquil beauty of the northeast coast. Continuing our expedition, we venture inland to the iconic Sigiriya Rock, a magnificent fortress perched atop a towering rock formation, with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

Heading south, we arrive in Kandy, the cultural heart of Sri Lanka. We experience the island's rich heritage as we witness a mesmerizing Pooja ceremony at the revered Temple of the Tooth. The following morning, we stroll through a nearby village, hidden amidst the hills, where three iconic temples—Embeke, Galdaladeniya, and Lankathilake—await our lenses. From Kandy, we embark on a picturesque train ride through the central highlands, reaching Nuwara Eliya, the heartland of tea plantations.

Continuing further south, we encounter the famous stilt fishermen with their remarkable balancing acts, a timeless symbol of Sri Lanka's coastal culture. As we approach Galle, we are transported back in time to its fortified old town, brimming with colonial charm. We wander through its cobbled streets, photographing the elegant colonial homes with their iconic red-tiled roofs that still house the town's inhabitants. Our journey ends in the vibrant capital city of Colombo, where we explore the bustling streets, from the iconic Galle Face Green to the inner roads of Slave Island.

This tour is designed for photographers of all abilities, allowing you to immerse yourself in capturing the essence of Sri Lanka. Throughout the journey, we stay in beautiful boutique hotels, while all transport is taken care of, allowing you to focus solely on honing your craft and creating a portfolio of beautiful images.

Photo Highlights.

  • fisherman-in relaxed-pose-with-his-outrigger-boat-on-Negombo-beach-Sri-Lanka

    Portraits

    Relaxed locals

  • Continuously inhabited archeological site of Anuadhapura

    Anuradhapura

    An inhabited archaeological site

  • shallow-surf-fishing-in-Sri-Lanka

    Fishermen

    So many different styles

  • Driving through back streets of Ranakpur, Rajasthan, India.

    Sigiriya Rock

    With elephants

  • Reclining-Buddha-in-Dambulla-cave-temple-Danmbulla-Sri-Lanka

    Dambulla

    Extensive Buddhist caves

  • One-of-many-different-temples-Sri Lanka

    Active temples

    Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim

  • Evening-Pooja-temple-of-the-tooth-Kandy

    Kandy

    Temple of the Tooth Pooja

  • Two traditional dancers in village home, Jaisilmer, Rajasthan, India.

    Helga's Folly

    An artist’s delight!

  • Famous-train-bridge-near-Ella-Sri-Lanka

    Famous train

    Nine acres bridge near Ella

  • Famous-stilt-fishermen-at-Ahangama-Sri-Lanka

    Stilt fishermen

    On the south coast

  • Galle-Fort-Lighthouse-Sri-Lanka

    Galle fort

    Enjoy a two-night stay

  • Busy-streets-of multi-cultural-Colombo-Sri-Lanka

    Colombo

    A cultural melting pot

Tour Details.

Est. 2024

Duration: 13 days, 12 nights, 11 days of shooting.

Dates and Prices

2025

March 24 - April 5 (possible to combine with India Holi Festival Tour from March 6 - 18)

US$6950

2026

March 23 - April 4 (TBC)

US$7150

Past participants will get a special discount.

Our fee includes hotels, breakfast, bottled water throughout the tour, as well as all transport including airport transfers. We base our fee on accommodation in a single room, (always A/C with private bathroom) though we offer discounts for couples sharing rooms, as well as for non-photographers. If you need help with insurance for this tour, please let us know and we can put you in touch with a broker that should be able to help you.

Our Itinerary.

  • Swimming pool at luxury hotel, Jaipur, India

    Day 1

    Arrive any time: Enjoy free transfer to your hotel

    PM: Optional technical and aesthetic travel photography workshop for those who need it

    Sunset: Meet Nathan and the group

    Sleep: Negombo boutique hotel

  • Fisherman-prepare-net-on-Negombo-beach-Sri-Lanka

    Day 2

    Sunrise: Fishing beach

    AM: Dried fish market

    PM: Drive toAnuradhapura

    Sunset: Mihintale - hillside temple complex

    Sleep: Anuradhapura boutique hotel

  • Archaeological-site-of-Anuradhapura-Sri-Lanka

    Day 3

    Sunrise: Anuradhapura

    AM: Archaeological site exploration

    PM: Drive to Trincomalee

    Sunset: Trincomalee fort / Hindu temple

    Sleep: Trincomalee boutique hotel

  • Wild-elephants-seen-on-safari-in-sanctuary-Sri-Lanka

    Day 4

    Sunrise: Fishermen on beach

    AM: Fishing village / market

    PM: Drive to Habarana

    Sunset: Hurulu Wild Elephant Sanctuary

    Sleep: Habarana boutique hotel

  • Surise-over-Sri-Lankan-Jungle-from-Sigiriya-Rock

    Day 5

    Sunrise: Sigiriya Rock Fortress

    AM: Elephant bathing shoot

    PM: Lightroom processing

    Sunset: Local village walk / cooking demo

    Sleep: Habarana boutique hotel

  • Dambulla Bhuddhist cave temple

    Day 6

    Sunrise: Drive to location

    AM: Dambulla cave temple / market

    PM: Drive to Kandy

    Sunset: Temple of the Tooth Pooja

    Sleep: Kandy boutique Hotel

  • Sri-Lankan-monk-in-temple doorway-with-Buddha

    Day 7

    Sunrise: Drive to location

    AM: Rural walk around three temples

    PM: City market area

    Sunset: Helga’s Folly

    Sleep: Kandy boutique hotel

  • typical-hotel-in-Nuwara-Eliya-Sri-Lanka

    Day 8

    Sunrise: Free time

    AM: Drive to Nuwara Eliya

    PM: Tea plantations

    Sunset: Explore tea plantations

    Sleep: Nuwara Eliya heritage hotel

  • Famous-train-bridge-near-Ella-Sri-lanka

    Day 9

    Sunrise: Free time

    AM: Catch train to Ella

    PM: Nine Acre bridge

    Sunset: Hotel rooftop

    Sleep: Ella hilltop hotel

  • Famous-stilt-fishermen- at- Ahangama-Sri-Lanka

    Day 10

    Sunrise: Hotel rooftop

    AM: Drive to Ahangama

    PM: Stilted fisherman

    Sunset: Stilted fisherman

    Sleep: Galle Fort hotel

  • Back streets of Galle Fort Sri Lanka

    Day 11

    Sunrise: Nearby fishing beach

    AM: Fish market / fort streets

    PM: Optional post-processing workshop

    Sunset: Fort wall / lighthouse

    Sleep: Galle Fort hotel

  • Lady washes sari at bathing Ghats Eklingji Rajasthan India.

    Day 12

    Sunrise: Galle Fort

    AM: Drive to Colombo

    PM: Local street walk

    Sunset: Colombo promenade

    Sleep: Colombo luxury hotel

  • large-Buddha -statue-lit-at-night-Kandy

    Day 13

    Depart any time with our airport transfer

    Or consider staying on for some beach time

    We know you will have had a fabulous time but you might need a rest

    Bon Voyage

Make the dream a reality.

Tuition.

On any of our tours, stunning photography is the name of the game, and our objective is for you to leave with a collection of images that you'll be proud to show off. Indeed, many of our past participants have gone on to win awards and competitions with photographs taken on our tours.

Nathan’s teaching approach is very hands-on, as he believes in learning by doing. He will guide you through technical challenges, provide artistic inspiration, and lead by example in approaching locals for great portraits. You'll be amazed at the striking and authentic images you'll be able to capture.

We also offer Lightroom workshops during our tours, where we cover workflow management and picture processing. We'll show you the tools to take your travel photography to the next level and provide tips on saving your pictures for various outputs like social media, e-books, and printing.

If this is your first tour with us, you can also join Nathan’s pre-tour workshop, designed to equip you with essential skills for travel photography. Covering technical competence, creative observation, and ethical responsibility with a focus on people and culture, this workshop is perfect if you’re new to travel photography or need a refresher. The workshop runs on the first day of the tour from around 1-5pm. Enhance your photography skills and capture breathtaking moments to treasure forever. Apply via our tour request form and prepare to take your photography skills to the next level.

Where We Stay.

  • Luxury roof top giving great photo opportunities

    Boutique hotels

    Accommodation is a key element of any tour and we have gone to great lengths to secure luxury hotels in amazing locations that are not only a place of rest but have lots of local character. All rooms will have air condition control and private bathrooms for your convenience.

  • Luxury hotel room with plenty of space to work

    Charming rooms

    Unlike most photo tours we assume you dont want to share a room. We do not charge a single-person supplement but we do offer a discount if you choose to share a room if you are travelling with a partner or friend. We are very competitively priced, but we don’t cut corners on accommodation; on the contrary, others can charge more for less, and we have no hidden costs.

  • Luxury hotel and restaurant on the beach in Trincomalee

    Fabulous locations

    Although you deserve a rest, most of our hotels and restaurants also have photography in mind. Sometimes you can photograph interesting things right outside the building. Sometimes we eat at the hotel, sometimes we take you out, but our restaurant choices always have an exciting (mixed) menu, and we consider your good health a primary concern.

TripAdvisor.

kotw46- October 2023

The best photography tour leader in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Southeast Asia

Nathan leads photo tours in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, several areas in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. This photo tour of Nepal was my 9th photo tour (3rd in Nepal) with Nathan. He is a great human being who instills in every photographer in his tours how to be sensitive of the culture and feelings of the local people in large cities and small villages, how to find the best photo opportunities at the best time of day in the best available light conditions, and how how to optimize street, people, and landscape photography opportunities. All of his tours emphasize interactions with the local people, usually in their normal environment.

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