Sri Lanka - North to South Tour - full itinerary

Day 1:
Arrival in Colombo — Negombo
We will collect you from the airport and transfer you to our hotel in Negombo. Nathan will run a brief technical workshop from around 3 to 5pm for those who feel they would benefit from a refresher course (please confirm your interest). A pre-tour meet ‘n’ greet with Nathan starts at around 6 pm, followed by dinner with the group at the hotel.

Day 2:
Negombo — Anuradhapura — Mihintale
Early this morning, we visit the famous fishing village of Negombo to get a glimpse of the action. We saw the fishermen pull their nets out of the water with their loud chanting, and the locals gathered together for the fish auction at the market. 

Later this morning, we drive to Anuradhapura. This afternoon, we visit Mihintale, believed to be where Mahinda Thero from India met with King Devanampiyatissa and preached the doctrine of Buddhism. The grand stairway leading up to the rock is picturesque, shaded by rows of frangipani trees and their blossoms adorning the path. At the top, we take some time to enjoy the breathtaking bird’s eye view of the skies above and the greenish platoons below at sunset. We then return to our hotel for a well-earned rest.

Day 3: Anuradhapura — Trincomalee
Early in the morning, we visit the ancient city of Anuradhapura, a place continuously inhabited for over two millennia and the seat of power until constant invasions forced a move further south. This is not just an archaeological site; pilgrims still visit the sacred Bo tree, while the dagobas stand as majestic as they did during the reign of King Tissa. 

After lunch, we drive to Trincomalee. We check in to our hotel in the early afternoon and spend a little time relaxing by the beach. In the late afternoon, we visit Fort Frederik, the last remains of the Dutch and British fort and a reminder of Sri Lanka’s colonial past. We then visit the Hindu temple or Kovil at Koneswaram, which boasts a mighty pantheon of gods and is revered in the region by the Tamil majority. It is also a good vantage point for sunset.

Day 4: Trincomalee — Habarana
Early in the morning, we look for local fishermen throwing their nets as the sunrises over our east-facing hotel beach. After breakfast, we explore Trincomalee, which feels like it has better times and is slowly recovering after the ravages of war and the tsunami. We spend time walking the fishing beach, hoping to see boats bringing back their catch, and we also visited a local fish market. We then head to the back streets, where we will find a local vegetable market and streets with small businesses.

In the late morning, we head to Habarana, where we check in to our hotel. It boasts wonderful, relaxed organic vegetable gardens and a swimming pool. After lunch, we head out to a local elephant safari, where we are guaranteed to see many elephants free to roam in a natural environment.

Day 5: Sigiriya Rock & Village Walk
Before sunrise, we visit the magnificent rock fortress of Sigiriya. Known as Lion Rock, this is a rare jewel among Sri Lanka’s many treasures. The site was originally the domain of King Kashyapa, whose aim was to build an impregnable fortress and, within it, a heavenly abode. Rising over dry plains, the challenging climb of 1200 footsteps up this flat-topped monodon ends with the most scenic birds-eye view of the emerald plains and leafy villages below. 

On the way down from the top, we can observe the smoothly glazed ‘Mirror Wall’ located a few steps away, which has sealed the expressions of ancient visitors inspired by the vibrant frescoes of the voluptuous, wasp-waisted maidens bearing flowers amidst the wilderness and ancient ruins. From here, we can arrange for a shoot with a local elephant in the foreground looking back to the majestic rock

Late afternoon, we take a tuk-tuk to visit a local village to some local snacks such as ‘Pol Roti’ and lunu miris being prepared in traditional kitchens before embarking on a village walk to glimpse the local people’s day-to-day life.

Day 6: Habarana — Dambulla — Kandy
Today, we set off very early with a packed breakfast towards Kandy, stopping at Dambulla to visit the interesting cave temple up the little hill. The cave temple, also known as the ‘Golden Temple of Dambulla,’ is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered to be the most significant and best-preserved cave temple complex in the country. It features an enviable collection of statues, stupas, carvings, and breathtaking paintings packed together in a small space. 

We can explore a more modern Buddhist complex at the bottom of the hill before visiting Dambulla’s Vegetable wholesale market. We will stop for lunch en route to Kandy and make one or two photo stops along the way. On arrival in Kandy, we check into our hotel, later in the evening, we visit the Temple of the Tooth in time for the Pooja ceremony before returning to our hotel for dinner and a well-earned rest.

Day 7: Kandy
This morning, we take a short drive from the bustling city center to a small inner village, where we embark on a walk that connects the legendary three temples of Embeke, Galdaladeniya, and Lankathilake, all hidden gracefully in the hills of Kandy. In between temples, we can embark on rewarding walks along rice fields bordering small villages. With views of greenery, we can watch the locals working in their gardens and the rice fields. Covering our knees and shoulders is compulsory when visiting the temple premises, so we should take a sarong or a shawl to cover ourselves.

Late afternoon,  we can explore the charming lake-side part of the city and the local market area before visiting the utterly charming Helga’s Folly: an eccentric and eclectic hotel covered from floor to ceiling and wall-to-wall artistic folly indeed.

Kandy remained independent while Sri Lanka was under Portuguese and Dutch rule, and it was only much later, during the British government, that the city finally fell to the most extensive empire in the world. Today, Kandy is a big city that retains touches of its colonial history in buildings such as the Queen's Hotel, a 19th-century neoclassical beauty. 

Day 8: Kandy — Nuwara Eliya
Today, we take a leisurely drive to Nuwara Eliya stopping en route to take in some landscape shots after checking in to our hotel we will visit a tea plantation and photograph workers both in the factory and in the field towards sunset.

Day 9: Nuwara Ellya — Ella (by train)
Today we take the picturesque train ride from Nanu Oya station to Ella, where we will use 2nd class tickets, so you can shoot from the window. Later in the afternoon, we can walk back to the famous Nine Acre bridge in the hope of photographing a later train crossing the bridge. Our hotel is well placed to explore Ella and its roof gives us a great viewing point of the hills surrounding Ella.

Day 10: Ella — Ahangama — Galle Fort
This morning we use our time to drive to Ahangama, where we can have lunch before having our first attempt to photograph the stilted fishermen. we will then check in to our hotel at Galle Fort but we think you will enjoy the fishermen so much that we will revisit them at sunset for a different feel to the shots.

Day 11:
Galle Fort
Early this morning, we look for surfers along the coastline. After breakfast, we set off on our drive to Galle, stopping en route at fisherman beaches and markets. Later, we explore the magnificent Galle Fort hotel with its cobbled streets and colonial homes, complete with their red-tiled roofs and still an inhabited living monument. In the evening we will use the lighthouse as foreground interest for sunset shots. ( You might want to bring a drone).

Day 12:
Galle — Colombo
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Colombo, the country’s largest city and capital, where there is a rich world to discover beyond the busy avenues. We check in to our hotel, and later in the afternoon, an interesting personality from Colombo joins us on a walk through the back roads of Colombo, together with his twist on street food.

We stroll through the Galle Face Green and to the inner roads of Slave Island, a perfect destination for street photography. Here, we meet many local people and experience how they spend their daily lives. Now is the time to experience all the city has to offer, as many architectural gems will be gone in a couple of years. We return to our hotel for dinner with the group in the evening.

Day 13:
Departure from Colombo
Today, you have free time until our driver transfers you to the airport for your flight home, unless you have chosen to spend another day or two in Colombo.

We hope you will have had an enjoyable and memorable experience, and look forward to seeing you again on another photographic adventure!