Sri Lanka - North to South Photo Tour - itinerary

Our photographic journey through Sri Lanka encompasses the island's extraordinary diversity, from ancient Buddhist kingdoms to colonial fortresses. We witness mist-shrouded mountains and golden beaches, offering unparallelled visual opportunities in a compact tropical paradise rich with culture and natural beauty.

Beginning in coastal Negombo, we capture traditional fishing culture before exploring the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Trincomalee. Here, massive white dagobas, sacred Bo trees, and colonial remnants provide both architectural grandeur and scenes of living devotion against Sri Lanka's varied landscapes.

The cultural heart reveals itself through Sigiriya Rock Fortress rising dramatically from Habarana's plains, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, and Nuwara Eliya's colonial charm. Ella's mountain setting offers breathtaking opportunities to photograph famous blue trains crossing historic viaducts against verdant highlands.

Our adventure concludes where Ahangama's iconic stilted fishermen create silhouettes against dramatic sunsets, Galle Fort's preserved colonial streets transport us through time, and Colombo's vibrant urban energy showcases the island's evolving culture through street photography and architectural documentation.

Day 1:
Arrival in Colombo — Negombo
We will arrange for you to be picked up from the airport and taken to our beachfront hotel in Negombo. Nathan runs an optional pre-tour technical workshop from around 3-5pm for those new to travel photography or who feel they would benefit from a refresher course (please confirm your interest). There’s a meet ‘n’ greet with Nathan at the hotel starting at around 6pm, followed by drinks and dinner with the group.

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

Later in the morning, we drive to Anuradhapura and, after lunch, we visit Mihintale, a nearby mountain peak that is 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
We begin our day with a visit to 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, check in to our hotel and spend a little time relaxing by the beach. Later this 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
We set out early this morning, looking for local fishermen throwing their nets as the sun rises over our east-facing hotel beach. After breakfast, we explore Trincomalee, which feels like it has had 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, and check in to our hotel, which boasts wonderful, relaxed organic vegetable gardens and a swimming pool. After lunch, we head out to a local elephant safari, where we are confident that we’ll see many elephants that are free to roam in a natural environment.

Day 5: Sigiriya Rock & Village Walk
Before sunrise, we visit the magnificent rock fortress of Sigiriya — known locally 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, 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

Later in the 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
We set off very early today with a packed breakfast, heading towards Kandy and stopping at Dambulla to visit the interesting cave temple located up the little hill. The 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, as well as 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 wholesale vegetable market. We stop for lunch en route to Kandy and make one or two photo stops along the way, as and when opportunities present themselves. On arrival in Kandy, we check into our hotel and, 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 centre to a small inner village, where we set off 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 enjoy rewarding walks along the rice fields that border the neighbouring small villages. With views of the 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 this afternoon, we explore the charming lakeside district and the local market area, before visiting the extremely charming Helga’s Folly: an eccentric and eclectic hotel that’s covered from floor to ceiling and wall-to-wall with 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, a city in the centrally-located tea country hills that offers stunning colonial architecture and misty tea plantations staffed with local tea pickers. We stop en route to take in some landscape shots and, after checking in to our hotel, we 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 a picturesque train ride from Nanu Oya station to Ella, using second class tickets so that we 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 surrounding hills.

Day 10: Ella — Ahangama — Galle Fort
After breakfast this morning, we check out from our hotel and set off on a four-hour drive to Ahangama, stopping en route as usual when photo opportunities present themselves. After a late lunch, we embark on our first attempt to photograph the famous stilted fishermen, before driving on to Galle where we can arrive at the local fishing beach for the full sunset.

Day 11:
Galle Fort
After breakfast this morning, we head directly to the magnificent Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the 16th century. This well-preserved colonial stronghold features a labyrinth of cobbled streets, imposing ramparts and elegant red-tiled colonial homes where the local people continue to live and work.

As evening approaches, we position ourselves near the iconic whitewashed lighthouse, using its silhouette to provide compelling foreground interest for some spectacular sunset compositions. You might even want to bring a drone with you.

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 luxury seaside hotel and, later in the afternoon, an interesting personality from Colombo joins us on a walk through the back roads of Colombo, bringing a special twist on the local street food.

We stroll through the Galle Face Green and the inner roads of Slave Island, which is 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 of its architectural gems will probably be gone in a couple of years. We return to our hotel for drinks and 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!