Ancient Sri Lanka
A 7-day Sri Lanka heritage tour carved in stone, mist and devotion — from the Cultural Triangle to the Tamil north and the tea hills.
Overview
This 7-day Sri Lanka heritage tour keeps the island’s history out in the open — rock temples cut by hand, a palace balanced on top of a granite monolith, and a viaduct that still carries trains on nothing but stone and nerve. The route runs from the Cultural Triangle up to the Tamil north, then climbs into the tea hills. Bring decent shoes; a fair amount of this is uphill.
Experience Highlights
At a Glance
Take a look at this example travel flow to understand the pace and experiences included in this trip.
You begin underground, more or less. Five caverns cut into a granite outcrop, in continuous use since the first century BC, holding more than 150 Buddha figures and ceilings painted across every available inch.
Kasyapa built his palace on top of a granite plug in the fifth century, which tells you something about the man. The climb runs through water gardens and royal ramparts to a summit with 360 degrees of jungle.
The medieval capital, at its height between the 11th and 13th centuries and remarkably intact. Best covered by bicycle, along the shore of the Parakrama Samudra.
The north has its own history and doesn’t feel like anywhere else on the island. Portuguese ramparts, Tamil ritual, and food you will not find further south.
South into the highlands near Gampola for something genuinely strange: a narrow staircase spiralling up the outside of a tower, on a summit shared by four religions.
Into the tea country at Haputale, where a Tudor stone monastery sits in pine forest as though dropped there from Kent.
Finish at Demodara, near Ella. Steel was unavailable in wartime, so they built a thirty-metre viaduct from stone, brick and cement instead.
*All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates
What’s Included / Not Included
Book Your Trip Now
Let us know what kind of trip you want
Explore More Destinations
We’re proud to have helped thousands of travelers create unforgettable journeys.
Explore more destinations tailored to your interests.