Sri Lanka: An Adventure Like No Other
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Embark on an adventure with us as you raft, bike, swim, camp and hiking through this amazing country.
Welcome to Sri Lanka. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the island offers tranquil beaches, stunning greenery, extraordinary wildlife, mind-blowing tea plantations and sacred sights steeped in spirituality. With charming people, mysterious ruins and some of the best cuisine in the world, we can promise that memories will be made for life.
Embark on an adventure with us as you raft, bike, swim, camp and hiking through this amazing country. This scenic island is perfect for those who want to explore nature in the traditional way. Mix it up by relaxing on some of the continents most beautiful beaches after hiking some of the worlds most iconic rock formations and peaks.
The Itinerary below ticks off all the top adventure activities to do while in Sri Lanka. However, if you are itching for more, or want to create your own itinerary around your group's needs, we have the knowledge, contacts and expertise to organise a personalised trip like no other. Tell us what you want, and we will deliver.
Itinerary
Day 1
Colombo:
Welcome to Sri Lanka. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the island offers tranquil beaches, Greenery plantations, and sacred sights steeped in spirituality. With charming people, mysterious ruins and some of the best cuisine in the world, memories of it will be there with you all along.
Transfer to a Hotel in Colombo (Approx. 45 Min)
No meals included
Day 2
Dambulla:
Today we will visit the Dambulla’s famed rock cave temple.
This iconic Sri Lankan landmark is surrounded by spectacular Buddha-filled interior, which you will begin to notice long before you arrive in town. Despite its slightly commercial air, this remains an important holy place for the local people and should not be missed.
Once you are satisfied here, we will jump on board our jeep and embark on our Minneriya/Kaudulla National Park Safari where you will get the chance to see Sri Lanka's biggest land mammals: ELEPHANTS.
Included Activities:
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Minneriya/Kaudulla National Park Safari
Breakfast Included
Day 3
Dambulla:
Rising dramatically from the central plains, the enigmatic rocky outcrop of Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka's single most dramatic sight. Near-vertical walls soar to a flat-topped summit that contains the ruins of an ancient civilisation, thought to be once the epicentre of the short-lived kingdom of Kassapa.
Today the power is in your hands. The early morning can either take you through the spellbinding vistas across mist-wrapped forests before reaching the top of Sigiriya, or you can get your climbing boots on and complete epic Pidurangala hikes instead. A view from the top or a view from afar?
In the evening, we will visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
Included Activities:
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress or Pidurangala Rock hike
- Polonnaruwa
Breakfast Included
Day 4
Trincomalee:
Trincomalee (Trinco) sits on one of the world’s finest natural harbours. This historic city is old almost beyond reckoning, yet is home of the historic site of Gokana in the Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle), and the Shiva temple nestling at the top of Trikuta Hill. Most people just pass through the city on their way to the nearby beaches of Uppuveli and Nilaveli, but the town has some charm, plenty of history and an interesting melange of people.
Transfer to hotel and rest of the day at leisure
Breakfast Included
Day 5
Trincomalee:
Today's 5-hour activity offers you the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the biggest mammals in the world, the whales. Our guides are experts and will ensure that you have a successful whale/dolphin watching experience. Today you will begin to learn more about the whales that inhabit Sri Lankan waters and hopefully float alongside the playful local dolphins.
PLEASE NOTE: even though today's whale watching is approx. 5 hours, this activity is subject to change depending on the weather, availability of Whales/Dolphins. The best time to see these mammals is from May to September.
Activities Included:
- Whale Watching
Breakfast Included
Day 6
Knuckles Camping site:
As the sun rises, you will be transferred to the Knuckles Mountain Range that lies in central Sri Lanka.
Hidden within the districts of Matale and Kandy, this mountain range takes its name from a series of recumbent folds and peaks in the west of the massif, which resembles the knuckles of clenched fist when viewed from certain locations within the Kandy District.
After climbing up to your campsite, you will enjoy the stunning natural surroundings of the green district and cook up a storm by the fire.
Tonight you will retire to your tents to sleep. (camping)
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day 7
Kandy:
An early morning rise will be met with a beautiful trek up to the Knuckles summit on a trail through tea plantation, pygmy forests, cloud forests, and plateau grasslands. Endemic birds, mammals, freshwater creatures all live in and alongside in crystal clear water streams of this world heritage site. Enjoy the panoramic view at the Knuckles Summit, before we head off to the Hill county’s capital Kandy.
This evening observes locals worshipping in Kandy’s Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) - one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred shrines that houses a tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. Contrast the holy hush of the temple with the booming, energetic drums, before slipping off a local house for a cooking demonstration & traditional dinner.
Today is one of the best days of the trip.
Included Activities:
- Knuckles Mountain Range Trek
- Temple of the Tooth
- Cooking demonstration
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day 8
Ella:
The moment your Instagram has been waiting for! All aboard the world-renowned scenic train ride from the City of Kings, through the beauteous mountains of tropical Sri Lanka. Feast your eyes on the colourful scenery and local villages passing by. Get your camera's ready because you don't want to miss this.
Disembark at Ella and finish your tour with a walk through the delightful little town where we will find a good dining spot for some local food and drinks.
Included Activities:
- Train ride from Kandy to Ella (subjected to availability)
Breakfast Included
Day 9
Nuwara Eliya:
After a scrumptious breakfast, we head towards Mini Adams Peak for the main trek of the trip. After reaching the top, our guides will head towards the tea factory in Nuwara Eliya to witness leaves becoming finer dust of tea.
Included Activities:
- Mini Adam’s Peak climb
- Tea Factory Visit
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day 10
Negombo:
Today we depart as soon we have breakfast and stop at Kitulgala for a Level III water rafting experience!!! HELL YEAH!!
I hope you will adventure because today we plan to get your heart racing! After you have dried off, we will head towards our final night in Sri Lanka to the fishing village of Negombo.
Included Activities:
- White Water Rafting
Breakfast Included
Day 11
Negombo:
Today is a full day of leisure. You will get a chance to experience the hotel pool and sunset along the beach
Breakfast Included
Day 12
Departure:
Your Sri Lanka adventure part comes to an end. Transfer to Airport
Breakfast Included
Accommodation
Included
- 11 Breakfasts / 03 Dinners
- Hotel 11 x Nights
- Air-Conditioned Vehicle Transfers Throughout
- English Speaking Chauffeur, Local Guide and Tour Leader
- All Permits For National Parks / Safaris and Camp Sites
- White Water Rafting
- Mini/ Little Adams Peak Hike
- Dambulla Cave Temple Entry
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress or Pidurangala Rock hike
- Minneriya/Kaudulla National Park Safari
- Whale Watching Tour
- Knuckles Mountain Summit
- Temple of the Tooth
- Local Cooking Demonstration
- Train ride from Kandy to Ella
- Tea Factory Visit
Excluded
- International airport departure tax
- Visas required
- Flights
- Late check-out at hotels
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks with included lunches and dinners
- Tips for Leaders, Guide and Driver
- Expenditure of personal nature
- Personal Insurance
- Optional activities
Essential Information
Visa:
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Tourism and government officials had approved a proposal to grant visa-free entry to Sri Lanka, for multiple countries across the world, which was set to begin May 1st, 2019.
Unfortunately, this service has been postponed in consideration of the current security situation. Please check with the Sri Lanka Embassy or Consulate in your country for up-to-date visa information.
Due to the heightened security threat, most nationalities will require a visa to visit Sri Lanka. The fee is approximately $35 USD and an E-Visa can be obtained at the following website: www.eta.gov.lk
For the most up to date information on visa requirements, we recommend you contact the Sri Lankan embassy in your country or visit the official website.
Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate in any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your Tour leader/ local representative, who will take note of your insurance details and emergency contact number. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability of luggage, cancellation, curtailment and loss and personal effects, alongside covid-19 cover.
If you would like to obtain cover for your trip please feel free to contact specialist Insurance Brokers, Campbell Irvine Direct for a quote. GoKo Travels is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd who are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority .
Covid-19:
Please click here to learn more about what we do to keep you safe while on a GoKo run tour.
For more up to date information regarding the current travel restrictions within Sri Lanka, please click here
Addtionally, you can email: info@gokotravels.com and a GoKo Travel Manager will get back to you as soon possible with all the relevant information.
Travel With Confidence:
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, the safety and wellbeing of all of our travellers, leaders, suppliers and staff remains our top priority. Not only have we updated our booking policies so you can flexibly amend booking arrangements before departure and get the most out of your holidays while away, we have also introduced new measures and safety guidelines so you can travel with GoKo Travels safely and securely.
What does this new booking policy mean for me?:
Fully Flexible bookings for peace of mind - We understand that sometimes plans change. That’s why GoKo Travels have updated our booking policies, so you now have full flexibility to change your travel plans if needed.
Our flexible booking policy includes:
(a) Free date changes up to 45days prior to departure - with no interest or added fees
(b) Full refund giving if you have to cancel the trip due to any COVID-19 related issues or international restrictions.
(c) You can now lock in your trip with a small refundable deposit and then pay the rest in instalments whenever you like, with no interest or fees.
Booking Terms:
Please note: This trip must receive a minimum of three reservations forty-five days prior to the departure date. In the unlikely event that we do not receive three or more bookings for each departure, you will have two options:
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You will be able to change dates at no additional cost to you (flexibility up to 3 years
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Full refund will be given.
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Book with Confidence
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Full Flexibility
Free date changes and cancellations up to 45-days before departure on the majority of our holidays
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Your Money is Safe
Full financial Protection on all of our bookings so you can travel with piece of mind.
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COVID-19 Commitment
Full refund given if you have to cancel the trip due to any COVID-19 related issues or international restrictions.
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Travelling Safely
When you travel with us you can be confident that all of our holidays meet COVID-19 safety regulations.
Giving Back
As part of our commitment to preserving planet earth, we donate 3% of our profits to GoKo Travel's registered non-for-profit, "The GoKo Earth Preservation".
The GoKo Earth Preservation has been set up to protect and preserve the natural habitats of our planet and to conserve and enhance the biodiversity of threatened environments and endangered species around the globe. This is achieved through rewilding, reforestation and marine conservation projects, alongside local community support.
Securing A Rainforest Reserve
Support the purchase of our very own GoKo Rainforest reserve - preserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species in the world's most important habitat.
Assisting Marine Conservation
With your help, we can buy boats to support marine conservation; securing the future for our fragile oceans and the wonderful beings that inhabit them.
Creating New National Parks
By helping with the creation of new parks, we can support local economies, empower native communities and put healthy landscapes into permanent protection.
Looking to Carbon Offset?
Although all of our GoKo holidays promise to warm your hearts, we don’t want it to contribute to warming the planet.
Upon request, we can help you go Carbon Neutral. Thanks for our contacts, we can support a 3-step carbon offset scheme to calculate and neutralise your holiday footprint, allowing you to travel conscious free. This covers every step of the journey where you travel with us, from international flights to hotel heating, transport, food and more.
If requested, the GoKo Carbon Offsetting scheme does not focus on just planting trees, but rather the purchasing, persevering and protecting standing forests from deforestation and degradation - helping revive forests back to full health and avoiding the release of stored carbon. This also enables the regeneration of degraded habitats, which gradually re-absorb atmospheric CO2.
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