A Taste of Northern Sri Lanka - Jaffna to Colombo

Our tour starts today in Negombo, a coastal town that's famous for its fishing industry and golden sands. The perfect introduction to Sri Lankan life, Negombo is a busy coastal town with a lively fish market and traditional ketti-maran (catamaran) fishing boats scudding across the waters - the capital, Colombo, is a short distance away, too. Head down to the water to catch the sunset and spot locals bringing in the day's catch. For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Negombo at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), which is a 30-minute drive from our hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to head to the beach or make use of the hotel facilities which include a swimming pool overlooking the Indian Ocean.

We rise super early this morning for our train ride to Jaffna, located in the far north of the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. First of all we drive to Colombo train station to board and the train departs at around 5:45am. After a journey of around 7 hours we reach Jaffna and head the short distance to our hotel. Later this afternoon we will head out to the countryside on the outskirts and learn all about the traditional art of Palmyrah toddy tapping, where skilled local tappers climb towering palms to harvest the fresh sap that has been an integral part of Jaffna's culture and livelihood for generations. Our Sri Lanka food tour starts in earnest this evening in the heart of Sri Lanka's Tamil community - distinct from the rest of the island. Jaffna is best known for its unique cuisine and historic Hindu temples and, over the next couple of days, we'll get an insight into the local culture and, of course, food. For dinner we dive straight into Tamil cuisine at a local's home where our host treats us to Jaffna specialities such as seafood broth (kool), mutton curry, vegetable curries, pittu, sambal and roti.

Today, we head out on a tour to explore Jaffna. Starting on foot, we'll walk the short distance to Jaffna Fort. Built in 1618 when the Portuguese took the city, the fort's impressive walls are largely intact and still form a barrier to anyone trying to enter the harbour. We'll continue on to Jaffna Public Library, a beautifully restored landmark. Next, we drive the short distance to our cooking demonstration. We'll work up an appetite as we're shown how to make various dishes. Then, we'll sit down to eat (lunch today is included), sampling dishes such as crab curry, brinjal fry and freshly made sambal. The sightseeing continues after lunch with a visit to Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil temple, the largest and most important Hindu temple in the area. We'll head inside to learn about Hindu worshiping practices. Next, we'll visit Rio Ice Cream shop, a local institution, to try their flavours. At the end of the day our our leader will show us around the colourful Jaffna Market - a bustling hub of local life and food. We'll meet vendors and sample regional treats like Palmyra jaggery, dried seafood, fresh chillies and Jaffna mangoes. Afterwards, you're free to relax at the hotel or join the leader at a very simple local restaurant for dinner.

We have an early start this morning as we drive to Kurikadduwan Jetty at the northern tip of the Jaffna Peninsula to catch our simple charter boat across Palk Strait to the remote island of Delft - a wind-swept coral outpost. Although inhabited, it has a deserted feel to it and once we get away from the port area, we are likely to see the wild Delft ponies and Baobab trees. We'll explore the island by bus, visiting unusual landmarks and coastal viewpoints. In the afternoon, we move on to Nagadeepa Island, an important place of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Buddhists. The latter, revere the Rajayathana stupa built at the place where the Buddha intervened between two warring kings during his second visit to Sri Lanka. The former, visit the brightly coloured Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil Temple, an island highlight known for its elaborate Dravidian architecture and vibrant atmosphere. This evening, we visit a traditional Jaffna vegetarian restaurant to try a flavourful classic Tamil style thali meal served with a variety of curries, lentils, sambals, pickles and seasonal vegetables. This is a simple but deeply rooted dining experience that reflects the strong vegetarian and South Indian-influenced food heritage of this region.

We leave Jaffna after breakfast this morning and travel to Vavuniya by train - this is a classic Sri Lankan train journey that lets us rub shoulders with the locals, and takes around two-and-a-half-hours. Please note, if the train is delayed, we'll travel by chartered bus instead. Vavuniya is the gateway between Sri Lanka's north and the rest of the island, where Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala influences meet. We stop for lunch (not included) at a local restaurant in the heart of the town, with an extensive menu and culturally diverse mix of dishes. In the afternoon, we'll drive onwards to Trincomalee, two hours away. This east-coast town is situated in a beautiful spot, straddling a narrow peninsula between the Indian Ocean and a huge natural harbour. On the way into town, we visit Koneswaram Hindu Temple, a dramatic cliff-top shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, overlooking the turquoise waters of Trincomalee Bay. Our base for the next couple of nights is a hotel on the beach in the coastal suburbs around 16 kms from town.

We have a very early start this morning as we drive to Dutch Bay in time to watch the fishing boats return with their morning catch. It's a lively sight as nets are hauled in and boats are guided safely ashore. From there, we visit the nearby wholesale fish market, where the day's catch is sorted, weighed and auctioned in a bustling flurry of activity, a real window into Trincomalee's fishing community. The plan is to sample the day's catch at a nearby local restaurant, with a brunch or early lunch of freshly prepared seafood with flavours that are simple and fresh. There will be veggie curry and rice for vegetarians. The afternoon is left free for you to head in to town to explore and enjoy its mix of sleepy backstreets, colonial villas, beaches, mosques, churches and temples. Alternatively, there is the option take a snorkelling trip to Pigeon Island (available from May to September), famed for its powdery white sands, shallow reef and coral gardens. Your tour leader will offer you this option if it's available during your visit.

We leave the beaches behind today and drive to the north-central plains of Sri Lanka - once known as the Land of the Kings, but nowadays called the Cultural Triangle. It was here that the ancient kingdoms of Sri Lanka flourished. Our destination is the Dambulla Caves (a journey time of around two hours). The Dambulla Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a series of grottos that were turned into temples, dating back to the 1st century BC. They still attract scores of worshippers today. After climbing the hill, we'll visit five separate caves, containing a large number of Buddha images, as well as sculptures of Hindu Gods. After some free time for lunch and relaxing at the hotel, we head out for a tour of a paddy field. After a short ride on a trailer pulled by a landmaster tractor through the paddy fields, we'll meet and chat with a local farmer to get insight into the rice growing traditions that shape Sri Lanka's cuisine. If possible, we'll also visit a traditional rice mill.

We'll have another very early start this morning as we plan to climb Sigiriya ahead of the crowds and while it's still relatively cool. Rising dramatically from the central plains, the UNESCO-protected ruins of this 5th-century 'Sky Fortress' are one of Sri Lanka's major attractions and an impressive feat of engineering skill. The fortress was built in just seven years as a fortified palace atop the granite peak, to protect the reign of merciless King Kassapa who had assassinated his father and deposed his brother. Before our final ascent to the summit, we'll pass between a set of enormous lion paws carved out of the rock - all that remains of an ancient gateway that gave Sigiriya, the 'Lion Rock', its name. From here a series of switchback steel stairways ascend to the top. Once at the 200-metre/656-foot summit, we can take in the magnificent views of the surrounding jungle and countryside. We return to our hotel in time for a late breakfast. After a chance to have breakfast and freshen up back at the hotel, we'll drive to a typical local village for a hands-on Sri Lankan cooking demonstration. We'll get to see how traditional Sinhalese dishes are prepared using fresh local ingredients, from fragrant curries to coconut based sides. After enjoying this delicious local lunch, we'll return to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is left free to relax. For those interested (if elephants are present at either Minneriya or Kaudulla National Parks) there will be the option to take a late-afternoon safari, leaving the hotel around 3pm. This evening, we'll join our tour leader to visit a local roadside village eatery serving up everyday Sri Lankan classics like rice and curry, Sri Lankan fried rice, noodles, kottu roti, Godamba roti and more.

Beginning the final section of our journey today, we'll drive to Colombo, a journey of around four hours. En route, we'll stop to visit a working coconut estate, offering an insight into Sri Lanka's huge coconut industry and the wide range of products derived from the tree. We'll get to observe daily estate life, interact with staff, and stroll shaded trails while also learning about other sub-crops grown alongside the palms. The coconut plays an important role in Sri Lankan cuisine and at the end of our visit we have a freshly prepared Sri Lankan rice and curry meal at the coconut estate before completing our journey to the capital. Colombo, the vibrant capital city of Sri Lanka, is a bustling metropolis that blends modernity with rich colonial heritage. The city offers vibrant markets, ancient temples and picturesque urban parks like Viharamahadevi Park. Colombo's coastal promenade, Galle Face Green, provides stunning sunset views over the Indian Ocean. The remainder of the afternoon is left free. For dinner this evening we head to one of the iconic local fast food chains, for a simple dinner and glimpse into Colombo's everyday urban food culture, known for its submarines, beef chops and other uniquely local takes on comfort food.

No Sri Lanka food tour would be complete without talking about and trying the tea. This morning we visit a tea packaging facility on the outskirts of Colombo for a tasting experience, an introduction to Sri Lanka's tea industry and how the product is prepared for export. Aside from the diversity offered by Sinhalese, Muslim and Tamil cultures, there are also influences from the Dutch, Portuguese and British. For lunch today you can try a lamprais, a Dutch Burgher-influenced dish consisting of rice, meats and condiments wrapped in a banana leaf and baked, creating deep, layered flavours. Originating from Sri Lanka's Burgher community, descendants of Dutch and Portuguese settlers, the dish reflects Colombo's colonial era fusion of European and local culinary traditions. The rest of the afternoon is free and or those interested you can join the tour leader for a Colombo city tour by bus, ending at the Galle Face Hotel for a sunset beer or cup of tea.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Colombo. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Colombo at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), which is a one hour drive from our hotel.