Sri Lanka: Women's Expedition

Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in Colombo. When you arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe take a walk to get familiar with your surroundings. After your meeting, get to know your group over a welcome dinner of traditional Sri Lankan cuisine – prepare for enticing aromas, bold spices and unique flavours.

Early this morning, travel to Aberdeen Waterfall in the tea-growing Nuwara Eliya district. Along the way, you’ll meet local women who run small roadside stalls. Hear about their daily lives and the stories of how they’ve worked to support their families as you share a snack and a cup of tea, then continue to the waterfall. You’ll go on a short hike along a forested trail to reach the 98-m-high falls, which are named after a nearby tea plantation. Take in the views of the surrounding hills as you approach the waterfall, listening to the relaxing sounds of birdsong and the rush of water growing closer. Later today, continue to the town of Hatton, where you’ll spend the night.

Set off early this morning to hike Stage 6 of the Pekoe Trail from Watagoda to Kotagala. Your hiking guides today will be local women who grew up in the communities along the trail. As you hike, hear these women’s stories – through training and experience, they have developed the skills to create careers in tourism and lead travellers along the trail, a role once considered unusual for women in their communities. Learn what it was like growing up in tea country, what it’s like to be a woman working in tourism in their community, their hopes and ambitions for the future and how tourism has positively impacted their communities. Your hike today takes you past highland lakes and along quiet village paths and tea estate trails, with impressive views of the plantations along the way. After the hike, you’ll have a free evening.

Leave Hatton early this morning and drive to Kandy, arriving just before midday. On the way, you’ll visit a tea factory to learn about the tea-making process and meet some of the locals who work in the industry. Learn about the important role women play in Sri Lankan tea production and see how the leaves are processed before enjoying a cup of Ceylon tea. Then, visit Sthree – a social enterprise providing vocational training, employment opportunities and community initiatives for women and people living with disabilities. Here, you’ll meet Ashwini, who will share how Sthree has impacted her life by allowing her and other local women to achieve financial independence. Have a traditional Sri Lankan lunch at Sthree Cafe, where women are trained and employed as cooks and servers. This cafe also funds the Women’s Development Centre’s shelter for survivors of gender-based violence. Next, head to a local woman’s home to watch a traditional Kandyan dance performance. Learn about the cultural significance behind the movements, music, costumes and rituals while hearing about her experience growing up in a family of dancers.

This morning, take part in a hands-on workshop led by a local female artisan where you’ll learn about the traditional art of batik – an ancient textile art in which fabric is dyed with colourful, intricate patterns. Learn about the process of waxing and dyeing, and hear the artisan's personal story. Then, travel to Dambulla to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dambulla Cave Temple. This active monastery is the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka and has been inhabited by Buddhist monks since the 3rd century BC. 2100 sq m of Buddhist murals cover the walls of the monastery’s five shrines, which are set into a natural cave system, and there are more than 150 Buddha statues on site. You’ll spend the next two nights at Sri Lanka’s first hotel fully staffed and managed by women, located near Kandalama Lake among a mango tree plantation.

Rise early this morning and walk to the Lion Rock Fortress – a nearly 200-m-tall rock structure. On the slopes and summit lie the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins of the ancient city of Sigiriya. Learn about the ancient civilisation who once lived here as you climb, take in views of the surrounding jungle from the summit and discover why the fortress is called ‘Lion Rock’. Next, head to the Zero Plastic Impact Centre – an Intrepid Foundation partner supporting almost 100 local artisans who produce plastic-free ornaments, household items and accessories. Return to the hotel for breakfast, then spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring at your own pace. Tonight, you’ll be welcomed by Indu and her family who will prepare a delicious Sri Lankan dinner for you in a small hut next to their home. Indu is a single mother with more than two decades of experience working in hospitality in Sri Lanka and overseas. Swap stories as you tuck into an authentic home-cooked meal.

Travel to the port city of Trincomalee this morning. This laidback city has great beaches and snorkelling spots and is rich in history with a number of ancient temples to explore, including the medieval Koneswaram Temple. This afternoon, join a group of local women for a palmyrah weaving workshop. Learn how to weave leaves from the native palmyrah trees into handicrafts like baskets and mats. Local teacher Chandrika runs these classes for women and people who are hearing impaired, helping to keep this traditional art form alive. Spend the evening experiencing the warm hospitality and culture of the local Muslim community. You’ll be hosted by a young woman who will teach you about henna painting and its important role in Muslim celebrations and special occasions. Then, you’ll have a traditional biryani dinner, followed by watalappam (a much-loved Sri Lankan Muslim dessert made with coconut milk, jaggery and warm spices like cardamom and nutmeg).

Start your day with a sunrise yoga session, taking some time to stretch and unwind. You'll have a bit of downtime this morning before making the drive north to Jaffna, where you’ll get your first glimpse of the distinct culture and character of Sri Lanka’s northern region. Make sure you have a good book or your favourite playlist ready for the drive.

Spend a free morning either relaxing or exploring at your own pace. Later today, you’ll take part in a cultural evening where you’ll meet local women and experience Jaffna’s rich culture and traditions. First, learn how to drape a saree and make a flower garland, then visit a local kovil (Hindu temple) to try out some traditional Bharatanatyam dance steps. You’ll have a typical Jaffna-style home-cooked dinner. Jaffna cuisine has been shaped by the region’s Tamil heritage, its dry climate and the ingredients available here in the north. While it shares many key ingredients with broader Sri Lankan cuisine, Jaffna cuisine is known for its unique use of spices, which are often dry roasted before being ground into rich, aromatic blends, giving Jaffna curries their distinctive depth and flavour. Ingredients like palmyrah, seafood and brinjal (eggplant) also play an important role in northern Sri Lankan cooking and might appear in this evening's meal.

See Jaffna from a different perspective on a city tour with a local woman on the back of her motorbike. For many women in northern Sri Lanka, riding a motorbike is part of everyday life. Your driver will take you past the city’s highlights including the Jaffna Public Library, the red-and-white-striped Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil and the Jaffna Fort. Later, you’ll travel to Wilpattu National Park, where you’ll settle into your accommodation for the night.

Venture out on a 4WD safari in Wilpattu National Park this morning. Search for deer, elephants, wild boar, sloth bears and leopards. You might also see birds like Eurasian spoonbills, purple herons, junglefowls, painted storks and great stone-curlews. Later, head to Kurunegala to visit Selyn – an organisation supporting female artisans and producing reusable sanitary pads for women and girls experiencing period poverty. Learn about Sri Lanka’s handloom traditions and meet the women who play a key part in keeping the craft alive. After, travel to the coastal city of Negombo. Tonight, you might like to join your group for an optional farewell dinner to celebrate the adventure you've shared.

With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.