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SHORTLIST

Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure

Hungry for adventure? This food-focused journey through Sri Lanka hits the spot. Explore the fish market in Negombo, take part in a Sinhalese cooking class in a local home in Kandy, tuck into a Tamil family lunch in Haputale and enjoy a cooking demonstration with a fisherman’s family in Mirissa. Lie back on the coast, cool down in the highlands and weave through the streets of the buzzing capital. When you’re not busy eating, you’ll explore the rich culture of Sri Lanka – think elaborate temples, ancient fortresses and wildlife-filled countryside.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1.Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Intrepid trip commences. This has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Intrepid and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.

2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

3. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.

4. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.

5. Train tickets are in very high demand. We always try our best to secure tickets, but if we cannot book them, you will continue your journey by private vehicle.

Tour details
Tour Provider Intrepid Travel
Price From
$2,876
Number of Days
12
Start Location
Negombo, Sri Lanka
End Location
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Age Range
Avg. 30+
Group Size
1 to 12
Tour Style
Standard
Tour Themes
Food
Physical Rating
Easy to Moderate
Itinerary Open all
Day 1: Negombo
Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Living up to its nickname of the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, this country is peppered with palm beaches and fascinating ancient sites. It’s also a food lover’s paradise – with Indian, Portuguese, Malay, English, Arab and Dutch influences. Your adventure begins in the seaside city of Negombo, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers at a 6 pm welcome meeting. Spend your first night on the coastline, getting to know your fellow travellers and watching the fishing boats float by.
Day 2: Dambulla
Wake early this morning to catch the action at the Negombo fish market. Situated at the northern end of a lagoon, the market is renowned for lobsters, crabs and prawns. Continue to a coconut plantation to discover why this super food is so central to life in Sri Lanka. Learn how all parts of the tree play an important role in daily life, sip the water of a king coconut, watch ‘toddy tappers’ extract the palm wine from the coconut sap and taste the results. Enjoy a Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch before heading inland to Dambulla, home to ornate cave temples and surrounded by natural wonders and historic sites. Your evening is free to explore. You may like to join your leader on an optional street food crawl for an introduction to some staple Sri Lankan 'short eats' (snack food), including famous hoppers (bowl-shaped savoury pancakes).
Day 3: Dambulla
After breakfast, make the short drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya. Here, you can climb to the top of Lion Rock and visit the ancient fortress complex. The 200 m high ancient remains of a defensive capital, Lion Rock houses fifth-century frescos, terraced gardens and fountains. Next, see the age-old traditions at a nearby chena cultivation area, which is one of the oldest forms of agriculture known to humans. It’s particularly popular in the dry zone of the country where it rains for only a few months of the year, and principal crops are tropical vegetables, cereals, grains, yams and corn. Then, feast on tropical vegetables, curry made with tapioca and fried fish caught in the nearby lake for lunch. In the late afternoon, return to Dambulla to explore the wholesale market. Boasting an incredible array of fresh food, much of which is transported to Colombo, this is the perfect place to get a sense of Sri Lanka's agricultural diversity. The rest of the evening is free for your own adventures.
Day 4: Kandy
Located high on a cliff face are the impressive Dambulla Cave Temples. You’ll have time to explore these this morning and admire the many Buddha images, frescs and paintings. On the way to the physical and spiritual heart of the country and the former home of the last Sri Lankan king, stop for lunch at a spice garden in the renowned spice-growing region of Matale. Sri Lankans are the masters of spice and here you can learn how spices aren’t just used in food, but also cosmetics and ayurvedic medicine. Smell the cumin, cinnamon and curry leaves before tasting pumpkin curry flavoured with aromatic fenugreek, with a side of dry chilli sambol and the uniquely Sri Lankan coconut roti. Continue to Kandy, home to a lake, old shops, a bustling market and some great restaurants. This evening, observe 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. With your free evening, perhaps follow the sound of rhythmic chopping to watch a chef transform a ball of dough into a huge sheet of wafer-thin roti, skilfully slice, griddle, mix with vegetables and spices and create kottu roti.
Day 5: Kandy
Kick off the day with a guided walk around Kandy's busy city centre, then visit a tea factory. After, take a tour of the Central Market and samples of local fresh fruits. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. Kandy is home to a National Museum and several monasteries, and there are many scenic walks around town. In the early evening, join a Sinhalese family to get your sugar fix with a Kandyan sweet-filled Sri Lankan dinner and cooking class. Try your hand at crafting string hoppers, pressing a smooth rice dough into noodle-thin strands to form perfect discs (this is an art that takes some practice to master!), try a chicken curry made with spice-infused coconut milk, closer to a Thai curry than a North Indian one. Then fill up on specialty sweets inspired by Dutch and Portuguese dessert traditions.
Day 6: Bandarawela
Have your camera at the ready and take a scenic journey into the highlands to Bandarawela. Journey past waterfalls, villages and up through the mountains on the way to this town in the cool highlands, once popular with British plantation managers. Look down over the bright green tea bushes and vegetable gardens. Tonight, take a look behind closed doors and experience a slice of local life when you’re invited into a local home for a cooking demonstration followed by a traditional dinner.
Day 7: Bandarawela
Rise early and head to the region's tea plantations. Take a hike through the tea fields, learning about the country’s most important export and meet local tea pickers who will show you their craft and let you have a go at picking and weighing tea. After, travel out to the town of Haputale for a home-cooked lunch with a Tamil family. Tear into traditional Tamil cuisine with dosa (a crispy rice pancake) and idli (a savoury steamed rice cake served with curry sauces or chutneys). Return to Bandarawela in the late afternoon and soak up the rural charm of the town and the beautiful surrounding landscapes.
Day 8: Yala/Udawalawe National Park
Drive out to the wilderness of Yala National Park (or Udawalawe National Park in the off season). Encompassing a variety of diverse ecosystems, the park has an impressive array of wildlife, including sloth bears and lots of birds. In the evening, take a safari and search for the elusive leopards that lounge in trees or stalk through the brush, crocodiles that patrol the river or wild elephants that graze across the grasslands.
Day 9: Mirissa
Start the day by discovering one of Sri Lanka's favourite ingredients. Try buffalo curd, served in bright terracotta pots with golden treacle, which is often eaten as a snack or as an accompaniment to meals or as a dessert. On the way to the beach village of Mirissa, have lunch of biryani and watalappam (coconut custard pudding). Spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring the golden sands of Sri Lanka’s southern coastline. You may like to take a bicycle ride or tuk-tuk to watch colourful fishing boats bring back their loads of fresh fish to sell along the shore.
Day 10: Mirissa
Gain a unique insight into local life this morning when you meet with a local fisherman and learn about the craft, and how the lives of fisherman have changed since the tsunami. Enjoy the freshest seafood lunch with a fisherman's family – likely, a crab curry. Continue to the wonderfully preserved township of Galle, with a blend of European architecture and South Asian traditions. In the evening, take a tour of the Royal Dutch Fort, exploring the winding maze of gallery-filled narrow streets and 400 years of rich history. Return to Mirissa for the night.
Day 11: Colombo
Head north for the final stop on your food adventure, Colombo – Sri Lanka’s commercial heart. This city is a mix of street markets, historic buildings, museums, restaurants and great shopping. Snack your way through on an included city tour around lanes filled with short eats and popular local eateries, finishing at Galle Face Beach, famous for its street food. Enjoy a final Dutch Burgher-influenced meal and celebrate the end of your food adventure with new friends.
Day 12: Colombo
Your food adventure in Sri Lanka comes to an end this morning. There are no activities planned for this final day and you are free to leave at any time.
Inclusions
  • Meals: 10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners.
  • Transport: Private vehicle, train, jeep.
  • Accommodation: Hotel (11 nts).
  • Negombo - Fish market.
  • Madampe - Coconut plantation visit.
  • Dambulla - Wholesale Markets tour.
  • Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit.
  • Sigiriya - Chena Cultivation tour by jeep.
  • Dambulla - Cave Temples.
  • Matale - Spice Garden tour and lunch.
  • Kandy - Temple of the Tooth.
  • Kandy - Cooking Class in a Sinhalese Home.
  • Kandy - Tea factory visit.
  • Kandy - Market wander & tastings.
  • Bandarawela - Cooking demonstration & local meal.
  • Kandy - Scenic train ride from Kandy to Bandarawela.
  • Haputale - Tamil family lunch.
  • Bandarawela - Hike through tea fields.
  • Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari.
  • Tissamaharama - Curd and treacle tasting.
  • Weligama - Home-cooked meal.
  • Mirissa - Fisherman's Cooking Demonstration and Lunch.
  • Galle - Dutch Fort.
  • Galle - Walking tour.
  • Colombo - City tour by bus.
  • Colombo - Dutch Burgher Lunch.
  • Colombo - Street food.
Departure dates
All pp pricing is based on twin share occupancy. Single supplements will apply
Start End Availability Price NZD
18 Apr 2025 29 Apr 2025 7 $3,128
25 Apr 2025 06 May 2025 4 $3,600
02 May 2025 13 May 2025 6 $3,298
16 May 2025 27 May 2025 8 $2,876
20 Jun 2025 01 Jul 2025 8 $3,455
25 Jul 2025 05 Aug 2025 7 $3,455
01 Aug 2025 12 Aug 2025 11 $3,455
15 Aug 2025 26 Aug 2025 10 $3,282
22 Aug 2025 02 Sep 2025 5 $3,455
05 Sep 2025 16 Sep 2025 10 $3,455
12 Sep 2025 23 Sep 2025 11 $3,455
03 Oct 2025 14 Oct 2025 10 $3,530
17 Oct 2025 28 Oct 2025 10 $3,605
24 Oct 2025 04 Nov 2025 10 $3,530
07 Nov 2025 18 Nov 2025 10 $3,595
21 Nov 2025 02 Dec 2025 12 $3,595
28 Nov 2025 09 Dec 2025 11 $3,595
05 Dec 2025 16 Dec 2025 10 $3,595
12 Dec 2025 23 Dec 2025 11 $3,595
19 Dec 2025 30 Dec 2025 8 $3,810
23 Dec 2025 03 Jan 2026 11 $3,730
26 Dec 2025 06 Jan 2026 11 $3,730
30 Dec 2025 10 Jan 2026 10 $3,730
02 Jan 2026 13 Jan 2026 12 $4,105
06 Jan 2026 17 Jan 2026 9 $4,105
16 Jan 2026 27 Jan 2026 12 $3,955
23 Jan 2026 03 Feb 2026 12 $3,955
30 Jan 2026 10 Feb 2026 12 $3,955
06 Feb 2026 17 Feb 2026 12 $3,455
13 Feb 2026 24 Feb 2026 12 $4,105
20 Feb 2026 03 Mar 2026 12 $3,455
27 Feb 2026 10 Mar 2026 12 $4,105
06 Mar 2026 17 Mar 2026 12 $4,105
13 Mar 2026 24 Mar 2026 12 $4,105
20 Mar 2026 31 Mar 2026 12 $3,455
27 Mar 2026 07 Apr 2026 6 $4,165
31 Mar 2026 11 Apr 2026 12 $3,455
03 Apr 2026 14 Apr 2026 12 $4,105
10 Apr 2026 21 Apr 2026 12 $3,955
17 Apr 2026 28 Apr 2026 12 $3,455
24 Apr 2026 05 May 2026 12 $3,955
08 May 2026 19 May 2026 12 $3,455
22 May 2026 02 Jun 2026 12 $3,455
12 Jun 2026 23 Jun 2026 12 $3,800
03 Jul 2026 14 Jul 2026 12 $3,455
17 Jul 2026 28 Jul 2026 12 $3,800
31 Jul 2026 11 Aug 2026 12 $3,800
07 Aug 2026 18 Aug 2026 12 $3,455
14 Aug 2026 25 Aug 2026 12 $3,955
21 Aug 2026 01 Sep 2026 12 $3,955
04 Sep 2026 15 Sep 2026 12 $3,800
11 Sep 2026 22 Sep 2026 12 $3,800
25 Sep 2026 06 Oct 2026 12 $3,800
09 Oct 2026 20 Oct 2026 12 $3,455
23 Oct 2026 03 Nov 2026 12 $3,800
06 Nov 2026 17 Nov 2026 12 $3,955
13 Nov 2026 24 Nov 2026 12 $3,955
20 Nov 2026 01 Dec 2026 12 $3,455
24 Nov 2026 05 Dec 2026 12 $3,455
27 Nov 2026 08 Dec 2026 12 $3,955
04 Dec 2026 15 Dec 2026 12 $3,955
11 Dec 2026 22 Dec 2026 12 $3,955
18 Dec 2026 29 Dec 2026 12 $4,105
22 Dec 2026 02 Jan 2027 12 $4,105
25 Dec 2026 05 Jan 2027 12 $4,105
29 Dec 2026 09 Jan 2027 12 $4,105
01 Jan 2027 12 Jan 2027 12 $3,915
05 Jan 2027 16 Jan 2027 12 $3,915
15 Jan 2027 26 Jan 2027 12 $3,915
22 Jan 2027 02 Feb 2027 12 $3,775
29 Jan 2027 09 Feb 2027 12 $3,775
05 Feb 2027 16 Feb 2027 12 $3,775
12 Feb 2027 23 Feb 2027 12 $3,775
19 Feb 2027 02 Mar 2027 12 $3,625
26 Feb 2027 09 Mar 2027 12 $3,625
05 Mar 2027 16 Mar 2027 12 $3,625
12 Mar 2027 23 Mar 2027 12 $3,775
19 Mar 2027 30 Mar 2027 12 $3,915
26 Mar 2027 06 Apr 2027 12 $3,915
30 Mar 2027 10 Apr 2027 12 $3,915
02 Apr 2027 13 Apr 2027 12 $3,625
09 Apr 2027 20 Apr 2027 12 $3,625
16 Apr 2027 27 Apr 2027 12 $3,625
23 Apr 2027 04 May 2027 12 $3,625
07 May 2027 18 May 2027 12 $3,625
21 May 2027 01 Jun 2027 12 $3,625
11 Jun 2027 22 Jun 2027 12 $3,625
02 Jul 2027 13 Jul 2027 12 $3,625
16 Jul 2027 27 Jul 2027 12 $3,625
30 Jul 2027 10 Aug 2027 12 $3,625
06 Aug 2027 17 Aug 2027 12 $3,775
13 Aug 2027 24 Aug 2027 12 $3,915
20 Aug 2027 31 Aug 2027 12 $3,915
03 Sep 2027 14 Sep 2027 12 $3,915
10 Sep 2027 21 Sep 2027 12 $3,915
24 Sep 2027 05 Oct 2027 12 $3,775
08 Oct 2027 19 Oct 2027 12 $3,625
22 Oct 2027 02 Nov 2027 12 $3,625
05 Nov 2027 16 Nov 2027 12 $3,775
12 Nov 2027 23 Nov 2027 12 $3,775
19 Nov 2027 30 Nov 2027 12 $3,775
23 Nov 2027 04 Dec 2027 12 $3,775
26 Nov 2027 07 Dec 2027 12 $3,775
03 Dec 2027 14 Dec 2027 12 $3,775
10 Dec 2027 21 Dec 2027 12 $3,775
17 Dec 2027 28 Dec 2027 12 $3,915
21 Dec 2027 01 Jan 2028 12 $3,915
24 Dec 2027 04 Jan 2028 12 $3,915
28 Dec 2027 08 Jan 2028 12 $3,915