After your arrival in Colombo, enjoy a smooth airport transfer to your downtown hotel. Arrive early to settle in and refresh before meeting your local guide.

Begin your adventure with a lively stroll through Pettah Market—Colombo’s vibrant heart, filled with bustling stalls, colourful sights, and historic architecture like the Red Mosque and Millers Building.

End your day with a special welcome dinner, sharing the flavours and warmth of Sri Lanka with your new travel companions.

Meals: Welcome dinner

Travel through scenic countryside to Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore ancient stupas, temples, and sacred Bodhi trees that reveal the island’s deep Buddhist roots.

Later, arrive at your peaceful accommodation in Kandalama—the country’s only fully women-operated hotel, supporting local empowerment.

Spend the afternoon unwinding by the pool, surrounded by nature’s tranquillity—perfect for recharging after a day of discovery.

Included meals: Breakfast

Start early with a sunrise hike up Sigiriya Lion’s Rock, marveling at its ancient architecture and sweeping jungle views from 1200 steps up. For a gentler option, explore the stunning gardens and museum below.

In the afternoon, embark on a safari at Minneriya National Park, famous for spectacular wild elephant gatherings and diverse wildlife. Return to the peaceful surroundings of Kandalama to relax after an adventurous day.

Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, visit the stunning Dambulla Cave Temple—Sri Lanka’s largest cave temple complex, famous for its ancient Buddha statues and vibrant murals. Enjoy panoramic views as you climb to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue through scenic hills to Kandy, where you’ll explore the Temple of the Tooth, a revered Buddhist pilgrimage site housing the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha.

Finish the day with a restful stay in Kandy, reflecting on the rich cultural experiences.

Included meals: Breakfast

Start your day at Kandy Market, shopping for fresh local ingredients like herbs and spices. Then, retreat to a scenic mountaintop cottage where you’ll cook alongside a local family, learning authentic Sri Lankan recipes and traditions.

In the evening, enjoy a cultural village walk led by a local woman, meeting inspiring female entrepreneurs and sharing warm tea.

This day is a heartfelt celebration of community, culture, and women’s empowerment.

Included meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a breathtaking train journey through Sri Lanka’s lush hill country, passing waterfalls, forests, and vibrant tea plantations. At Nanu Oya, meet your driver and head to Pedro Tea Estate.

Discover how Pure Ceylon Tea is crafted, stroll through scenic fields, and try your hand at tea plucking. Connect with the hardworking tea pickers who bring this world-famous tea to life, gaining insight into their vital role in the community.

Included meals: Breakfast

Spend a relaxing day in the charming hill town of Nuwara Eliya, surrounded by lush greenery and colonial charm. Enjoy a gentle stroll through “Little England,” taking in flower gardens, historic buildings, and serene lakes.

In the afternoon, indulge in a classic high tea at the elegant Grand Hotel—savor freshly brewed Ceylon tea with sandwiches, scones, pastries, and cakes, all set in a beautiful garden setting.

Included meals: Breakfast, High Tea

Travel from the cool highlands to the warm, dry lowlands of Yala, witnessing a stunning change in landscape.

Check in to an eco-luxury hotel nestled between jungle and ocean, where nature surrounds you. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, preparing for tomorrow’s exciting safari adventure.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Begin your day with a thrilling early morning safari in Yala National Park’s quieter Block 5, where you may spot elephants, crocodiles, peacocks, and even leopards.

Afterwards, drive to coastal Galle and check into your beachfront hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring the historic Galle Fort—wander cobblestone streets, browse boutiques, and enjoy ocean views. End the day with a sunset stroll or a relaxing café visit.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxing final day at your elegant beachfront retreat with stunning views of the sea and Galle Fort. Lounge by the infinity pool, stroll the beach, or unwind with a drink on your balcony.

Savour a slow meal and watch the sunset—a perfect way to end your Sri Lanka adventure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Enjoy a leisurely morning at your hotel before meeting your guide for your transfer to Colombo Airport.

Thank you for travelling with Pip & Co Travel — we hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!

If you wish to extend your stay, extra nights in Galle or Colombo can be arranged.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Transportation: Transfer from Galle to Colombo Airport

Lots of different people! Mostly women in their 50 – 70s have travelled with Pip & Co Travel, with some in their 40s and 80s also choosing our trips.

Travellers who share a love of discovery, learning, adventure, fun and kindness of any age are right for Pip & Co Travel trips!

We love having solo travellers on our trips. In fact many of our travellers join our trips on their own.

If you are keen to twin share, it is sometimes possible to match you with another solo traveller. This isn’t guaranteed, though, and if there isn’t another traveller available, you will need to pay the solo supplement.

The cost to have your own room varies for each trip. Check on the payment page or contact Penny for more information. 

This tour is suitable for travellers with a moderate level of fitness. Expect:

• Walking 8–10,000 steps daily on uneven ground
• Climbing some stairs (especially in temple complexes)
• Standing for 1–2 hours during tours
• Getting in/out of vehicles and boats without assistance

Most activities are optional, so if there’s something you don’t feel like doing you can opt-out. Please contact Penny if you want to ask specific health and fitness questions. No question is silly!

The weather is warm all year round in Sri Lanka, although in the tea country it will be mild and you will need a cardigan/jumper. November is shoulder/mid season so you can expect some rain showers as the rainy season tails off. Average temperatures in the low lands will be approx 29.

Most destinations accept a mix of cash and card payments. Major cities often have good access to ATMs, while more rural areas may be cash-only. It’s best to carry some local currency for small purchases, markets, or tipping.

Tipping customs vary by country — some cultures expect it, while others do not. We’ll provide detailed guidance before departure to help you navigate local etiquette with ease.

We usually suggest the group has a tip kitty to take the hassle and uncertainty out of tipping.

You need to make a AUD $500 deposit to hold your spot.

The final balance of the trip is due 90 days before the start of the trip.

You can pay with a major credit card such as Visa or Mastercard (fees apply) or with a bank deposit. Please contact us to arrange a bank deposit. Payment plans can also be arranged.

All Pip & Co Travellers will need to purchase comprehensive travel insurance prior to the trip.

If you need help with this, please contact us.

Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality but Australian passport holders do need a visa for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka visas can be applied online before arrival. We will send out reminders to apply for your visa before the trip departure.

International flights are not included in your tour. You should aim to book flights that align with the official tour start and end dates. Where possible, arrive the day before to allow time to adjust to the local time zone and recover from long-haul travel. For this trip your arrival and departure airport is Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport.

Please note on the final day, you will need to factor in a 2.5 hour car trip to get from Galle to the airport.