Learning Trail

You will be welcomed with flower garlands at the arrival hall of the airport by the Walkers Tours team and escorted to the vehicle to reach your next destination.

Airport – Negombo | Travel Distance: 20 km | Approximate travel time: 30 minutes

Check-in to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure,

After breakfast at the hotel leave for the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka

Negombo – Dambulla | Travel Distance: 135 km | Approximate travel time: 3hours

Optional activity: Visit Dambulla Temple USD 05 per person

Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses.

Dambulla – Habarana | Travel Distance: 25 km | Approximate travel time: 45minutes

Arrive to Habarana and spend rest of your day leisure,

After an early breakfast, proceed to Hiriwadunna.

Sigiriya – Hiriwadunna | Travel Distance: 5 km | Approximate travel time:15minutes

Optional Hiriwadunna Excursion: USD 20 per person

A trek experience begins with a morning walk to the scrub forests bordering the village of Hiriwadunna, famed for the spotting of some 130-bird species and a variety of rare butterflies. You can experience canoeing and a local tractor ride. You will end the experience with a delicious local lunch cooked by a village family.

Hiriwadunna – Sigiriya | Travel Distance: 20 km | Approximate travel time:45minutes

Optional Excursion to the Sigiriya rock fortress: USD 35 per person

After an ancient prince killed his father to claim the throne, he was forced to flee to his pleasure palace and convert it into a fortress to guard against his opposition. The spectacular citadel of Sigiriya built on a giant rock rises sheer and impregnable out of the plains below. This remarkable 5th century archaeological site is made unforgettable by its dramatic setting. A moat, rampart, extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock and the frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya.

Note: Please note that to reach the top of Sigiriya Rock, there are nearly 1,200 stone steps up and then down. Anybody in reasonably good condition will be able to venture to the top of Sigiriya Rock and it's certainly worth the effort, however important to know these little details before embarking on this outing.

Drive to the east coast of the Island where you will spend the next 2 days. During your stay you may visit the Fort Frederick, the site of the fames Koneswaram Temple, visit the Commonwealth war memorial and snorkel at Pigeon Island.

Habarana – Trincomalee | Travel Distance: 95 km | Approximate travel time:1hour 45minutes

Trincomalee is a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. Set on a peninsula, Fort Frederick was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century. Within its grounds, the grand Koneswaram Temple stands on Swami Rock cliff, a popular vantage point for blue whale watching. The holy complex contains ornate shrines and a large statue of Shiva. Nearby Gokanna Temple has panoramic views over the city and the coastline. In Trincomalee the British War Cemetery is a unique place that should be visited. After the Japanese won over Singapore in World War II, the British made Trincomalee the leading naval and airbase for the allied powers in South Asia. This cemetery was established in 1948, and one of the six commonwealth war cemeteries in Sri Lanka. Graves of 364 soldiers of the British Empire who died or executed during World War II included in this cemetery.

Optional activities and excursions in Trincomalee:

Snorkeling at Pigeon Island: USD 120 per person

A 20-minute boat ride from the shore is another little haven with clear turquoise waters – the Pigeon Island. Breeze through an early morning boat trip, and dive into a whole new world of marine wonders that will leave you mesmerized! Corals in vivid colours, luminescent fish and turtles swimming around will keep you wondering about nature’s spellbinding creativity. When you reluctantly decide to step out of the water, walk up the rocky slope, reach the top and clap aloud to witness an awe-inspiring flock of pigeons fly out from the rock’s hidden crevices! (cost includes entrance fees to the Pigeon Island National Park, equipment for snorkeling, boat ride and services of a Naturalist)

Marine Mammal Safari in Trincomalee: USD 120 per person

Watch dolphins and whales dip in and out of the turquoise blue waters, making their dance look like the most impeccably rehearsed performance. Expect them in large pods swimming close to your boat with the spinner dolphins, specifically being very playful. Their proximity will get your heart racing in overwhelming awe. Seeing their grey bodies plunge into and out of the deep blue waters is a sight you'll never forget! If you happen to spot the majestic blue whale, at first, you’ll be amazed by how gigantic it is. When it exhales it spurts out a little fountain of water, it feels like an adorable quirk for a mammal that large! When you’re out there, in the deep blue sea, expect an enthralling, candid encounter.

Today depart to Kandy, the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings which is a renowned world heritage site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake and enjoy the beauty of this small town.

Trincomalee – Kandy | Travel Distance: 185 km | Approximate travel time:4hours 15minutes

Optional activities and excursions: Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: USD 7 per person

Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is considered the most important and sacred Buddhist Temple in Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in politics and other aspects of local life because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.

Visit The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden: USD 6 per person

147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world is one such avenue.

After a day at the capital now it’s time for you to move toward the outskirts of Kandy to live like a local!

Kandy – Digana | Travel Distance: 25 km | Approximate travel time:1 hour

Tamarind Gardens provides the community with training and employment opportunities in hospitality. The dairy cows and garden provide vital nutrition to households and an income source for the social enterprise and others have been employed doing various tasks for the farm and guesthouse. Tamarind Gardens has been working on a project to supply community members with water tanks to capture rainwater and store water during the dry season. The new garden project increases access to nutritional food, as well as increasing the supply of local food. This 10-acre farm provides a necessary space for community development projects that move the village towards a sustainable future. During your experiential visit to Tamarind Garden take part in of the unique activities offered by the property owners who are passionate about uplifting the livelihood of the local community.

Optional: Activity package cost: USD 30 per person

Experience the Typical Village Style Cooking by handpicking your own vegetables from the organic vegetable farm and partake in cooking with a local chef at the property.

Women empowerment project Sewing cooperative as an additional source of income, book upcycling, cow dung drying and packaging and upcycling of rice bags are a few activities you may witness during your visit.

CSR Project with a local rural school or educational institute Visit a rural school in the vicinity and engage with the local children. Conduct a short interactive English lesson.

A scrumptious local lunch will be served at the Tamarind Gardens

After an exciting day at Tamarind Gardens drive back to the city late in the evening.

Today after early breakfast leave for Colombo.

Kandy – Colombo | Travel Distance: 135 km | Approximate travel time: 3hours 45 minutes

Like many capital cities in developing countries Colombo is fast changing its face. almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood, yet in some parts, the old-world charm is retained. A 100-year-old clock tower and several British built, colonial buildings are still to be seen in the city.

Transfer to the NSBM university to take part in the Global Youth Camp

Trincomalee, popularly known as Trinco, has a huge, natural harbour, however it was never developed - apart from being a base of the Sri Lanka navy today, and being guarded by Fort Frederick, which bears the date 1676 above its arch. The fort is open to visitors who can walk to the summit for a view of the harbour and of Swami Rock behind the Koneswaram temple. The Hot Wells in Trincomalee are another popular attraction. This is an unusual place as there are seven hot wells in which the water is naturally of different temperatures. Close to Trincomalee, at Uppuveli, is a broad strip of beach with smart hotels as well as beachside guest shacks for divers and beach lovers. Trincomalee is 257km by good road from Colombo and is served by a daily Night Mail train.

The ancient kingdom of Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha as well as Edwardian buildings, a king-made lake, a nature reserve and exciting shops. As the second largest city of the island and the capital of the Central Province, Kandy has grown from being a medieval kingdom to a friendly, busy city set in forested hills and surrounded by tea plantations and close to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. As well as the Temple of the Tooth, there are many Buddhist monasteries and Hindu places of worship to visit, and cultural dance performances to watch. Kandy is a convenient base to stay for a few days while exploring the Cultural Triangle as there are comfortable hotels to suit every budget. The city is easily accessible from Colombo by rail, road and float plane.

Habarana is the central point of Sri Lanka's cultural and historic triangle and the most convenient base for excursions to the Ancient historical cities. Located in the north central part of the island, Habarana is a part of Sri Lanka's dry zone. Thanks to the genius of our ancient kings dating as far as the 05th Century AD, the Sri Lankan dry zone is anything but dry, with hundreds of lakes and reservoirs which are connected by an elaborate network of canals making up an old but great irrigation system. Aside from the benefit for agriculture and industry, the waterworks of the dry zone provide some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery and fertile habitat for the islands incredible bio-diversity.