Culinary Experience, Sri Lanka
Highlights
- Negombo : Visit to the Fish Market
- Mirissa – Whale Watching (Nov to Mar)
- Yala/Udawalawe National Park – Wildlife safari
- Sri Lanka
Experience Overview
Sri Lankan Culinary Tour will offer you a Lifestyle Travel Experience discovering the best kept secrets in cookery and the authentic culinary arts of Sri Lanka. During the tour you will start the First lesson of Cookery in Negombo which is a famous location for Sea food in Sri Lanka. Then you will travel to the North where you can taste authentic Jaffna food. At the end of your culinary tour you will reach Colombo the capital commercial city and experience some street food with stop overs at local restaurants and end your culinary experience in Sri Lanka!
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
Colombo / Negombo
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality and our representative will Welcome you and transfer to Negombo.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 2
in Negombo
In the morning, wake up early and catch the action at the Negombo fish market. The market is situated at the northern end of a lagoon renowned for lobsters, crabs and prawns. Weave through stalls piled with shark, squid, barracuda and unheard of sea creatures as the sellers call out their wares, and get a great insight into local commerce.
After that you will experience a Catamaran Boat Ride and you will get the opportunity for a Fishing session in the Lagoon with the local’s guidance and learning techniques used in Sri Lanka. After the fishing session continue the journey through the Mangroves towards a local village. In the village you will meet a local family and you will engage with them to prepare the Sea food which was bought from the local market in the morning. After preparing the meal with enjoy the freshly made lunch with the local family and after that you will returned to the hotel.
Return back to hotel and relax.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 3
Negombo / Jaffna
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Jaffna.
Enroute visit an Agro Farm in Nochchiyagama.
Enjoy a lunch made out of organic vegetables which were harvested right from the farm.
Next proceed to Jaffna. Check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free for personal activities.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 4
In Jaffna
Breakfast at hotel and visit the Local market in the city to buy some local ingredients for your cookery session with the guidance of your driver.
Here you will learn about the culture of Tamil society in Jaffna and join with the family to prepare a few curries which are authentic to Tamil culture. You will interact and learn about the methods of preparation of the curries and cook your own meal for lunch using the local spices and ingredients.
Enjoy your freshly made meal and next visits in Jaffna city.
Jaffna is one of the best places to learn about Sri Lankan Tamil culture. It is rising in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years. There are plenty of interesting places to see in Jaffna including the Jaffna Fort of which largely ruins remain was one of the greatest fort built by the Dutch in Asia. The famous Nallur Kandasamy Kovil, Naga Pooshani Amabal Kovil, Kadurugoda temple are some of the historically known places in Jaffna.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 5
Jaffna / Habarana
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Habarana.
On the way you will pass many small towns and you will witness different landscapes and sceneries along the way and also the local boutique shops.
Arrive in Habarana and check-in to the hotel.
DAY 6
In Habarana / Sigiriya / Habarana
Breakfast at hotel and visit a local village called Hiriwadunna.
Enjoy a nature walk through a scrub jungle, wade through a local stream with low hanging branches, cross a lake in an ‘oruwa’, the traditional mode of over water transport, spend time with a farmer harvesting crops under his guidance and taste authentic village cuisine prepared by the farmer’s family and by yourself with freshly picked produce and local herbs cooked in clay pots over an open heart fueled by firewood. Here you will experience the real Sri Lankan cooking methods which were used earlier by the Sri Lankan’s with authentic cousin.
Evening climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Sigiriya is situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka close to Dambulla. It is a fortress complex of a ruined palace and one of the World Heritage sites declared by UNESCO. Undoubtedly the most treasured historical monument in Sri Lanka and probably the most visited tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, The most looked forward feature of the fortress is the frescoes. Another fascinating detail is its mirror wall. Every step from the entrance to the top is a marvel on its own, and the interesting surroundings make the tedious climb to the top easy.
Return back to hotel and relax after an exciting day.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 7
Dambulla – Matale – Kandy
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Kandy.
Enroute visit Dambulla Rock Temple.
Dambulla is a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka. The popular cave temple complex in Dambulla dated to the 2nd century BC is declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. There are over 80 caves in Dambulla, some of which are used for meditation by monks. The Famous Rock temple has five separate caves containing 153 magnificent Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan monarchs and 4 Hindu deities.
Next on the way visit a Spice Garden where you will learn about the Sri Lankan authentic spices. Here you will be given a guided tour inside the spice garden explaining about the unique plants, spices and herbals used for Medicine and also for culinary in Sri Lanka from the ancient time.
Continue journey to Kandy and check-in to the hotel.
Kandy the popular charming hill capital of Sri Lanka is surrounded by hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It is the cultural center of the island and a UNESCO heritage city. The sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined at the Dalada Maligawa, the temple of the tooth. Kandy is a great place for souvenir shopping and to learn about its rich culture and history.
In the evening visit Kandy Temple of the tooth relic and witness a cultural show.
DAY 8
In Kandy
Breakfast at hotel and visit a local family in Kandy.
Today you will learn about the Sri Lankan authentic sweets which are normally made at occasions. The family will do an introduction about the different sweets (Kawum, Kokis, Aluwa, Undu Wal ect…) Then you will be guided through the ingredients and methods of preparation of each Sweet items while you also join the preparation. These sweets are unique and famous in Sri Lanka during a special season which is in the month of April every year as the Sinhalese and Tamil people celebrate the New Year festival each year.
Enjoy lunch at a local outside restaurant in Kandy and evening spent with on own activities. You can walk around the Kandy Lake, discover the city and local markets and later in the evening enjoy a Sri Lankan Beer or Cocktail at a local PUB.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 9
Kandy - Yala National Park
Drive towards 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 tour and get the binoculars out to search for the leopards that lounge in trees or stalk through the brush, crocodiles that patrol the river or wild elephants that graze across the savanna.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 10
Yala National Park – Mirissa
Start the day sweetly discovering one of Sri Lanka’s favourite ingredients. Try buffalo curd, served in bright terracotta pots with thick, golden treacle, often eaten as a snack, as an accompaniment to meals or as a dessert. Sri Lankans are famed for their sweet tooth and this is just about as sweet as it gets. En route to the beautiful beach village of Mirissa (approximately 3 hours), discover the Muslim influence on Sri Lankan food with dishes like biryani and watalappam at lunch. Spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring the golden sands of Sri Lanka’s southern coastline. The beach is a long curve of sand and has lovely calm clear waters for swimming, and the sunsets are great too. This is a paradise that you won’t want to leave. Perhaps consider taking a bicycle ride or tuk-tuk to watch colourful fishing boats bring back their loads of fresh fish to sell along the shore. Maybe take a boat to spot whales and dolphins, or wash down all that chilli with a beer, while watching surfers take on the waves.
DAY 11
Mirissa / Colombo
Meet with a local fisherman and learn about their craft, and how their lives have changed after the tsunami. Enjoy the freshest seafood lunch possible with a fisherman’s family – a wonderful crab curry is likely to be on the menu. Continue on to the perfectly preserved colonial township of Galle (approximately 1 hour) and its blend of European architecture and South Asian traditions. In the evening take a tour of the Royal Dutch Fort, exploring the winding passageways, maze of gallery-filled narrow streets and 400 years of rich history.
Drive to Colombo. Overnight at the hotel
DAY 12
Depart Colombo
Sri Lanka’s commercial heart, Colombo – The city is a cosmopolitan mix of vibrant street markets, colonial buildings, interesting museums, fine restaurants and great shopping opportunities
CREATE AN EXPERIENCE
Let's Make Memories Together
The voyage does not finish once you have left. We’ll transport you to a world of wonders and create amazing memories that will last long after you’ve returned home.
Away from the regular tourist traps, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind, authentic experience. A sensation created in an energizing setting that will be yours and yours alone. We will make this happen because old travels are great ones. The world’s wonders are within your grasp.
