Guided Walks You Can’t Miss in Sri Lanka

Travelling to Sri Lanka can be an amazing experience for everyone, with the country catering to several different tastes. From hundreds of years of history to the rapidly expanding cityscape that it is today, why not take advantage of one of the several guided tours on offer to experience Sri Lankan history and culture at its best?

Tour the Tea Estates

Sri Lankan tea is famous, as are its plantations. From the mountains of Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, acres upon acres of tea plantations can be found growing in the idyllic mist-shrouded highlands of the country. What better way to get to know this major aspect of Sri Lankan culture than to participate in a guided tour of its tea estates?

For an enjoyable and fully inclusive holiday experience, head over to Ceylon Tea Trails in Hatton, the world’s first tea bungalow resort. There you can participate in the “Tea Experience”, a guided tour of the entire tea-making process. Follow in the footsteps of the planters who once trekked through the area in search of the best place to plant their tea, before observing modern tea-workers skillfully pinch the leaves from their plants. Witness the timeworn craft of creating black tea from leaves using century-old machines, before finally having a taste of the product yourself!

Go Around Galle Fort

At the southern tip of the island lies the Galle Fort, one of the most tour-worthy destinations of Sri Lanka. Built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features a multitude of different religions and ethnicities that co-exist peacefully alongside the historical significance of the area.

Start your tour at the heart of Galle Fort with the Fort Bazaar, a luxury 17th century townhouse and spa from Teardrop Hotels that acts as a quiet haven from the colorful scenes that flood the cobbled streets outside. Venture out into exploring the centuries-old architecture, the beautiful local shops and the niche cafes. If you’re looking for a more involved experience, why not work with local mask-carvers and try your hand at crafting your own traditional Kolam mask? Alternatively, check out the National Maritime Museum, or see if you can find the country’s oldest breadfruit tree!

Walk with an Elephant

If you’re more inclined toward nature and the natural world, a guided elephant walk would perhaps be best suited to your time in Sri Lanka. The island is teeming with elephants, in temples, orphanages and jungles. Do your research and only participate in encounters where these gentle giants haven’t been exploited for your money.

There are plenty of places in Sri Lanka where elephants are treated with genuine kindness and respect. One example is the Elephant Freedom Projectin Kegalle, where you can accompany an elephant — that has been rescued from a life of hardship — on a long walk before helping to bathe it and then head out to the dung factory that processes elephant dung into paper!

Wander through Colombo City

You may not associate walking on foot with the big city, but give it a try! From tour buses to tuk tuks, there are many ways to explore Colombo. However, perhaps the most sustainable and environmentally friendly way to explore the urban setting of this tropical island is to engage in a guided walking tour!

Diethelm Travel Sri Lanka offers a great “Colombo Walks with a Local” guided tour that allows you to experience the city of Colombo from the point of view of a native. Accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels, explore Sri Lanka’s capital on foot to get the best and most intimate experience of the city!

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