Sri Lanka, located off the southern coast of India, has been nicknamed the Pearl of the Indian Ocean and the Teardrop of India, the latter due to its unique shape. The country is known for its tea and tropical climate with beautiful beaches, rainforests, and mountains. Travelers will begin the trip in the city of Negombo, a historic fishing city with sandy beaches. Then, travelers will visit Sigiriya, a historical palace ruin on top of a two-hundred-meter-high rock surrounded by a network of gardens. Travelers will also get to go on a Dambulla Cave visit before visiting the village of Digana, where they will have the chance to visit a spice garden and the royal botanical gardens. After this, travelers will visit Kandy, the largest city in the country. Here, travelers will visit tea plantations and take in the city's biodiverse rainforest and Buddhist sites. Travelers will also see Nuwara Eliya and go on a Horton Plains Trek before visiting Ella to see Little Adam’s Peak for more hiking and countryside views. The last stop on the trip is the town of Hikkaduwa, where travelers can surf, go on a dolphin-watching tour, explore the coral reef, and spend three days relaxing.
This 12-day trip costs $824, and is a G Adventures’ 18-Thirtysomethings trip geared toward young, budget minded travelers. G Adventures is a sustainable, small-group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism, and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s 8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.