Travelers rave that this vegan tour in Sri Lanka will exceed your expectations. From a safari to learn about elephants and their protection, over language and vegan cooking classes, participating in Buddhist and Hindu ceremonies and local traditions to snorkeling in crystal clear blue waters, this trip will immerse you in Sri Lanka like no other. You'll make memories for a life-time!
Itinerary
Day 1: Colombo
Day 2: Colombo
Day 3: Anuradhapura
Day 4: Jaffna
Day 5: Jaffna
Day 6: Jaffna
Day 7: Laksirigama & Elephant Conservation Program
Day 8: Laksirigama & Elephant Conservation Program
Day 9: Thennadi Bay
- Detailed Orientation Meeting where you will get to know your fellow travelers and adventure leaders better as we discuss the adventure ahead and have our Introduction to Sri Lanka’s History, Cultures, and Diversity Presentation.
- Traditional Sri Lankan Dutch Burgher “lamprais” lunch (specially veganized just for us) accompanied by refreshing homemade ginger beer.
- Join our friend and longtime resident of the city, as we explore the back streets and back alleys of old Colombo.
- Guests of monks at one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the city and site of the first hoisting the International Flag of Buddhism.
- Introduction to the Eating Etiquette of Sri Lanka where we’ll learn how to eat a Sri Lankan “rice & curry” meal properly following local eating customs and etiquette.
- A seaside sunset stroll along Colombo’s most popular family sunset gathering spot.
Day 2: Colombo
- Vegan breakfast feast of traditional dishes overlooking the sea.
- Explore a local fruit, veggies, and spice market and learn about the different ingredients commonly used in Sri Lankan dishes.
- Cooking class where we’ll be guests of one of Colombo’s best vegan chefs who will teach us how to make a delicious vegan rice and curry meal.
- Learn about the evolution of cinema in Sri Lanka and the important role films are playing in the peace, healing, and reconciliation process of the country from a local filmmaker’s point of view.
- Join local vegans for a delicious vegan dinner of some of the island classics – all specially veganized just for us.
- Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 3: Anuradhapura
- Vegan breakfast feast of traditional dishes overlooking the sea.
- Guests of a local monastery for our Introduction us to Theravada Buddhism, its principles and practices, and the role it plays in the daily lives of the Sinhalese people.
- Vipassana Meditation lesson led by Theravada Buddhist monks.
- Visit the sacred monuments of Anuradhapura as guests of a local monk who will share with us that these living temples are doors and windows into Sri Lanka’s heritage and living historical records not only as a window into the past, but a cultural door into the present spirituality of the Sinhalese people.
- Special vegan rice and curry meal – Anuradhapura style!
Day 4: Jaffna
- Guests of sacred forest monastery where we’ll join local Buddhist monks who will introduce us to Vipassana Meditation and the benefits of practicing this exceptional mindfulness meditation technique.
- Scenic forest and coastal drive on the road less traveled from as we head northwest from Anuradhapura to Jaffna.
- Introduction to Tamil Hindu temple architecture and traditions.
- Join a local family for a home-cooked vegan banana leaf meal, where they’ll teach us the traditional eating etiquette of this very traditional Jaffna meal.
Day 5: Jaffna
- Join the teachers, artists, and students of the Theater Action Group (TAG) for a full-day program where they’ll share with us their unique cultural arts, music, dance, and healing theater that helps people and communities heal through the wonderful art of interactive street theater.
- Enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan Tamil vegan meal together with members of TAG.
- As guests of the TAG, we’ll learn about the inspirational work they do that structures participant from all ages and segments of society, with a special focus on women who have been particularly affected by decades of the tragic events in the north of Sri Lanka, to come out of their workshops having gained greater self-esteem and confidence to revamp their future. Many have compared their programs to “interventions” where their counseling is played out through interactive games and theater to bring about the healing process.
- Participate with Theatre Action Group on a cultural interactive performance with drums, songs, and street theater in a village with the focus of the program to enable people to articulate their emotions in a supportive and safe community environment.
- Tasty home-cooked vegan dinner with our friends after a long day’s work.
Day 6: Jaffna
- Traditional Taste of Jaffna breakfast specially veganized for us.
- Heritage walk with a longtime resident of Jaffna where we’ll explore ol’ Jaffna walking and stopping along the way at local bazaars, temples, the local library, fort, homes, and local landmarks as we learn about the unique way of life and history here.
- Visit a local market where we’ll pick up supplies for the marine life conservation and protection program we’ll be participating in.
- Vegan traditional Jaffna lunch and tasting session.
Day 7: Laksirigama & Elephant Conservation Program
- Delicious vegan feast of local Sri Lankan Tamil dishes.
- Introduction Program to the Plight of Sri Lanka’s Pachyderms from one of the leading elephant conservationists on the island.
- Sunset hike to the top of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sigiriya Rock fort-palace.
- Evening Introduction Discussion and Slide Presentation on conservation work being done to help Sri Lanka’s elephants.
- Special local drinks and vegan snacks.
Day 8: Laksirigama & Elephant Conservation Program
- Sunrise hike with a local naturalist on an educational bush walk along the trails of the surrounding forest where we’ll learn about this unique eco-system and the essential resources it provides for the wildlife (including elephants) to make it a vital habitat for them.
- Meeting with rangers who will talk about their uphill battle in protecting the elephants as well as the different protected areas in the area and the flora and fauna indigenous to them.
- Education program with the local community where conservationists raise awareness about the importance of protecting wildlife and nature and Human-Elephant Co-Existence (the other side of the coin of HEC – Human-Elephant Conflict).
- Jeep safari into the jungles of the national park with one of the island’s leading elephant conservationists.
Day 9: Thennadi Bay
- Explore the awesome ancient ruins of the UNESCO World Heritage City, Polonnaruwa!
- Orientation and introduction to the marine-life-rich waters around Thennadi Bay which is home to over 207 species of fish, 51 species of coral & 115 species of invertebrates! We’ll also learn about local initiatives being done to help protect this important marine eco-system.
- Explore by boats and snorkel the bay’s reefs until sunset.
- Participate in local marine conservation efforts while snorkeling the reef.
- Special local sunset snacks and refreshing seaside sundowners while we watch the colors of the day to the night.
- Special seaside-themed rice and curry meal – all 100% vegan.
Day 10: Thennadi Bay
Day 11: Kandy
Day 12: Kandy
- Hop aboard boats and explore the reef snorkeling getting a glimpse of its residents that include 207 fish species (including 18 species of Butterfly Fish) and 115 species of invertebrates from sea cucumbers and starfish, to crabs & corals!
- Participate in local marine conservation efforts while snorkeling the reef.
- Join local members of the nearby villages for a community beach conservation, clean-up, and protection project.
- Vegan BBQ Dinner and refreshing local sundowner drinks.
Day 11: Kandy
- Sri Lankan east-coast traditional breakfast – made 100% vegan!
- Putting the balmy bay breezes at our backs, we say goodbye to the sea and head inland up into the country’s lush green hill country. Home to thick forest-clad mountains, dense jungles, and vast tea plantations, we’ll make our way to the last capital of Sri Lanka’s independent kings – Kandy
- Guests of an extraordinary family whose Kandyan dance roots trace back over 14 generations will introduce us to this incredible dance (and percussion) form, including teaching us a few of its steps.
- Special dinner of local Kandy fusion favorites – all veganized just for us.
Day 12: Kandy
- Special vegan breakfast highlighting traditional Kandy fusion breakfast favorites.
- Guests of those on the frontline of giving tea plantation workers a voice who we’ll learn firsthand from about the island’s tea from the point of view of the people behind it.
- Visit one of the island’s most sacred religious sites – the sacred Temple of Tooth Relic. Believed to have been smuggled to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD, this temple was built from 1687 to 1707 by the Kandyan Kings as a home to protect the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha.
- Traditional Hill-Country Tamil vegan lunch.
Day 13: Kandy
Day 14: Kandy to Negombo
- Special Taste of Kandy vegan fusion breakfast.
- Kick back at your own pace, explore on your own, take a cool dip in the pool, and catch up on your journal (or Facebook) and souvenir list – as Kandy has the best shopping options of all the places we’ve been to during our journey. The wide varieties of shops spread along the colorful streets and lanes of old’ town Kandy are great for souvenir shopping.
- Festive farewell dinner party complete with live music and a variety of Sri Lankan vegan fusion dishes!
Day 14: Kandy to Negombo
- Special Taste of Kandy vegan fusion breakfast.
- Special Sri Lankan island vegan fusion lunch overlooking the bay in Negombo.
- Airport transfer.
Tour Includes
**Airport drop-off is provided for free if you depart on the last day of the tour, or the next day. If you will be departing at much later days, please arrange to have your own transfer. Thank you. Not Included
|
|
Contact Donna at
|
