Kochi’s spice quarter and a houseboat on the backwaters, then an hour’s flight to Sri Lanka’s rock fortresses, tea hills and coast.
Highlights
- A private houseboat on the backwaters
- Climbing Sigiriya at first light
- The blue train through tea country
- Galle Fort at sunset
Your route
- 1Kochi2 nights · India
- 2Kerala Backwaters2 nights · India
- 3Sigiriya2 nights · Sri Lanka
- 4Kandy2 nights · Sri Lanka
- 5Ella2 nights · Sri Lanka
- 6Galle2 nights · Sri Lanka
Day by day
Download itinerary (PDF)Day 1Arrive in KochiKochi
A gentle start in Fort Kochi: Chinese fishing nets, colonial streets and a seafood supper.
Day 2Spice coastKochi
The spice warehouses of Mattancherry, a cooking class at home and Kathakali theatre at dusk.
Day 3Onto the backwatersKerala Backwaters
Board a private houseboat and drift through palm-lined canals, with lunch cooked on board.
Day 4Village waterwaysKerala Backwaters
A canoe through narrow channels to villages and paddy fields, then a lazy afternoon.
Day 5Fly to Sri LankaSigiriya
From Kochi to Colombo and on to a lodge among the rice fields near Sigiriya.
Day 6The lion rockSigiriya
Climb Sigiriya in the early morning, then the cave temples of Dambulla.
Day 7Hill capitalKandy
Through spice gardens to Kandy and the evening ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth.
Day 8Gardens and teaKandy
The Royal Botanic Gardens and a tea estate where you learn to taste like a buyer.
Day 9The blue trainElla
One of the world’s great train rides, through tea country to Ella.
Day 10Little Adam’s PeakElla
A morning walk to the viewpoint and the Nine Arches Bridge as the train passes.
Day 11To the coastGalle
Down to the south coast and a boutique villa near Galle.
Day 12Galle FortGalle
The ramparts of the Dutch fort at sunset, and a last long lunch by the sea.
Day 13Fly home
A transfer to the airport for your flight home, or on to your next adventure.
On this journey
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