AN EXPERT
Ancient Kingdom Exploration
Vibrant Cultural Festivals
Pristine Coastal Beauty
Overview of Your Adventure
Exciting journey across Sri Lanka
Discover the untold stories of Sri Lanka’s northern realms where ancient kingdoms, cultural riches and serene landscapes await the curious traveller.
Embark on a journey through Sri Lanka’s northern territories to explore its historical cities, witness vibrant festivals and stroll along untouched beaches. This route invites travellers to experience the blend of history, culture and natural beauty that defines the less travelled paths of the region.
6 Nights | 7 Days
Arrive in Sri Lanka in the style you deserve, greeted by your chauffeur guide and transferred directly to Jetwing Colombo Seven a modern and cosmopolitan abode in the main city.
Once in Colombo, get introduced to some of Colombo’s curious sites such as the vibrant markets of Pettah, old city of Fort, the Hindu Temple at Sea Street and the Dutch Church at Wolfendal or alternatively to indulge in some shopping.
Highlights:
One of the best ways to connect with a country’s culture and people is through its local cuisine. Every country has a very rich history when it comes to food, and therefore so does Sri Lanka. In the evening, dig into Colombo’s street food scene and eat, eat, eat your way through the city like a local! Sample Colombo’s unique mix of Sinhala, Muslim, Tamil, and Malay cuisines. Explore the busy streets of Pettah and witness the hustle and bustle of the local markets. See iconic sites like Fort Station, the Red Mosque, and the Khan clock tower. Hang out on the strip where locals like to chill out after a busy day.
Today, set off from the commercial capital of Colombo to the ancient port city of Jaffna or Yaalpaanam via an exhilarating cross country train ride. (The train departs from the Colombo Fort station at 5.30am, arriving in Jaffna at approximately 1300 hours)
Highlights:
As an upholder of Hindu tradition, art and creative culture, Jaffna welcomes visitors warmly. It’s fascinating, unpretentious, slightly off the beaten path and a thoroughly rewarding place to discover the Sri Lankan Tamil culture. Ineluctably, decades of war, emigration, embargoes and loss of life and property deeply affected this historic town, but the city is surprisingly green and leafy, with attractive palm-shaded colonial-era suburbs and beautiful temples and churches!
Located only 5 minutes proximity to the Jaffna railway station and city center; Jetwing Jaffna undoubtedly confers as a rewarding place to invest a few days discovering the special and unique culture for the laidback or avid traveler!
Have a classic Tamil breakfast at your hotel to get a sense of the delicate spices they use and harvest around the area. The first thing to do is to take a stroll in the Jaffna Market and check out the colors of the fresh produce. Buy some spices to take home and try a fresh mango with chili flakes. We also suggest you drop by the Chunnakam market known for its fresh produce of vegetables & fruits, local spices, vibrant textiles, and handicraft items made from different parts of the Palmyrah tree.
Next explore the ancient Naguleswaram Temple in Keerimalai. What can be seen today is a colorful structure of the temple compounds embellished with traditional murals and statues of the divinity. Mark the end of your temple exploration by visiting the Keerimalai pool of spring water which is believed to contain medicinal properties in its water.
After the market and temple visit, take a stroll to the Old Dutch Fort and have a look around at what is left of it after the war. The Fort was originally built by the Portuguese colonists and was their last stronghold when the Dutch overran Colombo. We also suggest you take a peek at the fort built by the Dutch on the Kayts Island located off the coast of Jaffna called ‘Fort Hammenhiel’.
Highlights:
For lunch and an afternoon stroll, head to Nallur, a well-known area in Jaffna. Eat some local rice and curry at Mangos Indian Veg or indulge in the infamous fiery red Jaffna crab curry accompanied by some signature Jaffna delicacies such as dosai and roti! A must visit place in Jaffna is the Nallur Kandasamy Kovil, one of the most important Hindu temples in the north. The colorful striped walls and towering Kovil will definitely make a lasting impression on you. Tip: Ensure you visit a Puja which takes place at 5.00am 10.00am, noon, 4.15pm 4.30pm 5pm and 6.45pm daily.
Walking around, you will also find interesting old ruins which are barely preserved — an archway to one of the entrances of the King Sangili’s (the last king of Jaffna) palace; the palace’s bathing pool, a crumbly but beautiful old Portuguese building and the iconic Jaffna Public Library to name a few.
After enduring the heat at the colorful temple, head to Rio Ice Cream and have a serving of their famously sweet ice cream!
Visit the less visited islands in the far North of Jaffna today!
Delft Island is a bit farther off and is more of an adventure. Take the navy boat that leaves the jetty at 9:30 am – first come, first serve basis or hire a private boat exclusively for you and your party. The ride is an adventure in itself as it crosses choppy waters and the passengers are tightly packed in the boat. Passengers on the ferry can be loud, but this is all part of the experience of traveling on a local ferry which will take 45 minutes each way! Once there, it’s best to take a tuk tuk or small lorry to take you around and see the sights. You will discover several beaches and historical remains of eras gone by. Catch a glimpse of the towering Baobab tree, the remnants of the Old Dutch Fort and get stunned by the wild horses that roam wildly with their manes!
Highlights:
If you went all the way to Delft Island, it is vital that you make it back to the pier before 14:30, since that is when the boat leaves back to the Kurikadduwan jetty. If you decided to visit Delft Island in the morning, why not make your way to the Kurikadduwan jetty and take an afternoon ferry to the Nainativu Island! Believed to have folklore inhabitants of the Naga people – descendants of snake worshippers; the Nainativu Island is home to the Hindu shrine of Nainativu Kovil and the Buddhist shrine of Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya.
Commence your tour of the island from the Nagadeepa Viharaya; a site believed to have been visited by Lord Buddha after attaining Enlightenment. Afterwards, take a walk down the road passing through a number of small local curio shops and arrive at the Hindu section of the island to visit the Nainativu Kovil before sunset! Explore the Kovil right on the coast and get a quick snack at one of the little shops before retreating to the Jetty!
Today your expeditions will take you to the very top of our teardrop isle to ‘Sakkotai Cape’ in the northernmost point of Sri Lanka in the neighborhood of Point Pedro. An hour away from Jetwing Jaffna, drive along the shallow shoreline to arrive at the quiet town of ‘Point Pedro’.
Grab some drinks to cool down and some Kottu at the ‘Amaage Eatery’ and drive towards the coast from town to be first greeted with a directional signpost that includes distances to various countries. To the west, the Point Pedro Lighthouse stands in the shadow of a telecommunications tower, while to the east; a concrete flag of Sri Lanka sits at the edge of the shore to indicate your arrival at Sakkotai Cape! While your phone may also pick up cellular signals from India, on a clear day, you may even catch a glance of the India’s southern coastline in the distance!
Highlights:
A lesser scenic route than what you get on your way to Point Pedro is the route from Jaffna to Karainagar, which is where the Casuarina Beach strip is. The journey to Casuarina Beach takes you through lined Palmyrah trees with the final leg of your journey crossing the Palk Strait on the Karainagar Causeway to reach an absolutely lovely strip of sparkling blue sea. The beach welcomes local and foreign holidaymakers for its wide expanse, shallow waters, and characteristic trees that lend the beach name.
What’s even better is that you can rent out a boat and motor a few kilometers into the blue, where they give you goggles so you can wade among corals and then take you out a bit more to a sandbank, where you can stand waist deep in the ocean water! End your day, taking a quick peek at Karainagar Lighthouse located at the eastern tip of the beach, making this shoreline one of the most picturesque in the region!
Set off from the coastal town of Jaffna to experience Sri Lanka’s inland delights over the next day.
After breakfast pass the Elephant Pass, and continue to the village of Dambulla, within the country’s rich cultural triangle. Also en route, mount the mesmerizing rock fortress of Sigiriya – a 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky”. Rising dramatically from the central plains, the enigmatic rocky outcrop of Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka’s single most dramatic sight. Enjoy the climb up to the fortress with the antics of the local monkeys to amuse you and the art and architecture on every level to reward your climb.
We also suggest you take a quiet evening walk on the Loris Night Trail at your resort; the walk takes you through the streams and bamboo bridges of lush forest eco-system to the Loris Information Centre and Conservation Site!
Enriched in the cultural adventures, we bid you farewell as your Chauffeur Guide transfers you to the Airport to meet your departure flight home, preferably in the evening.
