Sri Lanka Collection (winter)

Location: Negombo
Duration: 2 hours
Host: Wallawwa Chef (optional – please book 24hrs in advance)
Group size: 2–6 people
What to wear: Closed toe shoes are recommended for the fish market. We have Wellington Boots for you to borrow, and socks are available to buy at cost price in our shop. Ladies should cover their legs and shoulders to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
Other: The tour will leave the hotel at 6.30am (in order to see the sales of the larger fish) and you will return by about 8.30am for breakfast. Alternatively we can provide a packed breakfast upon request. Please do take your camera. The fish market is a very vibrant place and there are many
excellent opportunities to take pictures This tour will not operate on Sundays and poya (full moon) days as the fish markets are closed.

Fishing is hugely important to the country’s economy; approximately one million people are involved
directly and indirectly in the fishing industry. The Sri Lankan coastline is dotted with fishing communities who live off the sea from one generation to the next, and Negombo’s big commercial port is the hub of the island’s fishing industry. Under the Portuguese, Dutch and British, Negombo’s port was used for trade in cinnamon and other spices. The canals running north and south of town were very important in connecting the spice-rich villages around Negombo to Colombo’s vital sea ports; these are now used mainly by local fishermen.

Today Negombo’s fishing industry is vibrant and vital; row upon row of colourful fishing boats are moored up around town, and the hardworking fishermen unload their catches on the beaches and in the town’s shallow harbours having been out in the Indian Ocean overnight or for weeks at a time. The majority of the fish caught in Sri Lanka is Yellow Fin Tuna, a staple of the Sri Lankan diet, alongside Red Snapper, Mullet, Herring, Sailfish and the slightly-harder-to-catch Kingfish. Negombo’s wholesale fish market opens at around 3.30am in the morning (until around 9am) and attracts serious buyers from Colombo and across the country keen to purchase the biggest, best and freshest offerings to sell in their restaurants, shops and stalls.

This tour takes in the wholesale fish market beside the town’s main harbour as well as the local fish market near the beach where fish is sold by small-scale fishermen and third party vendors. One of our chefs will accompany you if you wish and tell you about the different kinds of fish being sold. He’ll teach you how to identify the freshest fish and advise which recipes these different types of fish would suit. The local fish market is also home to a line of fish butchers who are paid to clean and slice each fish to perfection. Behind the market is an authentic fishing beach where you will usually see fishermen pulling in smaller fish from the nets on their boats. These small fish are salt washed and sun dried, and later added to curries or sambols which gives a more pungent fishy flavour to dishes. Along the shores of this beach you can watch the fish (and purple squid) being soaked in huge vats of brine and being laid out to dry on hessian mats in the heat of the Sri Lankan sun.

Location: Meet at the Colombo Fort Café at the Old Dutch Hospital
Tour Duration: 4–5 hours including transfers from/ to The Wallawwa
Host: Colombo Fort Walks
Group size: 2–6 people
What to wear: Comfortable walking shoes, and something to cover your shoulders in case you enter anywhere that requires you to be covered
Other: The drive into Colombo is about 45 minutes each way so the complete tour will take more than half a day The tour usually starts at 3pm. There are many great picture opportunities so please do take your camera; the guide will let you know when it is not appropriate to take pictures.

Your tour starts at the Old Dutch Hospital where you will meet your guide and anyone else taking part in the tour. Your guide will start by giving you a talk about the history of Colombo from the city’s days as a former colony of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. Colombo’s Fort area is home to some of the city’s most historic buildings, including the splendid Old Dutch Hospital, and you’ll have the opportunity to visit and photograph many of these ageing landmarks on your tour. As you are guided around the Fort’s most historic streets, you’ll gain an insight into colonial Colombo’s former greatness. A highlight of this part of the tour is a refreshing break for tea at the city’s oldest hotel, overlooking the grandiose harbour.

After exploring the Fort, your tour continues in neighbouring Pettah, the largest wholesale market in the country, which sells everything imaginable from electronics and haberdashery to spices and locally grown fruit and vegetables. The market is a complete contrast to the relative tranquility of the Fort and encompasses many streets, each of which specialises in a different product; buyers from across Sri Lanka come here to stock up on goods for their stores. The market is chaotic from dawn until dusk, but your guide will lead you down the best and most interesting streets and if there’s time, to some of the area’s hidden gems such as the Jumma Mosque and the Dutch Period Museum. Bring your camera and expect to be blown away by the sights, sounds and smells of this fascinating market.

These tours are the best way to experience Colombo and learn about its fascinating colonial history. Each tour is fully customisable, so you could choose just to focus on the Fort or The Pettah, rather than a combination of both. They also specialise in photographic tours. Be aware that on poya days (full moon holidays) and on Sundays the markets are closed so your tour will focus on the Fort instead. On Sundays traffic in the Fort area is very much reduced so this is a good day for photography.

Location: The Wallawwa
Tour Duration: 90 minutes approx. plus lunch
Host: Wallawwa Chef
Group size: 2–6 people
What to wear: Very casual
Other: Do bring a camera if you’d like to take pictures

Meet with the Wallawwa chef for an in-depth demonstration on how to replicate some of the fabulous rice and curry dishes served at our restaurant. You’ll learn about the various spices used to flavour the dishes and the different methods of preparing each of the delicious curries. The chef will select fresh vegetables from our kitchen garden prior to the cook and you are very welcome to join him on the kitchen garden tour if you like, so please let our team know at the time of booking whether you’d like to join the chef.

In the demonstration the chef will use clay pots to cook each curry. These clay ‘chatties’ are the secret to providing an authentic and distinctive flavour to Sri Lankan cuisine and have been used across the island for centuries. Villagers in rural areas still use them for cooking on an open hearth.

You will have the option of picking from a fish, chicken or seafood curry, along with a dhal (lentil) curry and a selection of vegetable curries depending upon what is fresh and in season. The chef will also share his method for making a traditional rice accompaniment. You may get involved as much or as little as you wish and you’ll have many opportunities to taste the curries during the cook. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like – our chefs will be happy to indulge you!

After the demonstration, enjoy a lunchtime feast of the delicious curries you’ve prepared followed by a traditional Sri Lankan dessert.

Guests can enjoy many cultural and heritage tours the area has to offer including the Botanical Peradeniya Gardens, the University of Paradeniya, the British Garrison Cemetery where a guide will bring history to life through stories, the Kandyan Arts Association’s renowned Cultural Show for dance and drumming, and the Ceylon Tea Museum.

Guests can visit The Temple of the Tooth to view ceremonies presided over by resident monks and wander to the Devales Shrines, discover the glass murals in the serene hill-top Trinity College Chapel, or venture a little further to the Dambulla Caves and Temple that date back to the first century BC.

Guests can choose from a variety of wildlife and nature experiences including ambling around Udawattakelle Sanctuary, 270 acres filled with flora and forest birds, porcupines and monkeys, hike or bike The Knuckles Range, with peaks of 1500m and varieties of wildlife in its midst, or wash some elephants at the Pinnawella Elephant Orphanage.

Guests can organise a round of Golf at the world class Victoria Golf Course, 12 miles from Kandy with the Knuckles range as a backdrop, catch a game at Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium, recently renamed to commemorate Sri Lanka’s famous bowler, cycle around the countryside, or take a walk through the local village and lush paddy fields and have chat with a chief monk in the local temple.

Location: Local tea factory
Duration: 90 minutes
Host: Factory manager
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Trainers or other comfortable shoes (preferably closed toe).
Other: No photographs are allowed inside the factories

Nine Skies is surrounded by acres of verdant neatly plucked tea bushes that have been flourishing here for close to a century. This region of Sri Lanka is home to some of the island’s finest upcountry teas.

During this experience, you’ll learn all about the tea production process by visiting one of our local tea factories. The factories themselves are icons of the Hill Country; vast, atmospheric and filled with heavy machinery, some dating back over a century, these multi-windowed warehouses are where the magic process of tea production happens. The leaves are brought in from the tea gardens, dried, withered and rolled, before being fired to remove as much moisture as possible. Finally, they’re sorted into fragrant particle sizes ranging from the finest dust to the most prized variety, orange pekoe.

One of the factory managers will host you on this experience and take you on a guided tour, showing you the processes, introducing you to the machines and demonstrating how each of them works. At the end, you’ll have the opportunity to taste a few varieties of tea in an insightful tea tasting session. The factories have a few varieties of tea for sale so if you wish you can purchase some to take back home.

Location: Nine Skies’ garden
Duration: 1 hour and half (plus lunch)
Host: The Chef
Group size: 2 guests
What to wear: Comfortable clothing
Other: Your camera if you want to take pictures

Meet with Chef Danushka or one of the other chefs at 11 am for an in-depth demonstration of how to make some of the stunning rice and curry dishes served in our restaurant. You’ll learn about the spices used to flavour the dishes and the different methods of preparing each of the delicious curries. The chef will select some fresh vegetables from the local markets prior to the demonstration to use in the cook; you are very welcome to join him on his visit to the fresh produce market if you like so please let our staff know at the time of booking if you’d like to visit the market too.

In the demonstration the chef will use clay pots to cook each curry; these clay chatties impart an authentic and distinctive flavour to Sri Lankan cuisine and have been used across the island for centuries. Villagers in rural areas still use them for cooking on an open hearth. You can choose from one fish, chicken or seafood curry, along with a dhal (red lentil) curry and a selection of vegetable curries depending upon what is fresh and in season. The chef will also share with you his secrets for making the perfect rice accompaniment. You may get involved as much or as little as you wish and you’ll have many opportunities to taste the curries during the cooking process. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like – our chefs will be happy to indulge you!

After the demonstration, enjoy a lunchtime feast of the delicious curries you’ve seen prepared followed by a traditional Sri Lankan dessert.

Location: Ella
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Host: Self-guided or with a butler/Nine Skies tuk tuk
Group size: 1+

What to wear: Comfortable and light clothing, comfortable footwear and sunscreen. During the monsoon season, a rain jacket/umbrella is recommended.

Other: Your camera if you want to take pictures. The earlier you leave, the cooler and less crowded it will be. Ask the butlers for the train scheduled to pass over the bridge. It is a lot busier at this time, but you can get some great pictures of the famous Yakada Yaka or ‘Iron Devil’.

Optional: Walking on this railway track is a timeless experience and it will take you about 30 minutes to walk to the Nine Arch Bridge from Ella town and 1 hour and half from the Bungalow. The distance is approximately 4.5km from the bungalow. We recommend to wear leech socks, particularly during the monsoon period. Please discuss with your butler to arrange a takeaway meal if needed. A printed map can be provided. The Nine Arch Bridge, also known as The Bridge in the Sky, is a man-made masterpiece ideally located a few kilometers from the bungalow, and to a certain extent is the reason why Ella has become a tourist hotspot in the past couple of years.

Built 1,100m above sea level, among the peaks of the Central Highlands, the Nine Arch viaduct forms a crossing between the Demodara and Ella Railway stations. The bridge, which is almost 100 years old and spans 91 meters, was built by the British era with blocks of stone and cement without using any strengthening iron or concrete. The giant arches, 24 meters in height, take the bridge on a curved path to link between two mountains. According to history, the bridge was built by the locals using such materials; when the construction came to a standstill from the lack of steel caused by World War I. But, in addition to this history; lore abounds the creation of the bridge.

The train tracks on this bridge are the same tracks that lead up to the ‘Demodera Loop’ which you can see from the comfort of the pool deck at Nine Skies. The bungalow’s name is a nod to the nine-arch viaduct, through which it is possible to see ‘nine skies’ when looking up through the arches.

Location: Ella
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Host: Alone or with a trekking porter
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Comfortable and light clothing, comfortable footwear, a rain jacket/umbrella (during the monsoon season) and sunscreen. Please check with your butler for walking sticks, hats and leech socks in case in you need.
Other: Your camera if you want to take pictures. Leave early to hike Little Adams Peak. The earlier you leave, the cooler and less crowded it will be. The tuktuk driver will be your porter for this journey. The porter has limited English but he carries a phone in case you need to get in touch with the Bungalow.

Optional: If you prefer a longer trek, you can start right off the Bungalow and from the Demodara station head on the railway track towards Ella station and after passing the Nine Arch Bridge, take a left turn up and from there head towards 98 Acres resort, where the Little Adams Peak trail starts. Ella is a hiking hotspot in Sri Lanka offering some of the most magnificent views in the world. The region is well known for its tea plantations, waterfalls and spectacular mountain ranges, so if you want to enjoy some phenomenal views without hiking for hours, Little Adams Peak is the perfect trek for you. Little Adams Peak is named after its big brother, the holy mountain ‘Adams Peak’, near Hatton, because of their similarities in shape.

Hop in a tuktuk and head to 98 acres resort. From here, just follow the signs. The hike is fairly easy and the trail to the top takes approximately 30-50 minutes, depending on how fast you walk and how many pictures you stop to take. The trail begins with a moderate incline as it winds through beautiful lush green tea plantations. There are some great photo opportunities early in the hike so keep your eyes peeled. The path will lead you up to 1,141 metres above sea level (don’t worry, you already begin at a high elevation so you will only hike up a few hundred metres!). The trail is marked the whole way and the path is well-maintained, so you could choose to do this trek on your own. However, if you prefer the expertise of a local, we will help arrange a guide for you.

Location: Ella
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Host: Self-guided or with a trekking porter
Group size: 1+

What to wear: Comfortable and light clothing, hiking footwear, a rain jacket/umbrella (during the monsoon season) and sunscreen. Please check with your butler for walking sticks, hats and leech socks in case in you need.

Other: Your camera if you want to take pictures. Leave early to hike Ella rock. The earlier you leave, the cooler and less crowded it will be. The tuktuk driver will be your porter for this journey. The porter has limited English but he carries a phone in case you need to get in touch with the Bungalow.

Optional: If you prefer a longer trek, from the Bungalow, walk down to Demodara station and head on the railway track past Ella station, towards Kithal Ella station. From there, up to Ella Rock and back through the same route, will take you approximately 4 to 5 hours. The approximate distance from the bungalow to bottom of Ella Rock is 10 km.

The views from Ella Rock are absolutely breath-taking. If you love mountainous terrain, hiking Ella Rock should be on the top of your bucket list when visiting Ella. Although this is a more challenging hike when compared to the ‘Little Adams Peak’ hike, the views from the top are spectacular and getting there is half the fun.

The tuktuk will park the Kithal Ella and after a little walk on the railway track, the trail starts. From here, this hike will take you approximately 2 hours to reach the top and get back down, depending on how fast and fit you are, and can be quite strenuous at times. The trail starts our relatively flat passing local homes and tea plantations along the way. As you start to climb, the vegetation changes to forest and the trail begins to steepen.

The trail can be confusing and is not well marked, so we advise you to take a guide along.

Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
Host: You can explore by yourself or we can provide you with a butler
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Comfortable clothes, hats, sun cream and camera

Adisham monastery is an attraction not to be missed. A short drive from Nine Skies will lead you to this absolutely gorgeous place.

Adisham Bungalow is a country house near Haputale, Sri Lanka. Later converted to a Adisham monastery of Saint Benedict. It has a relic (a chip of a bone) of St. Sylvester at the chapel.

The house was built in 1931 by an English aristocrat and planter Sir Thomas Villiers, He came to Sri Lanka as a young man via a ship which was used for tea transportation. Sir Thomas was a grandson of Lord John Russell and descendant of the Dukes of Bedford. Named after Adisham, it was designed by R. Booth and F. Webster in Tudor and Jacobean style, on 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land. Adisham Hall played host to many prominent personalities of the colony until the retirement of Sir Thomas, after which it was sold to Sedawatte Mills in 1949. In 1961 it was purchased by the Roman Catholic Church and was subsequently converted to a monastery. The house is well preserved along with its period fittings and furniture and is open to visitors.

Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
Host: You can explore by yourself or we can provide you with a butler
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Comfortable clothes (which cover your elbows and knees), hats (remove foot-ware & caps when entering the temple), sun cream and camera

The Bogoda Wooden Bridge was built in the 16th century during the Dambadeniya era. It is considered by many experts to be the oldest still standing wooden bridge in Sri Lanka and it is constructed entirely of wood using wooden nails and fixing material. The bridge is situated about 25 kilometres from Nine Skies.

It was built to assist Buddhist pilgrims crossing the rock-strewn Gallanda river on their way to Kandy to worship at the Temple of the Tooth. The Gallanda river is a fast-flowing small river which eventually empties into the Mahaweli Ganga, the longest and largest river in Sri Lanka.

King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, of the Kandyan period, ordered the bridge to be built since crossing this river in the rainy season was both difficult and dangerous. He later ordered a roof to be built over the bridge so that pilgrims, after weeks of hard walking, would have a place to rest and sleep during inclement weather as well as protection from the wilderness.

Location: Bandarawela
Duration: 2 hours (Approx.)
Host: You can explore by yourself or we can provide you with a butler
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Comfortable clothes and camera.

Geoffrey Bawa was Sri Lanka's most prolific and influential architect. His work has had tremendous impact upon architecture throughout Asia and is unanimously acclaimed by connoisseurs of architecture worldwide. Highly personal in his approach, evoking the pleasures of the senses that go hand in hand with the climate, landscape, and culture of ancient Ceylon, Bawa brought together an appreciation of the Western humanist tradition in architecture with needs and lifestyles of his own country.
The chapel is one of the most impressive spaces for Christian worship to be found in Sri Lanka. The overall effect is one of focused calm and sanctity achieved through careful manipulation of space, juxtaposition of simple materials, and the careful control of light and shade. While it makes oblique references to the Romanesque ¬ Gothic traditions of Western church building, the chapel has no direct precedents. It was built almost entirely from materials found nearby or manufactured in the vicinity, and seems to grow out of the ground, a building that has been “unearthed” rather than designed.

Buduruvagala is recommend if you are driving down to the south coast from Nine Skies or you can do a day trip.

What to wear: Comfortable clothes (which cover your elbows and knees), hats (remove foot-ware & caps when entering the temple), sun cream and camera

The beautiful, 1000-year-old, rock-cut Buddha figures of Buduruwagala are the region's biggest attraction. The complex consists of seven statues and belongs to the Mahayana school of thought dating back to the 10th century.

The gigantic standing Buddha (at 15m, it is the tallest on the island) here still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe, and a long streak of orange suggests it was once brightly painted. It's surrounded by smaller carved figures. This site is located 55km from Nine Skies, accessed by a scenic side road.

Location: Demodara Tea Estate
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
Host: Self-guided or with a butler
Group size: Any
Price: Complimentary

What to wear: A good pair of walking shoes or trainers and a raincoat if it looks showery

Other: After rainy weather you are highly likely to encounter leeches, especially when walking ‘off road’. Leeches aren’t harmful, and are more of an annoyance than anything else. If one attaches to you, try to resist the urge to pull it off. The best thing to do is to apply salt, which will encourage the leech to fall off by itself.

A combination of jaw-dropping views, spectacular landscapes and a temperate climate makes Nine Skies a superb place to get active. We have researched a number of trails from our bungalow that take you through some of the region’s most inspiring hill country scenery. Whether you’re looking for a short one-hour amble or a longer hike, we have a few trails of varying difficulties designed to suit all.

In the immediate vicinity of the bungalow are acres of tea bushes, and most of our trails navigate tea estate paths, roads and tracks that look down upon the picturesque mountains. The views from the spring valley are stunning. There’s also a little lake along the way. We can arrange surprise picnics and refreshments along some of these routes, in secluded spots chosen for their views.

What will you see? You might see groups of ladies methodically plucking tea leaves and pause to watch them at work. The trails also pass tea weighing stations where the ladies congregate to get their sacks of leaves weighed a few times a day. In the villages, you may suddenly find yourself surrounded by a gaggle of children, eager to practise their English skills with you and say hello. Many species of birds reside in the forests fringing the tea fields, as do wild cats, wild boar and leopards.

Location: Ella - Uva Greenlands Estate
Duration: 2 to 3 hours (Approx.)
Host: Adventure Park Guides (Nine Skies Tuk Tuk)
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Comfortable and light clothing, hiking footwear and sunscreen.

Flying Ravana Adventure park is one of a kind experience available in Sri Lanka, located amidst the luscious green estates of Ella. Completed with its pride, the Sri Lanka’s first ever Mega zip-line. The two-wire zip-line stretches for more than half a kilometer, slides at 80kmph and offers a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful hills of the island.

The adventure park is exclusively designed for adventure enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies who prefer a not so ordinary hillside experience, offering ATV/quad bike rides, Abseiling, Archery and Air rifling for a gripping outdoor experience.

Location: Demodara Tea Estate
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
Host: Butler
Group size: 1+

What to wear: Your best smile.

Other: Your camera if you want to take pictures.

There are some wonderful walking trails around the bungalow, many of which present stunning views of the surrounding landscape. If you would like to enjoy a delicious meal or sip sundowners whilst taking in these magnificent panoramic vistas, please speak with a butler who will assist in organising it for you.

The trip to the viewpoint will entail a short 15-minute walk along the tea-lined estate where you will pass through beautifully manicured gardens, lush flora and perhaps witness some exquisite birdlife.

At the viewpoint, a butler will be ready to spoil you with delectable food and/or cocktails, whilst you stare in awe at the beauty and tranquility of the mountainous terrain in front of you.

Location: Bentota
Duration: 2 hours
Host: Lunuganga butler
Group size: 1+ (private tour)

What to wear: Cool, lightweight clothing, footwear suitable for walking, a hat, sunscreen and camera.

This inspirational experience takes place at Lunuganga, the former holiday home of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated architect, Geoffrey Bawa, whose inspiration continues to this day.

Spread over 15 acres, this iconic estate sits at the banks of the Dedduwa Lake in Bentota. Although the name Lunuganga translates to ‘salt river’ in Sinhala, the estate is said to have been used as a cinnamon plantation, followed by a rubber plantation during the Dutch and British period respectively, before being taken over by Bawa in 1949 to develop as his weekend bungalow. The enchanting retreat and fascinating gardens of Lunuganga was often considered a beautifully crafted experimental ground for Bawa, whose extraordinary work can be seen amidst the many architectural charms across the estate.

Now, under the management of Teardrop Hotels, the estate continues to provide telling insights into the life’s work of this prolific architect. Elements of Italian Renaissance gardens, English landscaping, Japanese garden art, and the water gardens of ancient Sri Lanka come together to form Bawa’s most extravagant creation - a mecca for those passionate about landscape design and architectural history.

Geoffrey was famous for his tropical modernist style of architecture, features of which include blurred boundaries between indoor and outdoor areas, linear verandas, and windows that framed views of both, inside and outside a room. His work has had a tremendous impact upon architecture throughout Asia and is unanimously acclaimed by connoisseurs of architecture worldwide.

Lunuganga now also includes the three-bedroom house of Bawa’s dear friend – Ena de Silva. A batik artist based in Colombo, Ena de Silva commissioned Bawa to design her home in 1962- a pivotal project in his life’s work. In 2009, Ena sold the house to The Bawa Trust, which then moved the property brick by brick from its location in Colombo to Lunuganga. The house took three months to disassemble and six years to rebuild, led by architect Amila de Mel and conservation specialist Nilan Cooray. Everything from the frangipani tree in the front courtyard to the slabs of river stone remains just as it was in the original house.

A staff member of Lunuganga will meet you on arrival and introduce you to life and times of the late Geoffrey Bawa whilst taking you on a tour through the magical gardens. Every turn and bend in Lunuganga is an interesting experience - with so many exotic plants, trees and views to take in. The house is also adorned with paintings and photographs that is a marvel in its own right. You will also have the opportunity to visit Ena de Silva’s house, if it isn’t occupied at the time.

Location: Ambalangoda
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Group size: 1 to 3 guests
What to wear: Comfortable clothes (no beachwear)
Other: Option to paint your own mask for an additional LKR 1,750 per person
(allow another 90 minutes).

Southern Sri Lanka is famous for its arts and crafts, and Ambalangoda, just a five-minute drive south
of the hotel, is its undisputed capital. For years, craftsmen have been carving life-like masks out of
balsa wood to use in three types of dance drama; devil dancing, folk dancing and medicinal masks.

On this tour you will first visit a mask museum in Ambalangoda. You’ll see how the masks are made
(you can have a go yourself if you wish for an additional LKR1750 per person) in the workshop and
then have a tour of their little museum. Some of the masks in here are 200-years-old, and the
museum provides a brief glimpse at the different uses of masks. There’s a shop upstairs. Across the
road is another mask museum (the two museums are owned by brothers), with a smaller selection of
masks.

On your way back to the hotel, you have the option of stopping off at the house of Dudley Silva,
a noted local batik artist. Dudley learnt the craft of batik-making from his uncle and now exhibits
his creations across Asia. He has a tiny workshop at the back of his home where you can see the
process of batik making, and plenty of finished batiks available for sale in his shop.

Location: Kosgoda
Duration: 1 hour
Group size: 1 to 3 guests
What to wear: Comfortable clothes
Other: No flash photography is allowed.

Kosgoda Beach, a 20-minute drive north of the hotel, is one of Sri Lanka’s most important nesting
grounds for marine turtles. As many as five out of the world’s seven species of marine turtle visit and
lay their eggs on Sri Lankan shores yet all of these species are considered to be either threatened or endangered. Female turtles come ashore and lay their eggs on the very same beach they were born. Once their eggs are buried, they return to the sea and leave them unattended to mature and hatch.

Unfortunately, although it’s illegal, turtle eggs are still collected and sold as a gourmet/medicinal
delicacy in Sri Lanka. Turtle hatcheries, such as this government-accredited one on the beach,
purchase the eggs directly from ‘egg poachers’ and rebury them safely in their hatchery. It’s not
cheap. The current rate per egg is LKR20, and a turtle lays, on average, 150 eggs in one sitting.
Turtle eggs take around two months to mature, and when ready, the hatchlings emerge from their
eggs and make a bid for the sea. The scamper to sea and their first days and weeks in the ocean
are fraught with danger. Not many of them make it. Only around one percent of turtles will reach
adulthood.

This is a small but tidy hatchery. You’ll be guided around and are very likely to see baby turtles
(though these are usually released into the sea at night within one day of them hatching), juvenile
turtles and adult turtles – these will be a mix of green (most commonly seen), olive ridley and
leatherback species. There is also a small museum. Your donation goes towards protecting local
turtles.

Although there are a number of turtle hatcheries in the area (that all seem pretty similar), we chose
this one for a few reasons. They are committed to protecting the turtle’s habitat by organising weekly
beach cleans every Thursday (along a 5km stretch), and encouraging school children to get involved
by coming to learn about marine turtles. They also have overseas volunteers working here.

It might be possible to see the release of baby turtles into the sea if your visit coincides with a time
that hatchlings are planned to be released into the sea. This is usually done at night and you can
ask at the hatchery if you can return at night to see the release of hatchlings (additional cost may
apply).

Location: Kumu garden or beach
Duration: 90 minutes plus lunch
Host: Kumu Beach Chef.
Group size: 2 guests
What to wear: Comfortable clothing
Other: Your camera if you want to take pictures.

Meet with one of Kumu Beach chefs at 11 am for an in-depth demonstration of how to make some of
the stunning rice and curry dishes served in our restaurant. You’ll learn about the spices used to
flavour the dishes and the different methods of preparing each of the delicious curries. The chef will
select some fresh vegetables from the local markets prior to the demonstration to use in the cook;
you are very welcome to join him on his visit to the fresh produce market if you like so please let our
staff know at the time of booking if you’d like to visit the market too.

In the demonstration the chef will use clay pots to cook each curry; these clay chatties impart an
authentic and distinctive flavour to Sri Lankan cuisine and have been used across the island for
centuries. Villagers in rural areas still use them for cooking on an open hearth. You can choose from
one fish, chicken or seafood curry, along with a dhal (red lentil) curry and a selection of vegetable
curries depending upon what is fresh and in season. The chef will also share with you his secrets for
making the perfect rice accompaniment. You may get involved as much or as little as you wish and
you’ll have many opportunities to taste the curries during the cooking process. Feel free to ask as
many questions as you like – our chefs will be happy to indulge you!

After the demonstration, enjoy a lunchtime feast of the delicious curries you’ve seen prepared
followed by a traditional Sri Lankan dessert.

Location: Madu Ganga River
Duration: 2 hours
Group size: 1 to 6 guests
What to wear: Comfortable clothing

The Madu Ganga is a shallow 915-hectare lake system home to 64 islands (15 that are surrounded by water year-round) that’s connected to the sea by a brackish estuary. This crucial waterbody is fringed by vital mangrove plants and is one of the south coast’s most unique wetland ecosystems. It is home to over 300 plant species and 200 vertebrate animals. The mangroves are also a sanctuary for 110 species of aquatic birds such as eagles, cormorants, kingfishers and herons. On a typical trip you are also very likely to see monkeys, water monitors and giant squirrels, and maybe even a crocodile. Most of the villagers living in the vicinity of the lake and the islands make their living from fishing and farming, to a lesser extent, cottage industries such as the production of cinnamon quills and oil.

The entrance to the wetlands is just a few minutes’ drive from the hotel. You’ll board your private
boat (seats up to six) from a jetty and cruise the short journey up the estuary to reach the wetlands.
The boat has a shade that can be quickly put up if you require (once you’ve passed under the low
bridges). A guide will point out any wildlife, and take you to a series of destinations on the lake –
these include dark and shady mangrove ‘tunnels’, which the boat drives through, an island where
you can see the production of cinnamon, and to the Koth Duwa Maha Raja Temple, a well-kept
Buddhist temple with old bo tree which is once thought to have sheltered the sacred tooth relic of
the Buddha. There are also a couple of fish spas on the banks of the wetlands which you can stop at
if you wish.

The boat trip takes around two hours and is best done first thing in the morning or in the late
afternoon, when it is cooler and when you’re more likely to see more wildlife. Life jackets are provided.

If you wish, we can pack you a picnic and some cold beers (or wine) to enjoy on the rocky banks of
one of the islands – please just let us know in advance so we can let the boatmen know.

Location: Hikkaduwa Beach
Duration: 120 minutes including transportation
Group size: 1 to 3 guests
What to wear: Comfortable clothing

Surfing is a major part of the Sri Lankan coastal culture. Sri Lanka has been a major surf destination
since the 1970s, with the main surf spots in the South Coast (during December to March), and the
East Coast (from July through to October). From Hikkaduwa up to Tangalle, there are reef-break
points and dive spots on almost every beach, with less of a crowd on the waves than the East Coast.

A few beaches over from Balapitiya and a 20-minute drive, Hikkaduwa has great surf, especially for
beginners. With white water waves, shallow water, longboards and foam boards available, Hikkaduwa
is the perfect place for everyone to learn how to surf! The more advanced-level waves are further
back behind the white water waves, with offshore winds making clean waves and consistent swells,
and rain at a minimum during peak season.

The surf lesson begins with half an hour of theory and explanation of the basic moves and
techniques. The theory is then followed by a one-hour practical lesson in the surf with the instructor
to help get you up on the wave! Lessons are suitable for everyone - children, locals, foreigners,
expats and even advanced surfers. The lessons can also customize for the level required.

Location: Galle Fort
Duration: 1 -2 hours
Host: Atheeq Ifthikar - Ceylon Soul
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Cool, lightweight clothing, suitable footwear and your camera

The Ceylon Soul Galle Fort Walk with a Resident is hosted by a local guide that comments on the attractions and cultural history of the Galle Fort . Nestled within fourteen strategically erected bastions, which demarcate Galle Fort’s extent, are numerous places of worship, a plush hotel originally used as the Dutch Governor’s residence, an old warehouse utilised to safekeep ship equipment and store spices, several local schools, a post office, a lighthouse, and a clock tower, all criss-crossed by a grid pattern of streets.

Description to follow

Location: Kanneliya
Duration: 3.5 hours, including transfer time (1.5 hours one way) from the hotel
Host: Trekking porter
Group size: 1+

What to wear: Comfortable and light clothing, comfortable footwear, a rain jacket/umbrella (during the monsoon season) and sunscreen.

The Kanneliya Rainforest is one of Sri Lanka's lesser known forest reserves, yet astonishingly, it is one of the world’s 21 biodiversity hotspots! Marked as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2004, the forest covers an area of 5,306 hectares and boasts a diverse range of flora and fauna. Some 220 faunal species (of which 41 are endemic) have been recorded, including 86 species of mammals, 36 species of snakes (17 endemic forms), and several varieties of fish, butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians and reptiles. Of the 26 endemic birds in Sri Lanka, 20 of them can be found here. Flora includes over 500 types of tress and a wide variety of medicinal herbs and rare plants. The reserve is also a major catchment area for two of the most important rivers in the region, the Gin and Nilwala Ganga (river), which feed numerous other rivers and streams.

Four attractions in this enchanting forest include the cascading Anagimale Waterfall, an ancient tangled giant creeper the height of a person, the little waterfall of ‘Narangas Ella’ and a massive Nevada tree with an observation platform, a great spot to look out over the lush reserve.

Neatly tucked away just 35km from Galle, the outskirts of the Kanneliya forest houses around 78 villages. Your tracker is from one of these villages and has spent his entire lifetime living within the reserve. Our recommended trek, approximately 2 hours, takes you passed the Nevada tree to the beautiful Anagimale Waterfall. The tracker will walk you through the forest, showing you particular plants and trees, and pointing out any animal sightings along the way. If you're feeling adventurous you can even crawl through a mini cave underneath the rainforest floor! You will stop at the waterfall for refreshments and a quick break, before heading back to the entrance of the forest.

The cherry on top – You’ll finish up with a hearty, authentic, Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch cooked by your tracker's wife in their nearby home, and served at a table in the shallows of an idyllic lake. The scenery in the area is straight out of The Jungle Book and the opportunity to be out in nature makes this a fantastic experience for children and families. If the event of rain, the lunch will be served at their home overlooking the lake.

If you wish to go on one of the longer treks (3.5 hours or 5 hours) please get in touch with the team who will assist in arranging this for you.

Location: Kumu Beach | Mihiripenna
Duration: 2.5 hrs including transfers
Host: Eva
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Lightweight sports/yoga clothing or breathable shorts and T-shirts

Southern coast is an emerging yoga destination and full of promise of spiritual renewal and reawakening. If you’d like a yoga session, we can connect you with Eva Priyanka Wegener, one of Galle’s best yoga teachers and a practitioner of Hatha Vinyasa Yoga (certified with Yoga Alliance, E-RYT +500). Eva has practiced yoga and meditation since 2002 when she was first introduced to Buddhist meditation on a retreat in Sri Lanka.

You can choose to enjoy a private one on one session with Eva, either in the hotel’s library or at the
beautiful purpose-built Sri Yoga Shala, tucked deep into the Mihiripenna hills, a 20-minute drive from
Galle. This centre is a tranquil timber construction that looks out over the palm trees and inland jungle, and also has a swimming pool and (soon-to-open) health food café.

If you prefer to join one of the group classes at the Shala (usually held from 7.30am to 8.30am and again from 9am to 10am), this is also possible. There are also other experienced visiting yogis who come and conduct classes at the Shala, and our Front Office will be able to check for you which practitioners are currently in attendance along with their daily schedules (group classes take place every day except Sunday).

About Eva
Eva holds certificates in Contemporary Dance and Hatha Vinyasa Yoga (Yoga Alliance). She received her education in Sri Lanka (Nilambe Meditation Center), Germany (Yoga Shala Berlin initial
200hour TT), India (Krishnamarchaya Yoga Mandiram Chennai), with David Swenson in Hong Kong (Ashtanga Teacher Training Immersion, 30hrs), with Louisa Sear, Rose Baudin, Lucy Roberts and Stuart Girling in Bali (Yoga Arts Australia 300hrs TT), with Sri Nanda Kumar (Senior Iyengar Teacher) at Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh, with Sianna Sherman (Anusara‐ inspired) and Sally Kempton (Tantric Philosophy & Meditation) in London. Eva conceived and designed the Sri Yoga Shala, which opened in late 2015.

Location: Inland Galle
Duration: 2-3.5 hours (depending on your route), including transfers from the hotel
Host: Idle Bikes
Group size: 1+
What to wear: Sensible shoes and lightweight, breathable clothing (T-shirts and shorts are ideal), and your camera.
Other: Bicycles, helmets and refreshments are included in the rate.

Sri Lanka’s beach-blessed coastline is a major draw for many visitors to the island, however, its enigmatic rural interior is every bit as appealing. Oceans of paddy fields fringed by coconut palms, local villages, tea estates, ancient temples and lush jungle, all form part of a rich tropical countryside that lies less than a kilometre inland. On festival days you often catch sight of white-clothed devotees making their way to pray at their local temple, and during harvest times, farmers hard at work using a pair of buffalo to plough the fields in a scene reminiscent of yesteryear. The habitat is home to an assortment of wildlife, from exotic birds such as electric blue kingfishers that gaze down at you from telephone cables, mynas, hummingbirds and peacocks, to stealthy monitor lizards and scuttling mongooses.

One of the best ways to explore these magical surroundings and to cover a decent amount of ground is to take a guided bicycle ride. We work with Idle Bikes, who have established guided bicycle adventures in inland Galle. The team have researched a number of routes, of varying lengths and terrains, and have been designed to take you on quiet roads and back lanes so that the experience is safe and enjoyable.

The classic Paddy Trail, suitable for all, is a gentle 12km loop which passes through a bird sanctuary and fields of paddy.

The Paddy and Lake Trail is an extended version for cyclists who wish to stretch their legs a bit more. The 26km ride includes cycling along the shoreline of Koggala Lake and its cinnamon plantations.

The Hiyare Hill Climb is a 41km journey devised for keener cyclists. The route starts with a climb to the pristine Hiyare lake nature reserve before descending back to the beach through the paddy fields via Koggala Lake.

There may be various stops along the way depending on your route (a visit to the Yatagala Temple perhaps) as well as refreshing thambili (king coconut water) hydration breaks.

The bikes are good quality lightweight mountain bikes and are available in different sizes to suit all guests. The team also has children’s bikes and baby seats; please let us know in advance if these are required. The guides have waterproof handle bar bags on their bikes, which they use to safely carry items such as phones and sunscreen.

Tours take place at any time of day, however we recommend the early mornings or late afternoons to avoid the strong midday sun.