Sri Lanka with Maldives Cruise: Spice Gardens & Seasides
Experience Overview
Take a whirlwind tour in Sri Lanka, throw in a cruise on a traditional dhoni boat and beach time in the Maldives, and mix together for good vibes and great memories. You'll cross white sand beaches, snorkel amongst spectacular corals, discover beautiful ruins, and so much more. Join this adventure with a group of like-minded travellers and you'll head home with some new friends and new perspectives.
Highlights
- Uncover isolated beaches
- Swim and snorkel the vibrant coral reefs of the Indian Ocean
- Trek through luscious green hills
- Inhale local flavours at a spice garden
- Savour local cuisine
Trip Details
Product Code: 1558
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Private vehicle, walking, traditional dhoni boat.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
18 - 39 Year Olds Only
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: ASLA
Starts: Negombo, Sri Lanka
Finishes: Malé, Maldives
Duration: 18 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Breakfast at Sthree Craft Shop and Café, Kandy Your G for Good Moment: Maldives Plastic Clean Up Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends Your Big Night Out Moment: Hikkaduwa Beach Bar, Hikkaduwa
- Local Village lunch
- Spice garden visit
- Tea factory tour
- Little Adam's Peak hike
- Galle Fort tour
- Arrival transfer in Male
- Fulidhoo Island visit and Bodu Beru performance
- Felidhu and Bodu Mora Island visit
- Snorkelling equipment
- Beach time in the Maldives
- Seven days aboard a traditional dhoni boat
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels/guest houses (11 nts), Traditional dhoni boat (6 nts).
- 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
Transport
- Private vehicle, walking, traditional dhoni boat.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) in Sri Lanka, Skipper/CEO (Chief Experience Officer), crew in Maldives.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3399 ($189 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Negombo
Arrive at any time and welcome to Negombo, know for its lazy beach, wandering canals, and fresh seafood markets.
Get to know your fellow travellers over optional dinner and drinks at a favourite local restaurant. Soak up the lively atmosphere as you're introduced to Sri Lankan delicacies, and cheers to new adventures and friends!
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Activity - Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.Accommodation - Hotel J Negombo
Day 2: Negombo/Sigiriya
Travel to the centre of the island to explore the UNESCO World Heritage City, Sigiriya. Opt to visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, the ancient Sigiriya Rock Fortress or view elephants on a safari drive in Minneriya National Park.
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Head out to discover the area.Accommodation - Lario Resort Sigiriya
Day 3: Sigiriya
Spend the day freely exploring more of this ancient yet luscious region. Opt to visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, or go back in time at the Anurhadhapura historical site.
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get out and explore.Accommodation - Lario Resort Sigiriya
Day 4: Sigiriya/Digana
Visit a medicinal spice garden enroute to Digana. After, enjoy lunch before embarking on a guided village walk to gain insight into Sri Lankan rural daily life. Discover unique local experiences, from visiting a working cattle and goat farm to enjoying refreshing herbal drinks at a local woman's cottage. Later, learn how to cook Sri Lankan curries infused with authentic local spices while helping out with dinner.
Meals included: Lunch,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Visit a herbal centre where students of Ayurveda learn the traditional medicinal uses of various spices for massages and treatments. Enjoy demonstrations and learning about the different plants and their uses.Activity - Get a crash course in local life with a village walk through Digana. Learn about some of the essential local industries and meet with local families, going about their daily routines. Visit their humble abodes to learn about their way of life before enjoying a traditional herbal drink.Accommodation - Oruthota Chalets
Day 5: Digana/Kandy
Enjoy breakfast and soak in the views of the Victoria Reservoir over tea before departing for Kandy. Have an afternoon of free time to explore the sweet city, opting to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, view a traditional Kandyan cultural show, or root for a team at a cricket match.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Explore Kandy with a full free day.Accommodation - Queens Hotel
Day 6: Kandy/Nuwara Eliya
Enjoy a traditional breakfast prepared by women and youth living with disabilities at G Adventures-supported Sthree Craft Shop and Café. Travel on to the rolling hills and luscious forests of Nuwara Eliya. Visit a tea plantation and opt to explore the beauty on foot.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - The town of Nuwara Eliya produces the finest Orange Pekoe Ceylon tea, and is inhabited mainly by tea planters and plantation workers. Pay a visit to one of the factories to learn all about tea production.Activity - Make a pit stop at Sthree Craft Shop and Café to enjoy a local breakfast prepared by women and youth living with disabilities. Led by the Women's Development Centre, they provide livelihood opportunities through hospitality and handicraft training, empowering the surrounding community.Accommodation - Daffodil's Hotel
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya/Ella
If you want to experience morning mist flowing through the valley, wake early and trek the serene trails of Horton Plains National Park. In the afternoon, cruise to the laid-back village of Ella and enjoy a free evening to explore or relax.
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Enjoy a free afternoon to relax or explore.Accommodation - 88th Ella Hotel
Day 8: Ella
Spend the morning trekking Little Adam's Peak to get a 360-degree view of Sri Lankan countryside encompassing the giant Ella Rock and textured green mountains. For the rest of the day, enjoy the freedom to explore scenic Ella more in-depth. Opt to venture to the iconic Nine Arches Bridge or hunt for some waterfalls with your fellow explorers.
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get outside and explore scenic Ella.Activity - Enjoy a hike up Little Adam's peak to catch stunning views of the town below.Accommodation - 88th Ella Hotel
Day 9: Ella/Hikkaduwa
Set off towards the southern coast stopping en route to explore the indestructible Galle Fort. Finish the day's journey oceanside on the white sand beaches of Hikkaduwa.
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Visit the Galle Fort, a 16th-century fort first built by the Portuguese, and later occupied by the Dutch. The ramparts are still standing even after being battered by Mother Nature, including the 2004 tsunami.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Coral Rock by Bansei Hikkaduwa
Day 10: Hikkaduwa
Enjoy a free day to bliss out on the beach sipping your favourite drink or jump on a boat in search of whales and dolphins. For your big night out, follow your CEO to the best beach bar in town and dance under the stars. Perhaps take a night swim, who knows, see where the night takes you.
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy a free day to do as much or as little as you'd like.Activity - Follow your CEO to the best beach bar and cheers to all the life-changing adventures you've shared with new friends. Dance under the stars and perhaps take a night swim, who knows, see where the night takes you.Accommodation - Coral Rock by Bansei Hikkaduwa
Day 11: Hikkaduwa
Another day in paradise to recover from last nights fun. Relax on the beach, snorkel with sea creatures, or wander through the bustling beach town. Pick a local restaurant with your buds and reminisce about all the awesome adventures you've experienced over a farewell dinner.
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Don't waste a single second. Whether it's on the beach or throughout the town, get out and explore!Accommodation - Coral Rock by Bansei Hikkaduwa
Day 12: Hikkaduwa/South Malé Atoll
Travel to Colombo to hop a flight down to the tranquil blue haven of the Maldives. Board your traditional Dhoni boat and after a brief meeting with your CEO, settle in, and set sail on a voyage of discovery.
Meals included: Lunch,Dinner
Day 13-17: South Malé Atoll/Felidhu Atholhu
Spend the next five days cruising around the South Malé and Felidhu atolls, disembarking to visit islands and sandbars along the way. On Fulidhu, mingle with locals and experience a traditional drumming performance. Bodu Moro Island is home to idyllic uninhabited beaches – the perfect photo opt.
Aboard the dhoni, spend free time as you please – lounge on the sundecks and take in the views, relax with a good book, or socialize with fellow travellers as you enjoy delicious local seafood.
Off the boat, opt to swim and enjoy snorkelling about twice a day amongst the spectacular marine life of the Maldives. The shallow islands and amazing coral reefs make it a key feeding ground for many species of tropical fish. Keep an eye out for turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, and octopuses.
Cruise to the southernmost point of South Malé Atoll before crossing the channel into Felidhu Atoll. The main industry here is fishing and there is typically an opportunity to see traditional boat-building on at least one of the islands.
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - The Maldives offer some of the most amazing snorkelling and marine life viewing opportunities in the world. The shallow islands and plentiful coral reefs make it a key feeding ground for many species of tropical fish. 70 different species of colourful corals make up the flora of this underwater city, with more than 700 species of fish and other marine life making up its fauna. Snorkelling is one of the simplest ways to experience this impressive underwater world.Activity - Experience one of the Maldives uninhabited islands, with a visit to stunning Bodu Mora. The island's stretch of idyllic beach is home to lush palm trees, soft sands, and crystal clear blue waters.Activity - Stroll the quaint streets of the island of Felidhu, the capital of Felidhu Atoll. This small island is home to beautiful beaches and a local souvenir shop or two.Activity - Spend time with the local community and see their way of life. Enjoy an evening performance of Bodu Beru, the traditional folk music of the country. Bodu beru means "big drum" and involves a group of people sitting and singing to the rhythmical beat of drums.Transport - Climb aboard this converted Maldivian fishing boat and float on to the next stop.Free_time - Relax on the sundeck, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters, go for a swim, have a cocktail, or read a book. Free time is yours to enjoy!Activity - Unrecycled plastic in the Maldives is compromising sea life, shorelines, and health for communities. On your trip you will have the opportunity to do a beach clean up to support community environmental initiatives in the country. All plastic collected through our partner is properly recycled and reused to create new materials.
Day 18: South Malé Atoll/Malé
In the morning, make the short crossing to Malé. The tour ends on arrival at Malé International Airport.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard this converted Maldivian fishing boat and float on to the next stop.Activity - Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Brooke W - Traveled, December 2023
Great way to see lots in a small amount of time without the chore of planning
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/28/2023
Jane B - Traveled, December 2023
I had a great time, the trip felt like a fair value, and I felt safe.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/28/2023
Lauren P - Traveled, October 2023
Good tour but no information given in advance for the Maldives part of the tour. Itinerary for Sri Lanka was complete out of date, one of the hotels was absolutely disgusting
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/16/2023
Victoria C - Traveled, October 2023
Brilliant organisation and itineraries
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/02/2023
Nicole O - Traveled, September 2023
Amazing trip. Great itinerary and accommodations through Sri Lanka. We all had our own room on the boat so was nice, but would've been tight with two people
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/19/2023
Jasmine D - Traveled, September 2023
Always a great experience
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/19/2023
Kate R - Traveled, September 2023
I personally love that G Adventures has a strong focus on sustainability while travelling and gives back to the community.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/05/2023
Natalie C - Traveled, September 2023
A few activities we did were not listed on the itinerary and extended our budget. Some of the accommodation options could',ve been better
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/21/2023
Melissa F - Traveled, August 2023
It was really good value for money and a fantastic experience
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/24/2023
Jason L - Traveled, August 2023
Overall had a pleasant experience
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/24/2023
Shannon D - Traveled, July 2023
Great organisation and it takes away any stress or worries that you may have if you arranged this yourself. You visit/see more places and get to experience places more authentically and in more detail. The guides give you a lot more information than if you tried to arrange a trip on your own. You also get to meet people from different countries and backgrounds and share experiences with them.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/10/2023
Laurence B - Traveled, June 2023
Great enthusiasm and proactivity of CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/29/2023
Amy O - Traveled, March 2023
It was very well organised and I had an fantastic experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/04/2023
Paige E - Traveled, April 2023
Very convenient especially for solo travellers, easy going
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/20/2023
Kirsty R - Traveled, March 2023
This is my second trip with G Adventures and it was as amazing and as well organised as my first trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/20/2023
Fabienne B - Traveled, March 2023
It was my second tour and I really enjoyed it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/20/2023
Fabian B - Traveled, March 2023
Have done it so many times
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/23/2023
Ellen Paulina Ottilia L - Traveled, March 2023
Good tour guide with a lot of knowledge about the country and fun activites.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/23/2023
Alan P - Traveled, February 2023
Good pace of tour, great choice of locations to visit and experiences.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/23/2023
Natalia G - Traveled, February 2023
Good paced diverse itinerary which has flexibility.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/09/2023
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