Sri Lanka & Maldives Jun-Aug
All the best of Sri Lanka and the Maldives in one epic adventure!
You want it all? This trip gives you exactly that. Explore Sigiriya Rock, hike Adam’s Peak, visit the Temple of the Tooth, and go canyoning or spot wildlife in Yala National Park. Learn local flavours in a Sri Lankan cooking class, chill on the beaches of Mirissa, or snorkel at Turtle Point.
Take your adventure to the Maldives with island hopping, snorkelling vibrant reefs, paddling through turquoise lagoons, or enjoying a picnic on a private sandbank. You’ll travel with a small group of people your age, led by guides who know the route, the pace and the good spots. Surf lessons, local experiences, epic nature and beach time are all part of the deal, All accommodation and transport are sorted, so you can focus on the important stuff: having a great time and making friends with your travel buddies.
It’s adventure without stress, beach time without boredom, and a crew that turns a good trip into a great one.
Highlights of the trip
Quick and easy booking process with KILROY
1
Book your spot by paying the deposit
Reserve your spot on any of our departures by paying the £150 deposit.
2
Pay the rest
60 days prior to departure, you will be charged the remaining amount of your trip.
3
Pack your bags
Double check your travel documents, pack your gear and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime
Your itinerary
This is an expert-planned trip you can book instantly. Simple, quick and worry-free. You can tailor what you do pre and post trip, but not the set itinerary.
Meet the group
Sigiriya rock
Enjoy the views
Kingdom of Lakes
Quadrangle Polonnaruwa statue
Explore Pigeon Island
Enjoy your free time at the beach
Discover several cultural sights in Kandy
Enjoy a free day in Kandy and explore the city
Enjoy the iconic train ride
Visit the Arch Bridge
Incredible nature surrounding Ella
Learn about the principles of Buddhism.
Visit the Elephant Transit Home
Spot elephants on safari
Explore on your own
Once you arrive in the Maldives, the day is yours
Spot nurse sharks while snorkling
Relax on the Maldives
Island life on the Maldives
Kayak on the clear blue waters
Enjoy a picnic on the sandbanks
Enjoy your last night in the Maldives
Time to say goodbye to your tripmates
Day 1: Arrive in Negombo
When you land in Sri Lanka after your flight, we’ll be at the airport to meet you and take you to the hostel. You’ll have plenty of time to recover from your flight, chill out and meªet everyone in your group. In the evening, you will come together for a group welcome dinner where you will go over your upcoming program and get an introduction to culture and language to prepare you for your adventure!
At a glance
Available departures
What's included with this trip
18 nights in Sri Lanka & 7 nights in the Maldives
All accommodation: Hostels (4 nights, multi-share with 4-12 people), Simple hotels (12 nights, twin/triple-share), Tent (1 night, twin-share), Homestay (3 nights, twin-share), Guesthouse (5 nights, twin/triple/quad-share)
25 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Transportation: Private Minivan, Public Bus, Train, Public speedboat
Airport transfers on arrival and departure
Tour guide during guided days
Unguided days - free time to explore
Visit to Sigiriya Rock
Temple of Tooth
Canyoning tour
Hike up Adam's Peak
Cooking class in Sri Lanka
Yala National Park
Beach days in Mirissa
Snorkeling at Turtle Point
Maldives snorkel tour
Sandbank and Picnic tour
Selfguided Lagoon kayaking
Facebook group to meet fellow travellers
IYTC card
International flights (but we can help you with that)
Meals and activities not mentioned in inclusions
Visas where necessary
Vaccinations
Tips to guides and drivers
Travel equipment
Travel insurance (ask us for a quote)
Pre and post nights accommodation
Onward travel
Not exactly what you're looking for?
Our travel experts can design a trip that matches your wishes. Contact us today to start planning!
Jasper
Frequently asked questions
Read all you need to know about our Tripmates tours.
Copy of passport (hard copy or saved on drive)
Travel insurance with proof
Sunscreen (reef safe) and insect repellent
Shirts - cotton or light synthetic, long- and short-sleeved
Dry fit clothing: cotton or light synthetic pants and shorts. Bring at least 2 sets of clothes that dry quickly (jeans not recommended and too slow to dry)
Casual summer clothes & appropriate temple attire (covering shoulders, chest & knees)
It gets cold on top of the Adams Peak, so we recommend bringing a few layers of warm clothes to keep you comfortable
Females : Appropriate attire for the Maldives local islands. T-shirts/shirts that cover the shoulders, loose shorts that covert the thigh and/or Sarong. Sarongs can be bought in both Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Footwear: waterproof, light-weight hiking shoes, river sandals (Teva-type sandals), tennis shoes/running shoes. If you do not bring hiking shoes, make sure you bring 2 pairs of tennis shoes
Socks: bring extra pairs in case your feet get wet during activities
Rain gear: rain poncho or similar
Hat(s) with visor for rain and sun protection
Flashlight/headlamp
Camera and extra batteries, charger, and plenty of memory
Zip-lock plastic bags for personal belongings protection in case of rain
Extra prescription glasses, contact lenses and medication (if applicable)
Small day pack or fanny pack for hikes
Earplugs
Towel (microfiber)
Sunglasses
Swimwear & flip flops
Toiletries
Refillable water bottle
Lock for shared accommodations
A portable speaker, deck of cards or other games for your travel crew!
SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons which divide the year into the dry season (December to March) and the rainy season (May to September). The dry season offers temperatures ranging from 28-32°C, lower humidity, and plenty of sunshine, averaging around 8 hours per day. Rainfall is infrequent, with an average of around 100mm per month. The rainy season sees slightly cooler temperatures at 26-30°C, high humidity, and frequent rain showers, averaging around 6-7 hours of sunshine per day, with higher rainfall averaging around 200-300mm per month. It's important to note that weather conditions may vary depending on the region of Sri Lanka you're visiting. KILROY offers two programs optimized for travel during the summer and winter seasons, respectively, in an effort to reduce rain exposure and increase sunshine hours..
THE MALDIVES: The Maldives has a tropical climate with two main seasons: the dry season (December to April) and the wet season (May to November). The temperature remains fairly consistent throughout the year, averaging around 28-30°C. During the dry season, there is plenty of sunshine with an average of 8 hours per day, and very little rainfall. The wet season brings slightly cooler temperatures and higher humidity, with around 6-7 hours of sunshine per day and occasional rain showers.
A big part of travelling is staying in unique accommodation styles. On your tour you will experience mixed dorms at hostels, shared basic hotels, homestays, and one night camping in a shared tent. For nights you have in a hostel will be shared dorms with mixed gender(4-12 beds per room depending on the hostel). For accommodation in hotels or similar the rooming will either be a twin, triple or quad room. You will always be roomed with the same gender, but the number of beds in the room can vary between 1-4. Friends travelling together are not guaranteed to share a room.
Special note about the Maldives: You stay on local public islands, and not in private resort islands. Local Islands provide more affordable accommodation, as well as giving a better cultural insights to local life in the Maldives, whilst still providing access to the amazing beaches and water activities that the Maldives is famous for.
The Maldives is a predominantly Muslim country, and it is important to observe the dress code on local islands. The term "Bikini Beach" is something you will encounter in The Maldives. These are designated beach areas established by local island communities and accommodations for the convenience of tourists. While wearing a bikini is not mandatory, the name indicates that bikinis and other Western-style swimwear are deemed acceptable on these beaches. In beach areas not designated as Bikini beaches, it is customary for both local and visiting females to swim from public beaches wearing a t-shirt or rash guard, along with shorts or leggings.
When not at the beach, men can comfortably wear T-shirts and shorts or swim shorts. However, women are encouraged to adopt a more conservative attire, opting for T-shirts with sleeves that cover the shoulders, loose shorts that cover the thighs, or sundresses with a sarong around the shoulders. While the islands visited may be more tolerant of traditional beachwear, it's important for females to refrain from wearing bikinis and swimwear unless on an uninhabited island, picnic island, sandbank, screened-off tourist bikini beach, dive boat, or when visiting a resort island.
Your adventure includes a mix of transportation types throughout the itinerary. This allows you to experience a variety of ways of getting around! On this departure, you can expect transportation in the form of private minivans, public buses, trains, a flight between Sri Lanka and Maldives and boat transfers within the Maldives.
All Tripmates departures feature a dedicated local guide or tour leader, ensuring a hassle-free adventure, especially during the initial stages of your trip. Our guides are there to assist with logistics, such as navigating your way around and checking into accommodations. Additionally, they provide invaluable insights about the destinations you'll be visiting and offer recommendations for exploring activities and sights. With the expertise of local guides, you'll experience an immersive environment, delving into the history, culture, and social aspects of your chosen destinations.
GUIDED DAYS: You will have both "guided" and "unguided" days during your trip. Guided days indicate when your guide will be physically present with your group. Even during these guided portions of your itinerary, there may be free days where you have the flexibility to explore on your own. However, don't hesitate to seek assistance from your guide during these free periods.
UNGUIDED DAYS: There will be moments in your itinerary where we set you free to explore without a guide. By now, we bet your group has gained new travel skills, so these days are all about giving you and the rest of your travel crew the freedom to do whatever you see fit. Don't worry, though. We've got your back with essential arrangements like accommodation. During unguided days there will be no tour guide with your group, so it’s up to you to take the lead!
Pocket money is super personal, but for this trip, we estimate you’ll need between £850-£1,000 to cover costs not included in the trip price. However, if you want to go all out - like going diving, buying expensive drinks, and shopping - you’ll definitely need to budget more for that!
Tipping is very appreciated, but not compulsory. It is common to tip service providers such as waiters around 10% of the bill. If you feel that your local guide did a great job, we suggest tipping around $2-5 USD per day per participant.
On some departures you might be joined by a local driver and/or assistants. In those cases, we recommend $1-2 USD per day per participant.
You should always talk to your local vaccination clinic or GP for health recommendations for your trip. Book an appointment and they will help you with exactly what you need for travelling to Asia. You can also check the NHS Fit to Travel website for more info.
You will travel in a group of 4-12 other backpackers. Most people travel solo, so you will get to know each other quickly and share a really cool adventure together.
Before each departure, we create a private Facebook group for all your new travel buddies so that you have the opportunity to get to know each other before you leave. Here you can also ask questions about the trip to our Tripmates team.
Absolutely! If you and a friend are keen on doing something together without blowing your entire budget on just partying and tourist traps, Tripmates could be just the thing for you. You can book your spots together online, or separately. It’s totally up to you!
Do you want to travel with Tripmates as part of a longer trip? No problem!
For example, you can extend the trip and/or add more destinations plus exciting experiences such as volunteering, a road trip with a campervan, surf camp, diving or take a language course. Most things are possible! We can help you design your trip just the way you want it where Tripmates is part of the adventure. Just reach out to learn more!
When you book a Tripmates tour online, you'll pay a deposit of just £120 GBP. You’ll receive a confirmation email (please note: this can take up to 24 hours on weekdays).
A payment link for the remaining amount will be sent to you, and you'll need to complete the payment no later than 60 days before departure. We’ll let you know when it’s time to start booking your flights, and about 2-4 weeks before departure, we’ll send you all your travel documents in one comprehensive email.
At least 2 months before your departure date, you’ll be invited to join a Facebook group where you can get to know your future travel buddies! About 2 weeks before departure, you’ll also join us for an online pre-departure meeting with KILROY to ensure you’re all set for your big adventure!
When you book, you pay a deposit of £120 GBP. The remaining amount is paid no later than 60 days before departure.
We’ve crunched the numbers for this itinerary:
The average carbon footprint per person for this Tripmates adventure is 1,213 CO₂e
Every Tripmates tour includes a carbon footprint calculation — giving you a clear idea of how many kilograms of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) are emitted per traveller. This number reflects emissions from our internal operations as well as trip-specific inclusions like accommodation, transport (including flights that are built into the itinerary if applicable), activities, meals, and guides - everything built into your trip on the ground.
What about flights to and from the trip?
Our estimate above doesn’t include the emissions from flights to and from the starting and ending points of your adventure. That’s because these journeys can vary significantly — some travellers may already be in the region, while others might be incorporating the trip into a longer itinerary. Travellers also depart from many different airports across Europe, which makes it impossible to apply one single number for everyone.
To help you make informed choices, we provide a flight estimate where possible. For this itinerary, a round-trip flight from London adds approximately 2,551 kg CO₂e per traveller.
Putting it into perspective
We get it. It can be hard to picture what kilos of CO2 equate to, so we have some comparisons.
Driving a petrol car from Copenhagen to Paris 1,228 km = ~209 kg CO₂e
An economy flight from Oslo to Los Angeles (and back) = ~ 2,538 kg CO₂e
100 cheeseburgers = ~320kg CO₂e
Want to learn more?
Travel is amazing — but it leaves a mark. We believe the more we know, the more conscious our choices can be.
We’ve partnered with Ecollective to calculate the above carbon estimates. Curious about how it all works? You can read about our method here. You can learn more about how we work with sustainability here.
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