Northern Sri Lanka Heritage 5-Day Tour

Northern Sri Lanka rewards travellers looking for something different. Jaffna, the cultural capital of the island’s Tamil community, centres on the golden-towered Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, the pentagonal Dutch-era fort and a lively market of palmyra crafts and spices. Its cuisine – crab curry, the seafood broth called odiyal kool and fiery pickles – is reason enough to linger.

Two days are given to the islands. Nainativu, reached by ferry from Kurikadduwan, holds the Nagapooshani Amman Kovil and the Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya, a Buddhist site traditionally associated with a visit by the Buddha. Delft, further out, is a windswept place of coral-stone walls, wild ponies and colonial ruins.

The journey then turns south across the Sangupiddy Bridge towards Mannar Island. Here the Portuguese-built Mannar Fort, the great baobab at Pallimunai, the Thiruketheeswaram Kovil – one of the island’s ancient Shiva temples – and, in the cooler months, flamingos on the Vankalai wetlands complete a rare portrait of the north. Talaimannar looks out towards Adam’s Bridge, the chain of shoals traditionally associated with the Ramayana.

We adapt the route, the rhythm of each day and the style of hotel to your preferences, and no booking is made until you confirm.

Day 1 – Jaffna: Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna Fort and the market, with a Jaffna crab curry dinner.
Day 2 – Nainativu: Cross the causeways to Kurikadduwan and take the ferry to Nainativu's Hindu temple and the Nagadeepa Vihara.
Day 3 – Delft: Ferry to Delft to see the wild ponies, the baobab, coral-stone walls and colonial ruins.
Day 4 – Jaffna to Mannar: Drive about 2.5–3 hours via the Sangupiddy Bridge; visit Thiruketheeswaram Kovil and Mannar Fort.
Day 5 – Mannar: Pallimunai baobab, the Vankalai wetlands and Talaimannar, then onward travel.