One of the best ways to experience any Country is by getting to know the locals, learning about their history and trying out the local food. Sri Lanka is filled with limitless opportunities where you are able to interact and converse with locals from different walks of life.
Luxury Holidays Asia works very closely with Sensory Indulgences who offer a variety of local experiences to tourists in different parts of Sri Lanka. Each experience has an added value in comparison to all others available in the market as the ones by Sensory Indulgences are ably led by handpicked hosts who passionate professionals in their respective fields.
The unique experiences are available in the main cities of Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Galle as well as in the Cultural triangle, Knuckles and Ahungalla too.
In order to make the most of these experiences, one needs to be open minded and adventurous. All participants are encouraged to interact with the host and ask as many questions as they need.
Below are some of the ways you can Experience Colombo – a cosmopolitan city that has been influenced by multiple cultures, faiths, and traditions over the years.
A deep dive into the city’s food culture is a great way to truly experience the multicultural smorgasbord that is Colombo. The ‘Colombo Food Coma’ is a street food tour that is ideal to experience the colours, flavours and culture of a vibrant city that is home to a wonderfully resilient people.
This experience takes you to popular as well as hidden street food carts located in the heart of the city of Colombo. The opportunity to sample some deliciously unique treats are bound to set your senses alight. The night will end at one of Colombo’s oldest and most popular dessert spots. They are certain that by this time, you will definitely be in a food coma!
Explore a few quirky bars in the city that gave birth to a unique metropolitan drinking culture with Colombooze. Stories of these bars are eccentric, filled with local charm and character. Learn about local drinking culture of Colombo and the witty tales that surround it.
Visit 4 iconic dodgy bars in the Colombo City and end up at a pub located in the heart of Colombo’s heritage district; the Colombo Fort. Sample different types of arrack which is Sri Lanka’s home distilled spirit and learn about the story of arrack. Feel free to ask for any other local liquor or a beer if arrack is not your cup of tea. Savour the handpicked delicious signature bar snack at the bars you will patronize.
Sri Lankan food is flavourful, spicy, colourful and incredibly delicious. You will definitely crave it when you are back home. So, indulge in an opportunity to learn more about Sri Lankan cuisine and pick up a few great recipes. Join A Culinary Story experience of Sensory Indulgences to learn about local ingredients and how to turn them into delectable dishes, so that you will always have a part of Sri Lanka with you.
Visit their private studio kitchen or the house of your chef, walk or drive to a local fresh produce market to purchase a few groceries needed for the cooking class, return for a hands-on, interactive and engaging cooking masterclass on Sri Lankan cuisine, after which you will sit down together and enjoy the meal you have prepared.
As Colombo does not have many child-friendly experiences that can be enjoyed by the whole family, the Junior Master Chef experience is tailor made for kids who love food and enjoy helping mom and dad in the kitchen. Sri Lankan cuisine has many dishes that are appealing to kids, and here’s the perfect opportunity for your kids to learn how they are made. It is bound to be an experience that your whole family will remember as a highlight of your trip to the paradise isle of Sri Lanka.
All chefs of Sensory Indulgences will use modern equipment and methods during the classses, so that you can easily recreate these meals on your own, once you get back home.
Mix it like a Lankan is an immersive mixology experience showcasing the versatility of local Sri Lankan flavors and how they can be used to create world-class cocktails.
Whilst learning how to mix four stunning signature drinks ‘like a Lankan’, take a brief walk through the rich history of cocktail-making and explore what makes a great cocktail. This experience will focus on show casing the abundance of Sri Lankan natural produce, and show how you can bring these flavors from your backyard into a world class cocktail bar (or just impress your friends at home).
A special walking experience amidst the hustle of the city of Colombo is the one where you get to explore An open air supermarket in Pettah. This unique walk helps learn about its history, people and its evolution from a simple trading hub to the vibrant, busy, heartbeat of modern Colombo’s commerce.
This unique experience includes a walk through the open-air market, exploring its quirky nooks and crannies where you get to meet traders, learn about historic buildings and marvel at their architecture as you navigate a maze of trade, traffic and local banter. An opportunity to explore a historic church erected during the Dutch colonial period is also available in this tour that ends with a cold pint of Beer.
Explore Kotte on wheels with A Forgotten Kingdom right in the capital city of Colombo. This kingdom is long forgotten but still existent and though not popularly spoken about, played a pivotal part in shaping the political landscape of Sri Lanka leading to the island’s colonization. This journey will be on mountain bikes and will involve stories of the kingdom of Kotte that come to life with tales of love, deceit, humor and political coups. Cycling will be mainly through residential areas, avoiding the main road visiting a few archeological sites, encounter a few species of birds and learning about the stories that surround them and will end at the Kotte Museum.
View life from a different perspective for a possible inner transformation through a self-discovery of true nature of existence with the Spiritual Discourse followed by Meditation. Learn about your Guru’s specific approach to meditation, spirituality and enlightenment and embark on a guided meditation and discourse on spirituality.
Visit the oldest Hindu Kovil in Colombo for a ritualistic offering and a blessing after an intriguing tale of a hotel that used to be the ancestral home to a prominent political family in Sri Lanka in Tales of Colombo. Learn about Colombo’s function as a trade hub and central distribution point during the colonial days and drive to the older part of the Colombo Fort to check out the holding cell of the last king of Sri Lanka.
Choose to explore this urban capital where it’s night skies are lit up by city lights. Certain tales intrigue, mysteries and histories and trails come alive in Colombo during the evening hours when the streets are less busy and less congested. During this tour, your host will personify the story of a Boutique Hotel in the heart of Colombo when it used to be the ancestral home to a prominent political family.
Include a street food experience to this by driving to have a few local street food delicacies at the Galle Face Green and Hulftsdorp to experience a bustling neighbourhood and street full of food vendors. Savour a 180 degree view of the Colombo city skyline with some gin and tonic to end the tour.
Explore the corners of Colombo in a tuk-tuk by signing up for Banana Airlines – Colombo by Tuk Tuk. From the early 90s with the appearance of the first tuk tuks in Sri Lanka, this mode of transport has been the ride of choice of the masses. This this pocket rocket flying machine is compact and is the best vehicle to squeeze through the congested streets of central Colombo.
Zig zag on the cross streets of Pettah spotting the iconic Red Mosque, the Old Town Hall building and learning more about the epicenter of Sri Lankas wholesale markets. The streets in Pettah are super busy but this is where you will witness the swiftness and skill of your tuk tuk and its master. Stop by at a wayside snack bar for a quick bite and refreshment.
After successfully evading traffic, visit the Wolvendaal Church – one of the three Dutch Reformed churches in Sri Lanka, the. From here we take a short ride to the Gangaramaya Temple and the seemamalakaya passing through ever changing colorful neighborhoods of Colombo. We conclude the tour at the Nippon Hotel which is one of the historic hotels of Colombo, where you will be treated to their popular mutton role and an iced coffee.
Discover the birth of contemporary and modern art originating from none other than the capital with Colombo Art Mule. Witness its evolution through half a century inspiring and captivating young talent from around the island. Explore private collections and focus on key artists who contributed immensely to the arts circle in Colombo. After a brief stop at an art gallery, drive past the works of Colombo’s Street Art Painters.
Discover art as a wholistic form of expression from the perspective of two renown artists from Sri Lanka with Escape to an Artist’s Abode. Tour of their residence that have been transformed into a living master piece of art with its own studio, experimental gallery space, community kitchen, listening room and organic garden and learn more on what art means to them and how they have used their skills for community outreach, sustainability and conservation.
The Legacy of Geoffrey Bawa is immortal. To this date his masterpieces amaze the world and inspire thousands of young aspiring architects. Embedded in his work are snippets of clues that gives you a hint of his character, his inspiration and what kept his spark alive. Understand the legend, appreciate the art through Finding Bawa with a Chartered Architect and inspire your senses on our quest to find Bawa.
Practise your vinyl scratching skills with your individual mini turntables when you sign up for Musical Minds and create your own musical master piece with your family joining in with other musical instruments.
Take your seats the art stations of Sip and Dip, where a canvas, paints and paint brushes will be laid out. An already painted art will be used as a guideline for you to create your own master piece. Whilst the experience is going on you will be served your favorite wine / cocktail accompanied by some delicious Japanese snacks.
In addition to the above and a few more experiences that are based in Colombo, contact Luxury Holidays Asia to find out more about the Experiences offered by Sensory Indulgences in the Cultural triangle, Galle, Kandy, Knuckles, Nuwara Eliya and in Ahungalla.
Write to Luxury Holidays Asia on mytravel@luxuryholidaysasia.com to get more details about the experiences that are available through Sensory Indulgences and how to incorporate them into your next trip to Sri Lanka.
Compiled by Luxury Holidays Asia
How to experience Sri Lanka with unique Sensory Indulgences? Luxury Holidays Asia has it all sorted for you; read on… added by Indian newspaper Sydney on
View all posts by Indian newspaper Sydney →