Sri Lanka - North to South Tour.
Take stunning portraits in the teardrop of India.
The Tour.
Welcome to our relatively new north-to-south tour of Sri Lanka, where we embark on an elliptical journey through the enchanting landscapes and cultural wonders of this vibrant island nation. We begin in Negombo, a west-central coastal town known for its picturesque beaches and charming fishing villages. We capture images of colourful boats and bustling marketplaces, immersing ourselves in the local atmosphere.
From there we drive north to the ancient city of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage site with its ancient ruins and sacred Buddhist temples. From there we visit Mihintale, believed to be where Mahinda Thero from India met with King Devanampiyatissa and preached the doctrine of Buddhism.
In Trincomalee, we witness the unique blend of Tamil and Sinhalese cultures and photograph Hindu temples, fish markets, and the serene beauty of the northeast coast. Heading inland, we visit the iconic Sigiriya Rock, a magnificent fortress perched atop a towering rock formation, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside from the summit.
Heading south, in Kandy, we experience the cultural heart of Sri Lanka and encounter the rich heritage of the island, including a Pooja ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth. The next morning we stroll through a nearby village featuring the three iconic temples of Embeke, Galdaladeniya and Lankathilake, all hidden away in the hills near the town. From Kandy, we take the picturesque train ride to the central highlands of Nuwara Eliya and the heartland of the tea plantations.
Heading further south, we meet the famous stilt fishermen in the nearby coastal villages before we experience the charm of Galle's fortified old town with its cobbled streets and colonial homes complete with their red-tiled rooves, and still an inhabited living monument.
We conclude our adventure by exploring the vibrant streets of the capital city of Colombo, including Galle Face Green and the inner roads of Slave Island, a perfect destination for street photography. The tour suits photographers of all abilities and includes beautiful boutique hotels and all transport.
Photo Highlights.
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Portraits
Relaxed locals
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Anuradhapura
An inhabited archaeological site
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Fishermen
So many different styles
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Sigiriya Rock
With elephants
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Dambulla
Extensive Buddhist caves
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Active temples
Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim
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Kandy
Temple of the tooth pooja
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Helga's Folly
An artist’s delight!
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Famous train
Nine acres bridge near Ella
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Stilt fishermen
On the south coast
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Galle fort
Enjoy a two-night stay
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Colombo
Cultural melting pot
Tour Details.
Est. 2024
Duration: 13 days, 12 nights, 11 days of shooting.
Dates and Prices
2025
March 24 - April 5 (possible to combine with India Holi Festival Tour from March 6 - 18)
US$6350
Past participants will get a special discount.
Our fee includes hotels, breakfast, bottled water throughout the tour, as well as all transport including airport transfers. We base our fee on accommodation in a single room, (always A/C with private bathroom) though we offer discounts for couples sharing rooms, as well as for non-photographers.
Our Itinerary.
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Day 1
Arrive any time: Enjoy free transfer to your hotel
PM: Optional technical and aesthetic travel photography workshop for those who need it
Sunset: Meet Nathan and the group
Sleep: Negombo boutique hotel
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Day 2
Sunrise: Fishing beach
AM: Dried fish market
PM: Drive toAnuradhapura
Sunset: Mihintale - hillside temple complex
Sleep: Anuradhapura boutique hotel
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Day 3
Sunrise: Anuradhapura
AM: Archaeological site exploration
PM: Drive to Trincomalee
Sunset: Trincomalee fort / Hindu temple
Sleep: Trincomalee boutique hotel
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Day 4
Sunrise: Fishermen on beach
AM: Fishing village / market
PM: Drive to Habarana
Sunset: Hurulu Wild Elephant Sanctuary
Sleep: Habarana boutique hotel
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Day 5
Sunrise: Sigiriya Rock Fortress
AM: Elephant bathing shoot
PM: Lightroom processing
Sunset: Local village walk / cooking demo
Sleep: Habarana boutique hotel
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Day 6
Sunrise: Drive to location
AM: Dambulla cave temple / market
PM: Drive to Kandy
Sunset: Temple of the Tooth Pooja
Sleep: Kandy boutique Hotel
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Day 7
Sunrise: Drive to location
AM: Rural walk around three temples
PM: City market area
Sunset: Helga’s Folly
Sleep: Kandy boutique hotel
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Day 8
Sunrise: Free time
AM: Drive to Nuwara Eliya
PM: Tea workers
Sunset: Explore tea plantations
Sleep: Nuwara Eliya heritage hotel
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Day 9
Sunrise: Free time
AM: Catch train to Ella
PM: Nine Acre bridge
Sunset: Hotel rooftop
Sleep: Hilltop hotel
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Day 10
Sunrise: Hotel rooftop
AM: Drive to Ahangama
PM: Stilted fisherman
Sunset: Stilted fisherman
Sleep: Galle Fort hotel
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Day 11
Sunrise: Nearby fishing beach
AM: Fish market / fort streets
PM: Optional post-processing workshop
Sunset: Fort wall / lighthouse
Sleep: Galle Fort hotel
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Day 12
Sunrise: Galle Fort
AM: Drive to Colombo
PM: Local street walk
Sunset: Colombo promenade
Sleep: Colombo luxury hotel
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Day 13
Either depart after lunch with our airport transfer
Or consider staying on for some beach time
We know you will have had a fabulous time but you might need a rest
Bon Voyage
Make the dream a reality.
Tuition.
On any of our tours, stunning photography is the name of the game, and our objective is for you to leave with a collection of images that you'll be proud to show off. Indeed, many of our past participants have gone on to win awards and competitions with photographs taken on our tours.
Nathan’s teaching approach is very hands-on, as he believes in learning by doing. He will guide you through technical challenges, provide artistic inspiration, and lead by example in approaching locals for great portraits. You'll be amazed at the striking and authentic images you'll be able to capture.
We also offer Lightroom workshops during our tours, where we cover workflow management and picture processing. We'll show you the tools to take your travel photography to the next level and provide tips on saving your pictures for various outputs like social media, e-books, and printing.
If this is your first tour with us, you can also join Nathan’s pre-tour workshop, designed to equip you with essential skills for travel photography. Covering technical competence, creative observation, and ethical responsibility with a focus on people and culture, this workshop is perfect if you’re new to travel photography or need a refresher. The workshop runs on the first day of the tour from around 1-5pm. Enhance your photography skills and capture breathtaking moments to treasure forever. Apply via our tour request form and prepare to take your photography skills to the next level.
Where We Stay.
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Boutique hotels
Accommodation is a key element of any tour and we have gone to great lengths to secure luxury hotels in amazing locations that are not only a place of rest but have lots of local character. All rooms will have air condition control and private bathrooms for your convenience.
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Charming rooms
Unlike most photo tours we assume you dont want to share a room. We do not charge a single-person supplement but we do offer a discount if you choose to share a room if you are travelling with a partner or friend. We are very competitively priced, but we don’t cut corners on accommodation; on the contrary, others can charge more for less, and we have no hidden costs.
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Fabulous locations
Although you deserve a rest, most of our hotels and restaurants also have photography in mind. Sometimes you can photograph interesting things right outside the building. Sometimes we eat at the hotel, sometimes we take you out, but our restaurant choices always have an exciting (mixed) menu, and we consider your good health a primary concern.
TripAdvisor.
kotw46- October 2023
The best photography tour leader in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Southeast Asia
Nathan leads photo tours in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, several areas in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. This photo tour of Nepal was my 9th photo tour (3rd in Nepal) with Nathan. He is a great human being who instills in every photographer in his tours how to be sensitive of the culture and feelings of the local people in large cities and small villages, how to find the best photo opportunities at the best time of day in the best available light conditions, and how how to optimize street, people, and landscape photography opportunities. All of his tours emphasize interactions with the local people, usually in their normal environment.
Choose from 14 tours in 7 countries!