Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Sri Lanka
100% customisable for you
Depart from the UK on an overnight flight to Sri Lanka.
Step off the plane at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport at around lunchtime and let the warm Sri Lankan sun welcome you to this beautiful country. As you exit arrivals your bags will be whisked away and you'll be chauffeured to your hotel, just a short drive away and the perfect place to begin your stay in Sri Lanka. Whether you choose to venture into Colombo itself or simply relax, the hotel staff will ensure your every need is taken care of.
Start your day with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, then it is time to pack up and move north to the cultural triangle, for a stay near to the ancient city of Anuradhapura. The journey takes three and a half hours by road. We can also arrange a charter flight to cut down on travel time, at additional cost; the flight takes 50 or so minutes. After lunch you can relax by the pool, enjoy pampering treatments (we can prebook these) at the excellent spa, ride the estate horses or go for a kayak in the tranquil waters of nearby Wannemaduwa tank (reservoir).
Spend the next few days relaxing at your hotel, a peaceful retreat set among acres of lush greenery. Aside from enjoying the hotel grounds, from this base you can head out and explore the Cultural Triangle. The ruins of ancient capital Anuradhapura are very close by and the rock citadel of Sigiriya and ancient city of Polonnaruwa are only an hour or so's drive away making this an ideal location for visits to the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cultural sites.
Having spent the last few days immersing yourself in Sri Lanka's ancient history, it's now time to spend some time in a different landscape entirely - the tea plantations of the Hill Country. To break up the long six-hour drive south, stop in the city of Kandy for lunch and a wander or bike around the beautiful lake and botanical gardens. This was the last capital of the ancient Ceylonese kings and often hailed as the most impressive city in Sri Lanka, so well worth a visit. Then it's another three hours on to your next stop in time - appropriately enough - for tea. You might want to stretch your legs on a short walk along the well-marked trails, or we can prebook a massage for your arrival at the hotel.
Following a busy few days of sightseeing and travelling, the next few days should be an opportunity to relax in the fresh hilltop air with lake-side views and lush surrounding tea plantations. We can organise the very best tea-related experiences; so break up the scenic relaxation with an authentic, tea leaf picking, manufacturing and tasting day out with a local tea planter. Other activities on offer include a six-mile guided trek in Horton Plains National Park, and mountain biking or white water rafting. Whatever you choose to do, you will be sampling high quality cuisine at Tea Trails, from quintessentially English high teas served on the lawn to delicious authentic Sri Lankan curries or hoppers (rice pancakes served with a friend egg) for breakfast.
After breakfast this morning your driver will pick you up for the short transfer down to Castlereagh Lake for the hour-long seaplane flight to the coast. This journey would normally take around six hours by car, so this is not only a memorable way to travel, but a huge time-saver, too. From Mattala Rajapaska Airport, it's just over an hour by 4x4 to your next stop, the wonderful and wild Yala National Park and your accommodation for the next three nights. Thanks to Yala National Park's proximity to the south coast, it is in a prime location, bordering both beach and wildlife reserve. Hopefully you'll be here in time for the afternoon game drive so you have a first chance to see Yala's population of leopards - famed for being the largest per square mile of any park on the planet. Sightings are common but there's plenty more to appreciate in this coastal national park, from elephants to sloth bears and over 200 species of bird. Return to your camp for a sundowner cocktail and delicious dinner.
As with all safari destinations, the best time for wildlife sightings is early morning and late afternoon so you've got a couple of early starts on these two days, returning to your camp in time for a late breakfast. You then have the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy some R&R, spa treatments and more delicious local specialities in the restaurant. Enjoy further afternoon/evening game drives; spend a quiet moonlit evening watching as turtles lay their eggs on the beach (in season) or - if you get lucky - see elephants splashing in the surf.
After a final open-air breakfast in Yala, it's back on the road with your driver. During the penultimate three and a half hour transfer of your trip you will be sweeping along the south coast of Sri Lanka and passing a scattering of beautiful beaches. Feel free to ask your driver to stop for a photo opportunity or a dip at any point!
You will arrive at your final destination, Weligama, in time for lunch. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the hotel, or if you're feeling a bit more active, borrow bikes to explore the surrounding area's villages and temples; or swim, snorkel, surf (we can pre-arrange lessons with a top surf guide) or kayak in the bay below the hotel. This evening enjoy more gourmet cuisine at the hotel's restaurant.
The striking Weligama headland has panoramic ocean views, palm fringed beaches and an array of dining options. Spend your last two days in Sri Lanka soaking up some sun and indulging in some of the freshest seafood on the island, but if you are tempted to explore further afield, we can arrange private guided tours of the lovely colonial city and fort at nearby Galle, a half day private charter on a stunning catamaran to see whales in the deep waters off the south coast (in season), or a private cooking course with a renowned local chef so you can learn to recreate some of the delicious dishes you will have experienced over the last fortnight.
Time to head home, sadly, and after breakfast you will be met and transferred to Koggala for the seaplane flight on to Colombo Bandaranaike Airport to connect with your return flight to the UK in the early afternoon. The flight takes 11 and a half hours, and arrives back into London in the evening.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
