Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Sri Lanka – Negombo – Anuradhapura – Hill Country – Yala National Park – Weligama – Galle
100% customisable for you
Passports at the ready, your two-week tour around the highlights of Sri Lanka kicks off today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and slip away to the lounge for some complimentary nibbles before departure. Flights to Colombo take around ten hours and 30 minutes, so sit back, kick up those footrests and crack open a good book.
Step off the plane in Colombo the following day, soaking up the warm (literally) welcome of the Sri Lankan sun. Then, once you’ve cleared customs and grabbed your bags, meet your private driver to embark on the 45-minute journey north to the small fishing village of Negombo.
When you arrive at your first hotel of the trip, check in and drop your bags before heading out in search of a delicious dinner tonight. Our trusty Concierge will be on hand to point you in the right – by which we mean most delicious – direction.
Bring out the strong coffee and tasty treats this morning to start your first full day with a luxuriously leisurely breakfast. Then, reunite with your private driver to bundle back into the car and set off on the three-hour-and-45-minute journey north to the ancient city of Anuradhapura – one of the three pillars of Sri Lanka’s UNESCO-packed Cultural Triangle.
Arrive in Anuradhapura in time for a late lunch, after which you’ll have the afternoon free to spend as you please. If you’re raring to go, venture out for a preliminary exploration of the surrounding area. But if you’re wiped out from your travels, stay put and enjoy the facilities at your hotel. There will be plenty of opportunities to explore tomorrow, don’t worry.
Rise and shine – it's time to delve into the Cultural Triangle. Tuck into a tasty breakfast this morning before donning your sun caps and setting out to discover the area in and around the nearby Nachchaduwa reservoir with a private local guide.
Aboard a 4x4, you’ll take a series of seriously scenic roads to see ancient reservoirs, lakes, farmland and local villages, enjoying a vibrant and immersive introduction to local life. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for some iconic scenes, such as workers tending to rice fields and fishermen perched in their boats.
Animal lovers and keen photographers should also keep a camera to hand in case birds, buffalo, elephants and a host of other local wildlife should emerge. This is especially the case near Nachchaduwa Wewa (the massive man-made reservoir), where you’ll stop for a well-earned aperitif before returning to your hotel for the evening.
Having delved into the happenings of local life yesterday, today is all about journeying back in time (well, sort of). After breakfast this morning, meet another private guide for a tour of Anuradhapura.
Once the heart of Sinhalese power for nearly a millennium, Anuradhapura is now one of Sri Lanka’s most important historical sites. The ancient city spans over one square mile and is home to towering Buddhist shrines, scared pools and centuries-old temples – cue a chorus of oohs and aahs.
Cultural curiosities satiated (for now), return to your hotel this afternoon to unwind and freshen up before dinner tonight. There’s no need to decide on a restaurant, though, because we have a private jungle dining experience lined up for you.
Surrounded by the sounds of nature, you’ll sit down to a mouth-watering meal deep in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tropical rainforest. Now that’s what you call a feast for the senses.
Having spent the last few days immersing yourself in Sri Lanka's ancient history, it's time to discover an entirely different landscape: the tea plantations of the Hill Country.
To break up the roughly five-and-a-half-hour-long drive south, ask your driver to stop in the city of Kandy for lunch and a wander around the local lake and botanical gardens. Then, hop back in the car and continue on to the town of Hatton, your base for the next three nights.
Once you’ve checked in and done a spot of unpacking, stretch your legs on a short walk through the surrounding trails to work up an appetite for dinner tonight. If you haven’t already, now’s the time to sample a staple Sri Lankan comfort food: kottu (chopped roti meat mixed with vegetables).
The next few days are yours to spend relaxing in the fresh hilltop air of Hatton and exploring the surrounding tea plantations.
For an introduction to the region’s tea culture, start by meeting an expert local for a private walk along the tea trails surrounding the town. While you’re out here, your guide will explain the rich biodiversity of the region and teach you how to identify bird calls, animal tracks, signs of wildlife and local flora.
After this, the rest of your time in Hatton is blissfully open. You can visit the local tea factory, scale the summit of Adam’s Peak at dawn, hop aboard a boat for a trip to the nearby reservoir or simply stroll along the trails woven through the surrounding landscape. If Sri Lanka is the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, then Hatton is your oyster (see what we did there?).
After one last breakfast overlooking the green expanse of the tea plantations, load up the car this morning to embark on the six-hour journey to Yala National Park, home to Sri Lankan elephants.
Along the way, be sure to look out of the windows as you pass the city of Nuwara Eliya, the St Clair Falls, the Kotmale Reservoir, the Dhowa Rock Temple and Lunungamvehera National Park. If you’re ever struck by a photo-op, simply ask your driver to make a quick stop and hop out.
When you arrive in Yala this afternoon, check in for the next three nights at a classic safari-style camp. Then, stretch your legs with a stroll around your suave new digs before settling down with a sundowner cocktail and a delicious dinner tonight. Let the walk on the wild side commence...
You know what they say: the early bird catches the worm. You have a couple of early starts lined up over the next few days as you rise with the sun for dawn game drives led by expert local guides.
While you’re out and about, keep your eyes peeled (and cameras poised) for everything from water buffalo and elephants to sloth bears and leopards. Yala National Park has the highest concentration of leopards in the whole world, so there’s a good chance you’ll strike luck with a sighting.
When you’re not cosplaying a nature documentarian, you can spend your time indulging in some well-earned R&R back at camp. Time to dip back into that holiday read…
Then, in the evenings, even more enjoyment awaits with sundowners, dusk game drives and (of course) delicious dinners around a crackling fire. It doesn’t come much better than this.
After your final open-air breakfast in the camp, bid the wilds of Yala National Park a fond farewell as you buckle up for the two-hour transfer to Weligama, a characterful fishing village perched on the southern tip of the country.
The journey takes you along a sweeping stretch of coast, so ask your driver to dial up the road trip tunes and crank up the good vibes. If your music needs a refresh along the way, simply throw on our destination-specific playlist.
Arrive in Weligama in time for lunch, after which you can spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at your hotel. But if you're raring to go, don’t hesitate to borrow bikes and start exploring the surrounding villages and temples. Water babies can also have a blast by venturing out for a swim, snorkel, surf or kayak in the nearby bay.
Then, once stomachs start to rumble, return to your hotel for yet another delightful dinner this evening (bonus points if it comes from the sea).
Over the next few days, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the striking Weligama headland, with its panoramic ocean views and palm fringed beaches.
On your first full day here, you’ll meet a friendly local for a private tour of Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In this 16th-century walled city, you can delve into the history, culture and heritage of the area, before stopping to talk to some of the locals.
Having delved into the nooks and crannies of Galle Fort, head to the market to pick up some ingredients for an authentic Sri Lankan cooking experience this evening. Then, at a local’s home, you’ll prepare (and, of course, eat) a traditional southern Sri Lankan meal, influenced by the Portuguese and Dutch spice trades.
The rest of your time in Weligama can be as relaxed or as active as you like. The only must-do: a celebratory meal on your last evening to finish your trip with a flourish. Simply contact our trusty Concierge to reserve a table at the swankiest spot in town.
Sadly, the time has come to begin your journey home. After a bountiful breakfast this morning (you’re still on holiday, after all), load up the car for the two-hour-and-20-minute transfer back to the airport in Colombo. Then, having breezed through security and enjoyed some peace and quiet in the lounge, board your return flight to the UK.
The journey takes 11 hours and 20 minutes, but because of the time difference, you’ll arrive home the very same evening, ready to regale friends and family with tales of your Sri Lankan sojourn.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
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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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 checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
