Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Sri Lanka – Negombo – Anuradhapura – Jaffna – Sigiriya – Kandy – Haputale – Ahungalla
100% customisable for you
It’s time for your ultimate tour of Sri Lanka to begin. Head to the airport and speed through security before boarding your overnight international flight to Colombo, which takes around 11 hours. As you travel eastwards, the landscapes shift beneath you, from European city grids to the deep blues of the Indian Ocean.
On arrival in the capital, meet your private driver and transfer to nearby Negombo, a half-hour drive away. This relaxed coastal town offers a gentle and picturesque introduction to the island, with its fishing boats, lagoon views and Catholic heritage reflecting centuries of Portuguese and Dutch influence.
Take the rest of the day and settle in after your long journey, whether you’d rather take a stroll along the lagoon or relax by the pool with a perfectly sweet sundowner.
After a tasty breakfast, you’ll be privately transferred five hours north to Anuradhapura, a UNESCO-listed city in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. Anuradhapura was the country’s first great royal city and remains one of its most sacred: dagobas puncture the skyline, pilgrims dressed in white move quietly between shrines and monkeys claim the ancient walls as their own. You’ll be staying here for two nights, so check in, drop your bags and spend some time relaxing after the long journey.
Later, head out for a private visit to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred Buddhist site home to a revered fig tree. Planted in 249 BC, the legendary plant is believed to have descended from the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it’s thought to be the oldest documented tree in the world. The atmosphere is hushed but deeply alive, with offerings of lotus flowers and flickering oil lamps placed carefully at its base by travelling pilgrims.
Today’s all about diving deeper into Sri Lanka’s Buddhist history. After a fuelling breakfast, head out to explore Mihintale and Isurumuniya Vihaya, two of the country’s most important Buddhist sites.
Begin at Mihintale, a mountain peak widely regarded as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. As you climb the 1,850 stone steps (it’s worth it, we promise), learn all about the history of this legendary site where, around 247 BC, King Devanampiya Tissa is said to have encountered the monk Mahinda – a meeting that would alter the island’s spiritual course. Once you reach the summit, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views across reservoirs and forest.
Continue on to Isurumuniya Vihaya, a sacred rock-cut temple. Intimate and atmospheric, this revered site is known for its graceful rock carvings of bathing elephants and ancient royalty. Finally, visit the forested caves of Vessagiriya, once home to meditating monks, before heading back to your hotel for an afternoon of rest and relaxation.
This morning, wave goodbye to Anuradhapura as you’re privately transferred to the station for your scenic train north to Jaffna. This three-hour journey feels like slipping between chapters of the same book: once a British railway constructed to transport tea from the highlands to Colombo, this historic railway offers a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s colonial heritage and natural beauty. The carriages rattle steadily past paddy fields, quiet stations and stretches of open landscape, carrying you towards the northern peninsula – culturally and historically distinct from the south.
Once you arrive in Jaffna, there’ll be another driver waiting to whisk you away to your new hotel. Jaffna has its own rhythm: palmyra palms replace coconut groves, Hindu kovils punctuate the skyline, and Tamil is spoken as readily as Sinhala. Spend the rest of the day relaxing before enjoying a perfectly sweet sundowner and delicious dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Today, we’ve arranged a guided tour of Jaffna, the spiritual and cultural heartland of Sri Lanka’s Tamil community, to give you an insight into the culture, customs and way of life in this northern region.
Begin at the restored Jaffna Library, which was destroyed during the civil conflict and today stands tall as a powerful symbol of renewal. Continue to Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, a Hindu temple famous for its golden entrance tower, dedicated to the god Murugan.
Next, discover Jaffna Fort, originally built by the Portuguese and later reinforced by the Dutch, whose sturdy walls look out across the lagoon, before rounding off the tour at Keerimalai Pond, a holy body of water thought to contain miraculous qualities.
Later, swap culture for cuisine at a palm tree workshop. Led by a knowledgeable guide, discover the significance of the leaves, witness the traditional technique of tapping palm sap – known as grog – and learn about the natural fermentation process before sampling the freshly brewed grog, served in a traditional palm-leaf cup.
Today, leave the northern peninsula behind as you travel south by private transfer into the Cultural Triangle once more. The journey takes around five hours, but don’t worry: the roads here are long and straight, passing by rural villages, sprawling lagoons and a variety of wonderful wildlife, from peacocks to the occasional elephant.
After dropping your bags at your hotel, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights, venture back out for a visit to a local forest monastery. Set in the heart of Heenukkiriyawa, this historic Buddhist temple is known for its intricate wood carvings and impressive cave shrine. Once you’ve explored the sacred site, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with the resident monks, learning all about their traditions and daily life.
Later, enjoy a tasty dinner at your new hotel, surrounded by lush plains and ancient ruins.
Travelling with a fitness fanatic? This one’s for you. This morning, head out to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s former medieval capital that flourished between the 11th and 12th centuries. Once you arrive, explore the 54-acre ancient city by bike, stopping at royal palaces, dagobas (dome-shaped shrines) and, most importantly, the impressive Gal Vihara monument, where three serene Buddha statues are carved directly from granite rock faces. You can also visit Lankatilaka Image House, which features a monument of the Lord Buddha in a rare standing position.
The fun’s not over yet – later, meet a local team for a cricket match in the ancient city. While cricket was introduced by the British, it’s now a firm favourite in Sri Lanka, bringing people from all walks of life together. After a friendly match, during which you’ll have the opportunity to meet welcoming local players, head back to your hotel for some much-needed R&R (and a well-deserved sundowner, of course).
Rise bright and early this morning for a hike to Pidurangala Rock. Once the site of a 5th-century monastery, Pidurangala is now home to a number of historic artefacts, offering an insight into the region’s religious past. The hike itself can be challenging, but the views from the top are worth it: you’ll be treated to a striking perspective over Sigiriya and the surrounding landscape as the sun rises.
Once you’ve been suitably wowed, take another private transfer south to the Hill Country, just under three hours away. Kandy, Sri Lanka’s last royal capital, boasts rolling hills, cool air and a picturesque lake at its centre.
This evening, head out for a taste of Sri Lankan cuisine at a cooking class. Led by a local family, visit a market to choose the colourful vegetables and fragrant spices needed for your dishes. Back at your hosts’ home, use traditional techniques to craft authentic curries, before sitting down to taste your creations with your newfound friends.
Another day, another temple. This morning, rise bright and early for a visit to three of Kandy’s most remarkable temples, each demonstrating Sri Lanka’s rich history and impressive craftsmanship. First, visit Gadaladeniya, a 14th-century temple complete with an intricately carved stone dagoba. Next, it’s onto Lankathilaka, a Buddhist-Hindu fusion featuring ancient stone steps and rock-cut inscriptions, before finishing at Embekka Devalaya, a fascinating wooden shrine dedicated to the God Kataragama.
Later, you’ll be privately transferred three hours to Nanu Oya, where you’ll climb aboard a train from Kandy to Ella. This three-hour rail journey is widely considered to be one of the most scenic in Asia, with carriages moving at an unhurried pace through tea plantations, mist-wrapped hills, and small mountain villages.
Once you arrive in Ella, meet your friendly driver for the final one-hour private transfer to Haputale, a tiny village enveloped in emerald hills, rolling fog and sprawling plantations. You’ll likely be tired after all that travelling, so enjoy a tasty dinner at your hotel before flopping into bed, ready for more adventures tomorrow.
It’s another early start this morning as you head out on a hike to a hidden village. Alongside a private guide, visit a local Hindu temple to meet local villagers, learning about their way of life and religious traditions. Later, wander through lush green rice fields and tea plantations before arriving at a secluded village, where you’ll meet a local family for a tasty meal and an insight into their daily life.
The rest of your time in Haputale is yours for the taking. If you haven’t yet had your fill of walking, visit Lipton’s Seat, a breathtaking viewpoint over misty hills and neat tea terraces. After a tuk-tuk ride to the top to soak up the views, begin the one-and-a-half-hour trek back down, stopping to learn the delicate art of Ceylon tea production at Dambatenne tea factory.
If you’re all hiked out, spend the rest of your time at leisure, whether you’d rather get stuck into a good book, go for a stroll around the gardens or simply admire the unobstructed mountain view from your terrace.
This morning, you’ll be privately transferred to Sri Lanka’s lush south-west, a four-and-a-half-hour drive away. As you wind along country roads, the landscape opens into rolling plantations, hidden villages and wide coastal skies.
Once you arrive, check into your hotel and head back out for a tour of Brief Garden. Designed by Bevis Bawa, this magnificent garden is a maze of lush terraces, stone pathways and striking water features. Explore the gardens with a friendly guide, stopping to spot tropical birds, monkeys and squirrels, before visiting a museum dedicated to Bawa himself. You’ll also be treated to a tasty lunch along the way: think local flavours and deliciously fresh dishes.
We’ve left the rest of your last two days free for you to enjoy. Spend your time strolling along the beach, lounging by the pool or exploring nearby towns, complete with bustling markets and beautiful facades. Come evening, treat yourself to a sundowner on the sand or a relaxing spa treatment – the perfect way to round off your Sri Lankan adventure.
After a final leisurely morning on the coast, you’ll be transferred around two hours to Colombo Airport for your flight home. The journey passes through palm-lined roads and glimpses of Sri Lanka’s patchwork countryside – a quiet bookend to your journey.
Your flight will take just over 11 hours, and you’ll touch down in the UK this evening, armed with a suitcase full of souvenirs and a newfound love for this incredible country.
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.
ENQUIRE NOW
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
