Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Sri Lanka – Werapitiya – Kandy – Anuradhapura
100% customisable for you
Your wellness escape to the misty mountains of Sri Lanka begins today with a ten-and-a-half-hour flight to the capital city of Colombo. While this might not be the most relaxing part of the holiday, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the terminal in the airport lounge and prepare yourself for the flight ahead. We recommend enjoying some nibbles and refreshments (perhaps a soothing chamomile tea) before getting cosy and comfortable on the plane for the night ahead.
Touchdown in the capital bright and early this morning. A private driver will be waiting at the airport to welcome you to Sri Lanka and transfer you another four hours to your first hotel: a beautiful wellness retreat nestled in the hills of Werapitiya, just outside Kandy.
Get acquainted with your home-from-home for the next three nights before spending the rest of the day settling into the rhythm of your peaceful, tropical surroundings. We recommend a sunbathe and swim in one of its beautiful onsite pools, before dinner at the fantastic restaurant – the food here is some of the best in Sri Lanka. There’s no menu, the chef custom-makes delicious and nutritious meals tailored to what you’ve been up to that day.
This morning, head out with a naturalist guide for a private farm walk through the nearby Natuwakele estate. It’s a gentle, sensory experience where you’ll learn about seasonal farming: depending on the time of year, you can help plant, tend or harvest crops – and anything you pick can go straight to the hotel kitchen to shape your delicious supper.
The rest of the day is entirely yours. The hotel spa offers a soothing range of Ayurvedic treatments – this afternoon could be the time to try one out...
We hope you’re already feeling calmer and more relaxed after a couple of days in this peaceful spot. Today is yours to rest, restore or explore as you please. The area surrounding the retreat is beautiful walking country: follow the path down to the secluded Hulu Ganga river for a swim in its cool, clear waters, or take the longer route to the Hanging Bridge of Narampanawa. Here you’ll discover a 250-year-old temple, full of ancient drawings and markings that are well worth the detour. Adventurers can continue up to Bambaragala Rock, rewarded with sweeping panoramic views.
For a more relaxing day, spend some time in a village of craftsmen whose families have been crafting batik fabrics, copper and wooden handicrafts for generations.
Head back to the hotel this evening for your final night in this hilltop retreat.
Your adventure across Sri Lanka continues today with a two-hour drive to Kandy, a beautiful mountain city known for its sacred Buddhist sites.
Along the way, stop for a private yoga session with a yoga master, who teaches hatha yoga in his home in the village of Aladeniya, five miles from Kandy. You don’t have to be a yoga pro to join in – this slow, breath-focused style is ideal for everyone.
After the class, continue on to Kandy and settle into your next hotel: a traditional villa-style property that’s well located to explore the city.
Rise and shine, you only have one full day in the cultural capital of Kandy and there’s plenty to see and do. After a delicious breakfast and a dip in the pool this morning, head to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya with a knowledgeable botanist guide. Discover fabulous orchids, royal palm trees and an impressive Java fig tree as you wind your way through Sri Lanka’s largest botanical complex.
Continue on to the Temple of the Tooth, a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site nestled within the former Kingdom of Kandy royal palace complex. A private guide will lead you through the site and teach you all about the fabled origins of the temple, which centres around a precious relic of Buddha’s canine tooth. According to legend, it was saved from the flames of the Buddha's funeral pyre and brought to Ceylon in the fourth century AD, hidden in the hair of a princess. The temple holds considerable significance for most Buddhists, who feel they must make a pilgrimage here at least once in their lives.
After a busy day of sightseeing, enjoy some delicious Sri Lankan food for dinner this evening – our Concierge can recommend the very best restaurants in Kandy.
Wave goodbye to the mountains of Kandy as you’re privately driven three hours to Anuradhapura, an ancient city and the first established kingdom in Sri Lanka. En route, there’s time for one more private yoga session with the same teacher – perfect to loosen up your muscles ahead of the journey.
For the next three nights you’ll be staying in a secluded eco-friendly resort, with chalets set in sprawling woodland and with views over rice paddy fields. On arrival, you might fancy a dip in your private plunge pool or a refreshing drink on your terrace after your drive.
In the early evening, you’re off on a private tour to see the sacred tree of Sri Maha Bodhi. One of the eight holy places of Buddhism, legend has it that this ancient 2,000-year-old tree grew from a branch taken from the holy Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, under which Buddha became enlightened. Pilgrims travel here from near and far to bring small oil lamps, recite mantras or pray silently.
Your morning begins with a private tour of Heenukkiriyawa temple, a historic site at the heart of the village known for its intricate wood carvings and cave shrine. After exploring the temple, you’ll have the rare opportunity to sit and talk with the resident Buddhist monks about their traditions, daily rituals and philosophy.
In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the ruins of Ritigala Monastery, 25 miles southeast of Anuradhapura. This ancient complex, rarely visited by tourists, was once home to Pansukulika monks who sought solitude here for meditation. The surrounding forest is rich in Ayurvedic plants, and the lower ruins offer a fascinating glimpse into Sri Lanka’s spiritual past.
With no fixed plans today, the day is entirely yours to spend as you please. The woodland grounds of the resort are made for unhurried mornings: you can take a slow walk through the estate, linger over breakfast or simply finish off your holiday reading.
For those who'd like a little more activity, horse riding, kayaking and archery are within arm's reach at the hotel, or your Concierge can arrange a return visit to any of the sites that struck a chord earlier in the trip.
Sadly, the time has come to bid Sri Lanka a warm farewell and embark on the journey home. Spend one final morning relaxing in your beautiful hotel before being collected and privately transferred four hours back to the airport in Colombo. After checking in and whizzing back through security, settle into the airport lounge to tuck into some tasty nibbles and refreshments as you prepare to board a 12-hour flight back to the UK, landing later the same day (thanks to the time difference).
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
