Sri Lanka

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Book with us to travel before 31st December of this year and we’ll give you the flexibility to change your plans for free up to 45 days before you depart.

The cultural triangle, neatly tended tea estates, rose-gold beaches. On a tailor-made holiday to Sri Lanka, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our Sri Lanka specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook.

Admire the cave frescoes of Dambulla and clamber to the top of Sigiriya Rock’s fortress. Join pilgrims as they stroll the ruins of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Pause at a roadside fruit stall for a fresh banana. Spot elephants, bird life and, if you’re lucky, a leopard, in Yala National Park. Take a traditional mask-making class and compare your skills with those sold in the boutiques of Dutch-colonial Galle.

Long stretches of coastline, Colombo’s artisanal markets, a plantation-home stay… What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options, wherever you go.

Sri Lanka in pictures

Sri Lanka may look like a small island but, from the west-coast golden-sand beaches of Negombo through the rolling hills of Nuwara Eliya to the plains leading to Jaffna in the north, there’s a lot to see. You can explore the history of Sri Lanka in the ancient Singhalese kingdoms of the Cultural Triangle and the Dutch-colonial fortress of Galle. National parks are spread across the country, including Uda Walawe with its roaming herds of elephants.

Using their first-hand knowledge, our Sri Lanka specialists can help you choose the best places to visit, to create a tailor-made itinerary that reflects your interests.

Popular places to visit in Sri Lanka

Featuring heavily on our itinerary ideas for visiting Sri Lanka, these places are destinations that we know prove consistently popular with our travellers. How you choose to include them in your trip can be tailored into a route that best suits your preferences.

Colombo
Galle
Hatton
Jaffna
Kandy
Negombo
Nuwara Eliya
Sigiriya
The Cultural Triangle
Uda Walawe National Park
Yala National Park

An incredibly diverse but relatively small island nation, Sri Lanka offers magnificent wildlife, world-class cultural attractions and glorious beaches. With no long distances to cover, even a short trip can include a wide range of experiences and activities such as spotting leopards and elephants on safari, observing whales and dolphins off the south coast or marvelling at the wonders of the Golden Triangle.

Step back in time with a visit to the ancient capitals of Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa or the Dambulla cave temples. Visit colonial Galle or simply relax beneath swaying palms on the golden beaches of the southwest or less-visited northeast.

Ideas for experiencing Sri Lanka

Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know Sri Lanka, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.

Visit to the Elephant Transit Home

Visit to the Elephant Transit Home

Uda Walawe National Park

Visit to the Elephant Transit Home

Twenty minutes drive away from the Uda Walawe National Park is the ‘Elephant Transit Home’, associated with the Born Free Foundation (UK). Here, orphaned or sick elephants are fed and cared for until they are strong enough to be returned to the wild. From behind a barrier you can watch the elephants ambling along behind a keeper, into the compound where they will be fed milk through plastic hoses with funnels attached, some stamping and trumpeting with impatience.
Galle City Tour

Galle City Tour

Galle

Galle City Tour

The drive from Koggala to Galle is around 15 minutes. Your guide will take you into the walled area of the town which consists of narrow streets lined with European style buildings, traditional churches and small shops selling lace and jewellery. This charming area is best explored on foot walking toward the lighthouse and sea wall.
Yala National Park Jeep Safari

Yala National Park Jeep Safari

Yala National Park

Yala National Park Jeep Safari

You leave your hotel by around 3pm for the park. After the heat of the day, the animals start to become active again, visiting the water holes and searching for food.

You can hope to see many species of birds including storks, kingfishers and peacocks. The animals residing in the park include crocodiles, elephants and buffalo.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Polonnaruwa

Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Polonnaruwa

Sigiriya

Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Polonnaruwa

You will start your day by visiting the mighty Sigiriya Rock Fortress which dominates the surrounding landscape. For many visitors, this is the most impressive site in Sri Lanka with stunning views from the top.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya by Train

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya by Train

Kandy

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya by Train

The rail route to Nuwara Eliya rises slowly from the subtropical spice and banana trees to pine and eucalyptus forest. From Hatton, the scenery is the most spectacular, passing St Clair and Devon waterfalls on the left hand side and many tea plantations. Look out for Adam's Peak in the distance on the left. After about four and a half hours, you will arrive at Nanu Oya station and from here there is a 15 minute drive to Nuwara Eliya.
Tea Estate Visit

Tea Estate Visit

Nuwara Eliya

Tea Estate Visit

Driving through the twisting roads of the tea estate, you see the colourful women, mainly of Tamil origin, at work in the plantations.

The tea factory within the estate welcomes visitors and you will be able to see all the stages of the tea-making process and perhaps buy a few packets of the excellent quality tea produced here to take home with you.
Kandyan Dance Performance & Temple of the Tooth

Kandyan Dance Performance & Temple of the Tooth

Kandy

Kandyan Dance Performance & Temple of the Tooth

Be escorted to a performance of the traditional Kandyan dance, accompanied by tumultuous drumming. Dances include the cobra dance, mask dance, the Ginisila, showing power over fire. The entire frenetic and colourful spectacle climaxes with the amazing fire-walking act.
Jaffna and the Jaffna Peninsula

Jaffna and the Jaffna Peninsula

Jaffna

Jaffna and the Jaffna Peninsula

Within Jaffna itself you will visit the Jaffna Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1618. The Dutch captured it in 1658 and quickly extended the fort and that is why it is also known as the Dutch Fort. The British took control in 1795 and kept it until 1948. The fort was badly damaged during the civil war with only parts of the outer walls remaining; however work is now in progress to restore this historical site.