Classic Sri Lanka Tour

Begin your Sri Lanka tour with a warm welcome at Colombo’s airport and a short transfer to the coast. In Negombo, feel the tropical air as you settle in and take a sunset stroll along the palm-lined beach or watch colourful fishing boats return to shore.

Accommodation: Sentido Heritance Negombo, a stylish beachfront hotel blending modern comforts with Sri Lankan design touches.

After exploring Negombo’s lively fishing harbour and enjoying the sights of everyday coastal life, travel to Sigiriya, the heart of Sri Lanka’s ancient kingdoms. Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress to see 5th-century frescoes, explore Polonnaruwa’s statues and palaces, and visit the cave temples of Dambulla with their golden Buddha statues and colourful murals.

Enjoy a safari in Minneriya National Park with the chance to spot elephants roaming the plains. These days combine the charm of coastal life with history, culture, and nature in the Cultural Triangle.

Accommodation: Aliya Resort & Spa Sigiriya, a stylish nature retreat with views of Sri Lanka’s iconic rock fortress.

The road slowly winds into the hills as you head to Kandy, the old royal capital and spiritual heart of Sri Lanka. Visit the Temple of the Tooth and join local worshippers in age-old rituals surrounded by the scent of incense and the beat of traditional drums.

In the evening, enjoy a Kandyan cultural show with dancers performing traditional hill-country dances.

Accommodation: The Elephant Stables Kandy, a restored colonial home that balances charm, heritage and quiet elegance.

Climb into the cool, misty hills of Nuwara Eliya, where tea gardens cover the slopes and red-roofed cottages reflect the area’s British-era heritage. Walk through plantations with a local tea planter and learn how the land and traditions shape every leaf of tea.

Nature lovers can explore Horton Plains, a highland plateau of grasslands and cloud forests, and the dramatic World’s End cliff for breathtaking views, or simply enjoy the fresh mountain air.

Accommodation: Stafford Bungalow, Nuwara Eliya, a heritage estate bungalow surrounded by working tea fields and forested hillsides.

Take one of the most scenic train journeys in the world from Nanu Oya to Ella, winding through tea plantations, waterfalls, and misty hills. In Ella, visit the beautiful Nine Arches Bridge and enjoy a gentle hike up Little Adam’s Peak for panoramic views over the surrounding tea fields, forests, and distant hills.

Accommodation: 98 Acres Resort & Spa Ella, an eco-luxury hideaway built with reclaimed materials, overlooking sweeping tea fields.

Journey south to Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s most renowned wildlife reserves. Over two days of guided safaris, you may spot elephants roaming the bush, leopards resting in the shade, and sloth bears foraging along forest tracks.

Look out for spotted deer and wild boar near waterholes, and enjoy the colourful display of birds, from painted storks and crested serpent eagles to tiny bee-eaters flitting through the trees.

Yala’s mix of open plains, forested patches, and lagoons creates ideal conditions for wildlife encounters and offers a true sense of the island’s untamed beauty.

Accommodation: Jetwing Yala, a stylish wilderness retreat nestled between the ocean and the park.

Travel west along the southern coast to Ahangama, a relaxed seaside village. Along the way, see the famous stilt fishermen of Koggala, practising a centuries-old tradition, and visit a local turtle hatchery helping to protect marine life.

Spend time in Galle, a historic fortified town with cobbled streets lined by colonial houses, cafés, and shops. Discover the legacy of Portuguese, Dutch, and British influence as you explore the ramparts and lanes of Galle Fort. Between November and April, you might also go whale watching, when the waters are calmest and sightings are most likely. Otherwise, simply enjoy the tranquillity of the beach.

Accommodation: Mosvold Villa Ahangama, an intimate design hotel on a quiet stretch of beach, ideal for contemplation and oceanfront leisure.

After a leisurely morning, travel back to Colombo for your international flight. Leave Sri Lanka with memories of its rich heritage, vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and the warm, welcoming people who make the island so unforgettable.