Luxury Sri Lanka Holiday

Arrive in Colombo and transfer to your boutique retreat just outside the city. Spend the afternoon relaxing after your flight, perhaps by the pool, enjoying a massage, or sampling your first taste of Sri Lankan cuisine. This gentle introduction sets the tone for a luxurious, immersive journey.

Hotel: The Wallawwa, a beautiful 18th-century manor house tucked away in tropical gardens just outside the city

Travel north to Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s largest and one of its oldest national parks. Spend two days on guided game drives with an expert naturalist, enjoying the comfort and exclusivity of a luxury camp.

The park’s quiet forest tracks and natural lakes offer the chance to see elephants, leopards, sloth bears, and a variety of birdlife, including peacocks and colourful waterbirds. Patience can be rewarded with memorable wildlife sightings in a serene, untouched setting.

Hotel: A luxury tent at Leopard Trails Wilpattu, a first-class resort close to the park entrance.

Travel east into Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, pausing en route at the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the island’s first capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Over the next two days, explore the region’s historic highlights. Climb the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a royal citadel perched atop a granite monolith and enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding plains. Visit a nearby traditional village for a home-cooked lunch and an authentic insight into local life and customs.

Discover the Dambulla Cave Temples, with their intricate murals and over 150 Buddha statues set within natural caves. You can also explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, where grand ruins of temples, palaces, and the serene Gal Vihara reveal the sophistication of medieval Sinhalese civilisation.

Hotel: Jetwing Vil Uyana, a luxury eco-conscious nature resort set among reed beds and paddy fields.

Travel to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s last royal capital, rich in spiritual and artistic heritage. En route, stop in Matale to meet traditional artisans practising age-old crafts such as lacquerware, woodcarving, and Ola leaf reading (astrology using dried palm leaves).

In Kandy, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, the island’s most revered Buddhist shrine, where a tooth relic of the Buddha is carefully preserved. Discover hidden temples and enjoy an intimate performance at a Kandyan dance school, then savour a home-cooked lunch in a highland village, offering a taste of authentic local hospitality.

Hotel: Kings Pavilion, a first-class boutique resort nestled in forested hills.

Journey into Sri Lanka’s lush hill country, home to misty mountains, emerald tea fields, and timeless charm. Stay in a luxurious historic tea planter’s bungalow, where you can unwind in comfort while surrounded by sweeping views of the estates.

Over two days, immerse yourself in the rhythm of tea life. Join a resident tea planter for a private walk through the estate, learn how world-famous Ceylon tea is grown and processed, and savour a traditional high tea overlooking the valleys. For a more active day, trek through forest trails or cycle between tea gardens, all at a relaxed pace that lets you fully enjoy the serene hill country.

Hotel: Ceylon Tea Trails, a luxurious and historic tea planter’s bungalow overlooking the tea plantations, part of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection.

Board Sri Lanka’s most scenic train from Hatton to Ella, a slow journey through misty mountains, tea gardens, and forested valleys, passing waterfalls and the iconic Nine Arches Bridge.

In Ella, a laid-back hill town surrounded by dramatic scenery, explore natural wonders at a relaxed pace. Walk across the Nine Arches Bridge, hike to Little Adam’s Peak for panoramic views, or visit Ravana Falls, linked to legends from the Ramayana. Enjoy the comfort of a stylish restored tea planter’s bungalow, with sweeping views and an inviting infinity pool.

Hotel: Nine Skies, a first-class, restored tea planter’s bungalow offering sweeping views.

Leave the hills behind and travel to the sun-drenched southern coast, where golden beaches meet the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Relax in style at a luxurious clifftop resort with sweeping sea views and private villas.

Over the next two days, unwind at leisure or enjoy coastal adventures. Depending on the season (November to April), you may spot blue whales off the coast, visit surf beaches, or explore the historic streets of Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, indulge in a spa treatment or simply relax by the infinity pool as the sun sets over the bay, savouring the serene finale to your Sri Lankan journey.

Hotel: Cape Weligama, a luxury clifftop resort offering sweeping sea views.

Travel north along the coast to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s vibrant capital, where colonial charm meets modern flair. Spend your final evening at leisure, exploring the city’s galleries, cafés, and bustling markets, or simply unwind in your stylish boutique hotel. This is your chance to soak up the character and energy of the capital before your onward journey.

Hotel: Tintagel, a former political residence turned stylish boutique hotel.

After a final leisurely morning, drive to Colombo for your international flight. Depart with lasting memories of Sri Lanka’s history, landscapes, culture, and the warm hospitality that makes the island so unforgettable.