10 days tailor made from $6,760 pp
From $6,760 pp
At a glance
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Don't forget that all of our itineraries are totally customized and so this is just an idea of what we can build for you.
Sri Lanka carries three distinct landscapes within a few hours’ drive of each other, ancient rock fortresses, misted tea hills, and a wildlife-dense southern coast, which is what makes it one of the few destinations where a single trip can move through this much variety without feeling rushed. This 15-day itinerary was built by our travel specialists around that range, moving from the Cultural Triangle’s ancient sites through tea country to the coast.
The journey begins at Sigiriya Water Garden, set at the base of Sigiriya Rock, the fifth-century rock fortress that remains one of the island’s most striking sights. Guests climb it at first light, before the heat sets in and the site fills, reaching the summit for views across the surrounding jungle that most visitors only see in photographs.
From there, the tour moves to the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site whose painted ceilings and Buddha statues span more than a thousand years. The route continues to Kandy, staying at Kandy House in the city widely considered Sri Lanka’s cultural center. Here, guests visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and walk through the botanical gardens with a local botanist, whose knowledge of the property’s plant life goes well beyond what a guidebook offers.
The next leg runs by train into Ella, one of the more scenic rail journeys in Asia, climbing through tea plantations as the elevation rises. The stay at Nine Skies sits directly among the tea plantations, with the cooler hill-country climate offering a natural change of pace from the Cultural Triangle’s heat.
The trip closes on the southern coast, beginning with a safari through Yala National Park, one of the most reliable places in Asia to see leopards in the wild, before settling into Why House for the final days, with a day trip to the historic fort town of Galle.
In detail
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Don't forget that most of our itineraries can be totally customized. Our expert team will be able to talk you through all the options.
Day 1-4: Sigiriya
The trip begins with a flight into Colombo, followed by the drive north to Sigiriya Water Garden for a three-night stay. The resort takes its design from Sri Lanka’s historic water gardens, with spacious, air-conditioned rooms, some with private pools, alongside a spa and a small handful of dining options built around local produce.
The first full day starts early with a hike up Sigiriya Rock, timed to reach the summit before the heat and the crowds arrive. The climb takes in the fortress’s frescoes and the remains of its former gardens on the way up, ending in views across the surrounding jungle that stretch for miles in every direction. In the afternoon, the pace slows for a visit to the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site whose cave paintings and Buddha statues date back more than a thousand years.
Day 4-7: Kandy
The route continues south to Kandy, widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, for a three-night stay at Kandy House. The colonial villa has been kept close to its original character, with a small number of rooms and a level of personal attention that comes from a property this size rather than a scripted service style.
The first stop in Kandy is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism’s most revered sites, said to house a tooth relic of the Buddha himself and a place of daily pilgrimage for Sri Lankan Buddhists.
The afternoon moves to the Royal Botanical Gardens, walked with a local botanist whose knowledge covers not just the plant life but the gardens’ history. Several trees here were planted by notable visitors over the decades, including Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, and remain part of the grounds today.
Day 7-10: Ella
From Kandy, the route continues to Nuwara Eliya to join the train through Sri Lanka’s tea plantations to Ella, one of the most scenic rail journeys in Asia. Second-class carriages are worth choosing over first: the windows open fully, and standing in the doorway as the train climbs through the hills is part of what makes this leg memorable.
Ella is home for the next three nights, staying at Nine Skies, a five-bedroom bungalow hotel set on a working tea estate. The property is small and quiet by design, with rooms built in a simple, considered style and a kitchen drawing on produce grown on the estate itself.
Time in Ella includes an evening exploring the town’s small but lively food and bar scene, along with a tour of the tea estate to see how the leaves are picked, dried, and processed, one of the more hands-on ways to understand an industry that shaped this part of the country.
Day 10-12: Yala National Park
Continue to Yala National Park for a two-night stay at Uga Chena Huts.
These lavish treetop huts feature private pools and luxe interiors and are a wondrous place to stay for wildlife enthusiasts. Flamingos hang out at the lagoon, elephants playfully gather on the beach, and baby turtles emerge in the summer months to make their journey into the Indian Ocean.
You can embark on two free daily game drives at this resort, where you can spot Sri Lanka’s diverse wildlife, including their famous wild elephants.
Day 12-15: Galle
Conclude your journey at Why House on the South Coast of Sri Lanka, a property renowned for its unique charm and warm hospitality.
It is run by the fabulous Hen, a true queen of hospitality who trained at Le Cordon Bleu, along with her adorable sausage dog Violet Elizabeth.
It truly feels like a stay at a quirky private house.
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