Destinations: Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, Tissamaharama, Bentota, Galle, Yala National P...
Destinations: Malé, Ifuru
Colombo, Negombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Tissamaharama, Yala National Park, Bentota, Galle
Discover a land of ancient temples, aromatic tea and awe-inspiring wildlife on this spectacular small-group tour of Sri Lanka. Witness treasures of the Cultural Triangle as you climb the jaw-dropping Sigiriya Rock Fortress ruins to survey the surrounding jungle, enter the sacred Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla and explore the ancient grandeur of the former capital, Polonnaruwa. Search for Sri Lankan leopards and elephants on safari in the sprawling Yala National Park and make a flower offering in the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to the sound of resonant chanting.
Stimulate your senses among the vibrant aromas of the Matale spice gardens, harvest tea leaves with masters in the central hills and sample fragrant local blends during a special high tea service at the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Stroll the vast grounds of historic Galle Fort with its blend of Portuguese, Dutch and British architecture dating back to the 16th century. From cultural insights in Kandy to the local Koggala stilt fishermen of the south coast, you’ll cover every inch of the island with comfortable transport, handpicked accommodation and a dedicated guide. This one-of-a-kind adventure is your ticket to the Jewel of the Indian Ocean.
Superior Upgrade Available: Take your Indian Ocean odyssey to another level with room upgrades throughout, adding a new layer of luxury to your adventure.
Colombo, Negombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Tissamaharama, Yala National Park, Bentota, Galle
Destinations: Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, Tissamaharama, Bentota, Galle, Yala National P...
Destinations: Malé, Ifuru
Your Sri Lankan adventure begins upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), where you’ll be met by your guide and transferred to your Negombo hotel.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Mingle with locals at Negombo Fish Market, discover colonial history at the Dutch Fort or take a sunset stroll along the beach.
Take to the road after breakfast and head to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla. Home to five sanctuaries, countless statues and paintings dating back to the 1st century BCE, this sacred temple complex has hosted the pilgrimage of countless people for millennia.
Make your way to your hotel for check-in and take a moment to enjoy a rejuvenating treatment at Panchakarma Ayurvedic Spa at Amaya Lake. From therapeutic massages to rejuvenating body treatments, herbal baths to steam boxes, your time at Amaya Lake starts with absolute calm.
This evening, soak up the ambiance and admire your lush surrounds.
Wake to a hearty breakfast before an early trip to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The awe-inspiring palace ruins are set high atop a granite rock formation, offering sweeping jungle views, astoundingly well-preserved ancient architecture and impressive water gardens.
Stop for an included lunch, then transfer to the ruins of Polonnaruwa, once the thriving capital of Sri Lanka. This garden city is home to the ancient Polonnaruwa Vatadage – an utterly unique structure built to shelter the stupa within – and the incredible Parakrama Samudraya reservoir built during the reign of King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century.
Once you’ve explored the vast array of ruins and statues, retire to your hotel to spend an evening at leisure.
Prepare for another day of adventure with breakfast at your hotel, then set out to visit the spice gardens of Matale. Meet the local spice farmers and breathe the aromatic air, filled with the scent of fresh cinnamon, deep cardamom and nutmeg, warm pepper and mace – the famous flavours of Sri Lanka.
Continue on your way to Kandy – an ancient seat of royal power, now known for a plethora of must-see cultural sites. Enjoy lunch with the group, then discover the historic city on a welcome tour, culminating in a visit to Kandy View Point. Take in spectacular views of the city and the artificially constructed Kandy Lake at its centre. Opt to walk around the lake or join a boat ride across its calm waters.
In the evening, you’ll visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in time for a puja ceremony, where you’ll make an offering of flowers and listen to the meditative chanting of Buddhist devotees. This beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed temple is where the tooth relic of Buddha is enshrined, making it one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka.
Later, reflect on your experience and retire to your hotel, nestled in the nearby hills.
Venture into the central hills of Sri Lanka’s tea country on a scenic train journey (subject to availability). Marvel at the rolling green hills of tea plantations and watch workers plucking tea in the verdant fields.
Arrive at your hotel in Nuwara Eliya – an English hill station set in the shadow of Sri Lanka’s tallest mountain, Pidurutalagala. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, meandering through picturesque Victoria Park or paddling a swan boat across Gregory Lake.
After breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to embark on our morning tea experience. Visit the local tea fields and factory, and get acquainted with the art of tea-plucking as you try your hand with the guidance of skilled locals. Discover Sri Lanka’s primary export and the different varietals grown in the region, then learn about the process, from planting all the way to tasting.
Complete your experience with an afternoon high tea at the resplendent Grand Hotel. Admire the elegant architecture as you sample perfectly steeped tea, cucumber sandwiches and traditional English scones with clotted cream. Later, spend your afternoon exploring at your leisure.
Enjoy breakfast, then set out for the drive to Tissamaharama, your gateway to Yala National Park. The drive takes about four hours, and you’ll have the opportunity for rest stops along the way.
Upon arrival, unwind at your hotel and spend a restful evening at leisure.
Rise and shine early this morning for a morning safari. An enormous wildlife sanctuary, Yala National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s great natural wonders. Keep your eyes peeled for the majestic Sri Lankan leopard, sloth bear, wild water buffalo and over 40 other species of mammals alone.
Learn about the park’s vital role in the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, water birds and many other wild animals, and follow your guide as you watch for all manner of wild delights. Then return to your hotel this afternoon to spend the rest of your day relaxing in style.
This morning, you’ll depart for Bentota after breakfast. En route, you’ll visit the Koggala stilt fishermen and watch them go about their daily routine. In chest-deep water, just a few metres off the shore, the stilt fishermen perch on a single pole planted into the sea bed. This is a common fishing method among the locals in the southern part of Sri Lanka.
Later, arrive at your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Take a morning tour to the coastal city of Galle. Sri Lanka’s oldest seaport, Galle’s long history as an important trading port is apparent in the melange of colonial architecture. See the UNESCO World Heritage-listed 16th-century Galle Fort, built by the Portuguese and later expanded by the Dutch and British.
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon further exploring on your own time, or choose to visit the National Maritime Museum, set in a vast old spice warehouse, for a deeper dive into Galle’s history. Return to your hotel for dinner and beachside relaxation.
Leave the southern coast and travel to the capital, Colombo.
Today, you’ll tour this vibrant coastal city, visiting the National Museum, beautiful Gangaramaya Temple on Beira Lake and historic Colombo Fort. Weave through the leafy neighbourhood of Cinnamon Gardens to see Independence Square, then walk along the shoreline of Galle Face Green.
Once you’ve seen it all, take the opportunity for some shopping in Colombo’s city centre, then enjoy a restful evening spent freely.
After one final breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the Jewel of the Indian Ocean. Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), where your unforgettable Sri Lankan escape concludes.
Designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, Yala National Park is the go-to destination for Sri Lankan animal spotting. Home to numerous endangered species, Yala boasts the highest density of leopards in the world. On your safari, you’ll keep a close eye out for 44 species of mammals – such as buffalos and sloth bears – as well as 215 species of birds and 46 species of reptiles. With the chance to spot the gentle Sri Lankan elephant, this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Journey to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed treasures of Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple for the chance to delve into Sri Lanka’s spectacular history. Set your sights on the ancient fortress atop a towering granite column, where the preserved ruins are just one of the many wonders that await high above the jungle.
At nearby Dambulla, wander through the country’s largest cave temple complex, where centuries-old frescoes and sacred statues stand as a testament to the artistic brilliance of ancient civilisations.
Booking Summary: After you book, please follow the instructions in your booking summary email and ensure you complete your Traveller Details in full.
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Accommodation for the duration of your tour is included in the Tour package.
Please note:
Pre- & Post-Tour Accommodation
Pre- and post-tour accommodation can be booked to extend your stay before or after your tour by contacting our Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com.
Luxury Escapes uses a range of accommodation partners. For pre- and post-tour accommodation options where we can offer the same hotel as the start and end of your tour, your pre- and post-tour accommodation will be booked independent of your tour. If the hotel for your tour changes, this will be independent of your pre- or post-tour accommodation booking. In this instance, change fees may apply on your pre- or post-tour accommodation. If you choose to change, change fees can be found in your ‘My Escapes’.
For pre- and post-tour accommodation bookings, you may be required to check out of your room and check in again on the first or last day of your tour. You will need to confirm these details directly with the hotel.
Please contact the Tours Concierge Team at tours@luxuryescapes.com for further information.
Transfers
Please Note:
Travel Insurance
Passports & Visas
Traveller Details
Tipping (approx. US$12–US$15 per day)
Tipping is considered standard practice in Sri Lanka. At the conclusion of the tour your guide will collect tips from each guest and it will be divided among the guide, driver and support staff. In addition, hotel and local restaurants and jeep safari drivers should be tipped a similar amount. Please bear in mind, tipping is optional and at your discretion.
Changing Money
You can change money at the airport upon arrival in Colombo. Larger cities such as Colombo, Galle and Kandy will also have ATM machines. US$ and other major currencies may be accepted in select locations (such as hotels).
What to Bring With You
Tour Pace
Travel Styles
Health and Fitness Acknowledgement:
Your tour begins and ends at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), with roundtrip airport transfers. The extended tour ends at Velana International Airport (MLE), with included domestic economy class air or seaplane transfers.
Roundtrip flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. ** If your chosen tour departure date is guaranteed at the time of booking, you may be able to purchase flights immediately. If your tour departure date is not yet guaranteed (still pending minimum numbers), flights should not be booked until you receive an update on the status of your tour.**
Please book your flights to arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at any time on Day 1 and depart from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at any time on Day 12. For the extended tour, please book your flights to depart from Velana International Airport (MLE) after 10am on Day 16.
Roundtrip airport transfers are included in your tour on the first and last day only.
Important: Please allow for travelling time from international countries. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive at your starting location on your chosen tour start date.
A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website, Visas Direct, to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa, please let us know and we will be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements (subject to availability). Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
Important Destination Information:
Sri Lanka
Time zone: India Standard Time GMT+5:30
Telephone: +94
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Accessing money: Avoid buying Sri Lankan rupees ahead of time, as it’s unlikely you’ll get a good rate outside of Sri Lanka, and remember to exchange back to your currency before returning home. ATMs are widely available, with credit cards widely accepted within the city. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas. Most institutions will exchange money for you.
Language: Sinhala or Tamil
Climate: Tropical and quite hot, Sri Lanka has an average yearly temperature that hovers between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius.
Maldives
Time zone: Maldives Time GMT+5
Telephone: +960
Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MRF) or United States dollar (USD)
Accessing money: ATMs are widely available, with credit cards widely accepted.
Language: Dhivehi
Climate: Warm and tropical, with an average high between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius year-round. January and April are the driest months, with little rain and low humidity, making this peak season at resorts.
Optional experiences