en
- Signature
- 17-day trip
- From €13,875 p.p.
Sri Lanka trip | Luxury tour of Sri Lanka
If you want to get a complete picture of Sri Lanka in the best and most comfortable way, then this tour is for you. Complete, because you will get to see the historic city of Galle, spot leopards in the country's most beautiful National Park, Yala, see the process from tea plant to tea bag by a tea planter, and admire the stupas of the ancient royal city of Anuradhapura. Best, because you will stay in top accommodation and be accompanied by expert guides. And comfortable because you will fly long distances in a seaplane, have a wonderful massage from the best masseurs and, quite simply, be pampered.
Travel programme
Travel overview
- Day 1 Flight to Sri Lanka
- Day 2 Arrival in Sri Lanka
- Day 3 Photography , architecture and history of Colombo
- Day 4 Journey to historic Galle
- Day 5 Cycling tour of Galle and walk through Galle Fort
- Day 6 Trip to Yala and pole fishing
- Day 7 Leopard spotting in Yala National Park
- Day 8 Seaplane flight to Hatton
- Day 9 Visit a tea factory with a planter
- Day 10 Train journey to Kandy
- Day 11 Santani Wellness
- Day 12 Journey to Anuradhapura
- Day 13 Sigiriya and
- Day 14 Journey to Pasikudah
- Day 15 – 16 Free days on the beach
- Day 17 Departure from Sri Lanka
Arrival in Sri Lanka
In the morning, you’ll arrive at Colombo International Airport and, as the locals say,‘Ayubowan!’ We warmly welcome you to Sri Lanka!
After passing through immigration and customs, you’ll be warmly welcomed in the VIP Silk Route area by our local representative, who will take you to your accommodation. You’ll leave the airport via a side entrance and head for Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, about a 45-minute drive away.
Colombo is a fascinating city, with a delightful blend of past and present, and is the country’s commercial hub. The original trading colonists – the Portuguese, Dutch and British – have each left behind churches and monuments, names and religions, traditional dress and food, as well as traces of their languages, which have been incorporated into the Sri Lankan vernacular. You’ll pass the Town Hall, the Gangaramaya Temple, the National Museum of Natural History, Independence Square and a few other notable highlights.
On arrival, you’ll take a short tour of Colombo with your guide to see the highlights of Sri Lanka’s commercial capital. You’ll stop at the Old Dutch Hospital for a cup of tea; this building has been impressively restored and now houses restaurants, bars, boutiques and spas. Built four centuries ago, the building is a magnificent example of Dutch architecture, featuring high ceilings, thick walls, large windows and terracotta tiled floors.
Included:
• Meet and greet with a local representative
• Private transfer to your hotel
• Excursion: guided tour of Colombo’s highlights
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Photography, architecture and history of Colombo
This morning, after breakfast, you will meet your host, Mark Forbes, an expert in history. He will take you on a journey through the glory days of Colombo Fort, a trip back in time where you will learn about the colonial era of Ceylon and the trade network of the Spice Route. The walk focuses on photography, architecture and history in two stages; stage one covers the fort and stage two the Pettah markets. The walk includes a tea break and stops along the way to sample street food. The walk ends at the Old Dutch Hospital.
You will then continue to the next stop – Number 11, Geoffrey Bawa’s private residence. He is arguably the most celebrated and influential Asian architect of the twentieth century, whose distinctive styles can be seen across the island. His most prolific designs have influenced many hotels and public buildings. You’ll arrive at the house for a guided tour with a member of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, who will take you through the history and background of the building and Geoffrey Bawa himself.
The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.
Included:
• Excursion: Guided walking tour of Colombo
• Private transfer to your hotel
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Journey to historic Galle
After breakfast, you’ll leave Colombo and head for the historic city of Galle. After about two hours’ drive, you’ll check in at Kahanda Kanda and have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure.
Historically, this award-winning fortified town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was an important port of call for Chinese, Persian, Arab and Indian traders. Javanese and Sumatrans arrived later, followed by Marco Polo in 1299 AD. The Portuguese arrived in the 1500s and built a settlement with a fort made of palm trees and mud. This was conquered by the Dutch (and eventually the British), who added large ramparts and bastions to protect their trading posts. Lining the narrow streets are old houses reflecting Dutch heritage, with pillared verandas. Government offices are still in use and the community buzzes with daily life – a vibrant city, hidden within the fortified walls of this ancient maritime citadel.
Included:
• Private transfer to your hotel
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Galle bicycle tour and walk through Galle Fort
In the morning, you’ll go on a cycle ride past villages, lakes and rice fields. Here you’ll see fishermen by the lake, children on their way to school and local residents going about their daily business. You’ll stop at market stalls for a glass of fresh fruit juice, or delicious coconut water straight from the nut.
You’ll then return to the hotel and have some free time. In the late afternoon, you’ll explore Galle Fort on foot. You’ll explore the fort, which is full of landmarks, and walk past the Dutch church, the governor’s house, the spice warehouses, the court square, the Kacheri or town hall, the lighthouse and the city walls. Near the old Arab mosque, there are streets leading to the cricket grounds and the district judge’s house, surrounded by centuries-old frangipani trees. There is a variety of exclusive boutiques to explore. Later, you’ll return to the hotel.
Included:
• Excursion: cycle tour through the Galle hinterland
• Excursion: walking tour of Galle Fort
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Trip to Yala and pole fishing
After breakfast, you’ll leave Galle and set off for Yala. On the way, you’ll have the unique opportunity to learn how to fish from the local fishermen in the area. Pole fishing, also known as ‘Ritipanna’, is a traditional fishing method practised by fishermen along the south coast. These are the fishermen who fish from a narrow pole tied to a stick placed on the seabed. You’ll also visit a pole-fishing site and get to know the fishermen and their way of life.
Halfway through the journey, you’ll take a short detour inland and arrive at Top House. This plantation house is run by a distinguished British couple, who manage a 25-hectare cinnamon plantation here. Together with your hosts, you’ll explore the plantation, learn about centuries-old techniques, the nursery, and the process of peeling and processing the cinnamon plants into the sticks we’re familiar with. You’ll also see how fragrant oil is extracted from the cinnamon plants. The couple will then invite you to a home-cooked lunch, which you’ll enjoy on the terrace with sweeping views over the Indian Ocean.
You’ll then drive on to Yala National Park and check in at Leopard Trails.
Included:
• Private transfer to your hotel, including the stops mentioned
• Excursion: visit to a cinnamon plantation house, with lunch
• Overnight stay on an all-inclusive basis
Leopard spotting in Yala NP
Yala National Park comprises dry, mixed evergreen forests and scrubland, alongside open grasslands, water bodies, brackish water lagoons and riverine forests. The park’s varied habitat provides the perfect home for large numbers of mammals, such as spotted, barking and mouse deer, sambar deer, wild boar, water buffalo and the endangered sloth bear. This is also one of the best places in the country to spot wild elephants and the rare leopard. Large ponds and lagoons are home to a high density of crocodiles. You can also see large flocks of migratory and resident birds here – 142 bird species have been recorded in the park.
Your day will unfold as follows: In the morning, you’ll be woken up early at 05:00, with coffee or tea and a light breakfast served at 05:30. You’ll then set off at sunrise for your private jeep safari in the national park. Around 09:00, you’ll return to camp for a hearty breakfast, followed by some free time to rest or perhaps relax in the lovely, shaded lounge tents at the camp. Between safaris, you can go on lovely nature and birdwatching walks around the camp or perhaps attend a cooking demonstration with the resort’s head chef.
Enjoy lunch at the camp at 2.00 pm, then set off at 3.00 pm for an afternoon safari and return to the camp around 7.00 pm this evening.
When you return to the camp around 7.00 pm, you can freshen up for an evening cocktail by the campfire, where you can share your adventures and sightings of the day with the rangers and other guests at the camp. Afterwards, enjoy a sumptuous dinner in true safari style.
Inclusief:
- Two private safaris in Yala National Park
- Accommodation on an all-inclusive basis including listed activities
Flight by seaplane to Hatton
You’ll check out and be driven to Weerawila. There, an amphibious 8-seater Cessna aircraft will be waiting, taking off from the tarmac and landing 30 minutes later on the waters of Castlereagh Lake in the tea-growing region. From the jetty, it’s just a short drive to your hotel.
Our tip: treat yourself to an authentic British high tea this afternoon.
Included:
• Private transfer to Weerawila
• Cessna flight to the tea-growing region
• Accommodation on an all-inclusive basis
Visit tea factory with planter
The Ceylon Tea Trails villas where you’ll be staying are set amidst the tea plantations where the famous Dilmah tea is grown. You’ll meet the estate manager in Norwood, where he’ll take you on a tour of the factory and explain the (extremely meticulous!) process of tea firing. You’ll learn about the successive stages, as well as the differences in the quality of the leaves and, ultimately, the tea.
You have the afternoon free to spend as you wish. Your private butler will be happy to assist you with any activities you might wish to undertake. For example, visit the village of Hatton, or go for a cycle ride.
Included:
• Excursion: visit to a tea factory with a planter, private
• Accommodation on an all-inclusive basis
Train trip to Kandy
After breakfast, you’ll check out and, at around 08:30, head to Hatton railway station to board the train bound for Kandy. Travelling by train is probably the most appealing way to get around Sri Lanka’s lush green hills. The journey gives you the chance to witness magical landscapes and views.
This is perhaps also one of the best ways to get to know the local people who use the train service every day. The train journey takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, and we’ll provide you with a packed lunch. Meanwhile, your driver-guide will drive you and your luggage to Kandy railway station and wait there for your arrival. A 40-minute drive will take you to the next paradise.
Included:
• Private transfer to the railway station
• Train journey from Hatton to Kandy
• Private transfer to your hotel
• Accommodation on a full-board basis
Santani Wellness
Santani Wellness is situated in the mountains, 40 minutes from Kandy, and offers a unique and immersive wellness experience in a serene and natural setting. The accommodation is designed to offer comfort and seclusion whilst blending harmoniously with the surroundings. One of the main highlights is their focus on holistic wellness and personalised programmes.
You have the opportunity to take part in various wellness activities and treatments tailored to your individual needs. These may include yoga and meditation sessions, Ayurvedic therapies, spa treatments, fitness classes and outdoor activities such as walking and cycling (at an additional cost). Santani Wellness also places great emphasis on healthy and nutritious cuisine. The resort serves delicious meals made with locally sourced ingredients, with a focus on organic and balanced menus, of Michelin-star standard.
In these peaceful surroundings, you can leave the stresses of everyday life behind and find inner peace!
Included:
• Accommodation on a full-board basis
Travel to Anuradhapura
This morning, after breakfast, you’ll set off for Anuradhapura. First, you’ll stop at a private herb garden. Sri Lanka has long been renowned for its spices. Since ancient times, traders from all over the world who came to Sri Lanka have brought their native cuisines to the island, resulting in a rich diversity of cooking styles and techniques. Here you’ll learn about fragrant cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, mace and pepper, as well as many other favourites such as cocoa and vanilla. Your guide will explain the different spices and show you how some of them are grown, processed and used in practice for culinary and medicinal purposes. If you wish, you can also take part in a hands-on cooking demonstration in the herb garden before lunch.
After lunch, you’ll continue your journey. You’ll make another stop at the Dambulla World Heritage Site, famous for its richly painted cave temples. The Dambulla Cave Temples are the largest and best-preserved rock-cut temple complex in Sri Lanka. They tower 160 metres above the surrounding plains, with more than 80 documented caves within the complex. The site is of particular interest to anyone interested in historical art, as five of the caves contain ancient sculptures and paintings relating to Lord Buddha and his life. According to legend, the sacred water pot in the temple never runs dry or overflows, even though it is constantly replenished by a small natural spring on the rock itself.
You will then continue on to Anuradhapura, where you will have the rest of the day at your leisure.
Included:
• Private transfer to your hotel, including the stops mentioned
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Sigiriya and
Anuradhapura
After breakfast, you’ll climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, one of the island’s seven World Heritage Sites. Sigiriya Rock Fortress, also known as ‘Lion Rock’, was built on top of a rock outcrop in the 5th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. King Kasyapa built this astonishing hidden rock palace with its defensive garrisons, a moat teeming with crocodiles and a complex of beautifully landscaped pleasure gardens. During the climb, you’ll have the chance to learn more about the many different theories surrounding this magnificent palace. The climb consists of around 1,200 steps. The first part of the visit is a leisurely stroll through the pleasure gardens. You can also enjoy the site from ground level, which is beautifully landscaped with lovely gardens and a museum featuring a video presentation of the entire site.
You will also cycle through the sacred city of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first capital of Sri Lanka (5th century BC – 9th century AD), the centre of the island’s Buddhist civilisation and undoubtedly the largest city of ancient Sri Lanka. Abandoned following an invasion in 993 AD, this World Heritage Site features some of the island’s oldest Buddhist shrines – some dating back to the 3rd century BC – impressive white ‘dagabas’ (relic chambers) and monuments adorned with beautiful stone carvings or sculptures, pleasure gardens, magnificently crafted stone baths and ponds, and a magnificent irrigation system of reservoirs and canals are the main attractions of Anuradhapura.
Included:
• Excursion: Sigiriya
• Excursion: Anuradhapura cycle tour
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Travel to Pasikudah
After an early breakfast, you’ll enjoy a pleasant drive through a forest reserve to the medieval city of Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa was Sri Lanka’s second capital, ruled by King Vijayabahu following the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993. In addition to the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the site comprises the monumental ruins of the fabled ‘garden city’ constructed by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. The tour consists of four parts and pays tribute to the strategic planning of this archaeological city by its first rulers.
Bicycles are available if you wish to cycle through the archaeological sites.
After the tour, you’ll enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan meal in a rural café, cooked over a wood fire and served on banana leaves and in earthenware pots.
After lunch, you’ll travel on to your beachside accommodation.
Included:
• Excursion: visit to Polonnaruwa including lunch
• Private transfer to your hotel
• Overnight stay including breakfast
Free days at the beach
It's time for your well-deserved beach finish to this trip, where you will enjoy 3 nights on the beautiful beach. Should you fancy an outing on your own initiative, a boat trip to Pigeon Island is an absolute must! In about 15 minutes, you will arrive at Pigeon Island, which is surrounded by a snow-white powder beach and an azure sea with coral through which brightly coloured fish shoot. The underwater world is so rich that chances are you can spot harmless sharks.
Included:
• Accommodation including breakfast
Accommodations
Maniumpathy Hotel
A luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Colombo, Maniumpathy is surrounded by art galleries, chic boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, malls and national monuments. It is also just minutes from the Royal Colombo Golf Club. Maniumpathy offers a range of facilities to make your stay not...
A luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Colombo, Maniumpathy is surrounded by art galleries, chic boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, malls and national monuments. It is also just minutes from the Royal Colombo Golf Club. Maniumpathy offers an array of facilities to make your stay not only enjoyable, but unique and memorable. Maniumpathy offers its guests a personal butler service to meet your individual needs. The Grand Ebony Room is the ideal venue for private events and fine dining.
Your stay: 2 nights
Kahanda Kanda
Set amid the palm-fringed jungle and tea plantations of southern Sri Lanka, Kahanda Kanda is a hidden gem where culture, wellness and luxury come together. The boutique hotel features 12 individually designed villas, eight of which have private pools. All rooms feature free Wi-Fi, a...
Set amid the palm-fringed jungle and tea plantations of southern Sri Lanka, Kahanda Kanda is a hidden gem where culture, wellness and luxury come together. The boutique hotel features 12 individually designed villas, eight of which have private pools. All rooms feature free Wi-Fi, a hairdryer, air conditioning, a minibar and tea and coffee making facilities. You can visit the hotel's restaurant and enjoy delicious meals. Other hotel facilities include a hilltop pavilion perfect for yoga, a 20-metre pool, a gym and a tropical garden with relaxing loungers.
Your stay: 2 nights
Leopard Trails Yala
Leopard Trails is located in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. Guests can see a range of wildlife, from leopards to elephants, birds, wild boar, snakes and water buffalo, to name a few. Guests can enjoy the romantic atmosphere of the campsite, which evokes a bygone British-colonial era...
Leopard Trails is located in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. Guests can see a range of wildlife, from leopards to elephants, birds, wild boar, snakes and water buffalo, to name a few. Guests can enjoy the romantic atmosphere of the campsite, which showcases a bygone British-colonial era full of adventure. The accommodation has two types of tents, equipped with modern amenities such as air-conditioning, a flushable toilet and a shower.
Your stay: 2 nights
Ceylon Tea Trails Summerville Bungalow
Summerville is one of Ceylon Tea Trails' original planter villas. As a guest, you will therefore find a lot of British homey charm here, including original furniture, fireplace and a beautifully landscaped garden. The villa offers wide views over Castlereagh Reservoir and is set amidst the tea fields. Service is...
Summerville is one of Ceylon Tea Trails' original planter villas. As a guest, you will therefore find a lot of British homey charm here, including original furniture, fireplace and a beautifully landscaped garden. The villa offers wide views over Castlereagh Reservoir and is set amid the tea fields. Service is entirely Tea Trails-style: personal, heart-warming and taken care of to perfection. You are truly on holiday.
Your stay: 2 nights
Santani Wellness Kandy
Santani is a unique wellness resort in Sri Lanka, designed to the highest sustainability and Eco standards. The resort offers a welcoming place to retreat and rejuvenate in a pristine wilderness in the spiritual centre of Sri Lanka. The temperature at the resort is comfortably cool at 2,800 feet above...
Santani is a unique wellness resort in Sri Lanka, designed to the highest sustainability and Eco standards. The resort offers a welcoming place to retreat and rejuvenate in a pristine wilderness in the spiritual centre of Sri Lanka. The temperature at the resort is comfortably cool at 2,800 feet above sea level. Guests are free to walk around the 48 acres of tropical jungle and fertile rice paddies, practice yoga or meditate along the Hulu River. You can also take a refreshing dip in this river. In the evening, enjoy a glass of bubbly by a campfire, relax in the lounge or meet friends at the bar.
Your stay: 2 nights
Santani Wellness Kandy
Santani is a unique wellness resort in Sri Lanka, designed to the highest sustainability and Eco standards. The resort offers a welcoming place to retreat and rejuvenate in a pristine wilderness in the spiritual centre of Sri Lanka. The temperature at the resort is comfortably cool at 2,800 feet above...
Santani is a unique wellness resort in Sri Lanka, designed to the highest sustainability and Eco standards. The resort offers a welcoming place to retreat and rejuvenate in a pristine wilderness in the spiritual centre of Sri Lanka. The temperature at the resort is comfortably cool at 2,800 feet above sea level. Guests are free to walk around the 48 acres of tropical jungle and fertile rice paddies, practice yoga or meditate along the Hulu River. You can also take a refreshing dip in this river. In the evening, enjoy a glass of bubbly by a campfire, relax in the lounge or meet friends at the bar.
Uga Ulagalla
Once the ancestral estate of the local nobility of Anuradhapura, this luxury hotel in Sri Lanka features a 150-year-old mansion at its centre with 20 privately eco-built chalets on 58 acres of land. As one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, with its own solar park providing half of its...
Once the ancestral estate of the local nobility of Anuradhapura, this luxury hotel in Sri Lanka features a 150-year-old mansion at its centre with 20 privately eco-built chalets on 58 acres of land. As one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, with its own solar farm generating half of its own energy needs, Ulagalla is a unique boutique hotel.
Your stay: 2 nights
Uga Bay
Uga Bay is an elegant luxury beach resort in Passekudah, Sri Lanka. Each of the 46 spacious rooms and suites offers breathtaking views of Pasikuda Bay. The underground spa at Uga Bay offers mesmerising views of the Indian Ocean, while guests enjoy spa treatments with Balinese and Western...
Uga Bay is an elegant luxury beach resort in Passekudah, Sri Lanka. Each of the 46 spacious rooms and suites offers breathtaking views of Pasikuda Bay. The underground spa at Uga Bay offers mesmerising views of the Indian Ocean, while guests enjoy spa treatments featuring Balinese and Western massages, body rituals and therapies. Guests can relax by the pool, dine at the hotel's restaurant or enjoy private dining at a location of their choice. Uga Bay provides water sports equipment for guests to use on the beach. Karaoke and movie nights are organised, as well as beach parties and barbecues.
Your stay: 3 nights
Experiences
Transfer seaplane Sri Lanka
Visit tea factory with tea planter Tea Trails
Destinations
Galle
Galle is a beautiful colonial town in Ceylon. After the Portuguese, it was the Dutch who made Galle an important port in the 17th century, protected by a large fort, now listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Old and (partly) crumbling, it was the fort walls that protected much of the city in 2004 when the tsunami struck. Still, thousands died, especially at the old bus station just outside the fort. Inside the walls, today's Galle is an atmospheric town filled with culture, quaint shops, bars and boutique accommodation.
Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital and largest city, is a city that travellers have mostly avoided for years. The city has a reputation for being boring, but today it has so much to offer! Unlike Jakarta or Bangkok, it is an orderly city and therefore easy to explore. Traffic is as in any Asian capital - chaotic. But, once you have had some time to get used to this and can proverbially 'look past', you will see a brilliant side of the country.
Sri Lanka
Koggala
The village of Koggala on Sri Lanka's south coast offers sprawling beaches - for those looking for a tranquil holiday amidst nature. Enjoy fresh seafood at one of the small beach restaurants with the picturesque sea in the background. From Koggala, you can also easily take a day trip to the historic city of Galle.
Yala
Yala, Sri Lanka, is a picturesque region in the southeastern corner of the island. This beautiful area offers breathtaking landscapes and rich animal life. For nature lovers, Yala National Park is the highlight of the island, with a leopard density probably higher than anywhere else on the planet and a varied landscape from dense forests to wetlands.
Yala National Park
Yala (Ruhuna) National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park covers an area of 151,778 hectares, consisting of five blocks, not all of which are open to the public. The park is located in the arid semi-arid climate region of southeast Sri Lanka, stretching from Trincomalee to Hambantota. Topographically, the area is a flat and slightly undulating plain running to the coast with an elevation of 30 metres to the coast while inland it rises to 100-125 metres. The landscape is characterised by green, low forests interspersed with water bodies, open plains and rocky outcrops.
Kandy
Kandy is a special city: When Sri Lanka fell under Portuguese and later Dutch rule, Kandy remained independent under the leadership of several kings. Only during British colonisation did Kandy also fall. It is Sri Lanka's second largest city after Colombo and there is a lot of history to be found there. The city's most famous landmark is the Temple of the Tooth, but we recommend you also stroll along the lake and through the streets. A visit to one of the local markets is also worthwhile.
Pasikudah
Pasikudah, located about 35 kilometres northwest of Batticaloa in Sri Lanka, is a small seaside resort known for its expansive golden bay with one of the longest, shallow coastal stretches in the world. This beautiful coastal environment provides an ideal setting for a range of water sports, including snorkelling around the coral reef teeming with exotic marine life, diving around the wreck of the HMS Hermes, a WW2 British naval ship, water-skiing or an exhilarating deep-sea fishing adventure. Sailing trips are also available and include sunset cruises, whale-watching excursions and overnight charters. Inland activities include adventure safaris where you can trek through nature reserves where elephants and other animals can be spotted.
Hatton
Hatton, also called the 'tea capital of the country', is a famous tea plantation town in Nuwara Eliya district in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The landscape is covered with dense green tea bushes covering rolling hills. Visitors can look forward to breathtaking views of the lush mountains, viewing beautiful waterfalls and spotting a variety of colourful birds. Don't miss the chance to climb to the top of the breathtakingly beautiful Adam's Peak, visit the Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Factory and see the incredible architecture of Warleigh Church. The scenic Horton Plains is a must-see highlight in the area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Habarana
Habarana is located in Sri Lanka's dry zone. This small town is not a destination in itself, but it is a good base - A gateway to numerous destinations and sights in the region. Wildlife enthusiasts will do well at Minneriya and Kaudulla National Park; two parks well populated with herds of elephants and other wildlife. For those looking for Sri Lankan history and culture, the holy city of Anuradhapura, the cave temple of Dambulla and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya Rock Fortress are all well worth seeing and easily accessible from Habarana.
Anuradhapura
This ancient capital of Sri Lanka is full of historical attractions. You can find ruins dating back to the 10th century BC. The holy Buddhist city still has many monasteries visited by many pilgrims. The large lakes Nuwara Wewa and Tissa Wewa were used to supply the city with water. Today, the whole area is a large open-air museum with many temples, palaces and all kinds of shrines such as the Bodhi Tree.
Ceylon Valley
The Ceylon Valley is the 'Tea Country' par excellence. This is the setting for an idyllic stay high in the hills, in a colonial home built during the time of the British, for example. Enjoy tea-inspired days, in the form of (of course!) delicious tea, the tempting and traditional Sri Lankan cuisine with tea-inspired dishes, but also through excursions ranging from a visit and tasting at one of the authentic tea factories, to mountain walks and cycling through the green carpet of Ceylon tea gardens.
Dickoya
Bright green hills, dense dark forests, farmlands and traditional houses characterise the landscapes of Dickoya. Located in the Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka's central province, this photogenic town is known for its fertile tea plantations, spectacular views and charming historic churches. Delve into its colonial and religious past by visiting the 18th-century Christ Church, which has beautiful stained-glass windows and a well-preserved Bible from 1878. The church is one of the oldest Anglican churches in the country. Warleigh Church, with its serene atmosphere, pipe organ and antique furniture, is also worth a visit. Nearby attractions include the beautiful St Clair Major Falls and Devon Falls, and Castlereigh Reservoir, adorned with beautiful hiking trails and viewpoints.
Sri Lanka trip | Luxury tour of Sri Lanka
We offer the described trip from €13,875 per person.
The tour price is an estimate and is subject to availability and travel dates, amongst other factors.
Included
• Domestic flights by charter seaplane
• Accommodation in excellent and unique lodges and hotels
• Train journey from Hatton to Kandy
• All meals as specified in the ‘itinerary’
• All excursions as mentioned in the ‘itinerary’, including a city tour of Colombo, a visit to Galle Fort and a safari in Yala National Park
• Private transport with an English-speaking private guide/driver
• Meet & Greet on arrival
• Entrance fees where applicable
• National Geographic or similar travel guide
• Administration fees (€50 per booking)
Positive impact of your trip:
• Contribution of €50 per person towards a positive impact via the Avila Foundation
Not included
• International flights
• Travel and/or cancellation insurance
• Visa fees
• Tourist tax (where applicable)
• Seat reservations
• Personal expenses/tips
• Any departure tax when leaving the destination
• Meals not specified and optional excursions
• Contribution to the Contingency Fund (€2.50 per booking)
• SGR contribution (€5 per person)