Quintessentially Sri Lanka

When it comes to adventure, Sri Lanka is small but mighty. Venture out on tea country hikes on the Pekoe Trail, visit locally-run tea factories, and sip a G&T or two as the sun sets over Little Adam’s Peak. Discover the magnificent wildlife with a safari in lesser-visited blocks of Yala, or Udawalawe - keeping your senses alert for glimpses of leopards, elephants, peacocks and crocodiles.

It’s no wonder so many travellers return to Sri Lanka again and again, adding more colour to their canvas with each trip; it’s a feast for all the senses.

A remote start

Starting your journey with a little time to recharge after a long flight is essential in our book and helps you make the most out of the rest of your time. Take a night or two to relax, recover, and perhaps explore a little of rural Sri Lanka, with a stay at a retreat far away from the bustling crowds.

Kick back on the shady terraces of a boutique villa close to the airport, or head further into the wilderness with an immersive stay at The Mudhouse, where community and calmness prevail for a truly unique start to your trip. One of our favourites is Horathapola Coconut Estate, a 1900s tea plantation bungalow providing a rural and luxurious stay.

The Cradle of Sri Lanka

The Cultural Triangle is a home to multiple extraordinary sights, from the 2,000-year-old Buddhist monastery at the top of Ritigala, to the elephant haven of Minneriya National Park. Jutting 200 metres out of the jungle, you can’t miss the iconic ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, the Lion Rock. Whilst it’s a fun and popular climb, we prefer to view it from the adjacent Pidurangala Rock. A more adventurous scramble, but the higher peak rewards you with sweeping views and a fraction of the crowds. You can also explore more of the rural landscape on two wheels with a cycling tour. Pausing in one of the region’s ancient capitals, either Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa, is a must, as they offer such a tangible sense of the grandeur of Sri Lanka’s past.

Seeing everything that the Cultural Triangle has to offer in one trip would be a whirlwind, to say the least! Pick a few sights and experiences that really fire your imagination and save some downtime to simply soak up your surroundings; experience tells us that when you are staying somewhere this beautiful, it’s worth making time to really appreciate it. Take it slow, follow unscheduled detours when something catches your eye, and make each journey part of the experience.

A pit-stop in Kandy

Kandy is Sri Lanka’s contemporary capital of culture, the gateway to Tea Country, and an exhilarating city to explore for a couple of days. En route, we recommend taking a well-timed break at the UNESCO-listed Dambulla Caves. Climb the steep stone steps leading to the dazzling golden Buddha statue, and watch scampering monkeys weave in and out of caves. Once in Kandy, you’ll find a busy city, but one with plenty of charm. This is just a short stopover (though you can easily add in a couple more days for a fuller experience if you wish) but you’ll have time to see its most revered site, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, and recharge with some of the city’s delicacies on a foodie walking tour - from tasty street food to freshly-cooked dosa, there is plenty to tuck into.

Green hills as far as the eye can see…

Trundling through central Sri Lanka’s greenest hills, the tea train is one of the country’s most iconic images. It instantly evokes the enduring romance of rail travel and the sense of adventure that comes with it. We think there’s no better way to travel through Tea Country than by train. Perhaps slightly counterintuitively, we’d recommend not booking first class as, whilst undeniably comfortable and very pleasant, they don’t offer the full experience of what riding this train is all about: feeling the fresh breeze blow through the open windows, and enjoying the freedom to move about a little as the train slowly meanders and clacks through the verdant scenery. 

There are many options for where you can board and disembark, with your preferred style of accommodation and activities dictating your route. For those seeking easier hiking routes and a more lively spot, you can’t go wrong with the town of Ella, with its easy access to the Nine Arches Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak and the start of a popular stage of the Pekoe Trail. If you are looking for more tranquillity, then we can recommend accommodation outside of town or other quieter areas of tea country like Haputale. Stay in the midst of the tea fields at an organic farm or in a converted tea planters’ bungalow for a unique stay which matches the beauty of your surroundings.

Call of the wild

For a relatively small country, Sri Lanka has a staggering number of National Parks - 26 at last count - all of which are magnificent in their own way, and different enough to offer distinct wildlife spotting opportunities. Yala National Park is undoubtedly the most well-known and most visited, and with good reason. It’s easy to access, the scenery is epic, and there’s a higher likelihood of sightings of Sri Lanka’s most enigmatic residents: the leopards. 

Arid sands, sparse scrub, and low forest make the animals easier to spot, including those elusive leopards along with elephants, crocodiles and, for the fortunate few, sloth bears. Being so well known means that it gets crowded, so you need to know how to avoid the busiest times and places. We recommend at least one safari in the lesser-visited Block 5 to see Yala at its best. For elephant lovers, Udawalawe National Park is a must, with the highest concentration in the country. This park also works perfectly with this itinerary, and is a great option if you prefer fewer other tourists. Accommodation near the parks offer a spot for a well earned rest and fine dining under the stars, whether at a tented camp in the buffer zone - wild but very comfortable - or a calm beach camp with a little more luxury.

Within the walled city

From the wild dusts of Yala or Udawalawe, travel southwest to the subtle elegance of Galle, a town of idiosyncratic beauty seasoned with endurance, combining the strength of aged stone with the vibrancy of the present day. A mix of styles, with overarching influences from the 17th-century Dutch settlement, the city’s long, rich history predates these ‘newer’ structures by hundreds of years. Inside the sheltered walls of the fort, you’re met at every turn by finely preserved buildings and picturesque cobbled streets. Discover grandiose frontages, sun-bleached glory, fat pillars, high arches, and an age-old, gnarled banyan tree.

Explore chic boutiques, artisan jewellers’ shops and cool cafes. Stay in some of the most stately hotels in all of Sri Lanka, and feast on fine cuisine and local delights in the restaurants nestled within the walls. Walk along the ramparts at sunset, enjoying a cool tropical breeze and watch children play cricket on the green. Your guide will help you get your bearings, then you can simply follow your instincts and see where your wanderings take you.

Kick back and relax

Spending time on the beach at the end of a Sri Lanka trip is the perfect way to contemplate and digest all that you’ve experienced, and allow yourself to properly unwind. Whatever your downtime preferences, the location needs to be just right. Whether that means undisturbed seclusion or somewhere with a bit more energy, it’s all possible along the south and west coasts. The low-key resort of Tangalle is ideal for dedicated R&R, rewarding you with pristine stretches of sand and a selection of interesting boutiques and seaside restaurants.

If you’re looking for something more lively, head to Weligama or Mirissa, the latter is a great spot for a boat trip to see the whales and dolphins using one of our responsible providers. Add in a diverse selection of eateries, welcoming bars and easily accessible swimming beaches, and both towns tick a lot of boxes. If the beach is your final stop, it’s well worth considering some of the options on the west coast past Galle too, such as Bentota, which is just a stone’s throw from Colombo and your flight home, or secluded Marawila further north. However you envision it, we’ll shape your beach downtime to fit you perfectly.