Combine one of the country’s most distinctive eco-retreats – built with character, community and conservation in mind – with an alternative take on the world-renowned Cultural Triangle. Visit a vital working conservation project and meander through beautiful, under-the-radar National Parks. Unwind on quiet east coast beaches, and take time out in a relaxing lakeside retreat at the foot of the Knuckles Mountains.
With every detail finely tuned by our Asia Specialists.
This journey is about appreciating the island’s varied landscapes, from scrubby lowland plains and dramatic rock formations to river-edged grasslands, sweeping coastlines and distant peaks, meeting rural communities and wildlife small and large (from a respectful distance, of course). It’s a conscious decision to do things a little differently, and to embrace some of the variety that makes Sri Lanka such a rewarding place to travel.
This eco-retreat near Anamaduwa, in the dry lowlands of the northwest, is a wonderfully idiosyncratic place to start your Sri Lankan adventure.
Head inland to explore ruined kingdoms and meet some long-tailed monkeys in the Cultural Triangle.
Get a first-hand look at leading elephant conservation in the forests around Wasgamuwa National Park
Discover a National Park where boat safaris and forest walks offer a gentler way to encounter Sri Lanka’s biodiversity.
Unwind on Kalkudah’s quiet sands…
Take a few days lake-side, for gentle yoga, wild swimming, or simply reveling in the views.
The exact shape and details of your journey will be personalised to you by our team of Destination Specialists, so get in touch to start planning your perfect trip…
Get in touch to start planning your bespoke Asia trip.
From wide National Park landscapes to moments of coastal calm, take a closer look at the details of our Sri Lanka Reimagined journey below…
It’s called The Mudhouse, as the open-sided huts are built primarily, and sustainably, from natural materials, but behind the unassuming name lies one of Sri Lanka’s most passionately and thoughtfully run eco-retreats.
It’s called The Mudhouse, as the open-sided huts are built primarily, and sustainably, from natural materials, but behind the unassuming name lies one of Sri Lanka’s most passionately and thoughtfully run eco-retreats.
Tucked into scrubby forest on the outskirts of a small village, the accommodation blends into the landscape, offering rustic comfort and immersion in the natural surroundings. Fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle, take a cool shower under the trees, eat delicious home-style cooking. As you explore, glimpse deer, monkeys, lizards, and an impressive cast of up to 130 bird species. Being largely off-grid won’t suit everyone, but it’s a great place to gain a real sense of rural Sri Lanka.
The Cultural Triangle is one of Sri Lanka’s best-known draws, but a visit doesn’t have to focus solely on its impressively grand monuments.
The Cultural Triangle is one of Sri Lanka’s best-known draws, but a visit doesn’t have to focus solely on its impressively grand monuments.
Along the banks of ancient reservoirs, both natural and manmade, as at Minneriya, elephants gather at the water’s edge. A different animal community thrives quietly in the ruins of Polonnaruwa: monkeys. Long-tailed toque macaques, grey langurs, and purple-faced leaf monkeys live among the carved stones, their complex social structure the subject of long-running research. Rise early to join a local conservationist and observe these primates in their natural habitat, learning about the ongoing work to protect them. For an even rarer sighting, take a guided night walk in search of the elusive slender loris: small, furry, and difficult to spot, but undeniably fascinating if you catch a glimpse of their large bright eyes through the darkness.
It’s always tempting to reel off the numbers when it comes to Sri Lanka’s National Parks, and with 23 mammal species, 50 types of butterfly and around 140 bird species, Wasgamuwa is no exception.
It’s always tempting to reel off the numbers when it comes to Sri Lanka’s National Parks, and with 23 mammal species, 50 types of butterfly and around 140 bird species, Wasgamuwa is no exception.
What makes a visit here so distinctive is the time spent with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society. Their pioneering community projects focus on helping elephants and farmers coexist, with creative approaches to reducing crop raids and supporting sustainable farming. Spend time in a nearby village, meet local farmers and share a home-cooked lunch while learning about the work in progress. Later, head into the park’s river-flanked forests and grasslands on a jeep safari. The wildlife here is less accustomed to seeing vehicles, so any lucky encounter, especially with elephants, feels all the more natural.
Centred around Senanayake Samudraya, Sri Lanka’s largest lake, Gal Oya National Park remains well off most visitors’ radars. Its rocky islets, forested shores and granite hills create some of the island’s most quietly beautiful scenery.
Centred around Senanayake Samudraya, Sri Lanka’s largest lake, Gal Oya National Park remains well off most visitors’ radars. Its rocky islets, forested shores and granite hills create some of the island’s most quietly beautiful scenery.
The main draw is the rare chance to take a boat safari, as it’s one of the few places in Sri Lanka where you can. With luck, you’ll spot elephants wading in family groups, bathing at the lake’s edge or even swimming between islands, trunks raised like snorkels. Keep an eye out for mugger crocodiles hunting in the shallows or sunning themselves on the banks. Staying at the excellent Gal Oya Lodge or at a comfortable tented camp, you can extend your stay with guided walks, jeep safaris and visits to a forest-dwelling Veddha community, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest indigenous societies.
The east coast’s long arcs of sand offer a calmer contrast to Sri Lanka’s busier southern beaches, and Kalkudah is an ideal place to pause away from the crowds.
The east coast’s long arcs of sand offer a calmer contrast to Sri Lanka’s busier southern beaches, and Kalkudah is an ideal place to pause away from the crowds.
South of better-known Passekudah, this laid-back stretch offers a chance to slow the pace; read, swim, stroll along the beach, and sample fresh seafood as the mood takes you. If you’re craving a little more activity, take a boat trip, cycle through neighbouring villages, or explore nearby Batticaloa and its lagoon, Dutch fort and markets. If you’re visiting outside of the east-coast sunshine season of April to September, our Destination Specialists can find you the perfect alternative on the south or west coasts.
Often bypassed in favour of Sri Lanka’s better-known Tea Country, the lakes, hills and Knuckles Mountains northeast of Kandy are well worth taking a few days to explore. Whether you’re a committed wellness traveller or simply curious to try something new, this is a gentle place to reset.
Often bypassed in favour of Sri Lanka’s better-known Tea Country, the lakes, hills and Knuckles Mountains northeast of Kandy are well worth taking a few days to explore. Whether you’re a committed wellness traveller or simply curious to try something new, this is a gentle place to reset.
Ease into yoga, massage, wild swimming or paddle-boarding on Victoria Lake, or head out on foot on gentle walks and longer hikes through tea plantations, waterfalls. You can even venture into the Knuckles range itself, enjoying a picnic en route. Alternatively, base yourself higher in the hills at an eco-lodge or a restored tea planter’s bungalow on a working estate. As the cool mist curls around the slopes, join local pickers to learn about Sri Lanka’s famous brews, and exercise your taste buds with a tea sampling session.
The guide price above is a per person price (not including international flights) staying 1 night in Negombo, 2 nights at The Mudhouse, 2 nights in the Cultural Triangle, 1 night in Wasmaguwa, 2 nights in Gal Oya, 3 nights on an east coast beach, and 2 nights in the Knuckles Mountains, in some of our favourite mid-range hotels.
Every Selective Asia trip is fully customised, and the shape of your tailored route is always finely tuned to your wishes.....
Lean into the details of your bespoke Asia trip to discover rare experiences, exceptional hotels, local connections, inspiring conservation and much more…
With every detail finely tuned by our Asia Specialists.
Every Asia trip we build is finely tuned to fit you, and that all starts with a chat. Let us know what you're hoping to see, feel and experience on your travels, and the places you're dreaming of, and your Asia Specialist will craft a route that includes everything you want and more.
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