The island paradise of Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical climate for most of the year and is occasionally clouded by a seasonal monsoon. Sri Lanka, a country with a proud history recorded since 500 B.C., is populated by a diverse community of Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and bourgeois citizens with Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian beliefs.
Truly a beacon of cultural diversity, the people of Sri Lanka possess an exceptionally hospitable and generous demeanor. Ruled by Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial forces at one time, and descended from early Indian settlers, the small island nation boasts significant cultural influences from around the world, with countless historical experiences awaiting you at every turn.
Tour highlights
- Learn about Sri Lanka's fascinating Buddhist history.
- Take time out to relax on the beautiful southwest coast.
- Enjoy a scenic train journey through tea plantations.
- Track leopard in the Yala National Park.
Itinerary
Includes international flights from a choice of UK airports, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Colombo.
On arrival, you're met by your private chauffeur-guide and transferred down to the south coast to Galle. Once here, you can settle into your hotel and enjoy some leisure time, depending on your flight time.
Colombo
Stay at Sentido Heritance
Today, drive about three hours to the city of Kandy. On your way to Kandy, stop by the famous Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, home to a large herd of orphaned and rescued elephants. You can observe these gentle giants as they are fed and interact, and you might even catch the memorable sight of the herd bathing in the nearby river. This evening, enjoy a food walk through Kandy, with a local guide who will offer you delicious local delicacies.
Colombo
Kandy
Stay at Jetwing Kandy Gallery
Today, we are visiting the imposing Dambulla Caves. This incredible site contains hundreds of Buddha statues and ancient relics. We will access the caves by climbing the long staircase cut directly into the rock.
Kandy
Dambulla
Stay at Heritance Kandalama
Today begins with an early morning climb of the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress, ascending the ancient citadel to witness the famous frescoes and breathtaking views from the summit. Afterwards, we will travel to Kandy to visit the revered Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist shrine. This evening, you will experience a vibrant cultural show, featuring traditional Kandyan dancers and drummers.
Dambulla
Sigiriya
Kandy
Stay at Jetwing Kandy Gallery
Enjoy your 5-day wellness retreat, with daily Ayurvedic treatments in the morning and yoga in the afternoon. You are likely to feel deep relaxation, enjoy healthy meals, and learn simple meditation. If you fully embrace the program, you may also find a new sense of energy and mental peace. Our center is known for having the most experienced traditional experts in the area.
Kandy
Stay at Santani Wellness Resort
Today, you will embark on one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. This morning, board the train for the breathtaking ride to Nuwara Eliya, winding through the misty mountains and lush, green tea plantations of Sri Lanka's hill country.
Kandy
Nuwara Eliya
Stay at The Grand Hotel
This morning, you will venture out for a safari across the wide-open landscapes of Monn Plains, searching for its unique wildlife. Following your adventure, you will be transferred to the charming hill-country town of Ella, famed for its stunning natural scenery.
Nuwara Eliya
Ella
Stay at Moi Ella
This morning, you will visit the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, an impressive architectural marvel nestled amidst the lush tea fields. After capturing photos of this famous viaduct, you will travel south, making your way to Yala, an area renowned for its incredible wildlife.
Ella
Yala National Park
Stay at Jetwing Yala
After your morning safari, you will head south towards the coast, transferring to the beautiful beach town of Mirissa. The rest of your day is free for beach relaxation, allowing you to unwind on the golden sands and swim in the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
Yala National Park
Mirissa
Stay at W15 Weligama
Today is dedicated to exploring the vibrant coastal town of Mirissa. You can explore the picturesque Parrot Rock for beautiful views, relax on the famous crescent-shaped beach, or find the "secret beach" for a quieter afternoon by the ocean.
Mirissa
Galle
Stay at Araliya Beach Resort
Today is reserved for pure relaxation on the shores of Unawatuna. You have the full day at leisure to enjoy this famous palm-fringed, crescent-shaped beach. You can swim in the calm, turquoise waters, sunbathe on the golden sands, or perhaps explore the charming small town and its beachfront cafes.
Galle
Stay at Araliya Beach Resort
Today you're met by your chauffeur-guide and transferred to the airport. He will ensure you arrive at the airport in plenty of time for your onward flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.
FAQs
At ceytravel, a tailor-made holiday is a journey crafted entirely around you. We believe that luxury travel is personal, which is why we work with you to truly understand what you desire from your Sri Lankan tour. From securing a room at an exclusive boutique hotel to matching you with an expert private chauffeur-guide, every aspect of your holiday works towards bringing the magic of Sri Lanka to life in a way that means the most to you.
It begins when you are paired with your personal ceytravel specialist. As dedicated experts in Sri Lankan luxury travel, our team will schedule a discovery call to learn about you: your interests, who is travelling with you, your preferred style of travel, and your budget. From that conversation, we begin to craft your unique, personalised itinerary.
You’ll remain part of the planning journey, choosing between private villas or five-star hotels, or selecting exclusive experiences, but we’ll provide you with options perfectly suited to your party—many of which are exclusive to ceytravel. Once we have the outline, we perfect the tiny details. We will be with you every step of the way, from our pre-departure call to the moment you return home. All that is left for you to do is pack your luggage and relax.
Our deep-rooted relationships with suppliers across the island allow us to provide unparalleled access and ensure our guests receive the highest level of service. Are you an architecture enthusiast? We can arrange a private tour of Geoffrey Bawa’s iconic estates, perhaps with a local design expert. Is spotting a leopard in Yala at the top of your list? We partner with the most experienced local naturalists who know the park intimately, giving you the very best chance at a sighting.
This is all to say, a bespoke luxury tour with ceytravel is truly the only way to experience Sri Lanka.
To make the entire experience as seamless as possible we’ll arrange all transportation, air or ground. Including train, yacht, domestic flights or private ground transfers – we can handle it all.
Our prices do include flights; however, it is based on the average flight cost to that destination. So, it is possible the price will be more, or potentially less, at the time of booking due to flight costs changing almost daily.
Yes, your holiday is protected. To ensure you can travel with complete peace of mind, we provide comprehensive travel insurance as part of your package.
This policy is designed to cover you against unforeseen events, so you can relax and look forward to your luxury Sri Lankan journey. Your travel specialist will be happy to discuss the specific details of the coverage with you during the planning process.
We ask our guests to inform us of any special dietary requirements or accessibility requirements as soon as possible so we can ensure these are considered when planning your trip, as well as passing these on to our local partners who will use these to ensure the smooth running of your trip.
Yes, our global offices and dedicated emergency phone number mean you can speak directly to a member of our team 24/7, no matter where you are in the world.
