Amba Yaalu

Luxury Sri Lanka

Romantic Luxury + 1 more + 2 more

Experience the best of Sri Lanka, with plenty of indulgence along the way.

14 days

from £8,430 pp

including flights

Sri Lanka Express

Express Beach + 2 more + 3 more

A taste of Sri Lanka’s culture, wildlife, and beaches over just 11 days.

11 days

from £3,860 pp

including flights

Go Local in Sri Lanka

Go Local Off-the-beaten-track + 3 more + 3 more

A slower, more immersive journey through Sri Lanka’s people, landscapes and hidden corners

16 days

from £5,040 pp

including flights

The Wildlife of Sri Lanka

Family Safari + 2 more + 3 more

A wildlife-focused journey through Sri Lanka’s National Parks.

12 days

from £4,130 pp

including flights

Undiscovered Sri Lanka

Wildlife & Nature Go Local + 3 more + 3 more

Explore Sri Lanka beyond the usual tourist trail.

17 days

from £4,932 pp

including flights

Ultimate Sri Lanka

Ultimate Beach + 3 more + 3 more

Our most in-depth adventure around Sri Lanka.

21 days

from £5,690 pp

including flights

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Sri Lanka

Pidurangala Rock Climb (Sunrise)

Pidurangala Rock is adjacent to Sigiriya Rock and is the best viewing spot of Sigiriya Rock as it is only slightly lower. Pidurangala is a popular spot for sunrise hikes as you can enjoy 360-degree views of not only the valleys and jungle scenery but also Sigiriya Rock. Halfway through the hike, you will reach the Royal Cave Temple which only has a few remains left. A huge reclining Buddha lays inside the temple and is definitely worth the visit. We recommend doing this hike very early in the morning, arriving at the top of the Rock about 30 mins before official sunrise in order to get the most stunning views. At this time of day before the heat of the sun, the ascent should only take between 20 and 45 mins depending on fitness levels.

Polonnaruwa Ancient City Ruins

This half-day tour takes you from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa. It’s the second great capital of Sri Lanka, after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993. Polonnaruwa is arguably better preserved than Anuradhapura and is certainly more accessible. It’s made up of both Bramanic monuments built by the Cholas, as well as the ruins of a fantastic garden city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s described as a ‘shrine to Buddhism and Singhalese history’, apparent in its enormous rock carvings. The tour includes the King’s Council Chambers, the royal baths and ruins of Buddhist shrines such as the Vatadage, which is a circular relic house. It also takes in the ‘Hatadage’, where it’s believed the Sacred Tooth was placed for some time. The tour also includes a myriad of other monuments, including the gigantic rock sculpture of the Lord Buddha. Polonnaruwa is one of Sri Lanka undisputed highlights and an integral park of Sri Lanka’s ancient history.

Minneriya National Park Safari

Minneriya National Park sits to the north east of Sigiriya and offers a welcome change of scenery from the ancient ruins that dominate the area. The park is home to the large and ancient Minneriya Tank, and it boasts an enormous variety of habitat and wildlife, covered in dry tropical forest, grasslands and wetlands. However, its main draw and principle attraction are its elephants. They are found in large numbers throughout the year, although most numerous from July to September when the small waterholes have dried up - this annual wildlife phenomenon is called the 'Elephant Gathering'. This afternoon’s jeep safari will take you into the park with an experienced guide/tracker who will know the best locations for elephant sightings. Please note that the elephants move freely between Minneriya National Park, Kadulla National Park and Eco Park, therefore your chauffeur guide will be in contact with the local guides and trackers before hand so that you arrive at the most probable location that day. If you are lucky you may also get to see sambar deer, spotted deer, macaque, and purple-faced langur monkeys as well. There are also 160 species of bird that have been recorded in the park, which your guide will help point out. Your afternoon jeep safari will last approximately three hours.

Local Village Experience with Lunch

This half-day visit starts off with a ride on a traditional bullock cart along a dirt track, through rice paddies and down to the picturesque Hiriwaduna Lake. The adventure continues with a catamaran ride on the shimmering lake, which is home to a large variety of dry zone bird life. The lake offers views of the surrounding forest, marshland and tiny farming plots owned by the locals. After the catamaran ride you will take a short ride on a Land Master tractor, or walking tractor, which was designed by the Sri Lankan engineer Dr. Ray Wijewardana. He invented a number of devices to assist local farmers. Your guide will then take you on a rickshaw ride to a local home, giving you the chance to interact with a traditional family by assisting the women in preparing a Sri Lankan lunch, using traditional Sri Lankan methods of cooking. Afterwards you will enjoy the lunch you helped to prepare before a leisurely walk back to the main road.

Dambulla Cave Temple

Dambulla is well known for its remarkable and impressive cave temples, officially known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla. This site has acted as a sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries and is undoubtedly Sri Lanka’s best preserved and largest cave temple, with a total of five sanctuaries. Deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Golden Temple of Dambulla is an outstanding example of Sri Lanka’s religious art, with Buddhist mural paintings covering an area of 2100 m2 along with 157 Buddhist statues. Access to the caves is only possible with a gentle climb along wide sloping steps. We feel Cave 1, which has a huge statue of the reclining Buddha, and Cave 2, with an interior surface completely covered in murals, are of particular interest. This tour normally takes 1-2 hours depending on the depth of your interest. Dambulla lies approximately two hours south of Anuradhapura and is just 30 minutes from Sigiriya Rock. Therefore, it can be easily visited en route to Kandy.