Your tailor-made holiday will be as unique as you are. These itineraries are just a starting point, a bit of inspiration to show what’s possible. Your own trip all starts with a conversation with one of our Sri Lanka experts, who’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you and design the perfect holiday to match.
Designed with the first-time visitor in mind, our 14-day Classic Sri Lanka holiday explores the island’s highlights without rushing through.
The trip starts by heading from Negombo to Sigiriya, right in the heart of the ‘Cultural Triangle’. This area is famed for the ancient Buddhist civilisations that, over time, ruled Sri Lanka. Many of them, including Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa, are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From there, you'll continue south to hillier Kandy; surrounded by dense greenery, Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth and has become known for its exquisite gemstones. The journey continues south by the most spectacular train ride into the verdant tea-growing region for a couple of days, before arriving in Uda Walawe National Park. Quieter than its overcrowded neighbour, Yala National Park, Uda Walawe is known for its high density of wild elephants and the wonderful Elephant Transit Home for orphaned elephants next door. The trip then heads to the beautiful colonial Galle, with its charming cobbled streets and artisan shops, before ending on the beach for some relaxation. This is a fantastic all-rounder trip, perfect for your first experience of Sri Lanka.
Here's a summary of what you might get up to day-to-day on this Sri Lanka holiday. As always, this is just an idea. Every single day of your trip will be tailored to suit you.
Your adventure begins with a night flight to Sri Lanka's capital city, Colombo.
After you touch down in Sri Lanka this morning, you'll be met by our smiling team on the ground and whisked straight off to nearby Negombo by your own private chauffeur guide. Only 20 minutes from the airport, Negombo makes the perfect place to start your Sri Lanka holiday. The small, coastal fishing town with its Dutch canals and local fish markets will give you a brilliant first taste of what this wonderful country and its even more wonderful people are all about.
Today, you'll head to Sigiriya, about a 3.5-hour drive from Negombo. On the way, we've planned something special. You'll stop by a small village where you'll meet the local people, ride on a traditional bullock cart, float around a stunning lake on a catamaran, and then head to a local home to share a traditional lunch with a Sri Lankan family. To us, the magic of travel is found in the people you meet and the authentic interactions you have along the way. Your experience today will be a perfect example of that. Real people, real moments, real experiences and real memories.
Today is a UNESCO World Heritage site extravaganza of a day. You'll enjoy guided tours of both Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the ancient town of Polonnaruwa. Sigiriya is a bit of a climb up, so we'd recommend setting your alarm early and tackling this first thing, before the heat of the day rolls in. Trust us, the view from the top is worth every step.
You'll head south today, stopping off en route to explore the Golden Temple of Dambulla, Sri Lanka's most intricate and impressive cave temple complex. Made up of five caves and more than 150 examples of Singhalese Buddhist artwork, spend a couple of hours soaking it all up. Once you've had your fill of the caves, it's time to head on to Kandy for a relaxing afternoon and an evening of sampling the delicious street food on offer.
Today, you'll enjoy a full day exploring the sights of Kandy. From taking a stroll around the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens – a real oasis in the city, to experiencing a traditional Puja ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth. Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist shrine is said to house the tooth of the Buddha and is one of the most sacred places in the country. You’ll get the chance to see the golden casket during the evening ceremony, surrounded by the sound of drums and the atmosphere of worship – it’s a really special experience.
This morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kandy and whisk you off to the train station. Here, you'll hop on the bright blue train ready to fly through the glorious and vibrant tea country. The journey will take around 4 hours, but we guarantee you'll enjoy every second. As the train passes through quaint villages, with local children playing beside the tracks, and the rolling tea hills peppered with tea pickers in multicoloured saris, it's a beautiful journey. At the other end, you'll be picked up by your driver (who will have your luggage so you don't have to worry about carrying it around yourself) and transferred to your accommodation in a nearby town or tea estate.
Waking up to the cool, crisp air of the tea country, today you'll take a tour around Nuwara Eliya or Ella town. Your guide will show you all the highlights before driving you to a local tea factory where you'll learn all about this crucially important industry in Sri Lanka. There are countless walks and hikes to do in the area that give you the opportunity to really soak up the beauty and magic of the region. Chat to us and we'll suggest one that's perfect for you.
You'll leave the peaceful, rolling landscapes of the tea hills today and head off to Uda Walawe National Park for safari. Once you've checked in to your lodge, you'll head off on a safari this afternoon, spotting wild elephants, sambar deer, sloth bear, a host of beautiful birds and more. The Orphan Elephant Transit Centre is also nearby, funded by the Born Free Foundation. Here, orphaned baby elephants are cared for until they’re ready to be released back into the wild, where they belong, once they reach 5 years old.
Your guide will drive you to Galle today, one of our favourite spots in Sri Lanka. This charming city, boasting a 17th-century Dutch fort, is more than worthy of its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Take a city tour this afternoon and just spend some time exploring the cobbled streets, walking the ancient ramparts, snapping photos of the iconic lighthouse, strolling around the art galleries and sampling some of the delicious food at one of the many restaurants.
We've left today clear to be filled with whatever your heart desires. If you're visiting between the months of December and April, we highly recommend leaving dry land behind and heading out for a boat trip from Marissa. It can be busy, but with blue whales, sperm whales and dolphins commonly spotted this time of year, it's a brilliant opportunity to spot these marvellous creatures in their natural habitat. We'd also recommend taking a traditional cooking class, a rural cycling tour through paddy fields and local villages, or even a quirky tuk tuk 'safari' uncovering the secret beaches dotted along the coast.
Your guide will drive you up the coast this morning to start your beach stay at one of the southwest beaches. There are plenty of one-off experiences we could arrange for you along the way today. Try your hand at traditional mask making, take a boat safari along the beautiful Madu Ganga River, visit a turtle hatchery or enjoy an eye-opening visit to the Tsunami community museum. At the other end, whether you choose to base yourself in Bentota, Balapitiya, Kosgoda or Hikkaduwa, a couple of days of beach relaxation awaits.
Your two-week Sri Lanka holiday comes to an end today as your guide drives you back to the airport (a journey of around 2 hours). If you're anything like us, you'll be leaving the island with a heart full of smiles and a belly full of food. It won't be long until you're planning your return visit!
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our experts Dawn, Lisa and Rebecca are dedicated to all things Sri Lanka and are here to help you plan your perfect trip.
From its tea-covered hills to its colourful towns, endless beaches and magic people, our Dawn’s head over heels with Sri Lanka – and she knows exactly how to help you fall in love with it, too.
Sri Lanka sparked Lisa’s lifelong love for Asia – and it remains one of her favourite places to visit. She’s all about combining cultural highlights, beautiful landscapes and proper local flavour into every itinerary, and Sri Lanka is the place to do just that.
Few places have a hold on Rebecca’s heart like Sri Lanka. It’s the mix of culture, landscapes, unmatched food and magic people that gets her – alongside the closeness of the Maldives! And she’d love nothing more than helping you experience it all.
Speak to one of our travel specialists today.
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