When you land in Sri Lanka you’ll be greeted at the airport by your private guide and chauffeur. The guides we work with are truly special people, so expect a big smile on arrival and plenty of story sharing along the way. You’ll be whisked straight off to your rural boutique bungalow for your first night. The Wallawwa is a stunning, converted 200-year-old manor house, just a 15-minute drive from the airport. With a gorgeous swimming pool, top spa, fine dining restaurant and 5 acres of beautiful gardens to explore, it’s the perfect place to acclimatise in comfort after a long flight. 

This morning, your guide will pick you up and drive you the 3.5 hours to Sri Lanka’s historic heart, the Cultural Triangle. To break up the drive, you’ll visit the magnificent Dambulla Cave Temples en route. At the other end of the journey, the stunning Water Garden Sigiriya awaits. With 30 sprawling and lavish villas, each boasting its very own private plunge pool, this is a seriously special place to spend your nights in the Cultural Triangle. 

More UNESCO sites are in store today, as you’ll explore not one, but two historic gems. Start your day with a climb to the top of Sigiriya’s Lion Rock, ready to take in the panoramic jungle views as the sun rises in the sky. We recommend setting your alarm early for this, it’s best to beat the heat and the crowds if you’re tackling the climb. There’s a bit of effort required, but anyone with a reasonable level of fitness should be absolutely fine. This afternoon, you’ll explore the ancient city ruins of Polonnaruwa before heading back to your hotel for the night.

After a 2.5-hour drive south from the Cultural Triangle, you’ll find yourself in Kandy. Home to one of the most religious sites in Sri Lanka, the Temple of the Tooth, and the gorgeous Royal Botanical Gardens, there’s plenty of culture, history and food to indulge in here. This evening, it’s worth trying to time your visit to the temple to coincide with the nightly Puja festival. For your slice of luxury, we’d recommend staying at Stone House or Elephant Stables. Both are great options, just a short 15-minute drive from the city centre. 

This morning, your guide will pick you up and drive you to the train station. They’ll help you find your seat and make sure your bags get to your next stop, all whilst you soak up the magic. The journey through the rolling hills takes around two hours, with plenty of chances to buy local delicacies from sellers who walk the aisles between stops. You won’t want it to end. Once it does, though, the accommodation for your two-night stay in the tea country is beyond exceptional. 

Ceylon Tea Trails in Hatton is outstanding. There’s simply no other word that will do. A collection of four effortlessly elegant plantation bungalows nestled in the countryside, they’re all about luxury and old-world charm. The service you’ll experience here is impeccable, with your bungalow coming with its very own chef, butler and manager. If you can tear yourself away from the extravagance, they even offer a guided visit to a local tea factory with their in-house specialist, amongst other brilliant excursions.  

Today, the journey is an experience in itself. You’ll board an incredibly scenic domestic flight with Cinnamon Air from nearby Castlereigh to Hambantota on the south coast. From there, you’ll be picked up and driven to Sri Lanka’s most famous national park, Yala, where you'll check into Uga Chena Huts. This is a truly unique property overlooking the beach, the ocean, and the jungle. Your ‘hut’ will in fact be a seriously lavish detached, private bungalow with your very own private garden and 5m plunge pool. With food so delicious you’ll want seconds (we speak with experience), and some of the best safari guides in Sri Lanka ready to whisk you off on a jeep adventure through the wilderness, we know you’ll love your time here. 

Today, after your delicious breakfast, you’ll enjoy a full day jeep safari, picked up from the hotel’s very own beach. The guides are so charismatic, so knowledgeable, and seem to have eyes in the back of their heads, so, with a bit of luck, you might just spot elephants, sloth bear, crocodiles, sambar deer, plenty of exotic birdlife, and maybe even an elusive leopard. 

Your 3.5-hour drive today will pass pretty secluded bays, small villages and maybe even the traditional stilt fishermen. When you get to the coast, you’ll find yourself in a whole world of relaxation, pampering and coastal luxury at Cape Weligama. This stunning beach property will be your home for the next four nights and is the perfect place to unwind, laze in the sunshine, get your fill of delicious Sri Lankan food and sip on many a cocktail. There’s plenty of exploring to be done in the local area too, so just chat to us if you'd like some excursions planned. 

You’ll be picked up this morning and driven 3 hours up the coast to the airport for your flight home. We hope you’ll be travelling home with the most wonderful memories from your relaxing and lavish adventure through the highlights of Sri Lanka. It’s a seriously special place, and if you didn’t know it before, you will now.