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.
This holiday is designed to take in three wonderful elements that Sri Lanka has to offer – wildlife, beach time and stunning Tea Country scenery. We recommend travelling between March and September when the weather on the east coast beaches is at its best for sunshine and riding the waves!
This trip starts with a one-night stay in Kandy, one of the country’s most significant cultural and religious centres, before heading east to the off-the-beaten-track Gal Oya National Park. Gal Oya offers a far more special and intimate experience compared to the other, larger National Parks like Yala and Uda Walawe (although wildlife viewings may be less frequent, the experience is just as beautiful and much more unique!). Next, you'll head to Arugam Bay with its chilled, laid-back beach vibe, renowned for having one of the best spots for surfing in Asia between May and September. After some time on the coast, you'll head to the Tea Country, where highlights of the next few days will be hiking to Mini Adam’s Peak and the famous Ravana Falls, visiting a tea factory and enjoying a delicious High Tea experience, Sri Lankan style! Spend your final night in the capital city of Colombo, where you can explore the Pettah Market, Galle Face Green and grab a bite to eat at the Old Dutch Hospital.
Gal Oya and Arugam Bay have limited accommodation options compared to other parts of Sri Lanka, so we recommend booking your tailor-made trip as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. The main surfing season in Arugam Bay is May to September, but if you are travelling March to May, the weather will still be nice enough to have a few chilled days on the beach or by the pool.
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 today! Pack your bags, head to the airport and settle in for your overnight flight to Colombo.
When you arrive in Colombo, you’ll be met by your private, smiling chauffeur-guide, who’ll whisk you off inland to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital. After the three-hour drive, the rest of the day is yours to relax or start exploring. Wander around Kandy Lake, visit the local markets, or simply enjoy your first taste of Sri Lankan cuisine at a lakeside restaurant.
This morning, you’ll set straight off on a scenic 3.5-hour drive east to Gal Oya National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s most untouched and wildlife-rich regions. When you arrive, you’ll head straight out onto the water for a truly unique boat safari, where you might just spot elephants swimming between islands, crocodiles basking on the banks, deer grazing alongside the river, and vibrant birdlife flitting overhead. This park is wonderfully off the beaten track. And the serene atmosphere and lack of crowds all add to the unforgettable magic of Sri Lanka’s wild side.
Today, you’re in for a seriously special encounter as you’ll head off on a fascinating jungle walk with the Chief of the Vedda tribe – Sri Lanka’s last indigenous community. Learn about their ancient traditions, their use of medicinal plants, and unique way of life, which has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Here at HA, we believe in the power of travel for good, and that goodness is found in eye-opening experiences and forming connections just like this. The afternoon is yours to relax at your eco-lodge, soaking up the untamed beauty of Gal Oya.
After breakfast, it’s time to leave the wilderness behind and drive 2.5 hours east to Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka’s laid-back surf town. After checking into your beachfront hotel, spend the rest of the day unwinding by the sea.
The morning is yours to surf, swim, or relax. This afternoon, you’ll set off on a jeep safari to Kumana National Park, known for its abundant birdlife and diverse wildlife. Although less famous than Yala National Park, Kumana is home to elephants, crocodiles, wild boar, and even the elusive leopard. (We’ll cross our fingers for you that you might just be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one!)
We’ve included the next two full days at leisure, giving you plenty of time to soak up the beauty of this part of Sri Lanka. If you’re keen to hit the waves, you might like to book some surfing lessons with a local instructor. Or, head out on a boat safari through Pottuvil Lagoon, where you’ll drift past mangroves, elephants, and traditional fishing villages. If you’re a keen birdwatcher, this is a trip for you – the lagoon waters are home to a bewildering array of birds! Otherwise, just kick back and relax in the sunshine.
Today, you’ll leave the coast behind as you head three hours inland to Ella, a stunning hill town surrounded by rolling tea plantations. After checking into your accommodation (there’s a range of really wonderful options in the area!), spend the afternoon soaking up the scenery, perhaps with a drink in hand, watching the mist settle over the hills.
Today is all about incredible views and fresh mountain air as you'll be taken on a tour of Ella and its surrounding hills and waterfalls. Visit the famous Demodara Nine Arch railway bridge, Ravana Ella Falls, Ella Gap, and climb Little Adam's Peak. Afterwards, you will have a tea factory visit for the chance to learn about the tea manufacturing process used in most parts of Sri Lanka.
Today, you’ll travel 2-3 hours to Nuwara Eliya by train or car. We’d recommend opting for the train – the journey is nothing short of spectacular. Passing rolling hills, misty valleys, and seemingly endless tea plantations, with tea pickers dotted throughout the landscape, your eyes will be busy! Once you arrive, enjoy a leisurely afternoon exploring the charming colonial hill town, once a favourite retreat for the British. With its red-bricked post office, racecourse, and cool climate, it’s easy to see why it’s often referred to as ‘Little England’.
After breakfast, you’ll begin the five-hour drive back to Colombo, arriving in the capital for your final night in Sri Lanka. For your final evening, we recommend heading down to the Galle Face Green for some street food by the sea, or if seafood is your thing, venture to Mount Lavinia to dine on freshly prepared fish and shellfish and toast your adventure as the sun goes down.
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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