Safari, Surf and Scenery

14 days

Indicative cost incl. flights:

A typical 4* holiday costs from

£3,870 per person

(Based on a family of 4 people travelling in August 2025. Low season can be a cheaper, and peak season or 5* hotels can be substantially more expensive.)

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Kandy

Gal Oya National Park

Arugam Bay

Ella & Haputale

Nuwara Eliya

Colombo

Day 1

Overnight flight to Sri Lanka.

Day 2

Arrive into Colombo Airport where you will be met by your private chauffeur guide and vehicle. You will be driven 3 hours inland to Kandy, Sri Lanka's second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 3

Transfer 3.5 hours east today to Gal Oya National Park. Upon arrival you will have a unique boat safari which offers the opportunity to see elephant, crocodile, deer and all kinds of exotic bird life.

Day 4

Today you have a jungle walk with the Chief of the local indigenous Veddha tribe! The chief will explain the tribe’s use of medicinal plants, their ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings.

Day 5

Transfer 2.5 hours to Arugam Bay on the east coast today. Remainder of the day is at leisure to settle into your new beach surroundings.

Day 6

Morning at leisure. This afternoon enjoy a jeep safari in Kumana National Park, a journey of approx. 1.5 hours each way. Apart from being abound with bird life, Kumana is also home to some of the animals found in the adjacent Yala National Park such as elephant, crocodile, deer, wild boar and leopard (although rare).

Day 7

Day at leisure. Relax by the pool/beach or if you are feeling more active perhaps book some surfing lessons with a local instructor.

Day 8

Another day at leisure to surf or relax. If you want to see more of the local area you can take a tranquil boat safari on Pottuvil Lagoon whose waters are inhabited by a bewildering array of birds.

Day 9

Transfer around 3 hours to Ella in the Tea Country today. On arrival you are at leisure to relax and take in the beautiful scenery.

Day 10

Today you will 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 educating you on the entire tea manufacturing process used in most parts of Sri Lanka.

Day 11

Transfer to Nuwara Eliya today via car or train. Journey time is 2-3 hours depending on how you travel, and the scenery is beautiful. You'll have the remainder of the day at leisure to explore the town.

Day 12

This morning enjoy a tour of Nuwara Eliya, often referred to as 'Little England' due to its scenery and cooler climate. You'll see glorious landscapes, tea planters' bungalows, the racecourse, Victoria Park and Lake Gregory. Later enjoy 'High Tea' Sri Lanka style on the manicured lawn of the famous Grand Hotel.

Day 13

After breakfast you'll transfer 5 hours to Colombo. For your final evening we recommend heading down to the Galle Face Green for some street food next to the sea or if seafood is your thing venture to Mount Lavinia to have freshly prepared fish and shellfish watching the sunset!

Day 14

Today you will be taken to the airport for your flight home after a wonderful adventure in Sri Lanka!

Where you'll go
What you'll do
Where you'll stay

Similar Holidays

Everything we do is tailor-made; our itineraries are just suggestions to give you an idea of what is possible. Please contact us so we can tailor the perfect holiday exclusively for you.

This trip is designed to take in three wonderful elements that Sri Lanka has to offer – wildlife, beach time/surfing 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!

The trip commences 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. This offers a far more special and intimate experience compared to the other, larger National Parks like Yala and Udawalawe (although wildlife viewings may be less frequent, the experience is just as beautiful and much more unique!). You then head to Arugam Bay which has a chilled, laid-back beach vibe and is renowned for having one of best spots for surfing in Asia between May-Sept. You have a good few days here to enjoy some surfing or to simply relax on the beach. Afterwards the trip takes you 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 bit to eat at the Old Dutch Hospital.

Please note that Gal Oya and Arugam Bay have limited accommodation options compared to other parts of Sri Lanka so we do recommend you book your tailor-made trip as much 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 chilled few days on the beach or by the pool.

1 night Kandy- 2 nights Gal Oya National Park – 4 nights Arugam Bay Beach – 2 nights Ella – 2 nights Nuwara Eliya – 1 night Colombo