Classic Sri Lanka Circuit

Arrive into Colombo international airport and meet your private guide and driver. Make your way to your first hotel to relax and get prepared for your adventure. You may wish to stay in the city itself or head a little out of town to stay in one of our favourite properties; both situated on peaceful, rural estates.

Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were the three great Sinhalese capitals, and together they form an area known as the Cultural Triangle. The heart of Sri Lanka’s ancient civilisation, this historic region is crammed full of temples and monuments and its ruined cities are fascinating places to explore.

A world of ancient kings, ornate temples, lush gardens and vibrant traditions, Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and its cultural capital. Situated in the midst of hills and surrounded by paddy fields and tea plantations, the town is home to the of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), the country’s most important religious shrine.

Browse the bustling market places with bright, fresh produce, local delicacies and fragrant spices, or spend the day exploring the opulent temples and learning about the city’s rich history. The dense downtown area is surrounded by tropical rainforest, so look out for monkeys swinging overhead.

Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) is the world’s fourth largest producer of tea, which is more than evident on the undulating hills and green plantations of the Tea Country. You’ll see the hills dotted with ‘pickers’ quickly but meticulously harvesting leaves by hand, baskets slung across their backs. Skilful workers deftly pluck the most flavoursome and aromatic parts of the bushes – the topmost leaves and buds – which are then sent to nearby factories to be dried and processed.

The first tea plantations were established in Kandy in the 1860s and now most of the scenic central region’s elevated slopes are covered in contoured rows of painstakingly maintained plants.

Occupying the south-eastern corner of the island, the vast Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s second largest national park. The park itself is divided into five blocks, two of which, Ruhuna and Kumana, can be explored on guided game drives, and stretches from the sea inland, encompassing some 979 square kilometres (378 square miles) of forest, wetlands and savannah. This varied landscape provides a vital home for hundreds of Sri Lankan elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and rare wild water buffalos, as well over 200 bird species.

Incredibly, you can find the highest concentration of leopards in the world at Yala. Their secretive nature means spotting Sri Lanka’s top predator is still a challenge, but accompanied by a skilled guide and a little luck, there are a few better places to find these enigmatic cats.

Enjoy your days relaxing on the laid back sands of Tangalle and exploring the verdant landscape of the interior. A meandering stretch of rugged cliffs and beautiful sandy bays on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, all protected by a vast enclosing reef, is where you’ll find a collection of the island’s best beaches and a handful of blissful resorts.

The waters are a wonderful place for surfing, diving, whale watching or simply lounging. If you’re lucky you may find yourself sharing the sands with Green, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, the area being a vitally important nesting site.

Spend your days soaking up the unique atmosphere of Galle, a stunning town at the southern edge of Sri Lanka with a fascinating history that’s evident at every turn through its eclectic assemblage of architecture.

The forts walls, and everything inside them, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautiful Dutch fusion architecture, a commanding Victorian lighthouse, grand churches and mosques, all in a sultry tropical setting.