Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has to be one of our favourite countries. It is a year round destination – as long as you know where to go and when – and we do! Great for everyone – for families, culture vultures, adventurers, wildlife enthusiasts and beach lovers. We can put together a fabulous trip for you. Whether it’s a full country tour you want or a week seeing the sights followed by relaxing on a beach. Highlights of Sri Lanka include:

Multiple national parks where you can go on safari searching for elephants, leopards, sloth bears and birdlife. Perhaps overnight glamping.
Amazing marine life including whales and dolphins.
Cycling around the atmospheric ancient former capital Anuradhapoura visiting its temples and stoupas.
An early morning climb of Sigiriya Rock to visit the palace fortress.
Strolling the streets of the Dutch-Portuguese influenced town of Galle.
Relaxing on the beaches of south east Sri Lanka.
The train journey from Nuwara Elya to Ella – one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world.
The cave temples of Dambulla.

Walking

The most accessible walking in Sri Lanka can be found in the interior hill country around Kandy, Nurawa Elya and Ella. The Knuckles range (so called because the series of high edges look like fists) is perfect for both half day and day walks. You will see bat caves, waterfalls and wild swimming spots. A guide is essential. Adam’s Peak has been a pilgrimage for Sri Lankans for over a thousand years. Best seen at sunrise you will have amazing views (depending on the weather). During the pilgrimage season from December to May the way is well lit. From May to October the views from the peak will be obscured by the weather. There are likewise beautiful views from the top of Ella Rock but you will need a guide to ensure you don’t get lost. There are excellent trails in Horton Plains in the shadow of Sri Lanka’s third highest mountain. The national park is an undulating plateau which ends suddenly at ‘World’s End’, a plunging escargot where on a good day you will have amazing views. Hotels will have local walking maps. There are many more places for walking depending on your appetite.

Discover Sri Lanka

from £2850 per person

Discover the mountains, jungles, beaches and bustling markets of Sri Lanka with an itinerary that takes you to the country’s heart. Walk beneath ancient ruins, through markets thick with the smells and tastes of local street food, and gaze at the spiritual caves of Dambulla. Experience the sights and sounds of Colombo with a guide who knows all the local secrets, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth and pedal through the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Then relax on the unmatched beaches of Sri Lanka’s southern coastline. The swan-song of your journey of mystery, history and adventure.

Grand 21-day private tour of Sri Lanka

from £4695 per person

If you have time for a three week holiday to Sri Lanka and wish to see as much of the island as possible with a break on the beach at the end, this varied itinerary will serve as a useful template. It includes our current favourite resorts, wildlife parks, highland hideaways and off-track gems, as well as the pick of the sights in the Cultural Triangle, stitched together into a seamless trip of 21 days. You’ll get to spend time exploring the colonial backstreets of Galle and Colombo, as well as some far-flung coral islets off the Jaffna Peninsula and little explored corners of the Knuckles Range, with a spell at a gorgeous boutique hotel slap on a beach backed by coconut palms before you head for home. Throughout the trip the choice of hotels is excellent, offering superlative comfort in prime locations, and at un-beatable prices. In short, this is our benchmark tour of Sri Lanka – a ‘best-of-everything’ trip gathering together the pick of experiences and destinations across Sri Lanka.

Stay in a staffed beach villa

from £300 per villa per night

Sri Lanka abounds with lovely hotels but if you want privacy and independence then renting a staffed villa with pool, often on or close to a beach is a lovely way to end a tour of Sri Lanka or even as a holiday in itself. From a former ambassador's house tucked into the walls of Galle's historic 17th century fortress to a magnificent full service full board 15-bedroom estate, Sri Lanka will have the perfect villa for you.

Will I need a visa?

Yes you will need a visa and six months left on your passport on your date of entry. Visas can be applied for online before you travel.

Will I need any jabs or injections?

You should ensure all your usual immunisations are up to date and you may also want to consider other vaccinations such as Hepatitis B and Typhoid depending on where exactly you are travelling to.

Please visit here to find full advice on staying healthy in Sri Lanka.

When is the best time to travel to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a year round destination but it has two distinct monsoon seasons which affect the south and west and the north and east in different ways. The southwest coast is best between December and April, before their monsoon season starts, while the east coast and the north is less humid between May and September, when their monsoon season is over. The hill country is nice and cool all year round but should be avoided in October and November when rainfall is unpredictable.

What is accommodation like?

Sri Lanka has everything from luxury beach hotels, family homestays, and glamping to character hotels and private villas with or without staff.

Ideas for a trip to Sri Lanka