Sri Lanka Holiday Destination - Shearwater Travel

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 in Sri Lanka

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.

Key Facts about Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Photo Gallery

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From £3397

per person

Sri Lanka Wildlife Holiday

Leopard and elephant are Sri Lanka’s two signature species, and you’ll have ample opportunity to spot both on this two-week tour of the island, which has been specifically designed with wildlife and nature lovers in mind. The three most famous national parks – Yala, Udawalawe and Sinharaja –feature as prominently as you’d expect, along with a stay in the pretty coastal resort of Mirissa, from where whale watching cruises depart in search of blue and sperm whales. Throw in a spot of R&R on the beach at Galle, and a final day shopping and sightseeing in the capital, Colombo, and you have a recipe for a well rounded holiday with plenty of exotic animals and birds to admire.

From £4995

Per person

Grand 22 day tour of sri lanka

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.

From £2559

Per villa per week

Sri Lanka villa holiday

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. Most villas come with a chef service, where you just pay for the ingredients.

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. Always check FCDO advice on visiting Sri Lanka

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.

From our Journal

Bulletin – Sri Lanka plus Travel Red List Update

Posted by Nicola Boyce

For the first time in long while it is now simpler to list the countries where UK travellers cannot go than to list where the UK government allows them to travel. The Travel Red List has been reduced to just seven … Read More

10/27/2021 Featured Post

Sri Lanka