Depart your home country for your flight to Sri Lanka.
Most suited for
Couples, Families
Ideal time to visit
December - September
Explore the incredibly diverse island of Sri Lanka, taking an in-depth look at its history and culture. We chose boutique hotels which make the most of each place you visit.
Venture north to the tip of the country to Jaffna, an area often overlooked by tourists and home to a compelling history and culture. With a longer-than-usual stay in the Cultural Triangle in two different areas, you’ll get to experience even more fascinating ancient sites, temples and rural life. You’ll get under the surface of Sri Lanka taking in its scenic landscapes as you traverse from north to south enjoying some of our best signature experiences.
The History & Culture of Sri Lanka
As with all our holidays, this itinerary is just a starting point. We will create a bespoke package which will be completely unique for you.
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Day 1
Your adventure begins
Days 2 - 3
Colombo
On arrival at Colombo airport, meet your chauffeur-guide. You will transfer to your boutique hotel in the city center, where you will be for a two-night stay. Spend the remainder of your first day relaxing before embarking on a walking and tuk-tuk tour the following morning as your guide reveals the heart of the city to you.
Days 4 - 6
Jaffna
You’ll transfer to Colombo airport, where you’ll board a short domestic flight up to Jaffna on the northern tip of the island. The culture and cuisine are quite different from other parts of Sri Lanka. Your three-night stay here begins with a free afternoon to spend at leisure, exploring your surroundings. The following day, you’ll travel with your local guide through the Jaffna peninsula, past captivating landscapes sprinkled with desert dunes, buried churches, and Hindu temples before heading into the town to explore the area’s beautiful mix of cultures. Spend another day exploring one of the most off-beat and bewitching regions in the country – the string of mostly uninhabited islands off the peninsula.
Days 7 - 11
Cultural Triangle
Across five days, you’ll get to explore the Cultural Triangle in-depth, staying in two different locations to cover more ground and by visiting an array of fascinating historic sites and rural villages—journey by train into the heart of Anuradhapura. There is a full day here at the temple complex of Mihintale, an important religious site. Hidden in the jungle-clad hills is a selection of beautiful cave monasteries you will explore before visiting Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of the Sinhalese culture.
Transfer about an hour and a half further south into the heart of the Cultural Triangle for a further three nights. Here you will explore the backroads of Polonnaruwa on a cycling tour, beat the crowds with an early climb up the towering Sigiriya rock fortress, and head out into the surrounding countryside to get an insight into how the locals live and farm
Days 12 - 13
Kandy
Travel with your chauffeur-guide to Sri Lanka’s second city, Kandy, stopping at the World Heritage site of Dambulla with its 2,200-year-old cave temples. During your two-night stay here, visit one of the world’s most important Buddhist shrines, the sacred Temple of the Tooth. Discover the contrasts of the city on our signature excursion, from visiting the Botanical Gardens to a charming heritage home to admire traditional Sinhalese artwork.
Days 14 - 15
Haputale
Jump aboard Sri Lanka’s most iconic train ride and wind through the spectacular tea clad hills towards Haputale. On arrival, your driver will meet you with the car and your luggage to complete the journey by road. Check in to your hideaway accommodation and enjoy the lovely pool and beautiful views. While here you’ll have time to appreciate the scenery with walks in the hills and to local waterfalls.
Days 16 - 18
Galle
Your chauffeur-guide will transport you by road to the Galle Coast, where you’ll spend the last three nights of your holiday relaxing in a lovely boutique hotel in the fort itself. Treat your senses to a hands on cooking class using fresh vegetables and spices with clay pots and a fire stove as you learn the local way to prepare lunch. Spend the rest of your time relaxing on the nearby beaches and a walking tour with your local guide around the old Galle Fort.
Day 19
Fly home
Your driver will drop you off at Colombo airport to depart for your flight back home.
We have just returned from a two-week trip to Sri Lanka
Best family holiday ever. A mixture of beach, temples, wildlife, quiet and fun. [ETG] understands us and we won't be using anyone else for our holidays to Asia.
The Reynolds-Maclean Family
Excellent
850 Reviews
850 Reviews
What’s included:
With ETG, what’s included goes well beyond the basics. From the moment your trip begins to your final farewell, the essentials are already taken care of, leaving you free to immerse, explore and enjoy without the hassle of hidden extras.
Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:
All flights (unless you’ve booked your own!)
Expert guides and drivers
All accommodation
Many meals and snacks
Immersive experiences throughout
All regional transfers
Tips
24/7 In-Country support
Personal travel consultant throughout
Pricing:
As every holiday is bespoke, prices vary depending on destination, flights, hotel choices, inclusions and travel dates. We aim to include as much as possible upfront, so you know exactly where you are. As an approximate guide:
Bespoke Holidays £4,500 - £8,500pp
Bespoke Luxury Holidays £8,500 - £14,500pp
Bespoke Family Holidays from £4,000 - £7,500pp
Meet Our Sri Lanka Experts
Holly is a true Sri Lanka enthusiast, with a talent for designing holidays that blend the must-see highlights with the hidden corners of the country. Whether it’s a family-friendly wildlife encounter, a romantic retreat in the tea hills, or an off-the-beaten-track adventure, Holly loves curating trips that surprise and delight ETG travellers.
“Visiting Jaffna offers a completely different side of Sri Lanka, one that feels off-the-beaten-track yet rich with history, resilience, and culture.”
Holly
Sri Lanka Specialist
Explore Our Hotels & Villas
Wherever you go, and whatever you do, at the end of every day you can always be sure of a comfortable rest. Every location on our list of hotels is handpicked, and in its own way, shares the history, the hospitality, and the soul of Sri Lanka. Below are some examples of the different hotels we use.
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Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka
The Thinnai
Nestled within unspoilt surroundings just 2 km from Jaffna town, suites here are spacious and comfortable.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Solos
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Kandy and around, Sri Lanka
Villa Rosa
A villa style, boutique hotel; offering personal comforts, great food and the finest views of any hotel in Kandy
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Families
Friends
Gallery
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Cultural Triangle, Sri Lanka
The Sanctuary at Tissawewa
A simple and charming colonial property set amongst lush gardens in the heart of Anuradhapura Old City.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Families
Friends
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Colombo, Negombo & around, Sri Lanka
Maniumpathy
Old world charm and modern comforts in a restored heritage home in Colombo, boasting a relaxing swimming pool.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Solos
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Galle, Sri Lanka
The Fort Printers
A lovely villa hotel in the centre of the glorious old Dutch Fort in Galle: hired by the room or as a private residence
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Families
Friends
Gallery
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Cultural Triangle, Sri Lanka
Kumbukgaha Villa
A collection of comfortable villas surrounded by wilderness and a veranda to relax on at the end of a long day.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Solos
Couples
Friends
Gallery
The ETG Guarantee
We guarantee you an experience no one else has ever had.
The travel magic you’ll remember won’t be found on a well-trodden – or over-Instagrammed – itinerary. It will be the surprises, discoveries and secrets that you’ll uncover along the way with us.
Do you ever feel like people aren’t listening to you?
We get it. And we will – that’s a promise. Your holiday starts with with a proper, no-pressure call to understand what you want, what you don’t want, and what matters to you.. From there, we create a completely unique adventure, inspired by our conversation together.
And because of our long-standing relationships with trusted partners across Asia, you’ll have access to experiences you can’t find on Google. The kind of special experiences that are literally impossible to find on your own.
Experiences of Sri Lanka
Crafting bespoke packages is the heart of what we do. Each holiday is specially designed to confound preconceptions and share magical, memorable, and truly exceptional experiences.
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Cultural Triangle, Sigirya
Sigiriya and Village Farm Experience
Travel by tuk tuk and tractor as you explore a few local farms. Learn firsthand about the life and work of the villagers, who grow a variety of crops including sweet potato, manioc and finger millet. Meet the farmers and their families, and try your hand at some of the agricultural techniques they use each day.
Finally, sit down to a home-cooked lunch made entirely from ingredients grown on the land. As this experience sits well off the beaten tourist trail, you’ll likely attract as much curiosity from the locals as you feel yourself – expect a warm welcome and a truly authentic taste of rural life.
Gallery
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Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Pidurangala Rock
Located just north of Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Pidurangala Rock is a site of spiritual and historical significance in its own right. The small temple at the base is thought to date back to the 6th century AD, and legend suggests King Kassapa used this forested hillside as both a place of worship and a strategic retreat while under threat from his brothers.
Gallery
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Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Pilikuttuwa Cave and Forest Temples
Spread across over 200 acres of countryside, the Pilikuttuwa site is one of Sri Lanka’s largest cave temple complexes. More than 100 natural caves and dripstone shelters dot the landscape, once offering refuge to Buddhist monks seeking solitude during the rainy season. Etched rock murals hint at the devotion of past centuries, while many shrines remain in quiet use by local worshippers today.
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Cultural Triangle, Sri Lanka
Polonnaruwa Cycling Tour
Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka, from the 11th – 13th Century. Unlike in the first capital, Anuradhapura which is mainly composed of Buddhist religious sites, here you’ll find the remains of multi-storey palaces, royal pavilions and bathing ponds complete with changing rooms – all standing testament to the luxurious lifestyle of the royalty – alongside Buddhist and Hindu temples with flawless craftsmanship and artistry.
Half a day cycling through Polonnaruwa will bring the splendours of the city closer to you, transporting you to another time.
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Ella, Sri Lanka
Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
Located just outside Kandy, the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens were once the private grounds of Sri Lankan royalty before becoming one of the most celebrated gardens in the British Empire. Today, they remain the largest botanical gardens in Sri Lanka, covering 60 hectares and bordered by the Mahaweli River on three sides.
Gallery
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Cultural Triangle, Sri Lanka
Kayaking & Elephant Watching in Kalawewa National Park
Set within Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, Kalawewa National Park is centred around a manmade reservoir built in the 5th century by King Dathusena. Now a protected area, this peaceful park remains one of the country’s lesser-known gems, perfect for eco-tourists seeking space and silence.
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Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Jaffna Town Day Tour
Jaffna town is full of atmosphere, shaped by its unique blend of Tamil culture, colonial history and post-war resilience. This day tour takes you to key landmarks, from timeworn temples to restored colonial homes and churches, giving a rounded picture of life in Sri Lanka’s northern capital.
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Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Jaffna Peninsula Day Tour
This full-day guided tour takes you through the far-flung corners of Sri Lanka’s north, starting at Point Pedro, the country’s northernmost tip. From there, head to the shimmering dunes of Manalkadu, a coastal desert whose windswept sand and half-buried buildings give it an almost otherworldly feel.
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Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Islands of Jaffna
A day trip exploring the islands off Jaffna’s northern tip reveals a unique side of Sri Lanka, far from the usual tourist trail. Driving across the straight, narrow causeways, you’ll pass flat, open landscapes and salty lagoons that lend the region an almost otherworldly feel.
Important FAQs about Sri Lanka
At Experience Travel Group, we’ve been curating immersive Sri Lanka holidays since 2006 long before the island became a mainstream destination. Our deep-rooted local knowledge, trusted partnerships, and passion for meaningful travel make us the ideal choice for discovering Sri Lanka beyond the ordinary.
Over nearly two decades, we’ve developed unique experiences that blend cultural depth, comfort, and flexibility. Whether it’s staying in boutique hotels hidden in tea country, meeting local artisans, or exploring UNESCO heritage sites with expert guides, we design every journey to reveal the real heart of Sri Lanka, not just the tourist highlights.
With our thoughtful planning and in-country support, you’ll have peace of mind while enjoying a tailored adventure that suits your interests and travel style. We don’t do off-the-shelf holidays — we create personalised journeys that capture what’s truly special about Sri Lanka.
Let us show you the Sri Lanka we know and love.
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination, but the best time depends on where you’re going. One of the best times to visit is between December and March. The summer month and September is also a great all-round option, with good weather and fewer crowds.
Every ETG holiday to Sri Lanka is carefully designed to be seamless, immersive, and stress-free. Your journey typically includes international flights (if requested), chauffeur guide throughout and accommodation in hand-picked, characterful hotels.
You’ll enjoy incredible, immersive experiences unique to you, all planned by dedicated Sri Lanka specialists, with the added reassurance of 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
The Curious Traveller’s Guide to Sri Lanka
Wondering when to visit Sri Lanka? Our Curious Traveller’s Guide to Sri Lanka will give you a more detailed breakdown of the best time of year to book a holiday, as well as tips on the best beaches, unmissable sites, and much more.
