Depart your home country for your flight to Sri Lanka.
Most suited for
Couples, Friends
Ideal time to visit
December - March
When it comes to ‘foodie destinations’, Sri Lanka flies relatively under the radar – yet it has a fantastic culinary scene.
We’ve designed this trip to sample its spices and rich flavours – most of which you’d never taste at home – and trace the island’s multicultural history through its delicious dishes… You’ll also have the chance to learn from great chefs, see the country’s ancient sites and stay in high-end hotels along the way.
While this suggested itinerary has been carefully created to include Sri Lanka’s gastronomic highlights, we can work our magic to make it exactly to your tastes (pun intended).
A Foodie Journey Through 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
Day 2
Negombo
Arrive in Sri Lanka and settle into your first hotel, a stone’s throw from the airport, so you can relax after the flight. This hotel sits in a coconut estate, making it the perfect place to learn about the skill of Toddy Tapping.
Days 3 - 5
Cultural Triangle
You’ll travel north to The Cultural Triangle – stopping en route to explore Dambulla. Here, you’ll visit the famous caves before veering off the beaten track for a local farm experience. In the afternoon, it’s on to your luxury hotel – Ulagalla – which has a real sense of place (surrounded by a lush forest and working paddy fields). At the rice-field pavilion, the hotel cooks will create a traditional Kamatha dinner for you – up to 15 delicious dishes served on a Kamatha leaf – full of fresh produce from the organic gardens.
At Ulagalla, you’re perfectly placed to explore the wonderful sites of Sigiriya, Pollonaruwa and Anuradapura nearby. We also recommend having a Hela Bojun Hala lunch while you’re staying in this region – put simply, this is a food stall but there’s a lovely story behind it. It’s an impactful initiative subsidised by the Ministry of Agriculture that empowers rural women through culinary entrepreneurship. The Hala (hall) is a dedicated space for these women to prepare and vend Sri Lankan dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, which in turn helps preserve the island’s culinary heritage.
Days 6-7
Kandy
Next, you’ll head south to Kandy. Here, you’ll go on a guided walk through the city, which is not only an opportunity to learn about its history and see the sights but also to experience its food culture. From fresh fruits in the market to tempting roadside snacks and baked goods, it covers a range of treats to tuck into.
Days 7 - 9
The Hill Country
All aboard for the journey into the Hill Country by train! The scenery you’ll pass along the way is just spectacular. You’ll get off in Haputale, where your driver will meet you and take you to your hotel – a lovingly restored planter’s bungalow with staggering scenic views and an inviting pool. Thotalagala makes for an excellent base for walking along The Pekoe trail (routes 12,13 and 14 are all nearby).
Hike along Trail 13, which takes you from St Catherine’s viewpoint down through villages, forests and tea gardens towards Haputale, where you can stop for lunch at the humble home of an estate worker – an excellent opportunity to experience the food introduced to Sri Lanka from South India via the Tamil workers (who were brought in to work in the tea plantations).
Days 10 - 12
Tangalle
Today, it’s on to the coast. En route, you’ll visit the beautiful AMBA estate to learn about the history, mystery and magic of Sri Lankan tea. The passionate tea experts here will shed light on the farming and production process before setting up a tasting of some of their finest teas for you.
Later in the day, you’ll check into your beachfront hotel.
Here, you’ll have time to relax and enjoy the beach. You’ll find many excellent places to eat in this region, ranging from simple shacks serving fresh lobster to buzzy upmarket restaurants. We will make a reservation for you at Smoke & Bitters – voted one of Asia’s top restaurants – where you’ll sip spice-infused cocktails and dine on delicious wood-fired dishes: a real highlight.
Days 13-14
Malabar Hill
Nip up the coast closer to Galle and check into your hotel in the hills. Spend your time relaxing and enjoying the wonderful view, or go on a guided walk of the fort with a local expert. Enjoy a cookery class, as well as an arrack tasting class at Ropewalk at the Galle Fort Hotel if you fancy it. The Fort Printers is a great spot for dinner, and we highly recommend some of the roti stalls by the Lighthouse. Also, we’ll arrange for you to have an excellent Biryani lunch while in Galle, as it was traditionally a Muslim area.
Days 15 - 16
Colombo
The last day or so of your holiday will be spent in the capital, Colombo – where you’ll stay in a lovely boutique hotel. Take a Landrover tour through the city to discover a blend of popular and hidden gems, ending up in Hulftsdorp – an area known for its fantastic street food scene.
For your final dinner, we’ll reserve a table at the iconic Gallery Cafe for you. This restaurant was once the office of renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, and the adjoining boutique Paradise Road is a great place to pick up some last-minute, quality wares to bring home. A trip to the Dutch Burgher Union for Lampreis is also a must while you’re here.
Day 17
Fly Home
Your driver will transfer you to Colombo airport for your flight back home.
Very highly regarded in Sri Lanka
Two-week tour through relatively undiscovered Sri Lanka staying in six bespoke locations from eco lodges to homestays. ETG were attentive to our needs, imaginative and they have a wonderful ethos/brand that we could see whilst we were travelling.
Nigel
13 March 2025Excellent
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.
“The candle-lit Kamatha dinner overlooking Ulagalla’s paddy fields is simply incredible. You’ll have an authentic taste of Sri Lanka’s culinary heritage in a truly spectacular setting.”
Holly
Sri Lanka Travel 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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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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Kandy and around, Sri Lanka,
Ellerton
Lovely property perched atop a hill on the outskirts of Kandy in the lower central hills.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Families
Gallery
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The Deep South, Sri Lanka
Buckingham Place
Stylish, fun, contemporary villas with a great atmosphere and a sublime location overlooking Rekawa’s lagoon and beaches
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Friends
Gallery
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Colombo, Negombo & around, Sri Lanka
Uga Riva
A beautifully restored manor house dating back 180 years and secluded within 5-acres of coconut palm estate.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Families
Friends
Gallery
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Cultural Triangle, Sri Lanka
Ulagalla Resort
Contemporary style amid a huge forest landscape – Ulagalla is one of the few truly boutique hotels in the ‘Cultural Triangle’
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Families
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The South Coast, Sri Lanka
Malabar Hill
An emerald escape. Perched on high, with enviable views over jungle-clad hills to Weligama Bay. Serene, stylish, sophisticated.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Family
Couples
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
Immersive experiences sit at the heart of what we do. Each one is specially designed to confound preconceptions and create moments that are magical and memorable.
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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.
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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.
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Ella, Sri Lanka
The Pekoe Trail
The Pekoe Trail is a 300km network of walking routes designed to open up Sri Lanka’s hill country to responsible travellers. Spanning seven valleys and weaving through remote communities, the trail champions sustainable tourism, cultural preservation and local livelihoods.
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Galle, Sri Lanka
Lunuganga & Brief Garden
Set beside tranquil Dedduwa Lake in Bentota, Lunuganga was once a colonial-era plantation. Geoffrey Bawa transformed it into a 15-acre garden estate that fuses tropical beauty with subtle modernist design—reflecting his signature “tropical modernism” philosophy. Pathways wind through symmetrical lawns, dense foliage and carefully framed vistas. Sculptures and hidden pavilions surprise at every turn.
Gallery
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Hill Country, Sri Lanka
Lunch at a Social Enterprise Restaurant
As part of our “One Meal At A Time” initiative, we’ve partnered with social enterprise restaurants across Asia to bring travellers a deeper connection to their destination. In Sri Lanka’s hill country, near Bandarawela, we support a hospitality school that trains marginalised young people in cooking, service and life skills.
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Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Learn to Surf
Set on Sri Lanka’s sunny east coast, Arugam Bay has earned a global reputation among surfers for its smooth breaks and beautiful setting. It’s ideal for beginners thanks to consistent waves, warm waters, and fewer crowds than more famous surf destinations.
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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.
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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.
