Essential Sri Lanka
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

This tour encompasses much of the island - taking in the ancient cities, the hill country and a beach stay. Transport is with your own chauffeur-guide, who will remain with you for the entire tour, leaving you for a few days while you relax on the beach at the end. The hotels are all fantastic, laid back, low key and unpretentious. We tend towards the smaller character hotels as believe Sri Lanka does them best but if there are other places you would like to visit then we would be happy to adapt this to suit.

Highlights include:

• Bumping along in a private jeep in the less explored national park of Uda Walawe
• Trying your hand at cooking in the rural countryside of the cultural triangle
• Walking up little Adam’s peak for the jaw dropping view of Ella Gap
• Relaxing for a few days on the sweeping bay of Unawatuna with lots of local places to eat out. 

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• Meals as described
• 24 hour in-country backup whilst away
• Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here

DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK for Colombo, Sri Lanka. Usually a 12 hour flight if going direct. 

DAY 2 & 3 GAMPAHA

Arriving in Colombo, you will be transferred to your accommodation in rural Gampaha. This lovely boutique hotel provides the perfect place to relax and get into the Sri Lankan pace of life. You will have one full day to explore the coconut estate, take part in bird watching or rent some bikes to explore the countryside and villages.

DAYS 4-7 CULTURAL TRIANGLE

You will venture up to the Cultural Triangle where you will spend three days exploring. Visit the majestic ancient city of Polonnaruwa, cycle through rural villages and visit the UNESCO world heritage site at Sigiriya a towering rock fortress with a fascinating history. A unique farm village experience takes you away from the crowds, where you can meet farmers who call the fields their homes, travelling around by foot, tuk-tuk and tractor. You will also explore Dambulla Cave temple, another stunning world heritage site. Stay at a convenient located hotel - close to all of the sites. 

DAYS 7 & 8 KANDY

Based just outside the city with breath taking views of Kandy, you will explore the cultural capital of Sri Lanka for two days. You will visit the famous Temple of the Tooth, the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and shop in the myriad of stalls that make up the daily market. There is a great selection of restaurants in Kandy and the night market is an interesting place to taste a great range of dishes from the food stalls.

 DAY 9 & 10 TEA COUNTRY

Take the train up through the tea covered hills to the wonderfully scenic town of Ella. Stay in one of Experience Travel Groups favourite hotels, with some of the best views of anywhere in Sri Lanka. Walk in the mountains, visit tea factories, explore the picturesque towns of the hill country and summit little Adam’s peak for spectacular views of Ella gap.

 DAY 11 Uda walawe national park

Journey towards the lesser explored national park of Uda Walawe for your chance of spotting leopards in the wild with an afternoon jeep safari. You will know doubt see plenty of elephants, which are abundant in the park, as well as the toque monkeys, grey langur, spotted deer, wild pig and sambar.  

DAYS 12 - 15 THE GALLE COAST

In the morning, there is a chance to visit the ethical and well run elephant transit camp just by the gates to the park proper before driving down towards the Galle coast and the curving bay of Unawatuna. Usually a 3-4 hour drive. You will say goodbye to your chauffeur guide ready for some relaxation time. One of the mornings you will visit a bustling fish market, then take part in a nearby cooking class and take a walking tour of Galle Fort with a private guide.   

Talk to your travel consultant if you would like to upgrade your accommodation during the beach part of your trip.

DAY 16 FLY HOME

Today you will drive up to the international airport, which usually takes around 3 hours for your on flight back to the UK.