Sri Lanka

The teardrop of India, where everything fits in one extraordinary island

Sri Lanka is the country that has everything in miniature: ancient temples, wild elephants, tea plantations, tropical beaches and one of Asia's tastiest cuisines. All at manageable distances.

Sri Lanka is one of those secrets that is increasingly less so. An island the size of Ireland concentrating astonishing diversity: eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, national parks where elephants roam free, tea-covered mountains, beaches rivalling the Maldives, and a history stretching back 2,500 years. The Cultural Triangle in the centre-north holds ruins of ancient Sinhalese capitals: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya fortress rising from the jungle. The Hill Country mountains are another world: tea plantations as far as the eye can see, colonial towns like Nuwara Eliya, the world's most beautiful scenic train. And the south offers beaches, surfing, whale watching and Yala and Udawalawe parks. What makes Sri Lanka special is its human scale. You can breakfast watching elephants, lunch at a tea plantation and dine facing the Indian Ocean. Everything is close, everything accessible, and Sinhalese warmth makes you feel welcome at every stop.

Sigiriya and Cultural Triangle

UNESCO · Lion Rock

Sigiriya and Cultural Triangle

Sigiriya fortress emerging from jungle, Dambulla cave temples, Polonnaruwa ruins. Sri Lanka's historical heart.

Kandy

Cultural capital · Temple of the Tooth

Kandy

Last capital of the Sinhalese kingdom. Temple of the Tooth of Buddha, the lake, botanical gardens, traditional dances. Gateway to tea mountains.

Hill Country

Tea plantations · Scenic train

Hill Country

Tea-covered mountains, the blue train winding through valleys, Ella with waterfalls and viewpoints, Nuwara Eliya with British colonial air.

Yala National Park

Safari · Leopards

Yala National Park

World's highest leopard density. Elephants, crocodiles, birds. Asian-style safari in landscapes mixing jungle, lakes and ocean.

South Coast

Galle · Beaches · Whales

South Coast

Colonial Galle Fort (UNESCO), Unawatuna, Mirissa and Tangalle beaches, blue whale watching. The tropical, relaxed south.

Udawalawe

Elephants · Less touristy

Udawalawe

Asia's best place to see wild elephants in their habitat. Herds of up to 100 individuals. More authentic and less crowded safari than Yala.

The rock that rises from the jungle

Sigiriya is a 5th-century fortress built atop a 200-metre rock dominating the jungle. The frescoes of celestial maidens, water gardens and lion paws giving it its name make it one of Asia's wonders.

Experiences

Sri Lanka offers experiences combining ancient history, wild nature and tropical beaches. All at short distances and with Sinhalese warmth.

Sunrise at Sigiriya

Climbing 1,200 steps before sunrise to see the sun rise over endless jungle. The mad king's fortress, alone, before the crowds.

Blue train through mountains

The Kandy to Ella journey is one of the world's most beautiful: tea plantations, colonial bridges, waterfalls, mountain villages. 7 hours that fly by.

Udawalawe safari

Seeing herds of wild elephants in their natural habitat. Sometimes 50, sometimes 100. Without Yala's crowds. Asia's best place for elephants.

Blue whales in Mirissa

From January to April, blue whales pass the south coast. Seeing the largest animal ever to exist in the Indian Ocean.

The land of tea

The Hill Country tea plantations are a green sea stretching to the horizon. Ceylon tea, famous worldwide, is still hand-picked as it was 150 years ago.

We work with Sri Lanka's finest hotels: from Geoffrey Bawa design properties to colonial bungalows in tea plantations and safari tented camps.

Amangalla

Galle Fort

Ceylon Tea Trails

Hill Country

Wild Coast Tented Lodge

Yala

Heritance Kandalama

Sigiriya (Geoffrey Bawa)

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