Holidays to Sri Lanka 

Sri Lanka is a fascinating holiday destination with a rich culture, fabulous food, exotic wildlife, tea estates and thick forests.  Of course it also has wonderful tropical beaches with a thousand miles of coastline! 

tea-plantations-at-sunset-Sri-Pada-peak-in-the-background

History of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has many ancient cities and archaeological UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  These provide a fascinating glimpse into the island’s history, which dates back to the fourth century BC.  The oldest tree in the world the Bo Tree in Anuradhapura was grown from a sapling in the 3rd century BC!

Sri Lanka has been known by many names in the past, including Serendipity, Taprobane and Ceylon.  We often receive requests from clients wanting to visit places connected to their family history.  To assist and with our local contacts, we are able to put bespoke holidays together and help you find your own Sri Lanka history. 

Historic Galle Fort

Galle Fort is a great example of European architecture.  Recently, the walls of the fort protected many of the historic buildings from the force of the Tsunami that struck in December 2004. Within the Fort are some lovely restored houses which now serve as luxury hotels and the original cricket ground.  Certainly Sri Lanka is famous for its love of cricket so contact us to book a group cricket tour or a private itinerary. 

aerial-view-Galle

Cultural triangle 

The sacred cities of Anuradhapura and Sigiriya, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and the Golden Temple of Dambulla together make up Sri Lanka’s famed cultural triangle. This picturesque region situated to the north of Kandy, is an ideal base from which to discover Sri Lanka’s cultural and religious history.  Here you will experience lost cities, ruined palaces, cave temples, striking murals and centuries-old frescoes.   The rock fortress at Sigiriya is a must see.  

Isurumuniya-Viharaya-in-world-heritage-city-of-Anuradhapura

Sigiriya-Lion-Rock-fortress

Kandy & Tea Country

Inland are the lush hills & lakes surrounding Kandy, the last Sinhalese city to fall to the British in the 19th century.  Here you can experience ancient traditions and local culture including the  sacred Temple of the Tooth. 

Kandy-Temple-of-the-Tooth

Take a trip to the one of Asia's most beautiful botanical gardens at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.  Here you will see amazing displays of orchids, palms and other exotic trees & flowers. 

Tea Plantations in Sri Lanka

Kandy is also the natural gateway to Sri Lanka’s tea country.  Set against a dramatic landscape, the quaint towns and villages that dot the highlands around Kandy and central Sri Lanka retain much of their colonial character.    

Sri-Lanka-Tea-Plantations

Throughout 'The Hill Country' which is covered in vibrant tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya you can tour the estates and enjoy walking trails and hiking in the hills. 

Train-from-Nuwara-Eliya-to-Kandy-through-tea-plantations

sunrise-from-Adams-Peak

Wildlife and birdwatching holidays in Sri Lanka

Contact us to join a group tour or plan a private wildlife holiday  We work with specialist bird guides and natural history tour operators in Sri Lanka.  We can create a private tour for you or if you prefer, join you with a specialist group. 

Wildlife reserves and national parks of Sri Lanka

Wildlife reserves are home to a huge number of species including Asian elephants and the secretive Leopard, colourful birdlife and many primates.  For instance the best place to try and see leopard is Yala National Park.  Plus there are rainforests full of bird life and many national parks where herds of wild elephants migrate across the swamps.  One of the best places you can see elephants is Uda Walawe National Park.  Here you will see the successful 'elephant transit centre' where you can see orphans up close who are free to roam in the park. 

Both of these parks have a small population of Sloth Bears, though they are seldom seen.  In addition there are several bird reserves including the wonderful rainforest at Sinharaja.

Sri-Lanka-Blue-Magpie

Marine parks and whale watching in Sri Lanka

Pigeon Island National Park opened in summer of 2011.  This marine park has some of the best coral reefs in the country and great flora and fauna.  Visiting Trincomalee on the East coast is also a good spot for whale watching.  In the far south at Mirissa, you can experience one of the top spots in the world for whale and dolphin sightings from November to March.

The Turtle Conservation Project is active on the south coast at Rekawa beach.   Above all visitors can see hawksbill and leatherback turtles laying their eggs on the beach at night. 

Surfing in Sri Lanka

Mirissa with its open coastline is also a great base for surfing in Sri Lanka.

Surfing in Mirissa

Food of Sri Lanka

The island has a long history of spice trading and no holiday to Sri Lanka is complete without a visit to a Spice Garden!  Cinnamon and cloves play a huge part in the cuisine here.  Above all, spices combine with coconuts, plentiful fruits and seafood to create mouth watering dishes.  Certainly you can learn how to make the food of Sri Lanka with a local cookery class.   Alternatively you can travel into the farms to experience rural cooking methods and explore the street food of Colombo. 

kottu-roti,-hoppers-cake,-chicken-spicy-tikka

Beaches of Sri Lanka

Beaches remain a fabulous draw card for Sri Lanka.  For instance the oldest resorts at Negombo are within easy reach of the capital, Colombo.  These locations are ideal for being close to the airport, but this part of the coast is not recommended for swimming.  Take a visit to the markets there but our advice is to stay overnight at The Wallawwa, a lovely small luxury hotel if you need a place near the airport.

Travel further afield if you would like more peaceful and smaller beach hotels. There are some lovely boutique hotels and 5 star spas around the coast near Galle and Hikkaduwa. From here there are lots of local activities you can enjoy, including watching the traditional 'stilt fisherman' carrying out their ancient craft.

The East Coast

The East coast is just emerging onto the holiday market and the area around Trincomalee is said to have beaches comparable to that of the Maldives, and still untouched.

South Coast Beaches

To the east of Galle, the southern villages are spread along the coast each with their own resort offering an easy-going atmosphere. Sri Lanka's cultural heritage is very much present in the south and there are many reminders of Sinhalese traditions such as temples and Buddha statues. 

south-coast-near-Weligama

Sri Lanka & Maldives holidays

For the ideal mix of culture, wildlife and idyllic beaches, Sri Lanka combines perfectly with The Maldives.   For example, if you would like to experience diving and snorkelling ,The Maldives is perfect with its calm lagoons and reefs.  By contrast, the waters surrounding much of Sri Lanka are more suited to wind surfing and whale watching. 

The Maldives

Honeymoons to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a great honeymoon destination.   First combine some relaxing on the beautiful beaches and after that experience outstanding culture and sightseeing.  Accommodation ranges from traditional colonial hotels to small boutique lodges to suit all budgets. 

Coconut tree hill Mirissa

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