DISCOVER THE BEST OF SRI LANKA
This example itinerary is perfect of those who want to discover the best of Sri Lanka, child free. Whether you’re going as a couple, on your honeymoon or with friends Sri Lanka is an incredible destination that has it all. Below is just a taster, let us tailor make the perfect Sri Lankan itinerary for you. Read on to find out more.
Visit: Negombo - Day 1
Find your Sri Lankan feet in Negombo, a tranquil beachy spot, is the ultimate fly-and-flop beach destination with no fuss whatsoever. In the town itself, an impressive network of Dutch canals wind past palm trees and pastel-coloured Catholic churches, and the picturesque lagoon is an ideal spot for windsurfing, boat riding and cocktail drinking.
A tuk-tuk up to Angurukaramulla, a striking temple with a six-metre high Buddha at its centre, will give you a real taste of Sri Lanka, as will the lip-smacking array of hip restaurants serving everything from fried crab to coconut-fuelled curries. And then there’s the beach. Sweeping north of the town for several miles in a golden, glorious arc, it might not be as pristine as others on the island, but the balmy waters and buttery sands suit us just fine.
STAY: The Wallawwa
The ultimate fly-and-flop location for the travel weary – plus a bit more. The 200-year old country house hotel is set in lush tropical gardens, filled with gorgeous flowers, and with a beautiful pool to laze by, delicious food to eat, and a spa to work on tired muscles.
Visit: Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle - Day 2 to 5
As spectacular, natural landmarks go, the towering rock formation of Sigiriya definitely scores highly. Making it even more mind-boggling is the fortress perched at the apex, the brain-child of King Kasyapa I. The entire structure reaches over 200 metres into the sky, towering over the tangled jungle landscapes below, and will elicit a good few gasps from several kilometres away. Views from the top are utterly breath-taking and can be reached by ascending 1,202 delicate steps, past beautiful wall paintings.
Start your climb at dawn for the dreamiest of views, or if you don’t fancy the head-rush, take to the skies in a hot-air balloon and appreciate its wonder from the clouds.
STAY: Water Garden Sigiriya
Inspired by the 2000-year-old water garden atop Sigiriya Rock, the resort’s villas are set on stilts overlooking curving waterways, which you can explore by boat. Designed by the protégé of Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa, the resort’s interiors are cool and polished. Sip on a cocktail as peacocks colour the landscape and cormorants dive for fish, with views of the eye-catching rock fortress in the distance. The Water Garden may be blissfully off-the-beaten-track but it’s close to Sigiriya’s historic temples and wild reserves.
Explore: Kandy - Day 5 to 7
Deep in the heart of the island and the most southerly point of the Cultural Triangle is Kandy. Perched in an enviable lake-side location, backed by drapes of emerald mountains and rolling hills and whispered over by a delicate Hill Country breeze, it’s famously known as one of the most picturesque cities in the country.
Built in 1357 CE, it was the capital of Sri Lanka from 1592 until the British took over in the 19th century and today, it’s vibrant, lively, bursting with history and liberally scattered with shrines and beautiful Kandyian architecture. None, however, are more gasp-worthy than the golden-roofed, elephant-guarded Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the most significant shrine in the country and home to Buddha’s tooth said to have been collected from his funeral pyre in India in 483 BC.
STAY: Santani Wellness Resort
If you were to describe your dream wellness retreat, you may well request it to be surrounded by lush green forests with the most glorious of panoramas from every yoga mat. It would perhaps be modern in design with beautifully minimalist rooms, an array of tranquil meditation corners and, of course, a spa to rival any other. Well, welcome to Santani! Set in the hills just outside Kandy, this idyllic, soul-soothing retreat will redefine your idea of ‘wellness’.
With hot stone massages, a three-tiered spa carved into the hillside, Ayurvedic treatments with world-renowned therapists, yoga classes and thermal salt baths, you’ll emerge a totally different person…
Visit: Ella, Hill Country - Day 7 to 9
At 1000-metres above sea level, Ella is surrounded by quivering peaks and mist-wrapped landscapes carpeted with tea, the scenery around this little mountain village is beautiful. Add the iconic Nine Arch Bridge and the trundling toy train (make sure you hop in a carriage for at least part of your journey down) and the stupendous views through the Ella Gap, all the way to the lighthouses of the southern coast, and we’d go as far to say it’s some of the island’s best.
And when you’re not ogling the scenery, Ella is famous for its walking trails and routes range from gentle strolls to temples and tea plantations, to hardy hikes up Ella’s Peak and to some of the region’s most astonishing waterfalls.
STAY: Nine Skies Bungalow
If you’ve read anything about Sri Lanka’s tea trade you will surely have come across the glamorous bungalows from times past – and now, why not stay in one? Nine Skies is an exquisitely-restored property that dates back to a bygone era and remains a part of a working tea estate. Whilst the foundations might be old, everything else is brand spanking new – think gorgeous, modern rooms, incredible service, tantalising food and a pool with a jaw-dropping view. It’s also superbly located near to all sorts of attractions, namely the iconic arched bridge that the hotel takes it’s name from.
Discover: Weligama, The South Coast - Day 9 to 13
The Weligama coast is another highlight on the southern section of the Sri Lankan mango, although in this case there’s another reason to visit: whales. The coastline here (and in particular the fishing town of Mirissa) is one of the best places in the world to spot both blue and sperm whales as well as dolphins.
Apart from marine life, there are plenty of others reasons to captivate, from the pretty bays and coconut groves to the gentle ocean swell that will have you reaching for a surfboard in the flash of a flipper. Other water-based activities include sailing, kayaking, surfing, diving and snorkelling, and then there’s the iconic stilt fisherman and their colourful fishing boats, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic sights and a beautiful one at that.
STAY: Cape Weligama
Set in the lush topography of its very own peninsula, Cape Weligama is designed so every villa has an unrivalled view of the lapping coastline. There is a famous surfing beach just a short scenic stroll away and you can take full advantage of Sri Lanka’s dreamy sunsets from the half-moon infinity pool. Designed by celebrated architect, Lek Bunnag, the clifftop resort has an island charm with all the mod cons you could ask for.
Take advantage of the Adventure Centre, which offers every water sport under the sun and in true Sri Lankan style, visit nearby a tea plantation.