Sri Lanka Summer Escape

With consistently warm weather all year round, Sri Lanka serves as a great summer as well as a winter destination.

The dry east coast makes for a welcome beach stop in the summer months, ideal for families or anyone looking for some R & R. Explore the best of Sri Lanka on this summer tour; visit Sigiriya and Polannaruwa in the ‘Cultural Triangle’, relax on the east coast beaches, explore Kandy and the tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya, before heading to see the colonial fort at Galle. End your tour with a fascinating tour of the capital city, Colombo.

Recommended Itinerary

DAY 01 - FLIGHT

Fly to Colombo.

DAY 2 - NEGOMBO

Arrive into Katunayake Airport and transfer to the Jetwing Hotel in Negombo; at leisure on the beach.

DAYS 3, 4 & 5 - SIGIRIYA

This morning you will be driven to the ‘Cultural Triangle’. Check-in at the Aliya Resort and Spa for three nights. Commonly referred to as the ‘Cultural Triangle’, the central plains area boasts ruined temples and ancient cities alongside national parks and glistening reservoirs. Later in the afternoon you will head into the countryside to experience a traditional Sri Lankan village. You also visit an ancient reservoir where you can spot many birds, butterflies and perhaps other wildlife. The next day you visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Polonnaruwa. Stop at the Polonnaruwa Museum where you can learn about the site in more detail, before heading out to Gal Viharaya, a Buddhist shrine where four statues of Lord Buddha are carved out of the rock. The third day’s trip is to Sigiriya, also known as the ‘Lion Rock’. This 600-foot pillar of rock is a steep climb and one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. Later drive to Minneriya National Park for a 2-3 hour jeep safari. Home to herds of elephants, flocks of cormorants and stocks, toque macaque and sambar deer may also be spotted.

DAYS 6, 7, 8 & 9 - PASSIKUDAH

This morning, you will transfer to your hotel in Passikudah, renowned for its extended shallow coastline, making it a great spot for sunbathing and shallow swimming. Stay at the Anilana Passikudah for four nights with time at leisure.

DAYS 10 & 11 - KANDY

Today you will drive towards the hill capital, Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second largest city. Home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, said to house Buddha’s tooth, each August the city also hosts the spectacular Perahera festival featuring dancers, firebreathers and lavishly decorated elephants. Late afternoon you will head to a local hall to watch a show of traditional Sri Lankan music, dance and drumming, followed by a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Stay at the Ozo Kandy for two nights. Next day enjoy a tour of Kandy, including a walk by the lake, a visit to the bustling local market and a stop at the British Garrison Cemetery, which from 1822-1873 was the final resting place for resident British nationals. Later head to the beautiful Peredeniya Botanic Gardens to enjoy a leisurely stroll among the orchids and royal palms.

DAY 12 – NUWARA ELIYA

Continue through the hill country to Nuwara Eliya, stopping at a tea factory and tea plantation en-route. Located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country at an elevation of 1900m, Nuwara Eliya was a favoured retreat of the British in the 19th Century thanks to its cool climate. Take a walk around the town centre, passing the Victorian post office, the old Hill Club and golf course before a stop at Holy Trinity Church, a quaint building constructed by the British in the mid 19th Century. Stay at the Jetwing St Andrew’s for the night.

DAYS 13 & 14 – GALLE

Today you will transfer to your hotel in Galle. Set on a promontory on the southwest tip of Sri Lanka, Galle Fort offers the best-preserved example of a European built fortified city in Asia. Stay at the Mango House for two nights. Stroll the winding streets of this immensely charming town and discover its colonial buildings, grand fort walls and numerous boutiques and cafés. Stretching along the coast nearby are ruggedly beautiful beaches, which may be narrow but are peaceful and secluded.

DAY 15 - COLOMBO

Return to Colombo for your final night in Sri Lanka. Enjoy an afternoon city tour of Colombo, which includes Pettah market, a walk past Red Mosque, Wolvendaal Church and the old parliament. Visit the Gangaramaya temple and drive past Independence Square to visit the National Museum, which displays a wide selection of art, statues and colonial paraphernalia before heading back for a night’s stay at the Galle Face Hotel.

DAY 16 – RETURN FLIGHT

Today you say farewell to Sri Lanka and board your return flight.

Extensions

Beach

Stay on at the beach resort in Bentota for a few more nights.

Sinharaja Rainforest

After lunch in Galle on day 13, drive to the Sinharaja rainforest, another World Heritage Site. Stay for 3 nights at the Boulder's Garden, an eco luxury resort nestled amidst huge boulders in the forest. Enjoy a full day guided walk in the rainforest on day 14. The next day is at leisure with the option of mountain biking, kayaking or a cave tour. Drive to Bentota on day 16 for 2 nights. Fly back day 19.

Maldives

Fly from Colombo to Malé. Transfer to the resort of your choice (several resorts are on offer) for 4 nights (the duration can be varied). Fly back on day 19.

South India

There are regular flights from Colombo to Chennai, Cochin, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Trichy and Delhi. We will be happy to design a tailor-made extension to South India or one to the North to see the Taj Mahal.