Offering far more than just its (admittedly beautiful) golden palm-fringed beaches, Sri Lanka is an intoxicating assault on the senses.
Your eyes will feast on the soothing greens of highland tea plantations and rainforests, the vivid reds and yellows of saris and sacred cave paintings, the whites of Hindu temples and cricket teams, the deep blues of the Indian Ocean and distant hills. Your nostrils will inhale the scents of spices, flowers and exotic fruits. Your heart will race at your first encounter with a wild leopard, and be stilled again as you experience a dawn from Adam’s Peak. Open, welcoming and easy-going, Sri Lanka’s culture is a heady potpourri of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim influences.
"Immerse yourself in local artisan traditions, colourful festivals, a gentle trail walk or two, and a hefty dose of plantation-era nostalgia."
Travelling through Sri Lanka is an unalloyed joy. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of stylish new boutique hotels and private villas, which make delightful bases for exploring whether you’re on honeymoon or sharing a family adventure together. The island is fairly compact, and this means that with a private guide and driver at your disposal, maybe a helicopter or seaplane, or just relying on your own two feet, you can cover the main areas of interest seamlessly and at a relaxed pace.
Wherever you venture in this intriguing Asian nation, we’ll ensure you’re joined by talented and engaging hosts, whether it’s a historian to walk you through a 17th-century colonial fort in Galle or an artist to show you around the most exciting studios and galleries in Colombo.
You might perhaps begin by exploring the wonders of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla in the Cultural Triangle (with a side jaunt to Minneriya to view the planet’s largest elephant herds). And you won’t regret the effort of climbing up to fifth-century Sigiriya, dramatically positioned atop a huge granite peak with extraordinary views, or taking the more serene option and floating above the lakes and treetops in a hot-air balloon. Then perhaps you might travel down through Kandy and tea country, pausing to immerse yourself in local artisan traditions, colourful festivals, a gentle trail walk or two, and a hefty dose of plantation-era nostalgia. Finish by soaking up the unique atmosphere of UNESCO-protected Galle and enjoying a few days of pampered relaxation on its nearby beaches.
We’ll be even more delighted to take you further off the beaten path: to Yala or Wilpattu for a 4×4 safari adventure accompanied by a leading conservationist who will help you locate big cats and sloth bears; to Gal Oya with an anthropologist to spend time with forest-dwelling Veddas, Sri Lanka’s indigenous inhabitants, and get to know their traditional hunting techniques and shamanic practices; on a trek through the Knuckles botanising for rare orchids; or chartering a yacht for you so that you can observe blue whale mothers and calves. Whatever your passion, we have the connections in Sri Lanka to elevate your experience. And, wherever you go, be sure to allow some room for serendipity–the word itself derives from the ancient name for Sri Lanka!
