Negombo, North-West

Villa Hundira is a 12-bedroom boutique hotel nestled in tropical gardens overlooking the picturesque Negombo Lagoon. Situated in the village of Thalahena, it lies just 20 minutes away from Colombo’s international airport, making it a good spot to recuperate after a long flight.
 

Kandalama, Cultural Triangle

Amaya Lake is a simple hotel of four-star standard which enjoys a peaceful and beautiful setting by the banks of Kandalama Lake in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. An excellent eco-hotel with a personal feel that offers low-level cabanas in tranquil woodland.

Victoria, Kandy

Bougainvillea is a peaceful holiday retreat in tropical gardens within Victoria Golf & Country Resort. Accommodation is in well-appointed bedrooms set within the main house and separate cottages opening on to lush green gardens and mountain views.

Ella, Hill Country

The 98 Acres Resort is a 12 room eco-friendly, boutique hotel in Ella set amidst tea covered hills with magnificent views of the southern plains, Ella rock and Little Adam’s Peak. Accommodation is in individual stone chalets and the lounge and restaurant pavilion has breathtaking views.

Tissamaharama, Tissa, Uda Walawe and Kataragama

Flameback Eco Lodge is a highly-regarded eco lodge which offers a glamping experience in a bird sanctuary on the shores of the tranquil Weerawila Lake in Sri Lanka’s Deerp South. This luxury tented lodge combines excellent levels of comfort with a true safari feel

Mirissa, South Coast

Lantern is a modern, six-bedroom boutique hotel with a picturesque beachside setting. It offers spacious suites opening on to private balconies, fusion cuisine, and views across Mirissa Bay on Sri Lanka's idyllic south coast.

Polonnaruwa, Cultural Triangle

Quite apart from the incredible ruins of this medieval city, Polonnaruwa is home to a large monkey population who were famously featured in Disney’s engaging documentary film ‘Monkey Kingdom’. Polonnaruwa is a gloriously majestic backdrop for this experience, which allows you to closely observe the three diurnal primates of Sri Lanka: grey langur, purple-faced leaf monkey and toque macaque. Although these creatures can be seen in various parts of the island, this is one of the best places for travellers to get up close and personal with the monkeys of Sri Lanka.

Habarana, Cultural Triangle

Minneriya National Park is a small but popular wildlife park home to a wide range of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. It is also the site of the world-renowned wildlife event ‘The Elephant Gathering’.

Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle

Sigiriya is one of the most dramatic and inspiring historical locations in the world, a huge rock fortress rising impossibly from Sri Lanka’s central plains, and possessed of a glorious history that has caused millions of travellers to gape in wonder.

Dambulla, Cultural Triangle

Dambulla Cave Temple is one of the most popular religious cultural sites in Sri Lanka, attracting tourists from across the globe. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, it is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. This World Heritage site has the largest number of Buddha statues all housed in one place, including a colossal, 14-metre-long figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the rock.

Polonnaruwa, Cultural Triangle

The well-preserved ruins of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s medieval royal capital, are one of the country’s most prominent cultural sites. You can spend several hours wandering freely between the various ruined temples, imposing Buddha statues and royal bathing pools.

Deltota, Kandy

The tea estates around Deltota in the Kandyan foothills are some of the oldest in Sri Lanka and include Loolecondera, James Taylor’s tea plantation which was the first to be developed in Sri Lanka. These tea estates are also little-visited compared to those in the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country, so you will be largely undisturbed as you trek through this glorious scenery with your guide.

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The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, located just outside of Kandy, are Sri Lanka’s largest landscaped gardens, spanning over 60 hectares, and can lay claim to being the finest in Asia. They will delight anybody who loves to see nature showcased at its best.

Kandy

Walk back in time through the historic hill capital of Kandy and visit the temple that houses Sri Lanka’s most valued Buddhist relic. Kandy is a place steeped in history, culture and religion. Although the effects of modernisation are visible, peek into the heart of this hill country capital and you will see that the core of this cool city remains traditional and friendly.

Kandy

Watch a Kandyan cultural show and be awed by the spectacular dance, acrobatics, costumes and music. Held in Kandy town, this cultural show depicts various forms of Kandyan dancing which was once native to the area but has now spread to different regions of the island. Originated from a dance performed by Indian shamans who came to the island, Kandyan dancing plays an important role in Sri Lankan culture and is a much-anticipated event during perahera processions. During the show, you will see several dances which depict the graceful movements of birds and animals, which trace their origins back to the ancient ritual known as the Kohomba Kapkariya, as well as energetic acrobatic performances where the men perform a series of leaping pirouettes and stunts such as plate-spinning and the dramatic ‘fire walk’ which ends the show.

Ella, Hill Country

Nine Arch Bridge in the Sri Lanka highlands town of Ella regularly takes centre stage in one of the most iconic pictures in the hill country. It is part working railway viaduct, part tourist photo opportunity. This setting, beloved by thousands of Instagram accounts, somehow conveys the relaxed vibe that makes Sri Lanka one of the most treasured holiday destinations in the world.

Yala National Park, Yala

Yala National Park is one of the largest and certainly the most popular national park in Sri Lanka, and has the highest density of leopards anywhere in the world. Hidden away in the far south-east of the country, it comprises five separate blocks covering 141sqkm. 

Mirissa, South Coast

Go whale watching in Sri Lanka, acclaimed as one of the best places in the world to see whales. Spot dolphins, sperm whales and blue whales near Mirissa. The island’s shoreline lies unusually close to the continental shelf, the point when the ocean floor drops dramatically and where larger marine life is found, and so it does not take too long to reach these deep waters from Sri Lanka’s western, southern and eastern coastlines. Whale and dolphin watching is possible from Kalpitiya, Bentota and Mirissa between December and April, and from Trincomalee and Pasikudah on the east coast between June and August, but Mirissa is widely thought of as the best place for whale watching in Sri Lanka.

Galle, Galle Coast

Galle’s rural inland landscape is largely unfrequented by tourists who visit this region, as they are often more preoccupied with visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle Fort, or relaxing on the popular beaches along the Galle Coast. However, the countryside around Galle is truly picturesque and is particularly nice to explore if you are looking to discover the ‘authentic’ Sri Lanka which is sometimes hidden on the tourist trail – cycle past lush green paddy fields dotted with water buffalo, bright white egrets and vibrant kingfishers, sloping tea plantations, rice fields, small villages, temples and colourful gardens growing spices and fruit.

Galle, Galle Coast

Learn how to make rice and curry, Sri Lanka’s delicious and underrated traditional cuisine, which is overshadowed on the international culinary stage by the food of its neighbours, such as India. Although it sounds simple, rice and curry is actually a complex dish comprised of seven different elements, including curries, spiced vegetables in a variety of textures, sambols, chutneys and rice.

Galle Fort, Galle Coast

Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and then further developed by the Dutch and the British over the next 350 years. It covers nearly 4sqkm and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts. During the early 18th century, the Old Dutch Gate was the entrance to the Fort, but subsequently the British built the Main Gate that is still used today. Buildings of interest include the Dutch Reformed Church, All Saints Church, Amangalla Hotel (formerly the New Oriental Hotel),the lighthouse and bell tower. The Dutch also developed what was then an innovative tide-based sewage-system within the Fort.

Galle Fort, Galle Coast

Discover Sri Lanka’s colonial history during this Galle Fort walking tour. Hear thrilling tales of the people and diverse cultures that have shaped one of Sri Lanka’s most popular landmarks.

Galle Fort, Galle Coast

One of the most popular holiday destinations in Sri Lanka, Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which once served as a key trading port for the European colonial powers that occupied most of the island for over 300 years between the 16th and 19th centuries. Although first built by the Portuguese, it is commonly referred to as the Dutch Fort, as it was they who heavily fortified it in the 1700s to include ramparts constructed from granite and coral, 14 bastions and cannons to protect the port from invading ships. When the British took control in the 19th century they constructed a variety of administrative buildings, as well as the ‘New Oriental Hotel’ (now called Amangalla),one of the first hotels in Asia.

Galle Fort, Galle Coast

Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and then further developed by the Dutch and the British over the next 350 years. It covers nearly 4sqkm and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts. During the early 18th century, the Old Dutch Gate was the entrance to the Fort, but subsequently the British built the Main Gate that is still used today. Buildings of interest include the Dutch Reformed Church, All Saints Church, Amangalla Hotel (formerly the New Oriental Hotel),the lighthouse and bell tower. The Dutch also developed what was then an innovative tide-based sewage-system within the Fort.

Gal Oya, East Coast

Feeling active? Leave the beaches of Galle behind and explore its inland rural beauty by boat and by bike. Galle’s inner landscape is covered in patches of jungle, rice paddies, cinnamon plantations, lowland tea fields and quaint mud roads joining small villages, and is home to beautiful tropical plants and lots of Sri Lanka’s wildlife.

Mirissa, South Coast

Go whale watching in Sri Lanka, acclaimed as one of the best places in the world to see whales. Spot dolphins, sperm whales and blue whales near Mirissa. The island’s shoreline lies unusually close to the continental shelf, the point when the ocean floor drops dramatically and where larger marine life is found, and so it does not take too long to reach these deep waters from Sri Lanka’s western, southern and eastern coastlines. Whale and dolphin watching is possible from Kalpitiya, Bentota and Mirissa between December and April, and from Trincomalee and Pasikudah on the east coast between June and August, but Mirissa is widely thought of as the best place for whale watching in Sri Lanka.