Sri Lanka

A lush tropical island off the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka remains one of Asia’s overlooked gems – a status that is slowly but rightly changing. Called Taprobane by the Greeks, Serendib by the Arabs and Ceylon by the Europeans, it is a land of stunning natural beauty whose fabled riches and strategic maritime locale have combined for a captivating history. Over the centuries, the parade of boldface names that has visited its shores includes Ptolemy, Marco Polo, medieval Chinese admiral Zheng He, as well as the Portuguese, Dutch and British empires. Literary luminaries include Paul Bowles and Arthur C. Clarke (both made Ceylon their adopted home) and native Michael Ondaatje.

Today, after a period of internal conflict, a new era of peace and stability reigns and Sri Lanka once again beckons visitors with fantastic beaches, ancient World Heritage ruins, superb highlands trekking, national parks full of elephants, birds and other wildlife, and first-rate hotels. From the cultural heartland of Dambulla (home to Sigiriya, the massive 5th-century “Lion’s Rock” fortress) to the lush tea fields of Nuwara Eliya; from Kandy, the last redoubt of Sinhalese kings, to colonial ramparts of Galle, Remote Lands invites you to discover Sri Lanka with us.

Sri Lanka Regions

Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below.

Sri Lanka Itineraries

Classic Sri Lanka

Spend 10-days exploring the best of Sri Lanka from the cultural triangle, to tea country, and down to its sandy southern coast. You’ll stay in some of Sri Lanka’s most luxury hotels, as you explore Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Dambulla, spot wild elephants on a safari, travel tea country by railway, and learn about turtles at a sanctuary.

Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Price Per Person
From $14,500
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The Grandest Tour 2025 | Aman Jet Expeditions

The Grandest Tour returns in 2025 offering guests seven Aman sanctuaries in seven different countries, in just one journey by private jet. 

Date
Apr 19–May 9, 2025
Price Per Person
$188,888
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A Mindful and Cultural Journey 2025 | Aman Jet Expeditions

A Mindful and Cultural Journey returns in 2024 for a spiritual journey through the Indian Subcontinent aboard our custom-outfitted private jet, from the peaks of the Himalayas to the tropical beaches of Sri Lanka.

Date
Oct 19–Nov 2, 2025
Price Per Person
$104,888
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A Walk on the Wild Side in Sri Lanka

Get back to nature with this comprehensive tour of Sri Lanka’s finest – and most beautiful – natural sights. From low-lying rainforest to rolling tea terraces, national parks to coastal villages, this eight-day excursion will highlight the best of Sri Lanka’s incredible and varied wilderness.

Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
From $8,300
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An Unforgettable Honeymoon: Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Qatar

Get away on an exciting honeymoon to the magical destinations of Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Qatar. From lush tea plantations and wildlife safaris on the island of Sri Lanka to idyllic days on white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of Maldives to Qatar’s unique landscape of heady traditional culture fused with modern metropolis. This 15-day journey promises romance, relaxation, and a dose of adventure.

Duration
15 days / 14 nights
Price Per Person
From $19,500
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Family Sri Lanka: Colombo to Kandy with Kids

Play with elephants, relax as the kids swim in the Indian Ocean and fall asleep to the calming ocean lull while staying in a floating house on this 13-day luxurious Sri Lankan holiday. With hiking, elephant trekking and rafting in store, there’s plenty of action to keep the kids busy and still time for you to relax.

Duration
13 days / 12 nights
Price Per Person
From $13,400
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Family Sri Lanka: Trincomalee to Colombo with Kids

Sri Lanka is the perfect setting for the family vacation of your dreams. Explore the vibrant coral reefs, hike archaeological ruins and catch a stunning tangerine sunset with loved ones. This is 12-day luxury journey will create special, lasting family memories.

Duration
12 days / 11 nights
Price Per Person
From $12,100
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From Bollywood to Ancient Ruins: A Journey Through India and Sri Lanka

Take a thrilling trip through India and Sri Lanka, spending 17 days meandering from Mumbai’s iconic Bollywood, down the backwaters of Kerala, exploring colonial Cochin. You’ll fly onwards to Sri Lanka, where you’ll explore its ancient wonders like the Temple of Tooth, all the while staying in luxury hotels.

Duration
17 days / 16 nights
Price Per Person
From $17,600
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Historic Sri Lanka Odyssey

Step back in time without leaving any luxury behind on this 14-day journey through Sri Lanka’s most important heritage sites. Picnic atop an ancient rock fortress, take an exciting safari through Yala National Park and visit the revered UNESCO site, Anuradhapura. This adventure offers insight into ancient cultures.

Duration
14 days / 13 nights
Price Per Person
From $13,100
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Amangalla
Preferred Hotel

Amangalla

Galle, Sri Lanka

Located in the center of a preserved 17th-century Dutch Fort, the sumptuous Amangalla resort is also a beautifully restored UNESCO World Heritage site that perfectly captures the charm of the historic trading port of Galle. Amangalla has 17 rooms, eight suites and the Garden House, a two-story house with treetop views. Rooms are decorated in a style that blends luxurious contemporary amenities with a perfectly rendered colonial-era aesthetic. Sri Lankan curry and other traditional dishes are served in the dining...
Amanwella
Preferred Hotel

Amanwella

Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Situated in the midst of a coconut grove on a secluded bay, the Amanwella resort is one of the world's most exclusive beach retreats. The resort sits on a perfect crescent of white-sand beach and is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, national parks and exotic wildlife and a 5 and 1/2 hour drive from Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). There are 30 suites, each equipped with a plunge pool, terrace, and floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. A number of ocean...
Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort
Preferred Hotel

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Set on a cliff overlooking the South Indian Ocean, the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle enjoys secluded peace. Yet, as it is located in the very centre of Sri Lanka's south coast, some of the best attractions on the stunning island are within easy reach. Colonial towns and national parks are just an hour's drive away, while a beautiful beach lies just a stone's throw from the property. From comfortable rooms to sprawling two-bedroom suites which boast their own plunge pool,...
ÀNI Sri Lanka
Preferred Hotel

ÀNI Sri Lanka

Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Located along the beautiful coastline of Dickwella, southern Sri Lanka, the beautiful Ani Sri Lanka estate is the handiwork of Reda Amalou and AW2 of Paris. Contemporary tropical architecture is merged with the finest bespoke finishes and furnishings across the 15 bedrooms of this two-villa estate. The Villa Monara has eight suites while the Villa Divia has seven. Either of the villas can be rented separately, or the whole estate can be rented at once. Both villas have their own...
Cape Weligama Resort
Preferred Hotel

Cape Weligama Resort

Weligama, Sri Lanka

Comprising a total of 40 spacious and elegantly designed apartments and suites, this gorgeous resort provides spectacular coastal views alongside a whole host of impressive facilities to keep guests happy. Designed by the critically-acclaimed Thai architect Lek Bunnag, Cape Weligama Resort is nestled into the rolling hills on the very southern tip of Sri Lanka, and the views from each room over the jagged cliffs across the vast Indian Ocean are simply breathtaking. The residences are tastefully designed with traditional...
Ceylon Tea Trails
Preferred Hotel

Ceylon Tea Trails

Bogawantalawa Valley, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, once known as Ceylon, is one of the world's historic centers of tea production, replete with rolling green hills and genteel plantation homes. Ceylon Tea Trails, run by the Dilmah Tea Company, has restored four classic colonial bungalows built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. These historic houses offer guests the unique experience of life on a working tea estate in the highlands (elevation here is over 4,000 feet). The bungalows range in...
Chena Huts
Preferred Hotel

Chena Huts

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Set right on the coast in southern Sri Lanka, Chena Huts occupy seven acres of the rainforest and dunes beyond Yala National Park, so its 14 cabins are surrounded by unspoilt beauty and natural wonders. With the ocean on one side and the country’s oldest natural reserve on the other, to stay here is to utterly escape into nature. In thatched huts with private pools, guests will find a little oasis of comfort and convenience, where crisp bed linens and...
Heritance Kandalama
Preferred Hotel

Heritance Kandalama

Dambulla, Sri Lanka

Designed by famed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, the unique Heritance Kandalama hotel is set into a cliff face among dense tropical forests, flanked by the Dambulla rock temple and Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The hotel’s buildings were planned to blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment and are covered with hanging vines and flowering plants. Each of the 152 rooms faces either Kandalama Lake or the forest – even the bathrooms were planned to showcase the view – and is decorated...
Leopard Trails
Preferred Hotel

Leopard Trails

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Returning to the golden era of colonial British safari explorers, Leopard Trails offers the jungle experience in comfort and luxury, as the intrepid adventurers of the 1800s enjoyed it. Romantic and elegant, their tented camps are located in two of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful national parks, Yala and Wilpattu. While the former is famed for its roaming leopards, the latter draws nature enthusiasts for its populations of deer, sloths, bears, elephants and a solid contingent of leopards of its own....
Tintagel
Preferred Hotel

Tintagel

Colombo, Sri Lanka

The dramatic and sultry Tintagel property is located in central Colombo, close to Colombo Town Hall, National Art Gallery and Sinhalese Sports Club. The hotel was previously home to three of Sri Lanka’s political leaders, making it an important structure of national heritage. This unique and intimate hotel boasts ten high-ceilinged suites with timber floors, lavishly decorated with a unique blend of color, texture and atmosphere. The spacious bathrooms feature rain showers, bathtubs and large vanities. All rooms include complimentary...
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With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

Seasonality & Festivals

Browse a month-by-month breakdown of suggested itineraries, seasonal activities, climate considerations and festivals.

When to Go
When to Go
Festivals
Festivals

Weather in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has three distinct weather patterns. The best time to visit the west and south coasts is between October and March, the best time to visit the east and north coasts is April and March, while the central interior is best between January and March.

  • Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with high humidity that is tempered by sea breezes on the coast. The average temperature is about 81°F (27°C). January is the coolest month, when it becomes especially cold in the highlands, and May is the hottest time of year.
  • Sri Lanka has four seasons, influenced by the monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal:
  • From mid-May to October, winds originate in the southwest, bringing moisture from the Indian Ocean. When these winds encounter the slopes of the Central Highlands, they unload heavy rains on the mountain slopes and the southwestern sector of the island. Some of the windward slopes receive up to 100 inches of rain per month, but the leeward slopes in the east and northeast receive little rain.
  • In October and November, the inter-monsoonal months, periodic squalls occur, and occasional tropical cyclones bring overcast skies and rains to the southwest, northeast, and eastern parts of the island.
  • From December to March, the northeastern slopes of the island may be inundated with up to 50 inches of rain, brought on by monsoon winds from the Bay of Bengal.
  • Another inter-monsoonal period occurs from March until mid-May, with light, variable winds and evening thunderstorms.
  • Humidity is typically higher in the southwest and mountainous areas and depends on the seasonal patterns of rainfall. Percentages range from 60 to 90 percent nationwide annually

Multi-Country Specialists

Sri Lanka Goes Well With

Travelogues

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