Duration
10 days, 9 nights
Price Per Person
Destinations

Experience the highlights of this emerald island nation on a luxury 10-day Classic Sri Lanka journey. Criss-cross the island from the historically-rich central province to the verdent mountains in the heart of the island and finally to the southernmost palm-fringed shores. Soak up the culture, history, and landscapes of Sri Lanka as you visit Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Bogawantalawa Valley, Tangalle, and Galle, all while staying at some of the most luxurious hotels the country has to offer.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • UNESCO Sites: Explore multiple famous UNESCO sites, such as the Dambulla cave, Polonnaruwa ancient kingdom, and Galle Fort.
  • Train to Tea Country: Considered one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world, this serene trip through Sri Lanka's lush green tea country is a must-do for anyone, especially for train enthusiasts.
  • Scenes from a Seaplane: Travel around the emerald teardrop-shaped island typically involves long car or train journeys. Save time while also seeing Sri Lanka in a new way by taking a seaplane. From the middle of the country amongst rolling mountains, touch down on the white sands of the southern coast in less than an hour.
  • Southern Coast Paradise: Along the island's southern coast is a plethora of tropical goodies including sandy beaches, warm waters, fresh fish markets, turtle sanctuaries, ancient forts and temples, yoga and surf retreats, whale and dolphin cruises, and more.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Colombo

Upon arrival, you will be met and assisted with VIP services before being escorted to meet your guide and driver for the transfer to your hotel in central Colombo. Depending on your arrival time, the afternoon may include a guided orientation of the city, with visits to key landmarks such as the historic Fort district, the bustling Pettah bazaar, and the Gangaramaya Temple.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The Tintagel is located in the middle of the city, surrounded by upmarket residences and shops. It’s approximately a 45-minute drive away from the airport and five minutes’ walk from Odel Shopping Mall, the most desirable shopping location in the area.

History: Colombo was one of the most popular East-West trade routes in centuries past. The Tintagel, a colonial mansion that takes one back in time, echoes such history.

Service: The Tintagel is widely-known for its unbeatable, bespoke service, and its friendly, warm staff.

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Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Sigiriya

In the morning, continue to Sigiriya, passing through Sri Lanka’s scenic countryside of lush greenery, village homes, and roadside markets. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and enjoy time to relax.

In the afternoon, visit the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rising nearly 200 meters above the surrounding plains. Built in the 5th century by King Kashyapa, this ancient citadel is renowned for its advanced design and dramatic setting. Ascend past landscaped water gardens, the famed frescoes, and the Mirror Wall before reaching the summit, where panoramic views extend across the surrounding forests and countryside. Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Hotel Options
About

Located just six kilometers away from the historic Sigiriya Rock, Water Garden Sigiriya resort provides visitors to Sri Lanka with world-class comfort and second to none service. With one and two bedroom options, the resort's 30 villas are chicly designed, spacious, and imbued with an air of mystique thanks to their secret gardens and private plunge pools.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Sigiriya
Sigiriya

Day 3

Sigiriya

After breakfast, continue to Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka’s best-preserved ancient capitals. Explore the impressive ruins of royal palaces, sacred temples, and finely carved stone sculptures, offering insight into the island’s rich medieval heritage. Enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan lunch at a local rural cafe.

In the afternoon, set out on a jeep safari in Minneriya, Kaudulla, or Hurulu Eco National Park, selected based on seasonal wildlife movements. These parks form part of an important elephant corridor and are home to large herds of Asian elephants, along with deer, buffalo, and abundant birdlife. During the dry season, there is the possibility of witnessing the remarkable “Elephant Gathering,” when large numbers of elephants congregate around the reservoir.

Return to your hotel in the evening.

Day 4

Kandy

After breakfast, check out and visit the Dambulla Cave Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising five caves adorned with intricate murals and hundreds of Buddha statues.

Continue to Matale for a visit to a private spice and herb garden, where you will learn about the culinary and traditional medicinal uses of Sri Lanka’s native plants. Enjoy a curry lunch at the garden before proceeding to Kandy.

Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. Later, visit the revered Temple of the Tooth, which houses the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. During your visit, you may observe a traditional puja ceremony, accompanied by drumming and ritual offerings.

Hotel Options
About

Tucked away in green in the heart of the city, Kings Pavilion offers an urban retreat in a prime Kandy location. Guest rooms are decorated in a cozy and modern style, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the space with natural light and balconies with mountain views.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Kandy
Kandy

Day 5

Bogawantalawa Valley

After breakfast, transfer to the railway station for a scenic train journey to Hatton, ascending into Sri Lanka’s hill country. Along the way, enjoy views of rolling tea plantations, misty mountains, and lush valleys.

Upon arrival, continue to the Bogawantalawa Valley, known for its picturesque tea estates. After a late lunch at the bungalow, the afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore the estate grounds and surrounding landscapes at your own pace.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: This hotel enjoys a stunning and unique location, nestled high in the hills of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Tea region, bordering the World Heritage Central Highlands.

Service: Each room and suite comes with a personal butler, who serves guests Bed Tea in the morning and draws them a bath.

History: The world’s first-ever tea bungalow resort, this hotel celebrates the historic tea plants of Ceylon, first discovered over a century ago.

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Ceylon Tea Trails Preferred Hotel

Day 6

Bogawantalawa Valley

Visit a local tea factory for a private tour, offering an in-depth look at the traditional orthodox method of tea production, from withering and rolling to drying and grading.

Following the visit, enjoy a private tea tasting led by a resident planter, gaining insight into the distinct flavor profiles and characteristics of teas from Sri Lanka’s central highlands.

Bogawantalawa Valley
Bogawantalawa Valley

Day 7

Tangalle

Today, transition from the cool, verdant tea hills to the warm shores of Sri Lanka’s southern coast. Board a scenic seaplane flight from Castlereagh Reservoir to Weerawila, enjoying aerial views of the island’s diverse landscapes along the way.

Upon arrival, continue to your hotel in Tangalle, a tranquil, palm-fringed stretch of coastline known for its relaxed atmosphere. The remainder of the day is at leisure to unwind on the beach or explore the local seaside dining scene at your own pace.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: This Aman Resorts property is located right on a tranquil crescent beach in the middle of a coconut grove.

History: Designed by one of Sri Lanka’s most important architects, Geoffrey Bawa, this property combines modern comfort with traditional local materials.

Service: With only 30 suites, guests are treated to personalized round-the-clock service and top-notch Sri Lankan hospitality.

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Amanwella Preferred Hotel

Day 8

Tangalle

The day is at leisure for exploration or relaxation at the resort. You may choose to spend time on the beach, utilize the hotel’s facilities, or explore the local coastal area of Tangalle at your own pace. 

Tangalle
Tangalle

Day 9

Galle

After breakfast, check out and continue along Sri Lanka’s scenic southern coast to Galle.

In the afternoon, meet a resident host for a walking tour of Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the 17th-century ramparts, the Dutch Reformed Church, and the historic lighthouse while gaining insight into the fort’s colonial past and its vibrant, multi-ethnic community. The walk continues through narrow streets lined with Dutch and British colonial architecture, now home to charming boutiques, cafés, and galleries.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Heritage: The hotel is housed in a well-preserved 150-year old landmark hotel.

Rooms: Generous rooms with antique furniture, teak timber flooring, original art work and pleasant views.

Society and Environment: Amangalla uses recycling methods and tries to sources as much as possible locally, including food, furnishings and staff.

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Amangalla Preferred Hotel

Day 10

Departure

After breakfast, and perhaps one last walk along the ramparts, you will be privately transferred back to Colombo airport for your flight onward.

Suggested Hotel For Day 1

Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo
Preferred Hotel

Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo

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 WiFi, LCD TV screens with DVD/CD players, a minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities and Egyptian cotton bedding. Selected suites come with a private courtyard or a balcony. There are a range of dining facilities including an alfresco restaurant, a chic indoor restaurant offering international cuisine, a private dining room and a bar with black leather lounges and bronze tables. Other facilities and services of the hotel include a spa with optional in-room service, swimming pool, gym, steam room, library and courtyard.

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Suggested Hotel For Days 2–3

Water Garden Sigiriya

Water Garden Sigiriya

Located just six kilometers away from the historic Sigiriya Rock, Water Garden Sigiriya resort provides visitors to Sri Lanka with world-class comfort and second to none service. With one and two bedroom options, the resort's 30 villas are chicly designed, spacious, and imbued with an air of mystique thanks to their secret gardens and private plunge pools. Havens of relaxation and excellently positioned to observe the lush outdoors and roaming wildlife, the villas are also equipped with such modern comforts as flat-screen televisions, Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers. The expansive resort property can be traversed via a traditional buggy, swimming across the outdoor pool, or aboard a helicopter from the resort’s helipad that provides aerial tours of the adjacent countryside. Master chefs cater to diverse appetites with dishes from around the world at the outdoor dining sites and traditional indoor venue. Quality is ensured with an emphasis on organic produce and imports from top quality suppliers.  At the resort's spa, various treatments can be enjoyed including renowned Balinese massages. On-site, there is plenty to keep guests entertained with activities as diverse as billiards, biking, and archery while travel off the premises to explore such nearby attractions as the ancient cities of Dambulla, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa is easy and convenient.

Suggested Hotel For Day 4

Kings Pavilion

Kings Pavilion

Tucked away in green in the heart of the city, Kings Pavilion offers an urban retreat in a prime Kandy location. Guest rooms are decorated in a cozy and modern style, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the space with natural light and balconies with mountain views. Suites also offer living areas and whirlpool tubs. Hotel facilities include a restaurant with a terrace, an outdoor swimming pool, lush gardens and a spa with a sauna.

Suggested Hotel For Days 5–6

Ceylon Tea Trails
Preferred Hotel

Ceylon Tea Trails

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 size from four to six rooms and two have their own pools. Summerville and Castlereagh are situated opposite each other on the shores of the Castlereagh Lake, Norwood is at the other end of the valley about 15 minutes away by car and Tientsin is about 30 minutes away in the next valley. Maintained trails with beautiful views run between all the bungalows, and through the surrounding hillsides and plantations. Each house comes with its own manager, chef, butler and houseboys; in-house massage appointments can be arranged. Meals and afternoon tea are prepared by your private chef using gourmet ingredients and produce grown right on the property, and can be served indoors or on the lawn.

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Suggested Hotel For Days 7–8

Amanwella
Preferred Hotel

Amanwella

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 suites are located further down the hill and have uninterrupted views of the coconut palms and the beach. The Amanwella restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and uses its location next to the ocean to cook up fresh Asian- and Mediterranean-style seafood. The Pool Terrace also serves meals in a more laid-back setting. When not enjoying a safari, snorkeling, or swimming in the pool, there is a library with Internet access and reference books on Sri Lanka. The spa offers massages and traditional therapies using local, natural ingredients, which can be given either in the spa's suite or in selected garden locations. There is no fitness center.

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Suggested Hotel For Day 9

Amangalla
Preferred Hotel

Amangalla

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 room, and the Veranda is a cool spot to have a drink during the day; the fort's Zaal (Dutch for Great Hall) serves light meals and a classic afternoon tea. The pool is located in the resort's gardens and has five shaded pavilions where you can relax post-swim. A library with Internet access houses information on Sri Lanka and the history of the Fort. The Baths, Amangalla's spa, offers Ayurvedic massage, hydrotherapy pools, and a steam room and sauna, among other treatments. There is also a garden pavilion for yoga practice or meditation. There is no fitness center. The resort is roughly a four-hour drive from Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).

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Travelogues

An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

A Luxurious Comeback for Sri Lanka

Author
Remote Lands
The tiny island of Sri Lanka has endured a lot, both in the past and in recent memory. Torn apart by civil war and a devastating tsunami, this strong and determined little country has fought its way through the hard times and come out on the other side not only with its beauty and culture intact, but also with its eyes on bigger rewards.
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