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Best time
All year round
Ideal length
14-19 days
Flight time
10hrs 45mins
Currency
Sri Lankan rupee
Language
Sinhala, Tamil
An almost undiscovered hideaway, Sri Lanka is a pearl in the Indian Ocean lying south of India’s tip.
After twenty-five years of civil war (ending in 2009), Sri Lanka is blossoming into the spotlight and the top of wish lists for intrepid families, honeymooners and wellness retreats. This small teardrop-shaped island combines a tropical golden coastline, ancient kingdoms, colonial tea plantations, green jungles and eight World Heritage sites. An ideal choice for a trip of a lifetime, extraordinary experiences await you on a luxury holiday in Sri Lanka. And we can arrange every detail, whether you’re an adventurous couple or looking for a family holiday in Sri Lanka.
Truly fascinating, a Sri Lanka tailor-made holiday has it all. In the north, explore the fourteenth-century ruins of the Jaffna Kingdom and visit the lesser-explored Wilpattu National Park, a hotspot for leopards as well as water buffalo, elephants, crocodiles at its numerous ‘willus’ or ponds.
The east’s enviable coastline remains uncrowded with palm-backed beaches in laid-back coastal towns where you can enjoy diving, snorkelling and the country’s best surf spots – ideal for a luxury honeymoon in Sri Lanka.
Travel inland for plenty of unique experiences in Sri Lanka, including one of its finest World Heritage sites, Sigiriya, 200m high and surrounded by exquisite jungle, reservoirs and gardens. From Galle to Yala, south Sri Lanka is lined with sublime sandy beaches, buzzing markets and one-of-a-kind experiences such as whalewatching in Mirissa and a wildlife safari at Yala National Park, all of which combine to make fantastic elements of any family holiday in Sri Lanka. The west is a great place to start or finish a Sri Lanka tailor-made holiday, with the cosmopolitan capital of Colombo home to a sumptuous foodie scene and stand-out shopping.
As a predominantly a Buddhist country, the Sri Lankan flag features bo leaves which represent the four virtues of Buddhism; kindness, compassion, equanimity and happiness – a genuine reflection of the people and the mosaic Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim culture of this beautiful country. Combine Sri Lanka with India, Dubai or the Maldives for an incredible multi-centre luxury holiday.
Luxury Sri Lanka holidays & honeymoons
Let us inspire you with our luxury Sri Lanka holidays & honeymoons. All our holidays are tailor-made, this means you can completely customise your itinerary to suit your interests and preferences. If you have a specific idea in mind or just want to chat through your options, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch.
Sri Lanka: the road less travelled
At SevenTravel, we’re always championing the road less travelled and this nineteen-day Sri Lanka trip is the perfect embodiment of this. Pack in authentic experiences, undiscovered corners and unforgettable wildlife encounters without ever losing sight of Sri Lanka in its truest form.
VIEW EXPERIENCEFamily adventure in Sri Lanka
Make Sri Lanka your playground, as you connect with your adventurous side and embark on a fifteen night journey specially designed with families in mind and a curated collection of unique local experiences in the Cultural Triangle, Kandy, Tea Country & Yala National Park for a unique safari.
VIEW EXPERIENCERequest your tailor-made itinerary to Sri Lanka
Unique experiences in Sri Lanka
Get introduced to “the Monkeys of Polonnaruwa”
Observe the three diurnal primates of Sri Lanka: the purple faced leaf monkey, the toque monkey and the grey langur – who have clearly made the ancient cultural site their playground. You’ll learn about the excellent conservation work the Research Centre has been conducting for nearly five decades.
Experience the wild side of Sri Lanka
Embark on a game drive in Yala National Park, accompanied by your safari guide. Get your camera and prepare for getting up close and personal with majestic elephants, leopards, sloth bears, jackals, and crocodiles. Like in many other areas of Sri Lanka, the birdwatching is also excellent.
White water rafting and canyoning on the Kelani River
Get ready for an adrenaline rush, not far from where ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai” was filmed as go white water rafting and canyoning at Borderlands.
Sri Lanka hotel recommendations
Leopard Safaris Yala by KK Collection, Yala National Park
Your safari experience starts right here at the Leopard Safaris Yala by KK Collection camp; sleeping under canvas in a luxury tented camp surrounded by nothing but the jungle on the fringe of Yala National Park. Head out to the National Park with one of the camp’s specialist rangers in a customised safari vehicle, cool off in the eco-pool late afternoon, dine al fresco under stars and then fall asleep to the sounds of the Sri Lankan bush.
Uga Chena Huts, Yala National Park
On a stretch of wild and rugged coast near Yala National Park, where elephants have been seen roaming, 14 luxury cabins are dotted in the wild scrubland of seven acres ensuring privacy and seclusion. Chena Huts thrives to offer an authentic safari experience without compromising on style and luxury.
Why House, Galle
Thanks to its charming staff, intimate atmosphere and peaceful setting, we think Why House should really be called Why Home because it’s exactly that – a home from home. Few come back without mentioning the very professional and knowledgeable Henrietta and Jelly, her sausage dog. Three acres of landscaped tropical gardens, tastefully styled rooms, a very attractive and a generously sized swimming pool make this your very own Sri Lankan sanctuary.
Kandy House, Kandy
Colonial luxury living at its peak, Kandy House is a boutique hotel situated within a former nineteenth-century mansion built by the last chief minister of the Kandyan kingdom. The palatial features of his former villa have been retained and its rooms boast vivid fabrics, black woods and whitewashed walls. Dinner is a personalised affair with tailored chef recommendations, while the twice-weekly ten-course curry feasts are taste sensation.
Maniumpathy, Colombo
Passed down over five generations of the same family, Maniumpathy feels like a home from home. Now a boutique hotel with just eight charming colonially dressed rooms (each one is named after a woman from a different generation), it’s as if you’ve been transported back to relive the experiences of residents in years gone past. Found in the leafy Cinnamon Gardens district of Colombo, the hotel feels like a secret you’d want to keep to yourself as you step out of the busy street and into this peaceful walled retreat.
Tamarind Hill, Galle
Tamarind Hill doesn’t just let you experience Galle’s rich heritage, you live it here, too. Once housing the Dutch admiralty during their pomp, this 250-year-old mansion still reeks of historic grandeur with its whitewashed walls, timber-vaulted ceilings, four-poster beds and antique furnishings. It’s like a little pocket of Dutch nostalgia that’s conveniently close to Galle’s seventeenth-century fort, just a ten-minute drive away, while the Sri Lankan fare has an emphasis on spices – the commodity which was the backbone of Dutch trade here once upon a time.
Living Heritage Koslanda, Koslanda
Gaze out from Living Heritage Koslanda’s hill-perched infinity pool over the paddy fields and forest tumbling down a gently sloping valley, you’ll probably think this scenery could only be fashioned by divine hands. No wonder it’s called God’s Forest, then, and Living Heritage Koslanda has the finest view of it all – Sri Lanka’s hill country has never looked good. The resort’s name also nods to the traditional architecture used throughout, from the Kandyan-style roofs to the colonnaded courtyards. A piece of heaven? Absolutely.
Water Garden, Sigiriya
Water Garden’s beautifully landscaped grounds are flanked by rice paddies and centuries-old trees for a gorgeous rural setting. As its name suggests, Water Garden is built around manicured water gardens, inspired by the ancient equivalent that sits at the base of its famous neighbour, Sigiriya rock fortress. All of its chalets are angled for unblemished views of the icon, while the spa and swimming pool keep you as serene as the surrounding landscape.
The Wallawwa, Negombo
A restored two-hundred-year-old manor house resting in sprawling bird-rich gardens, The Wallawwa manages to deliver unbridled tranquillity despite being only a fifteen-minute hop from the international airport. It’s a convenient stop at both the top and tail of any Sri Lankan adventure but it also rewards those who choose to linger longer with its traditional Sri Lankan cooking, day trips to nearby Colombo or simply slowing your pulse by slinking into its jungle-fringed pool.
Ulagalla, Anuradhapura
Within easy reach of the Cultural Triangle’s ancient treasures, Ulagalla is a grand manor house that once belonged to esteemed Anuradhapura nobility. It’s set in fifty eight acres of grassy grounds alive with grey langur monkeys, peacocks and over one hundred species of birds, a landscape Ulagalla is fully in tune with. Each chalet is made with local materials and nearly all have plunge pools, perfect spots to absorb the surrounding rainforest, rice paddies and woodland after a busy day exploring the Cultural Triangle.
Gal Oya Lodge, Gal Oya National Park
In twenty acres of private woodland on the edge of Gal Oya National Park, Gal Oya Lodge sits in a patch of Sri Lanka many miss. That’s clearly a plus and the lodge faithfully blends in with its neighbouring Vedda villages, thanks to its use of locally sourced teak, granite and illuk grass. This closeness to the indigenous people also means you can expect unparalleled experiences like ranger-led drives where you’ll often feel like the only ones there.
Uga Jungle Beach, Trincomalee
With Jungle Beach the clue really is in the name, with the resort sat within a heavenly mix of lush rainforest and sugar-soft sands on Sri Lanka’s secluded east coast. This is where Robinson Crusoe would stay if he were ever to find himself on the Teardrop Isle: think waking up in rustic jungle-enveloped cabins, walking out onto an almost-deserted beach, toes-in-the-sand apéritifs and siestas under a shaded parasol. Even the restaurant is like a treehouse – Mr Crusoe would certainly approve.
Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya
Designed by the acclaimed Sri Lankan architect, Sunela Jayewardene, and with a strong focus on sustainability, Vil Uyana is a success story of how a modern luxury lodge can become a nature & wildlife sanctuary that also echoes the nearby rural villages. Unwind with a traditional Ayurvedic treatment, take part in a nocturnal walk in search of the elusive loris or flick through a magazine at the chilled Sulang Café.
Leopard Safaris Wilpattu, Wilpattu National Park
Curled up in a wild corner of Wilpattu National Park, Leopard Trails combines colonial comfort with the old-world romance of safari adventures. It may offer all the luxury trimmings with its deluxe tents and open-air fine-dining but it also recognises the true five-star appeal is the great outdoors. Twice-daily game drives with expert guides will mean encounters with the likes of muntjac deer, sloth bears and, of course, leopards. With a capacity of just fifteen people, intimate experiences are guaranteed in one of Sri Lanka’s under-the-radar wonders.
Plan your trip
Fill out our short enquiry form or give us a call to discuss how we can create your dream trip. We’ll design you a no-obligation travel itinerary and refine it until it’s absolutely perfect.