Boutique Sri Lanka (13 nights / 14 days)

Overview

Boutique Sri Lanka is a classic but leisurely journey around the most interesting and beautiful parts of Sri Lanka, which allows you time to enjoy luxurious accommodation that has won global acclaim. Experience the ancient heritage of the north-central Cultural Triangle, the tea plantations and misty mountains of the hill country, and finally the glorious beaches of the Deep South. We have selected stylish boutique accommodation with excellent food and service to make this an unforgettable holiday and, as ever, we ae entirely flexible if you wish to propose changes.

Tour Highlights

Stay in exquisite boutique hotels set in scenic locations
Explore the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura
Climb the fascinating Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Experience the beautiful highlands, scattered with tea hills and gushing waterfalls
Explore Galle’s 17C Dutch Fort
Loll on the sun-kissed beach of Tangalle
Go whale and dolphin spotting in Mirissa

Following are recommended optional activities

Dambulla Cave Temple

Dambulla, Cultural Triangle

The most famous cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, the ancient Dambulla Cave Temple boasts the largest number of Buddha statues to be housed in one place, as well as stunning ceiling paintings.
Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa, Cultural Triangle

Sri Lanka’s medieval capital from 1073 until the late 1200s, the ruins of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa are incredibly well-preserved and include magnificant granite sculptures of Lord Buddha.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle

Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most majestic, awe-inspiring and stunning historical locations in the world, built in the 5th century AD by ‘mad’ King Kasyapa.
Royal Botanical Gardens

Kandy

The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens is the largest of its kind in Sri Lanka and the finest in Asia. Explore the beautiful surroundings with an expert, or simple enjoy a relaxed stroll in the sun.
Kandy Temple and City Walk

Kandy

Delve into the most revered temple in the island as your host takes you through the Kandy city and the Temple of the Tooth, then head to the local market for a final feast for your senses.
Yala National Park

Yala National Park, Yala

Yala National Park, situated in the south-east corner of the island, is home to the greatest variety of Sri Lanka’s wildlife including the island’s big game – elephants, leopards and sloth bears.
Guided walk of Galle Fort: past to present

Galle Fort, Galle Coast

Your host will take you on an architectural journey through the fort’s colonial history, from the spot where the first Portuguese boats landed to the moment the English departed.
Galle Guided Bicycle Trails

Galle, Galle Coast

Cycle through Galle’s beautiful countryside, passing paddy fields dotted with iconic white egrets and water buffalo, quiet villages, tea and rice fields. Choose from a range of routes.
Whale Watching in Mirissa

Mirissa, South Coast

This modern catamaran complete with professional crew sets out from Mirissa Harbour at 6:30am, beating the other boats in order to have the best dolphin and whale sightings
Sri Lankan Puppets

Balapitiya, West Coast

The traditional folk theatre of Sri Lankan puppetry was a major form of entertainment in old Ceylon.
Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga

Bentota, West Coast

The late Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most influential architect, came up with his own style of ‘tropical modernism’ to create unconventional living spaces.
6 Best Water-Sport Activities in Sri Lanka

Island-wide

Discover the 6 best water-sport activities in Sri Lanka, from athletic surfing, kite-surfing and windsurfing to laidback snorkelling and sailing trips.

Included/Excluded

Accommodation in a shared double / twin room
Chauffeur-guide and vehicle for the duration of the tour (including leisure days)
Both airport transfers
Expert advice and support prior to and during the tour

Cost of personal spending (tips, laundry, mini bar, telephone, fax etc.)
Cost of Extra Meals & Beverages
Entrance Tickets
Meal (Lunch) arrangement outside hotels
Rights to use cameras / video (in most places it’s free)

Tour Plan

Day 1 Pasyala, North-West Coast

Pasyala

Arrive at the airport and transfer to Kaleliya, a small village just 45 minutes away. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your first hotel, a collection of three private villas set amidst beautiful gardens, each with its own unique design and secluded open-air courtyard. Take a dip in the pool; curl up with a good book, and in the evening enjoy an intimate dinner on the veranda, surrounded by oil lamps and candles.

Day 2, 3 & 4 Anuradhapura, Cultural Triangle

Anuradhapura

Today, you head north to Anuradhapura, a lesser-visited part of Sri Lanka that was the centre of the island’s ancient civilisation. You have three nights here to make the most of your idyllic accommodation, a luxurious boutique hotel set on 58 acres of unspoiled wilderness which offers total seclusion and serenity. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to visit the 2,000-year-old ruins of Anuradhapura, the ancient monastery in Ritigala Forest and Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka which is best explored at sunrise or sunset. Cycling, kayaking and cooking classes are on offer at Ulagalla, or you may wish to spend your time simply relaxing by your private plunge pool and indulging in spa treatments.

Day 5 & 6 Kandy

Kandy

The journey from the cultural triangle to Sri Lanka's hill capital – the small lakeside city of Kandy – will occupy most of the morning. Visit the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined since 4th Century AD. The temple has decorative walls, a golden roof and fine woodwork. Religious services with traditional music and drumming are held daily at dawn, mid-day and in the evening where guests can participate. You might also want to see Kandy's Botanical Gardens.

Day 7 & 8 Koslanda, Hill Country

Koslanda, Hill Country

Travel through Sri Lanka’s glorious tea country either by car or by train, following in the footsteps of the British who built this railway line 150 years ago – the dramatic landscape of lush tea fields is mesmerising either way. You will also enjoy magnificent views from the infinity swimming pool at The Planter’s House and from Lipton’s Seat, Sir Thomas Lipton’s favourite lookout, should you choose to take a stroll up there on your second day.

Day 9 & 10 Yala National Park, Yala

Head southeast to Yala National Park. En-route visit Buduruvagala to see Sri Lanka's tallest rock-cut Buddha statue (51 ft. in height) and other Mahayana Buddhist statues that date back to the 8th-century AD. Yala National Park consists of scrub plains, lagoons and rocky sections and is probably the best place to see all of Sri Lanka's Big Three: Elephant, leopard and water buffalo. If you wish to limit your journey consider Uda Walawe game park instead.

Day 11 Galle Fort, Galle Coast

Galle

Journey along the scenic south coast to the historic city of Galle and spend a night in Galle's 17C Dutch Fort, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage site. Several hours can be spent wandering along the narrow streets and well-preserved ramparts, exploring iconic historic buildings such as the lighthouse and Dutch Reform Church. Art and craft shops and cute little cafes now abound in Galle, making it one of Sri Lanka’s great meeting places. The thick, high ramparts that protect and distinguish the Fort are today used for romantic evening strolls and knockabout cricket games.

Day 12, 13 & 14 Habaraduwa, Galle Coast

Kalpitiya

We have saved the last three nights for a taste of the Sri Lanka beaches. Our Classic Island tour keeps you on the sought-after Galle Coast, but you may prefer the west coast resort of Bentota, a family-friendly resort where the beaches are as broad as anywhere on the island: as always the choice is yours. Consider a visit to Balapitiya puppet museum where a fourth-generation puppeteer will explain the history of this great art. Bentota offers a wide range of water-sports on the coast and along a river estuary. When your tour is over it is conveniently placed within two-and-a-half hours of the international airport.

Tour Map

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