With its friendly people, fantastic hotels and manageable size, Sri Lanka is the perfect family destination. From national parks and misty hills stations to exquisite cultural sites and glorious sandy beaches, this beautiful island is the essence of Asia.
Head on safari to spot elephants in Udawalawe National Park before continuing to the hill-station of Nuwara Eliya and the capital of the highlands, Kandy. Leaving Kandy travel to Sri Lanka’s east coast for three nights of beachside relaxation at Passikudah before returning west to Colombo via the epic ancient sites of the ‘cultural triangle’ and the charming Rosyth Estate House.
Colombo – Udawalawe National Park – Kandapola – Kandy – Passikudah – Habarana – Kegalle
Trip Highlights
- Visit Udawalawe National Park, an important habitat for water birds and Asian elephant
- Hike Horton Plains National Park to the ‘World’s End’ for fabulous far-reaching views
- The beaches of the east coast are the island’s finest and Passikudah is one of the best
- Discover the Elephant Transit Home which cares for injured, sick or orphaned elephants
- See the key sights of Sri Lanka's 'cultural triangle', many of which are UNESCO listed
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Today fly direct from the UK to Colombo on Sr iLankan Airlines.
Day 2
Arrive Colombo
On arrival in Colombo you will be met and taken to your hotel for an overnight stay. The Sri Lankan capital, Colombo began as a Portuguese trading outpost. Over the centuries the city developed under both the Dutch and British to become Sri Lanka’s main commercial hub and today is home to numerous colonial buildings, bazaars and museums. Later visit the city for a brief afternoon tour.
Galle Face Hotel
Day 3
Colombo to Udawalawe National Park via Kitulgala – 210kms
Today leave Colombo and travel south to Udawalawe National Park, a large reserve made up of 119 square miles of grassland, scrub jungle and riverine forest. The main attraction of the park is the large concentration of Asian elephants found here, Udawalawe is home to over 400 of these gentle giants and it is almost guaranteed to see them whilst on safari.
- Breakfast
Kalu's Hideaway
Day 4
Udawalawe National Park
Today explore Udawalawe on safari accompanied by a naturalist. Mainly open parkland, the park is famous for its elephants which can be seen in herds of over one hundred. Udawalawe is also home to spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, water buffalo and jackal whilst the birding is excellent with nearly 200 species recorded. In the afternoon visit the Elephant Transit Home which has helped care for dozens of injured, sick, or orphaned baby elephants from all over Sri Lanka.
- Breakfast
Kalu's Hideaway
Day 5
Udawalawe National Park to Kandapola – 150kms
Early this morning enjoy one further jeep safari before leaving Udawalawe for the scenic drive up into the hills to Kandapola, the heart of the island's tea growing region. Kandapola is located close to the historic British-era hill-station of Nuwara Eliya, with its English country-style homes and well-tended gardens. In the afternoon visit the town and tea plantation with your driver-guide.
- Breakfast
Tea Factory Hotel
Day 6
Kandapola
Early this morning travel to Horton Plains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can enjoy gentle hikes and search for some of Sri Lanka’s most diverse wildlife. Hike to the famous ‘World’s End’ which offers incredible views over the rolling highlands, and search for beautiful Bakers Falls. Return to your hotel to spend the afternoon at leisure.
- Breakfast
Tea Factory Hotel
Day 7
Kandapola to Kandy – 150kms
After breakfast, depart Kandapola and travel towards Kitulgala for a morning of exciting white water rafting. Afterwards drive to Kandy for a two night stay. Kandy is the capital of the highlands and best known for being the location of the Temple of Tooth. Later visit the temple where Buddha's tooth relic is housed then see the bustling town.
- Breakfast
Jetwing Kandy Gallery
Day 8
Kandy
After breakfast visit the Udawattekele Sanctuary – once the reserve of the kings of Kandy and today home to several endemic species of flora and fauna and over 150 different species of birds. End the afternoon at the magnificent Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, one of the finest botanical gardens in the subcontinent and a wonderful place to explore.
- Breakfast
Jetwing Kandy Gallery
Day 9
Kandy to Passikudah – 195kms
Leaving Kandy, today drive to Sri Lanka's beautiful east coast. Located to the north of the city of Batticaloa, first landing point of the Dutch in 1602, Passikudah has one of the island's finest beaches of golden sand and gentle crystal clear waters ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
- Breakfast
Anantaya Passikudah
Uga Bay Resort
Day 10-11
Passikudah
Over the next two days relax and enjoy Passikudah. For the more active, cycle or walk to some of the small neighbouring fishing villages, dive or snorkel the virgin coral reefs or visit the Portuguese fort in Batticaloa.
- Breakfast
Anantaya Passikudah
Uga Bay Resort
Day 12
Passikudah to Habarana – 120kms
Today leave Passikudah and drive to Habarana. Habarana is located at the centre of Sri Lanka's 'cultural triangle', an area noted for its exceptional UNESCO protected Buddhist sites including ancient cities and fresco-adorned monasteries.
- Breakfast
Cinnamon Lodge, Sigiriya
Heritance Kandalama Hotel
Day 13
Habarana
This morning head to the rock-fortress of Sigiriya. The views from the summit of the fortress are spectacular and there are a number of beautiful frescoes passed on the ascent. Later visit nearby Minneriya National Park which has a large elephant population. Unlike many of the other national parks, due to their large numbers elephants can usually be spotted at a very close range.
- Breakfast
Cinnamon Lodge, Sigiriya
Heritance Kandalama Hotel
Day 14
Habarana to Kegalle via Dambulla – 120kms
This morning, after breakfast, leave your hotel and travel south to Dambulla, a thousand year old Buddhist temple complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting Dambulla continue to the charming Rosyth Estate House, a 1920s colonial planter’s bungalow set in a large estate easy to explore on foot or by mountain bike.
- Breakfast
Rosyth Estate House
Day 15
Kegalle to Colombo – 70kms / Colombo to the UK
Today transfer to Colombo Airport to catch the Sr iLankan Airlines flight non-stop to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Spend an extra day exploring the magnificent sites of Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle’. Two key highlights include Anuradhapura, the island’s first capital and home of Buddhism, and Polonnaruwa with its impressive rock relief statues of the Buddha.
Incorporate a second wildlife experience into your holiday. Yala National Park is widely considered the finest reserve in Sri Lanka and it can easily be combined with nearby Udawalawe. Yala is famous for its large leopard population.
Historic Galle on Sri Lanka’s south coast can easily be explored in a day. The ramparts of the colonial era fort ring the city and house a fine collection of homes and buildings heavily influenced by previous Portuguese, Dutch, Arab and British settlers.
Relax in the magical Maldives – a worthy alternative to the beaches of Sri Lanka’s east coast. Although summer is not high season and rain can occur, showers tend to be short and mostly occurs overnight. This time of year also offers excellent value for money.
Guide to Price
14 days from £3100 - £3720 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Private car with English speaking driver-guide
- Wildlife viewing with local naturalist
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £3100 - £3720
Travel Information
Getting There
SriLankan Airlines is currently the only airline offering non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Colombo. Other leading airlines, including Emirates, Oman Airways and Qatar Airways, offer indirect flights from most airports in the UK with changes in Dubai, Muscat or Abu Dhabi.
Flying Times From UK
A direct flight from London Heathrow to Colombo should take around 11 hours. Indirect flights usually take around 14 hours.
Time Zone
Sri Lanka is +5½ hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
You will need a visa to enter the country. Tourist visas are valid for a stay of up to 30 days in Sri Lanka. The visa must be obtained in advance of arrival and applications need to be made online via the official Sri Lankan government Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) website - www.eta.gov.lk. To enter Sri Lanka, your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the day you arrive, and your passports must have at least two blank pages for visa stamps. Please note the Tourist Visa Fee is USD50.00 per person. The above visa information applies only to British citizens travelling on a UK passport.
Do’s & Don’ts
Always show respect by understanding and following local customs and traditions. Sri Lanka is a welcoming country with a rich culture, and it is important to understand the destination and its people before visiting.
When you are taking photographs, avoid snapping shots of the soldiers and police and always ask permission if you take pictures of people.
Be aware of the dangers posed by local wildlife. It is natural to be wary of predators, but many visitors do not realise that other large animals, such as the much loved elephant, are also dangerous to humans if they get scared and charge.
Holy areas welcome visitors, but make sure you observe religious customs. Remove your shoes and cover up respectfully. These are also good rules to follow if you are invited into somebody's home.
When eating, only the right hand should be used. Sri Lankan culture considers the left hand to be unclean.
Money
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Colombo Airport provides currency exchange facilities. Sri Lanka has a closed currency and therefore you will get a better rate by exchanging your money locally. Accessing your money is straightforward in Sri Lanka, with major cities and towns having plenty of ATMs available. If you are heading out to rural areas, you will want to have cash with you. Most vendors, transport providers and retailers will prefer cash to debit and credit cards.
Tipping
If a waiter or driver makes a special effort, feel free to tip. A driver/guide who offers a more personal service will expect you to tip, and hotels will include a service charge as standard (usually 10%). As with services in the UK, if a tip box is provided and you feel an extra fee is deserved, nobody will be offended if you leave a small tip. A guideline for tipping your driver/guide will be advised prior to travel.
Food & Drink
Sri Lanka is well known for its tea which is grown and exported internationally. The country, formerly known as Ceylon, is the world's fourth largest producer of tea and it has a reputation for creating some of the finest teas in the world. Tea drinking forms a big part of Sri Lankan culture. Visit local tea houses and cafes or pick up a cup from a street vendor while exploring the country. Sri Lanka is not as strictly vegetarian as India, and meat dishes are widely available. However, much of the local cuisine focuses on vegetables and spices, so vegetarians will be spoilt for choice. Fish is more commonly cooked than meat, with curries and stews forming a big part of the Sri Lankan diet.
Accommodation
Sri Lanka has plenty of accommodation options to suit every visitor so it is possible to experience a bygone era at an opulent and historic tea plantation, stay in a luxurious lodge in one of the country's finest wildlife parks or indulge on the finest seafood at a five-star beach resort. There is a vast range of accommodation available throughout the island from luxurious small hotels, contemporary properties and one-off boutique accommodation to atmospheric wildlife lodges and charming colonial tea planter’s bungalows. The majority of Sri Lanka’s beach resorts predominately hug the north-east and south-west coastlines with a plethora of different options including everything from larger modern hotels to small independent properties – some with only a handful of rooms. Although heritage hotels can be found throughout the country, the majority are located in and around Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and adjoining tea plantations and the historic fort at Galle.
Shopping
Colombo is the place to be if you want to pick up a bargain. Many of the high street clothes we get in the UK are made in Sri Lanka and can make it to retail there at very low prices. Sri Lankan cities are more focused on market style trading and you will find a vast array of ingredients on offer including high quality spices and herbs. Haggling over prices is strongly encouraged and shop keepers will expect it. However, most are far less persistent than in other countries, and will engage with the bartering process in good humour and fun. Feel free to offer what you feel something is worth and walk away if you feel pressured into a sale.
Suggested Reading
For a good introduction to visiting Sri Lanka, you cannot go wrong with the Footprint Rough Guide. Learn a little more about the country before you get there with some great novels and memoirs set in Sri Lanka, including ‘Running in the Family’ by Michael Ondaatje, ‘The Village in the Jungle’ by Leonard Woolf, ‘The Teardrop Island’ by Cherry Briggs, ‘Woolf in Ceylon’ by Christopher Ondaatje and ‘Mosquito’ by Roma Tearne.
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on Sri Lanka the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have. If you are considering a trip to Sri Lanka, Pettitts Travel are specialists in bespoke Sri Lanka tours including Colombo holidays. We can create an itinerary around your requirements to include Sri Lanka's key experiences and sights.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
We enjoyed every minute of it
NR - Sri Lanka and the Maldives - November 2024
We returned this morning from our trip having had a really superb holiday. We enjoyed every minute of it and I wanted to thank you for the efficient way in which you organised our fascinating itinerary and the selection of lovely hotels in Sri Lanka. Everything went like clockwork and we have returned relaxed and refreshed. I am very grateful and I shall be in touch when we plan our next adventure.
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