Travel Kuoni

A Boutique Sri Lanka Journey

It may be a cliché that the best things come in small packages but in the case of this suggested trip, we wholeheartedly embrace it. Bijou hotels are the perfect places to make it all about you (ideal for that dream honeymoon or anniversary celebration) or if you’re planning on going boujee over budget. We’ve picked our perfect pint-sized hotels to act as your base as you travel from the Cultural Triangle and Kandy to the Hill Country and beyond.

Suggested itinerary
Culture, Luxury, Wildlife

Itinerary overview

Days 1 to 3

Cultural Triangle

For the first three days of your holiday the focus is on the island’s heritage-rich heart. In the...

Day 4

Kandy

Stop off in Kandy for a day of more urban explorations in Sri Lanka’s spiritual heartland. An int...

Days 5 to 6

Ella

The journey from Kandy to your next stop has to be one of the stars of the show. You’ll board a t...

Days 7 to 8

Galle

What goes up must come down. Thankfully, the down in this case takes you to Sri Lanka’s beautiful...

Extend your holiday

Yala National Park

If you'd like to stay in Sri Lanka a little longer, you could head along the south coast to Yala ...

Extend your holiday

The Maldives

The Maldives and Sri Lanka make the perfect pair as it's so easy to head down to Malé from Colomb...

Days 1 to 3

Cultural Triangle

For the first three days of your holiday the focus is on the island’s heritage-rich heart. In the famed Cultural Triangles, there are ancient hilltop fortresses rocks to climb (we’ve included a guided trip to the iconic Sigiriya Rock), cave temples to explore and the ruins of once-powerful cities to ponder. It’s not all culture though – you can add a slice of the wild life to your holiday with an optional safari in the elephant hot spot of Minneriya National Park. And at the end of each day, your intimate bolthole awaits, ready for those ultra-relaxed us moments.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Anuradhapura

One of Sri Lanka’s most iconic landmarks, Sigiriya Rock is a sight to behold, towering 200 metres above the surrounding jungle. Formed from magma of an extinct volcano, the fortress was created over 1500 years ago by King Kashyapa and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning.

Good to know
For the most pleasurable experience we recommend organising this excursion first thing in the morning or after 4pm to avoid the heat of the day. While suitable for all, the climb to the summit requires a good degree of physical fitness.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, discover the vast history of the plateau at the onsite museum before making the climb up the vertiginous staircases to the summit passing impressive frescoes and the famed Mirror Wall and colossal Lions Platform as you go. From the top, explore the ruins of the ancient civilisation through the remnants of the palace and vast gardens and soak up the panoramic vistas of the jungle covered central plains.

Minneriya Jeep Safari

Anuradhapura

If observing elephants in their natural habitat is on your to do list while in Sri Lanka, Minneriya National Park should be top of your list. While elephants can be spotted all year round in huge numbers, during the dry season, between April and October, the park plays host to one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world: The Great Elephant Gathering. As the Minneriya Tank dries up and gives way to a lush grass plain, 300 or more elephants gather in the late afternoon to feed offering visitors an unforgettable spectacle. Home to a host of other wildlife from two endemic monkey species to the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, the endangered Grey Slender Loris and elusive Sri Lankan Leopard can also occasionally be spotted.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 3pm to 6pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience
• Available for guests on a car and driver itinerary staying in Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Habarana, Kandalama and Kandy

Good to know
Depending on the time of year, guests may be taken to the Hurulu Eco-park (Jan to May) or Kandulla National Park (Nov to Dec) as elephant migrations interchange between all three parks.

Day 4

Kandy

Stop off in Kandy for a day of more urban explorations in Sri Lanka’s spiritual heartland. An introductory tour of this fascinating city is part of your trip so you can get to grips with its top-notch sights like the Temple of the Tooth (said to house one of the Buddha’s teeth), the swanky Royal Palace complete and the totally tropical Botanic Gardens where you’ll find a mesmerising variety of endemic plants and plenty of trees, orchids, ferns and more from across the globe. Many of the cities smallest hotels have a hidden away feel whether its amid dense foliage or by the winding riverbank – they feel miles away from the bustle, but you can be at the heart of the action in no time at all.

Kandy’s Highlights

Sri Lanka

Whether time is of the essence or you’re after an introduction to this vibrant city that’s brimming with history and culture, this half day excursion will ensure you don’t miss any of Kandy’s major attractions. Discover one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines at the golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth, where the relic tooth of Buddha is housed and explore the spectacular Royal Palace complex – the perfect backdrop for some holiday snaps.

Dating back to 1821, finish your trip with a meander through the delightful Royal Botanical Garden where you’ll find over 100 endemic plants before exploring the rest of the city at leisure or returning to your hotel to unwind.

Days 5 to 6

Ella

The journey from Kandy to your next stop has to be one of the stars of the show. You’ll board a train in the heart of Kandy and then it’s up, up, up into the often mist-cloaked but always gorgeous Hill Country. The train will sedately follow a windy track past working tea plantations and through mountain scenery that’s more than worth writing home about. Make sure your phone is charged as every turn is a new photo opportunity. Once you’ve reached Demodara, you’ll hop off and head to the hillside bolthole that will be your base for the next couple of days of sightseeing (you could join the Ultimate Ella guided tour), mountain trail walking or high tea taking – the choice is yours.

Ultimate Ella

Sri Lanka

Embark on a full day excursion visiting the highlights of Ella. Rise early in the morning and get your hiking boots on for a trek up Adam's Peak, one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful natural landmarks. The hiking level ranges from moderate to hard, but by no means are you expected to complete it if you feel like you don’t want to. This will be followed by a visit to the iconic Nine Arches Bridge; be sure to have your camera at the ready in case you see a train passing over this famous bridge. Then, you'll head to the stunning Ravana Falls and see the Dhowa Temple, before taking a ride on the Flying Ravana Zip Line. This double wire zip line, stretching over half a kilometre, means you can ride in pairs and have a bird's-eye view of the breathtaking landscapes. After this adrenaline-pumping activity, you'll end the day with your feet up poolside with a cocktail in hand at the Ravana Pool Club. Get your dose of fun and serenity with the Ibiza vibes of this pool club, which perfectly overlooks the mountain views of Ella. After 3 hours soaking up the unique surroundings, you'll then be driven back to your hotel.

• Duration: Full Day

Good to know
You'll need comfortable shoes, and wear trousers or shorts for the zipline, and swimwear/sunscreen and shades for the pool club.

Days 7 to 8

Galle

What goes up must come down. Thankfully, the down in this case takes you to Sri Lanka’s beautiful south-west corner and a wonderful beachfront spot close to Galle a busy city with an almost impossibly beautiful fortified old town. We’ve set aside two nights here but you can always extend your stay for more R&R time, head along the south coast to Yala National Parks to seek out leopards, sloth bears and elephants, or go for some serious beach bragging rights with a stay at a tiny island retreat in the Maldives.

Extend your holiday

Yala National Park

If you'd like to stay in Sri Lanka a little longer, you could head along the south coast to Yala National Park. Spend a few days heading into the park on game drives, seeking out the elusive leopards as well as the elephants, sloth bears and endemic bird species.

Extend your holiday

The Maldives

The Maldives and Sri Lanka make the perfect pair as it's so easy to head down to Malé from Colombo. After just a 90-minute flight and a speedboat ride or sea plane trip, you could be relaxing on a Robinson Crusoe-esque island with a cocktail in hand.

Personalise your trip

Get in touch with one of our travel experts and we'll help plan your perfect holiday.

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0800 294 9701

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