Tailor-made touring holidays of Sri Lanka

Here we describe a tailor-made touring itinerary in Sri Lanka that we put together to explore the variety that this small island has to offer. The itinerary includes travelling from Colombo to the Cultural triangle, through Kandy and Tea country, to a luxury camp and safari in Yala National Park, and on to the south coast and the historic town of Galle. We also offer suggestions for must-see day excursions and stopovers. Our range of luxury hotels that we include offer huge variety with some a great choice for valley views and old English charm, some for their distinctive Bawa-designed architecture, and some for their extensive family facilities, and all offer impeccable service. This itinerary takes you along a popular touring holiday route, from Colombo and Negombo inland to the Cultural Triangle and Sigiriya, then down along the winding roads of Tea and Hill Country to Yala National Park, the south coast resorts, Galle, and the stunning beaches of the South West. A real highlight of the tour is definitely Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris, a new addition to our programme, which includes game drives in Yala National Park. Try and spot leopards, sloth bears, buffalo, deer, and crocodiles during the safaris. The camp is well- appointed and in the evenings serves authentic Sri Lankan food. Whether staying in one destination or touring the country, we include transfers or an English-speaking chauffeur-guide who meets you at the airport after your flight and takes you between hotels and to your day excursions. This is the easiest way to travel in Sri Lanka, and makes the long drives relaxing. Our guides have a wealth of local knowledge and point out anything of interest during the drives, they will often pull over to let you take photos of memorials, view points, or waterfalls. “ Expressions Recommended Visits: • Sigiriya Rock Fortress – climb right to the top for impressive views across the countryside. • The Dutch Fort at Galle – colonial history and local jewellers that sell locally-mined precious stones. • Tea plantations of Tea Country – impressive formations following the contours of the land, with houses and villages up in the hills. • Nuwara Eliya – step back into 19th century England, with red post-boxes and big manor houses built by the British tea planters who originally settled in the area. We recommend including as many activities and day trips as you can in your initial itinerary to guarantee that you’re able to do them. Due to the growing popularity of the country, it’s always best to have your temple and attraction tickets pre-booked. Below are some of our suggested hotels and stops on this three-centre holiday.