Travel Kuoni

Sri Lanka & the Maldives

Bursting with diverse and unexpected treasures, Sri Lanka is a cultural lover's paradise and is well known for its beach resorts that stretch the extensive coastline.

When it comes to holidays that include both cultural explorations and some time in the ultimate relaxation destination, you can't beat a combo of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The pair are popular with honeymooners looking for more than just a beach break (it is the perfect adventure vs fly-and-flop compromise), and families looking to create everlasting memories: the joy of spotting elephants or leopards in the wild, exploring age-old ruins or the revelling in the achievement of scaling Sigiriya Rock together are all moments not to be missed. It's only an hour and a half's flight between the two and SriLankan Airlines operate a couple of flights a day from between the two capitals, Colombo and Malé.

Multi-centre
13 nights
Cultural Triangle, Kandy, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Negombo, Maldives
Culture, Wildlife

Itinerary overview

Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle

A culture, history & wildlife packed region

Within the three points of Sri Lanka's famed Cultural Triangle (Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to t...

Kandy

A buzzing city

Kandy, the third and last former capital of the Sinhala Kingdom is a treasure trove of temples, s...

Tea Country

High altitude adventures in the hills

From Kandy, continue your ascent into the hills of central Sri Lanka, a land of mist cloaked tea ...

Negombo

A night on golden sands

Take your head out the clouds and head back down to sea level, stopping for a night in Negombo. T...

Maldives

Retreat to paradise shores

Next stop: the Maldives. This scattering of atolls plays host to idyllic islands that seem to hav...

Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle

A culture, history & wildlife packed region

Within the three points of Sri Lanka's famed Cultural Triangle (Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to the north and north east respectively, and Kandy to the south), you'll find four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, stunning natural landscapes and incredible wildlife. We recommend basing yourself at one hotel for at least a few nights and heading out each day to see sights such as the iconic Sigiriya Rock (head here early if you wish to climb to the top), the cave temples at Dambulla and the ruined archaeological wonders of the island's ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. A game drive in Minneriya National Park will give you the best chance of spotting wild elephants in huge herds.

Anuradhapura Kingdom Ruins

Anuradhapura

Dating back as far as 377BC, this ancient kingdom is an essential stop on any tour of Sri Lanka. Established as the first capital city of the island by King Pandukabhaya, it survived 119 successive kings for over 1500 years before becoming one of the world’s most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Regarded as the cradle of Buddhism, the sacred site is home to a vast network of temples and monasteries which can be explored at leisure during this four-hour tour. Discover the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree which is said to have grown from a cutting from the tree in India under which Buddha attained enlightenment, marvel at the preservation of the Twin Ponds and soak up the impressive history at the onsite museum housed within one of the ancient monasteries which is filled with ornate trinkets dating back to the pre-Christian era.

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

Good to know
Legs and shoulders must be covered, and shoes will need to be removed when exploring the temples.

Polonnaruwa Kingdom Ruins

Anuradhapura

Brush off your explorer hat as you traverse the ancient second capital of the island and discover the monumental ruins of this glorious garden-city. Dating back to 1070 A.D, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is brimming with history and the on-site museum will soon have you up to speed. The ancient compact city is easy to navigate and filled with impressive architectural structures from the enormous Royal Palace that stands seven stories tall to more personal relics such as the King’s private swimming pool. During this five-hour tour you’ll have the opportunity to explore many of the city’s highlights including the beautiful white Kiri Vihara Dagoba which archaeologists found when clearing the area from jungle in perfect condition after 700 years. From evocative temples and shrines to the serene Sea Of Parakrama, this is one of the best -preserved sites in Sri Lanka and sure to create lasting memories for years to come.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience
• Available for guests on a car and driver itinerary staying in Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Habarana, Kandalama, Passikudah and Trincomalee hotels

Good to know
Legs and shoulders must be covered, and shoes will need to be removed when exploring the temples.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kandy

A buzzing city

Kandy, the third and last former capital of the Sinhala Kingdom is a treasure trove of temples, sacred relics and tropical gardens. Its most popular pilgrimage spot is the lakeside Temple of the Tooth Relic, which as the name suggests is said to house the tooth of the Buddha. The city is also home to a trio of other temples: Embekke, Lankathilake and Gadaladeniya. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya are a must visit for those green fingered folk; they were established on once-royal land over 150 years ago with cuttings imported from London's Kew Gardens, and today are home to over 4000 species of plants, including an extensive orchid collection. A joy of Kandy is its beautiful surrounding countryside so be sure to ask your private chauffeur guide to head off the beaten track a little to experience the very best of it.

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.

Udawaththakale Forest Trek

Sri Lanka

Hike through a historic forest reserve on a hill ridge in Kandy. Udawaththakale Forest is a vital bio reserve for Kandy. On a guided trek, you’ll see the forest's highlights, including the water pond, the Kodimale peak, the Senkanda Cave, and the Garrison cemetery. There are also several Buddhist temples and hermitages inside the forest reserve.

• Duration: 2 to 3 hours
• Daily departures from Kandy
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

The Art of Drumming

Sri Lanka

The traditional music and percussion instruments of Sri Lanka are the focus on this short but sweet experience from Kandy. Learn about the history and culture surrounding the Kandyan drum, their importance and use during festivals, rituals and at temples. There’ll be the chance to try out the skill for yourself under the guidance of an experienced drummer; this is a great experience to enjoy together as a family.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Time: 9am to 11am or 3pm to 5pm
• Daily departures from Kandy
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Scenic Train Journey - Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Kandy & Nuwara Eliya

Depart from the hotel and transfer to the train station and board the train that will take you up towards Nuwara Eliya. As you ascend into the Hill Country, the train passes through rolling tea plantations and verdant forests and you’ll understand why this journey has been named as one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. Disembark at Nanu Oya station and transfer to your Nuwara Eliya hotel by road.\

• Duration: half day
• Time: 12.20pm to 4.00pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
The train journey is based on tickets in the best available class, air-conditioned carriage, where available. It includes lunch or high tea depending on journey time (after the rail journey at a local restaurant), taxes and service charges.

Tea Country

High altitude adventures in the hills

From Kandy, continue your ascent into the hills of central Sri Lanka, a land of mist cloaked tea plantations, lush forests and colonial-era towns. Nuwara Eliya is the region's most famous town, and has an air of familiarity about it - there's good reason it's nicknamed Sri Lanka's 'Little England'. You can't come to the region without visiting a working plantation. The rolling hills are covered with emerald tea plants and dotted with pickers who together can pluck over 15 tonnes of leaves each day. The Hill Country has exceptional growing conditions with other crops such as strawberries, potatoes, carrots and beetroot; you'll eat and sip Ceylon tea like royalty while you stay in this beautiful area. For tea-cloaked hills and more active adventures head to Hatton where mountain trails pass through draw-dropping scenery; equally as beautiful is the town of Ella, the closest town to Nine Arch Bridge; ask your private chauffeur guide to take you to see this wonder of engineering and icon of the Hill Country.

Ceylon Tea Picking Experience

Sri Lanka

The story of Ceylon tea begins over 200 years ago when Sri Lanka was still a British colony. With its alchemy of land, sun and rain the island provides the ideal climate for its cultivation. For those looking to delve deeper into the cultivation process and history of Sri Lanka’s greatest export, this immersive tea picking experience is not to be missed. A good cup of tea starts in the field and you’ll begin by observing the fine art of tea plucking before heading back inside and learning all about tea processing with a thorough factory visit. Much like wine, each batch of tea must be taste-tested, and you’ll get a quick masterclass on what to look for from your knowledgeable guide. After all that learning, end the day with a refreshing cup of Ceylon Tea straight from the plantation and a newfound appreciation for the hard work that goes into every cup.

• Duration: half day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience
• Available for guests on a car and driver itinerary staying in Nuwara Eliya and Kandy

Good to know
This is a great half day trip for those travelling between Nuwara Eliya and Kandy or vice versa, due to its location between the two.

Scenic Train Journey - Nuwara Eliya to Ella

Kandy & Nuwara Eliya

The rail journey between Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya station) and Ella is arguably the most beautiful stretch of the Kandy-to-Hill-Country journey. For a few hours, the iconic train winds its way up through tea plantations and fruit farms on the way into the beautiful town of Ella.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 3.45pm to 6.30pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
The train journey is based on tickets in the best available class, air-conditioned carriage, where available. It includes lunch or high tea depending on journey time (after the rail journey at a local restaurant), taxes and service charges.

Negombo

A night on golden sands

Take your head out the clouds and head back down to sea level, stopping for a night in Negombo. This beach resort is close to the airport so you'll be well placed for a rejuvenating post-tour night and your flight to the Maldives the following day.

Street Food of Negombo

Sri Lanka

Spend an evening feasting on the delicious street food of Sri Lanka. As one of the leading cultivators and exporters of spices worldwide, the Sinhalese use their seasonings with utmost care. It's known for the sweetest cinnamon, peppercorns, tamarind, cloves, nutmeg, mace, and more. It can be sampled in its street foods, including flavoursome masalas topped with decadent meat and slow-cooked vegetables. Snackable dishes are an integral part of Sri Lanka’s diverse cuisine, and you’ll have a chance to taste plenty of dishes as you venture around Negombo.

• Duration: evening
• Daily departures from Negombo
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Dinner Overlooking Negombo Lagoon

Sri Lanka

Dine on fresh seafood with a view over the Indian Ocean. Negombo Lagoon is an open-air dining space in the fishing village where you can choose from the freshest catch of the day from the seafood market and then ask the chefs to prepare it in a sauce or curry of your choice.

• Duration: evening
• Start time: 6pm
• Daily departures from Negombo
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Maldives

Retreat to paradise shores

Next stop: the Maldives. This scattering of atolls plays host to idyllic islands that seem to have been made exclusively for R&R. But there's plenty to do between lounging sessions; you can snorkel right off the talcum sands on the house reef, head further afield on diving expeditions, enjoy romantic destination dining on the beach or remote sand bars, drink and dine to your heart's content or become a regular at the spa. Within our range of handpicked Maldives resorts, there are perfect-for-family sanctuaries, romantic hideaways, ultra-luxe retreats and budget-conscious options; our Personal Travel Experts are here to help you single out your perfect island.

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Call our Indian Ocean experts on

0800 294 9701

Available until 8pm

Call our Indian Ocean experts on

0800 294 9701

Available until 8pm

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