Stay in five exceptional places across Sri Lanka, from a beautiful beach resort to sensational and luxurious wildlife huts.

Much quieter than Sri Lanka’s other popular national parks, Wilpattu offers a genuine sense of wilderness with scientific research on the bio-diversity of the park still in its infancy. This ‘Land of Lakes’ is dotted with water-basins and hidden in the dense forests you’ll find an array of wildlife from sloth bears and spotted deer to elephants and crocodiles. Little is known of the large population of leopards who reside in the park, but next to Yala in the south. this is the second-best place to spot them in Sri Lanka.

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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 travelling with a private chauffeur and 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.

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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.

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.

• Duration: Half day
• Daily departures
• Private experience
• Available for guests travelling with a private chauffeur and staying in Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Habarana, Sigiriya, Kandalama, Kandy and Trincomalee hotels. Available as a day trip for guests staying at hotels in Negombo

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.

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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.

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• 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.

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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.

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Explore Sri Lanka’s most famous national park and experience the sanctuary’s rich wildlife from the comfort of your own private jeep on this epic full day excursion. As the sun begins to rise and the parks inhabitants begin to emerge from their slumber, your experienced guide will drive you through the grassy plains and light forest in search of elephants, crocodiles, buffaloes, monkeys and more. With one of the highest densities of leopards in the world and a full day to explore, there’s a good chance you’ll catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures too.

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Founded in 1995, the Elephant Transit Home is a haven for orphaned or injured elephant calves who are rehabilitated back to full health before being returned to the wild. Great lengths are taken to minimize contact between the baby elephants, their caregivers and visitors but you can enjoy watching them stamp their feet impatiently as they wait for their food and relish in the fact that once old enough to survive alone, they’ll be free to roam the national park once more. After a delicious lunch in a local restaurant, hop into your private jeep and get ready to explore the Udawalawe National Park, a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of nearby Udawalawe Reservoir.

Infamous for its large population of elephants, have your camera at the ready as you spot herds of these majestic creatures feeding, playing and bathing in waterholes as well as an abundance of other mammals, reptiles and birds.

• Duration: half day
• Time: midday to 6pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience
• Available for guests travelling with a private chauffeur and staying in Udawalawe, Hambantota, Tangalle and Yala hotels
• Available for guests staying at hotels in Tangalle, Hambantota, Galle, Koggala and Weligama

Good to know
This unforgettable trip is suitable for all ages.

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Embark on this once in a lifetime trip in search of whales on this thrilling cruise across the Indian Ocean and discover the multitude of marine life off the coast of Sri Lanka. As your expert skipper and crew sail through areas frequented by whales, look out for sperm, killer, humpback and pilot whales in the tropical waters as well as acrobatic spinner dolphins racing alongside the boat. Home to the largest Blue Whale colony in the world, there’s a good chance you’ll spot these enormous mammals during your excursion offering some incredible photo opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 6.30am to 11.30am
• Daily departure
• Operates between October and March
• Group experience
• Available for guests staying in Galle, Hambantota, Koggala, Mirissa & Tangalle

Good to know
A great experience for those looking to explore Sri Lanka’s marine life however as these are wild animals, sightings can’t be guaranteed.

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Negotiate the waves on a two-hour surf lesson. Weligama Bay is the centre of surf culture on the south coast of Sri Lanka and an ideal spot to learn, whether you’re a beginner or looking to finesse your skills. There are gentle beginner waves all day, every day, and all year round. For those who know the basics, there are unbroken waves to tackle, and expert surfers can finetune their paddle, stance, and style — or learn some new manoeuvres.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Time: 11am to 1pm or 3pm to 5pm
• Daily departures from Galle, Weligama, Tangalle or Koggala
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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