Sri Lanka and the Maldives are only a 90-minute flight apart, yet they feel completely different. Start on Sri Lanka's south-west coast at Bentota, where the river meets the Indian Ocean, and spend your days exploring: the Dutch ramparts and lanes of Galle Fort, the mangroves of the Madu River, Geoffrey Bawa's gardens at Lunuganga and roadside stalls selling king coconuts and fresh curd with treacle.
Then fly to Malé and take a seaplane north to Lhaviyani Atoll for a week of reef, lagoon and very little else. If you want more of Sri Lanka, the tea country, Kandy and the rock fortress at Sigiriya can be added before the coast, with a private driver to take you between them.
2 stops · 12 nights
Beach, Galle Fort and river life
Island stay in Lhaviyani Atoll
Priced with these hotels or similar. Want a different hotel? Your Travel Designer will re-price it for you.
Bentota is a long stretch of sand between the Bentota River and the sea, about 90 minutes south of Colombo airport. It makes a relaxed base for day trips to Galle Fort, the Madu River and the gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa.
Lhaviyani Atoll is a short seaplane flight north of Malé and known for good snorkelling and diving. Your resort island has a long beach, a large lagoon and plenty of restaurants and bars for a week's stay.
Guide prices per person, two sharing, with flights from London.
Prices checked October 2026. Prices change daily; your Travel Designer confirms today's live price before you book. Business class and regional airports on request.
Best time to go: December to April is the best time for this pairing, when Sri Lanka's south-west coast and the Maldives are both in their dry season. From May to September the south-west monsoon brings rain to Bentota, so we would switch the beach stay to the east coast.
A suggested plan. Change anything.
Fly from London to Colombo, usually overnight. A driver meets you and takes you about 90 minutes down the coast to Bentota.
Explore Galle Fort, take a boat through the Madu River mangroves and visit Lunuganga or the Brief Garden. Leave time for the beach and the pool.
Transfer to Colombo airport for the short flight to Malé, then a seaplane north to Lhaviyani Atoll.
Six full days on the island. Snorkel the house reef, dive, take a sunset cruise or do nothing at all.
Seaplane back to Malé for your flight home to the UK.
Live prices for a week with flights, updated daily. Pick one and we'll add the other stops.
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Fifteen minutes by boat from the airport, with overwater cottages and a kids' club.
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Big, busy island with a golf course, dive school and a long house reef. Good value for families.
The sister resort of the revered Bandos Island Resort & Spa, Malahini Kuda Bandos bathes in the aquamarine lagoon of North Male Atoll and offers guests Indian Ocean rejuvenation via…
Nestled in the North Male Atoll, just a short 45-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport, lies Summer Island Maldives.
Waterpark, lagoon slides and themed restaurants. Built for children.
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Surf break on the doorstep, water bungalows and a relaxed, well-priced feel.
No hotels match. Airport, month and budget only apply to hotels with a price today, so try clearing those.
About an hour and a half from Colombo to Malé. Add the seaplane transfer and you are on the island the same afternoon.
Yes. Most people add three or four nights for Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy with a private driver before the coast. We will price it for your dates.
UK passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. The Maldives gives a free 30-day visa on arrival.
We usually put Sri Lanka first, so the busier part of the trip comes while you have energy and the island week is the last thing you remember.
Change the hotels, the nights or the order, or add a third stop. A Travel Designer replies within a few hours.
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