25 Feb 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £5,451
Escorted tour
Luxury Sri Lanka: Cultural Triangle, Tea Country & the Coast – 9 Days
Boutique stays, an almsgiving ceremony, a Minneriya safari and a tea estate tour with its owners, in a group of 4 to 16.
9 days
From £3,720
Tour overview
This 9-day luxury tour explores Sri Lanka through a series of exceptional boutique stays and immersive experiences, from the ancient Cultural Triangle to the misty highlands and the southern coast. Groups have between 4 and 16 travellers, with an expert tour director throughout. You stay eight nights in characterful properties: The Wallawwa, a restored manor amid gardens near Negombo; Jetwing Vil Uyana, a private wetland sanctuary of freestanding dwellings; a forest lodge in the highlands; a tea-country retreat; and seaside villas near Bentota. All breakfasts, three lunches and seven dinners are included, at restaurants that showcase authentic Sri Lankan cuisine.
After a welcome reception in the gardens of The Wallawwa, you travel to the Cultural Triangle, sharing an almsgiving ceremony with a Buddhist host. With leading researchers, you track primates in the forest and then join a safari in Minneriya National Park, famous for its gatherings of wild elephants.
Read more
A Signature Day lets you choose your own experience: a birdwatching walk in the wetlands, village trails with local people or the climb to the summit of Sigiriya, the iconic Lion Rock fortress. You then travel up into the cooler central highlands, walking forest trails and dining by torchlight at a secluded lodge.
The next morning begins with a cycle along winding hill roads before you move on to tea country. On an exclusive tour led by the estate's owners, you learn the story of Ceylon tea from bush to cup, followed by a planter's lunch. Finally, you head to the coast near Bentota for a gentle kayak along the river and a last evening by the ocean before the tour ends. A complimentary arrival transfer is included.
The physical rating is low to medium, with gentle activities and optional climbs. This tour suits discerning travellers who want an intimate, beautifully paced journey through Sri Lanka with outstanding places to stay. A complimentary arrival transfer is included, and departures run through the year. With only a handful of guests on each departure, the pace is unhurried and the service personal. Pack smart-casual clothes for dinners and modest layers for temple visits.
Trip highlights
-
A welcome reception at The Wallawwa (Day 1)
-
An almsgiving ceremony (Day 2)
-
Primate tracking and a Minneriya safari (Day 3)
-
A choice of experiences, including Sigiriya (Day 4)
-
Dinner by torchlight in the highlands (Day 5)
-
A tea estate tour with its owners (Day 7)
Your route
9 stops from Negombo to Balapitiya
- Negombo Day 1
- Kurunegala Day 2
- Sigiriya Days 2–4
- Polonnaruwa Day 3
- Minneriya National Park Day 3
- Wattegama Day 5
- Neboda Days 6–7
- Bentota Day 8
- Balapitiya Days 8–9
Why choose this tour
Exceptional boutique stays, from a wetland sanctuary to a tea-country retreat. Exclusive experiences with researchers, monks and tea planters.
Best suited to
- Travellers who value comfort
- Couples
- Food and wildlife lovers
- Return visitors to Asia
Day-by-day itinerary
9 days from Negombo, Sri Lanka to Balapitiya, Sri Lanka
-
Day 1 · Negombo Arrive near Negombo
A welcome reception in the gardens.
- Hotel
- The Wallawwa
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Cultural Triangle Cultural Triangle
An almsgiving ceremony on the way.
- Hotel
- Jetwing Vil Uyana
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 3 · Minneriya National Park Minneriya
Primate tracking and an elephant safari.
- Hotel
- Jetwing Vil Uyana
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 4 · Sigiriya Your choice
Birds, village trails or Lion Rock.
- Hotel
- Jetwing Vil Uyana
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Central Highlands Highlands
Forest trails and dinner by torchlight.
- Hotel
- Simpson's Forest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Alkaduwa Tea country
A cycle along the hill roads.
- Hotel
- Glenross Living
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Tea estate Tea estate
An owner-led tour and a planter's lunch.
- Hotel
- Glenross Living
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Bentota River Bentota
A river kayak and the coast.
- Hotel
- Aavya Cove Villas
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Balapitiya Tour ends
The tour ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Negombo (1 night) The Wallawwa
- Cultural Triangle (3 nights) Jetwing Vil Uyana
- Central Highlands (1 night) Simpson's Forest
- Tea country (2 nights) Glenross Living
- Bentota coast (1 night) Aavya Cove Villas
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 8 nights in boutique hotels and lodges
- Meals 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 7 dinners
- Private transport and an arrival transfer
- Almsgiving ceremony with a Buddhist host
- Primate tracking with researchers and a Minneriya safari
- A choice of experiences on Day 4
- Hill cycling, a tea estate tour and a river kayak
- Tour director throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 4 lunches and 1 dinner
- Sri Lanka electronic travel authorisation
- Drinks
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a budget trip
- You want a long beach stay
- You want an action-packed itinerary
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 3, 5 and 7 · Dinner: Days 1–2 and 4–8
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Sri Lanka
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,720 per person, twin share, tour only. 18 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £4,871 (single supplement from £1,152).
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
02 Apr 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £4,900
15 Oct 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £4,872
31 Oct 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £4,872
26 Nov 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £4,928
16 Jan 2028
Twin share
£5,454pp
Single from £7,234
23 Jan 2028
Twin share
£5,454pp
Single from £7,234
18 Feb 2028
Twin share
£5,454pp
Single from £7,234
05 Mar 2028
Twin share
£5,454pp
Single from £7,234
17 Mar 2028
Twin share
£5,295pp
Single from £6,950
02 Apr 2028
Twin share
£5,083pp
Single from £6,633
14 Apr 2028
Twin share
£5,083pp
Single from £6,633
24 Sept 2028
Twin share
£4,871pp
Single from £6,381
15 Oct 2028
Twin share
£4,871pp
Single from £6,381
27 Oct 2028
Twin share
£4,871pp
Single from £6,381
12 Nov 2028
Twin share
£5,189pp
Single from £6,774
24 Nov 2028
Twin share
£5,189pp
Single from £6,774
03 Dec 2028
Twin share
£5,189pp
Single from £6,774
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What are the hotels like?
Boutique properties, including a restored manor, a wetland sanctuary and a tea-country retreat.
What is the choice on Day 4?
Birdwatching in the wetlands, village trails or the climb up Sigiriya's Lion Rock.
Is the cycling hard?
A gentle ride on hill roads, suitable for most travellers.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors need an electronic travel authorisation for Sri Lanka, applied for online.
Does the tour need a minimum number?
Yes, departures need at least 4 travellers to run.
How many people travel together?
Between 4 and 16 travellers, with a tour director.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary