Essence of Sri Lanka

(8 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Cultural Triangle, Kandy, Hill Country, Galle

This private Sri Lanka tour features the best experiences on the island, including seeing fascinating religious sites, visiting tea plantations, interacting with elephants, watching a private Kandyan dance performance, and staying in the unforgettable Tea Trails and Amangalla resorts.

Begin in the Cultural Triangle, a region filled with fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tour the ancient Buddhist city of Polonnaruwa to see ruined palaces and sculptures carved in stone. Also visit Sigiriya, an ancient rock citadel that's Sri Lanka's most spectacular attraction. See the Sigiriya Damsels frescoes, which were painted on the rock walls centuries ago, and climb to the top of the rock to explore the ruins of a fifth-century palace and take in panoramic views over farmland, forests, lakes and mountains. Another option is spotting wild elephants and other animals in Minneriya National Park.

One afternoon, enjoy a private elephant experience at a local lake, including bathing the elephants, feeding them and walking next to them, if desired.

Next, visit Dambulla and tour impressive cave temples filled with Buddhist sculptures and vibrant religious paintings. Continue to Kandy, a former royal capital in the hills. En route, visit a spice plantation to learn how different spices—including Sri Lanka's renowned cinnamon—are grown and harvested. In Kandy, see a puja (religious ceremony) at the Temple of the Tooth, a UNESCO site dedicated to a sacred relic of the historical Buddha. Also, visit a local market, and tour the Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya.

In the evening, enjoy a private performance of traditional Sri Lankan dance and fire walking.

Venture into the Hill Country, where verdant tea plantations cover rolling mountains. Stay at Tea Trails, an atmospheric hotel set in several renovated tea planters' cottages. Tour a historic tea factory to learn about tea picking and processing, and also sample different types of high-quality Sri Lankan tea. During leisure time, hike through the tea fields or relax by the pool.

Continue to Galle, an ancient fortified port and UNESCO site with a colonial-era atmosphere and unique mix of cultures. Stay in the heart of the Galle Fort historic district at Amangalla, one of the finest and most romantic luxury resorts in Sri Lanka. During private touring, visit local museums, explore evocative backstreets, walk on the sea walls to the lighthouse, look for reminders of the Dutch and British colonial years, observe daily life, and browse local shops, some of the best in Sri Lanka. Also, enjoy flexible private excursions to regional highlights such as a sea turtle hatchery, a traditional mask workshop, a lace-making workshop, a folk museum dedicated to preserving Sri Lanka's traditions, and the private country estate of Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka's most acclaimed modern architect.

This tour can be further customized with Sri Lankan curry cooking lessons, visits to local workshops, stops in scenic locations such as Ella, and other options.

We can easily combine our private Sri Lanka tours with destinations in the Maldives, India, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world