100% customisable travel idea
By train and car Grand Tour of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka - Anuradhapura - Jaffna - Dambulla - Gal Oya National Park - Arugam Bay Beach - Ella - Kandy
Sri Lanka on a grand scale
Your journey
Once there, connections are made by car and train. You board this train twice: between Anuradhapura and Jaffna, then between Ella and Kandy. These are journeys within a journey and a distillation of Sri Lankan provincial life that you will not regret. All car journeys are made in a private vehicle with a driver-guide. They are just as much a facilitator as they are a driver. A viral companion for your logistical comfort. A Tamil villa in Jaffna, an eco-lodge in Gal Oya, or a British-style residence in the hills of Kandy, among others - you will find comfort and atmosphere in each of the accommodations. The locations are pleasant and well-chosen. Your stop-offs are a fine illustration of the diversity and quality of the country's establishments. Your nights are in tune with your days. The restaurants are professional and realistic regarding the position of Sri Lankan cuisine on the Scoville scale. The many appointments scheduled on your itinerary illuminate every aspect of the sites you will visit: archaeology, sanctuaries, pilgrimages, historic centres, wild nature, tea plantations and the botanical garden. Tour by tuk-tuk, by bike, by boat or on foot. The most suitable means of transport has been carefully considered for each activity. And the right support is provided everywhere. The logistics of your trip are complete and well adjusted. Alongside what is planned, any unplanned wish you have can be introduced into the itinerary. While this is naturally precise, it is also flexible and able to incorporate your wishes of the moment. Additionally, if an off-the-cuff wish or a minor setback arises along the way, you have the contact details for our on-site concierge service to assist you.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Night on board, arrival the next day.
On arrival, meet your driver-guide and set off for Anuradhapura. Stay for two nights by Lake Thissa. Your room opens onto the still waters, while across the shore, large white stupas rise. In the blue half-light of evening, the atmosphere is both serene and majestic. The property is modern, with an international style and subtle Sri Lankan touches throughout. Functional and comfortable. The restaurant provides a gentle introduction to local cuisine, and the pool offers welcome respite after the journey.
In your itinerary - Evening visit to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in the Mahamevnawa Gardens. This sacred Bo tree (Ficus religiosa) is the oldest historically documented tree in the world, planted in 249 BC. It is believed to have been grown from a cutting of the very tree beneath which the Buddha attained enlightenment - the Bodhi. It's a profoundly sacred site in Sri Lankan Buddhism. At night, devotees lay flowers and light small oil lamps that lend the setting a soft, devotional glow. Visit with your driver-guide.
In your itinerary - The archaeological site of Anuradhapura by tuk-tuk. The city served as the island’s capital for nearly 1,500 years, and its monuments reflect that prestige - duly recognised by UNESCO. To start off with a splash, head to the twin pools of Kuttam Pokuna a remarkable 6th-century feat of hydraulic engineering and stone craftsmanship. Then check out the great Ruwanwelisaya, (2nd century BC), a masterpiece of early Buddhist architecture. Nearby stands the Thuparama stupa, a century older still, where the stone columns that once supported the wooden roof of the protective vatadage can still be seen. The tuk-tuk visit is accompanied by your driver-guide.
Optional - Mihintale and Isurumuniya in private.
Train to Jaffna. The line winds through striking landscapes of cultivated plains and distant hills. On board, provincial Sri Lanka in all its charm. Settle in for two nights in Vaddukoddai, near Jaffna College. Your century-old villa wears its age gracefully. The interiors are simple and inviting; while it may not offer the luxury amenities of some establishments, nothing essential is lacking - least of all atmosphere. Visitors feel genuinely immersed in Jaffna life. And what's more, the authentic home cooking - traditional, flavourful and generously spiced - offers a vivid introduction to the city’s distinctive culinary character. The warm hospitality that surrounds you means you'll feel comfortable asking the cook to go easy on the Capsicum annuum.
In your itinerary - Jaffna, the highlights. With a private guide, explore this long-coveted port city, now especially resilient after surviving the civil war. Its history has been marked by destruction and reconstruction as much as by trade and strategic importance. The Portuguese, landing at Nallur in 1621, razed temple (which had already been rebuilt after an earlier destruction) and palace alike. Today’s Kandaswamy Kovil, the Hindu temple you visit, dates back to the 18th century. The Jaffna Public Library, founded in 1933 and once one of South Asia’s greatest, was burned down by rioters in 1981, and has since been rebuilt in its original Indo-Saracenic style, becoming a powerful symbol of renewal. The Portuguese fort - later Dutch in its current form - bears witness to the city’s military past. Its architecture tells the story plainly. You also take a boat to Nagadeepa Purana Vihara, one of Sri Lanka’s sixteen most sacred Buddhist sites.
Drive to Dambulla. Stay for two nights on the edge of the Kandalama Reservoir. Villas are tucked among the trees, overlooking gardens, and offer the type of easy-going comfort that travellers love. This atmosphere of understated elegance permeates the estate. Meals feature inventive fusion cuisine, enjoyed in the dining room, in your villa or outdoors in the park. While some indulge at the spa in holistic treatments, others play ping-pong, badminton or volleyball, cycle or kayak on the lake. Afterwards - the pool.
In your itinerary - Sigiriya. The fortress of King Kashyapa, perched 590 feet (180 m) above the plains on its red gneiss rock, dates back to the 5th century. The hydraulic gardens are highly sophisticated, and the frescoes of the “Cloud Maidens” - royal concubines or apsaras - are exceptional, both for their beauty and as the only surviving female representations from this period in Sri Lanka. Climbing via staircases and walkways, you reach the summit to explore palace ruins and sweeping panoramas.
In your itinerary - Polonnaruwa by bike. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Polonnaruwa was the capital of Ceylon. The former garden city of Parakramabahu the Great contains many notable monuments and feats of planning. Most striking, however, are the 12th-century Buddhas carved at Gal Vihara - standing, seated and reclining - and the royal temple of Lankathilaka, both outstanding expressions of the period. The bicycle extends your range - and adds a dose of fun. Later, still with your driver-guide, visit the cave sanctuaries of the Dambulla Golden Temple, home to ancient Buddhist statuary and 18th-century Kandyan murals. Both sites are UNESCO-listed.
Optional - Ascent of Pidurangala Rock.
Drive to Gal Oya National Park. Stay for two nights at a lodge on the edge of the park, set amid forest beneath rocky escarpments. Built of stone, timber and natural fibres, the lodge blends as seamlessly as possible into its surroundings while maintaining good standards of comfort. In your private space, the bush feels close enough to touch, yet privacy is assured. Everything fits together seamlessly - and comfortably. The cuisine continues the lodge’s artisanal spirit - unpretentious but refined. A pool awaits returning explorers.
Optional - Meeting with a Vedda chief.
In your itinerary - Boat safari in Gal Oya National Park. Water is everywhere here, which makes the boat-based wildlife watching particularly rewarding. Animals inevitably come to drink, and the silent approach of your vessel offers a distinct advantage. Rangers are adept at guiding you to the right place at the right time, and you board in the hope of encountering some of the park’s true living giants. Elephants are probably the biggest stars. They're surprisingly discreet for creatures of that size, but patience often pays. They are frequent visitors to the water's edge. Mugger crocodile patrol the shallows too: not exactly endearing, but indispensable to the ecosystem. Without him, the place would feel a little less wild. Buffalo, wild boar, spotted deer and sloth bears also make appearances. Monkeys are part of the scene as well, including toque macaques and grey langurs. To glimpse a leopard, or a jungle cat, you need luck on your side. It does happen. Birdlife, meanwhile, is anything but shy: the pompadour green pigeon is a strikingly pretty bird, while Sri Lanka hornbill is more austere - but what a beak!
Drive to the Indian Ocean. Check in for a three-night stay at Arugam Bay Beach. Your hotel opens directly onto the water. First, there is a vast garden dotted with coconut palms - for that truly tropical vibe. Next comes a large swimming pool. The villas are international in style and comfortably appointed, offering a generous, uncluttered space. The guest rooms - modern, functional and stylish - have excellent bedding. The living area opens onto the lawns. Wooden floors add warmth and tactile pleasure underfoot. Nothing formal is required here. Access to the private beach is immediate. The restaurant serves carefully prepared, high quality cuisine - refined Sri Lankan dishes, thoughtfully reinterpreted.
The Indian Ocean is not always ideal for long swims - you might prefer the pool for proper lengths. Surfers, however, whether beginners or seasoned riders, will feel right at home on the waves. And the beach remains perfect for splashing, strolling, running or simply breathing in the sea air. At dawn, light bathes sand and sea in quiet radiance. Fishing boats return from their night’s work, unloading the day’s catch in the lively atmosphere of triumphant satisfaction. A moment of unfiltered authenticity. Bird enthusiasts can travel slightly further south to Kumana National Park, where the silk-like plumage of the ibis shimmer in the light. You may also spot the Asian openbill, instantly recognisable by the gap in its beak; the lesser adjutant - admittedly rather ungainly; the red-faced malkoha, a real dandy; and countless other waders.
Optional - Private surf lesson.
Meet your new driver-guide and travel inland to Ella. Overnight in a setting where "going green" is more than just a slogan. On a hillside blending wild nature and cultivated garden, stone-and-wood chalets sit beneath thatched roofs. They are rustic in appearance, but thoughtfully equipped and harmoniously arranged. From your terrace, mist drifts across emerald hills, revealing and concealing them to varying degrees throughout the day. The restaurant and bar also offer stunning views, and the cuisine and cocktails are unexpectedly refined for such a natural setting. The swimming pool is a real treat, and while a compact gym is available, the surroundings may tempt you towards yoga instead. The spa draws on the estate’s rich reserve of medicinal herbs.
In your itinerary - Hike to Little Adam’s Peak. Not to be confused with the more demanding Adam’s Peak, this is an easy walk through villages, tea plantations and eucalyptus groves. The short staircase at the end is a little bit steep, but leads to a magnificent panorama over Ella Rock and the valley below. Accompanied by a private guide.
Optional - Hike on the Pekoe Trail.
Train to Kandy. Stay for two nights in the hills. During the Second World War, Lord Louis Mountbatten, then head of the South East Asia Command, came here to rest from his duties - and the décor still recalls that era. Beyond attractive manicured lawns, the natural surroundings are splendid and lush. Interiors balance grand British style with contemporary restraint, for spaces that are neat and comfortable. The restaurant skilfully blends Sri Lankan and international cuisine. Afternoon tea honours tradition. The spa highlights the therapeutic virtues of tea. A lovely swimming pool completes the setting.
Optional - Private Sri Lankan cooking class.
In your itinerary - The Royal Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya, in private. Renowned for their orchid and palm collections, medicinal plants and vast weeping fig trees, the gardens were laid out in the 1840s by a succession of gentleman botanists. Romantic landscaping meets exuberant tropical growth in a setting of rare beauty and a charming park. Visit with a distinguished naturalist - science and wonder, perfectly paired.
Also included - The Temple of the Tooth, housed in the former royal palace. Here is preserved a sacred tooth relic of the Buddha - possession of which historically conferred both religious and political legitimacy (and helped earn Kandy its UNESCO listing). Pilgrims gather daily to venerate it. Visit with your driver-guide.
Drive to Colombo Airport. Return flight. Night on board, arrival the next day.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Anuradhapura - Mihintale and Isurumuniya
It was at Mihintale, in the 3rd century BCE, that King Devanampiya, founder of Anuradhapura and Isurumuniya, is said to have been converted to Buddhism by the Indian monk Mahinda. The first stupa in Ceylon was built here. The beautiful Isurumuniya Buddhist temple is thus a royal sanctuary. Here you can admire a famous carving sculpted in the Gupta style from the 6th century, and the ElephantBasin, reminiscent of Pallava art from the 7th century. Tours with a driver-guide.Dambulla - Climbing Pidurangala Rock
This formation is located in Sigiriya. The trek requires you to be in good physical condition: around 1,200 steps and a final climbing section. A local guide accompanies you (and encourages you when needed). The toque macaques encountered along the way, an ancient rock-cut Buddhist monastery, and a splendid view of Lion Rock, which holds eagle’s nest of 5th century King Kashyapa the Parricide, more than make up for the effort.Gal Oya - Meeting with a Vedda chief
The Vedda are the first people of Sri Lanka. Between forced settlement, assimilation, social relegation, and folklorisation, their situation is precarious. Nevertheless, they are the custodians of a very ancient culture and have a deep understanding of their natural environment. What they know about the therapeutic virtues of plants is dumfounding. The opportunity that respectful tourism offers them to showcase this is, after all, a mutual chance for adaptation. Meet a Vedda chief, accompanied by a naturalist guide, and enter the jungle dwelling with them.Private surfing lesson
The consistency of its waves has made Arugam Bay one of Sri Lanka’s top surfing destinations. It would be a shame to pass by these renowned spots without trying to stand up on the board. This session, supervised by a private instructor, has one goal: to get you riding a wave. There is a source of intense satisfaction when this is your first time. And if you don’t manage it? Well, that's how you catch the bug!Hiking on the Pekoe Trail
The Pekoe Trail is a 300-km (186-mile) long-distance hiking route through the highlands of Sri Lanka. Of course, this time we are only talking about a very small part of the itinerary, with no technical difficulty and accessible to almost everyone. Between Haputale and Lipton’s Seat, the wooded areas and the viewpoints over the mountains and the famous tea plantations are spectacular. About 15 km (9 miles), with a private guide.Private Sri Lankan cookery lesson
Stepping into their kitchen is always an excellent way to connect with people. We invite you to pull on an apron and grab a saucepan alongside a family from Kandy. First things first: a trip to the market for fresh ingredients, since that is where it all begins. Next, prepare an iconic dish under the supervision of the home chef. This will probably be a curry! Everyone does their best, as the result will be shared and evaluated there and then. Attentiveness easily compensates for any possible gaps in your English.
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