Sri Lanka: The Enchanted Island

Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Colombo with Sri Lankan Airlines.

Afternoon arrival and transfer to the Cinammon Lakeside (or similar) for 1 night. Enjoy afternoon tea at the iconic Galle Face Hotel.

In the morning transfer to Dambulla. Stay 3 nights at the Heritance Kandalama hotel (or similar).

Drive to the ancient city of Anuradhapura. For 1,400 years this city was Sri Lanka’s capital and contains fabulous Buddhist shrines and relics. Afternoon visit to Mihintale, the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Morning visit to the rock fortress town of Sigiriya. Continue to the 11th-century medieval capital of Polonnaruwa.

Morning visit to Dambulla, home to Asia’s most impressive cave temples. Continue to the beautiful hill station of Kandy and stay 2 nights at the Earls Regency (or similar). Afternoon city tour. Later, in the evening, take time to watch a traditional Kandyan dance performance and visit the Temple of the Tooth for the evening puja.

Kandy is set on the shores of a beautiful manmade lake and the area abounds with rich and varied plant life. Morning visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Afternoon at leisure.

Early morning drive to Nuwara Eliya hill station via a tea plantation. Situated at 2,000 metres above sea level, Nuwara Eliya attracted the British in the 18th century and their legacy is still visible. Stay at the Heritance Tea Factory for 2 nights.

Early morning visit to Horton Plains, situated on Sri Lanka’s highest plateau (this excursion involves a 2.5-hour walk*). Horton Plains is inhabited by large populations of monkeys and sambar deer. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Transfer to Ella; the view through the Ella Gap – a break in the hills – is one of the finest in Sri Lanka. Visit the Rawana Ella Falls and impressive Buduruwagala statues before continuing to Yala. Stay 2 nights at Cinnamon Wild (Jungle Chalet).

Morning wildlife safari in Yala National Park. Covering 1,300 sq km, Yala National Park encompasses a diversity of jungle habitats, including scrub, brackish lagoons and riverside locations. Creatures that may be seen include elephants, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild pigs, jackals, marsh crocodiles and a great variety of birdlife.

Drive to Ahungalla, stopping for a visit to the Elephant Transit home and tour of Galle fort. Stay 2 nights at Heritance Ahungalla or upgrade to the Vivanta by Taj Bentota (Superior Charm Seaview room) from £80. Following day at leisure.

Transfer to Colombo and fly to London with Sri Lankan Airlines.