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Sri Lanka Holidays

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Holidays to Sri Lanka offer a stunning blend of history, culture and wildlife with a spectacular landscape of palm-fringed beaches, lush verdant jungle and tranquil hill stations.

Friendly people, mouth-watering food and an abundance of arts, from graceful Kandyan dancing to fire walking, awaits you while, if you can tear yourself away from the beach, the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, along with the spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya, beg exploration.

Further inland, the plains give way to soaring mountain peaks carpeted with rows of tea plantations and a cool, refreshing climate. Sri Lanka’s verdant national parks are also a haven for wildlife, from 431 species of bird to majestic elephants and even leopard.

Sri


Trailfinders is the UK & Ireland's No.1 to Sri Lanka and we have a dedicated team of destination specialists who are mines of information about the country, often with first-hand experience of travel here. Whether you want to explore the country with your own private driver or on a sociable small group tour, or are simply looking for advice on the best place to stay for a relaxing beach break – they are the perfect people to ask.

Expert Travel Consultants
Speak to a Sri Lanka Expert
01 702 9100
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OUR HOLIDAYS TO SRI LANKA

Classic Sri Lanka
Classic Sri Lanka
8 days / 7 nights
from €969
  • Polonnaruwa
  • Sigiriya
  • Minneriya National Park
  • Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
  • Tea country

    • Sri Lankan Summer Escape {Days 1-9}
    Sri Lankan Summer Escape
    14 days / 13 nights
    from €1,866
  • Tea Country
  • Temple of the Sacred Tooth
  • Sigiriya
  • Minneriya National Park

    • Sri Lanka's Natural Wonders
    Sri Lanka's Natural Wonders
    15 days / 14 nights
    from €2,373
  • Sigiriya
  • Horton Plains National Park
  • Yala National Park
  • Udawalawe National Park

    • Luxury Sri Lanka
    Luxury Sri Lanka
    11 days / 10 nights
    from €2,976
  • Cultural Triangle
  • Sri Lanka’s National Parks
  • Tea Country
  • Galle Fort

    • Jewels of Sri Lanka
    Jewels of Sri Lanka
    14 days / 13 nights
    from €2,265
  • Explore the Negombo fish market
  • Visit ‘Lion Rock’ of Sigiriya
  • View the UNESCO World Heritage Dambulla cave temple & the Polonnaruwa ruins
  • Visit a tea factory in Haputale
  • Take a jeep safari in Yala National Park
  • Guided walk of Galle Fort
  • Guided walking tour of Colombo
  • Scenic train ride to Nuwara Eliya

    • Cycle the Backroads of Sri Lanka
    Cycle the Backroads of Sri Lanka
    14 days / 13 nights
    from €2,249
  • Ancient Cities
  • Hill Country
  • Yala National Park

    • View all our holidays in Sri Lanka

    WHERE TO GO IN SRI LANKA

    For a relatively small country Sri Lanka boasts an incredible diversity of sights and experiences. In just one week you could discover the historic delights of the Cultural Triangle, get up close and personal with elephants, reptiles and birdlife in Minneriya National Park, mix with pilgrims in spiritual Kandy and still have time to sample the fresh air and lush scenery of Tea Country. With two weeks to spare, the delights of Jaffna, the east coast and more remote national parks really open up – or you could just flop on one of the glorious beaches here or in the Maldives.

    Take a look at the guide below to discover further or give us a call if you are looking for some inspiration.

    Sri Lanka Holiday & Sri Lanka Tour Highlights Map
    Cultural Triangle
    Cultural Triangle
    Commonly referred to as the ‘Cultural Triangle’, the central plains area boasts no less than four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the striking rock fortress of Sigiriya, Dambulla’s incredible cave temples and the crumbling ancient capitals of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. With the added bonus of viewing elephants at wonderful Minneriya National Park, a stay in this region is sure to be a highlight of any trip to Sri Lanka.
    Kandy
    Kandy
    Sri Lanka’s second largest city, Kandy, enjoys a scenic setting around a lake surrounded by green hills, and is home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, said to house Buddha’s tooth. Each August the city hosts the spectacular Kandy Esala Perahera festival featuring dancers, fire-breathers and lavishly decorated elephants. Charming boutique hotels nestle in the surrounding hills and the renowned Peradeniya Botanic Gardens are also nearby.
    Tea Country
    Tea Country
    The beautiful central highlands offer misty jungle-clad mountains and mile upon mile of rolling tea plantations, dotted with 19th Century planters’ bungalows and tumbling waterfalls. Enjoy the cool climate and British colonial history of Nuwara Eliya, head out on a hike to the World’s End escarpment at Horton Plains National Park or soak up the laidback atmosphere and breathtaking views in Ella.
    Yala National Park
    Yala National Park
    One of the largest and most popular national parks in the country, Yala has a varied terrain of dry woodland, lagoons and grassy plains, which supports an abundance of wildlife. It is home to a large number of elephants, spotted deer, sambar deer, sloth bears, wild buffalo, jackals and crocodiles. The park also boasts one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, but they are famously shy creatures so any sighting is sure to be a memorable experience.
    Udawalawe National Park
    Udawalawe National Park
    Renowned as one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see elephants, most visitors to Udawalawe will be graced with numerous sightings of herds of these gentle giants as they roam the grassland and scrub landscapes. The park also hosts other species such as water buffalo, sambar deer and monkeys and is a wonderful place to enjoy bird watching. Adjacent to the park is the Elephant Transit Home, a small facility which cares for orphan elephants until they are ready to be released into the wild.
    Colombo
    Colombo
    Sri Lanka’s sprawling capital is developing rapidly with an increasing number of new hotels, smart boutiques and cosmopolitan restaurants. This is a city of contrasts where serene Buddhist temples and colonial churches nestle amid ramshackle streets and shiny office blocks. The bustling markets and stylish stores offer interesting shopping opportunities, there’s a number of historic sights to discover and no visit is complete without a stroll along Galle Face Green on the city’s waterfront.
    Galle Fort
    Galle Fort
    Set on a promontory on the southwest tip of the island, Galle offers the best preserved example in Asia of a European built fortified city. Constructed by the Dutch in the 17th Century, it was the country’s main port for over 200 years and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The enchanting small streets are a delight to explore, with dozens of restaurants, cafés and quirky shops nestled amid decaying colonial buildings and grand fort walls. Soak up the atmosphere with a stay in one of the fort’s boutique hotels.
    White sand beach with palm trees in Sri Lanka
    Sri Lanka Beach Holidays
    Sri Lanka’s beaches extend for almost a thousand miles around its coastline, offering glorious golden sands dotted with popular resorts and Sri Lanka’s beach resorts make a relaxing addition to a tour of the country or indeed a great holiday in their own right.
    Jaffna
    Jaffna
    Settled long ago by Tamil migrants from Southern India, today the city of Jaffna, and the peninsula of the same name, retains a unique character and culture making it a fascinating place to visit. This small historic city offers an intriguing mix of colourful Hindu temples and colonial charm. Out of bounds to foreign tourists until 2010, Jaffna is once again welcoming visitors but for now is still very much off the beaten track with limited tourist infrastructure and many reminders of the decades of civil war.

    HOW TO GET AROUND SRI LANKA

    Exploring Sri Lanka with your own private car and driver is extremely popular in Sri Lanka. You can simply follow one of our classic itineraries or our specialist Sri Lanka team can put something tailormade together for you.

    Small group touring is also a great value option and very sociable too. A great choice if you are travelling alone. If this sounds appealing and you also want to stretch your legs a little – why not talk to us about our cycling holidays in Sri Lanka?

    Lastly don’t forget Sri Lanka’s neighbours. It’s simple and straightforward to combine a holiday to Sri Lanka with one in the Maldives, India or Dubai on a multi centre holiday or even Asia with a cruise.

    OUR RECOMMENDED HOTELS IN SRI LANKA

    We feature a wonderful range of accommodation in Sri Lanka, with something to suit all budgets.

    Maybe you’re looking for a family friendly beach resort on the south coast or a secluded hideaway on the east coast? Or perhaps it’s an eco-lodge in the heart Yala National Park, a colonial era cottage in Tea Country or a chic spa resort in the Cultural Triangle. We can help you with hotels, resorts, guesthouses and lodges all over Sri Lanka.

    What you won’t find here are thousands upon thousands of hotels where you have to wade through endless reviews of questionable origin to find the best one. We have done the hard work for you and selected the best places to stay so you don’t have to and our travel consultants are on hand to help, often with first-hand experience.

    Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya
    4 plus star
    Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya
    Cultural Triangle
  • Restaurant & bar
  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Gym
  • Yoga classes
  • Bicycle hire

    • Cinnamon Lodge Habarana
    4 star
    Cinnamon Lodge Habarana
    Cultural Triangle
  • Convenient Cultural Triangle location
  • Large pool
  • Lovely lakeside setting
  • Abundant wildlife

    • Heritance Tea Factory, Near Nuwara Eliya
    3 plus star
    Heritance Tea Factory, Near Nuwara Eliya
    Nuwara Eliya & Tea Country
  • 2 restaurants & 2 bars
  • Spa
  • Gym
  • Bicycle hire
  • Tea tasting
  • Tea plucking experience

    • Fort Bazaar
    4 plus star
    Fort Bazaar
    Galle
  • Restaurant & café
  • Spa

    • Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Tangalle
    5 star
    Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Tangalle
    Southwest Coast
    from €151
  • Lovely beach
  • Stylish pool
  • Surfing & stand-up paddle boarding (payable locally)
  • Spa
  • Gym
  • Bicycle hire
  • Tennis & badminton courts
  • Yoga, meditation & cooking classes (payable locally)
  • Resort naturalist
  • Kids’ & teens’ clubs
  • Free wi-fi

    • Uga Bay
    4 star
    Uga Bay
    Passekudah
    from €84
  • Stunning beach
  • Large infinity pool
  • Motorised & non-motorised watersports (payable locally)
  • Snorkelling & diving (payable locally)
  • Semi-underground spa
  • Gym
  • House reef
  • Bicycle hire
  • Free wi-fi

    • View all our hotels in Sri Lanka

    THINGS TO DO IN SRI LANKA

    As well as some wonderful sights, Sri Lanka is also home to some unforgettable experiences from immersive tours with local guides to unforgettable encounters with the wildlife.

    One day you might be coming face to face with monkeys in Polonnaruwa, the next drifting over the Cultural Triangle in a hot air balloon. Getting about can be half the fun too with everything from scenic sea plane flights and train journeys to discovering Colombo by tuk tuk on offer.

    Our collection of unmissable experiences will really help bring your holiday in Sri Lanka alive.

    Colombo City Safari by Tuk Tuk
    Colombo City Safari by Tuk Tuk
    Approx 4 hours
    from €54
  • Tuk Tuk experience
  • City exploration
  • Authentic street food

    • Hot Air Balloon over the Cultural Triangle
    Hot Air Balloon over the Cultural Triangle
    Approx 2 hours
    from €220
  • Scenic flight
  • Spectacular scenery
  • Champagne toast

    • Udawalawe National Park Experience
    Udawalawe National Park Experience
    Approx 8.5 - 13.5 hours depending on pick up
    from €183
  • Udawalawe National Park
  • See Water buffalos, samba deer and monkeys
  • Elephant transit home

    • Galle Fort & Turtle Hatchery
    Galle Fort & Turtle Hatchery
    Approx 3.5-7.5 hours depending on pick up.
    from €165
  • Galle Fort
  • Turtle Hatchery

    • Monkey Magic
    Monkey Magic
    Approx 4 hours
    from €110

    Train Journey through the Tea Country
    Train Journey through the Tea Country
    Approx 4-6 hours
    from €28
  • Scenic journey
  • Leisurely way to travel
  • Choice of carriages

    • View all our Unmissable Experiences in Sri Lanka

    When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?

    Sri Lanka Climate Guide
    Bentota

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    Galle

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    DEC

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    Negombo

    JAN

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    JUL

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    OCT

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    NOV

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    7h  29cm

    DEC

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    7h  15cm
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    Sri Lanka Fast Facts

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    Time Zone

    GMT
    5½ hours

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    Flight Time to Sri Lanka

    Approx
    10½ hours

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    Currency

    Sri Lankan Rupee

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    Visa Required?

    Yes

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    Diphtheria/Tetanus/Polio booster
    Hepititis A (vaccine recommended)
    Japanese Encephalitis
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    20% Discount off immunisations at our London Travel Clinic if you have booked your holiday with Trailfinders.

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    Enjoy comprehensive cover in Sri Lanka from just €69 for 7 days with our superb value Single Trip Travel Insurance.

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    Visa information given is given for Irish citizens holding a valid Irish passport with at least 6 months validity remaining. Immunisation guidelines assume routine Irish childhood immunisation has been given and will not apply to all situations. Medical advice should be sought. Your Trailfinders consultant will advise you of the specific visa and immunisation requirements for your trip.
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