SPECIAL OFFER:
Save £150 per person on departures from September 2025, when you book by 28th February 2025. Request a brochure
14-day Treasures of Sri Lanka from £3,895pp
Sri Lanka is so much more than an island. A rich history meets raw, natural beauty in this exquisite country off the coast of India. Its verdant hills, hypnotising beaches and ancient ruins paint a canvas of its complexities. Its cuisine is unparalleled, combining the influences of countless cultures.
On this new tour, exclusively for solo travellers, with no single supplement, we’ll dive into Sri Lanka and all it has to offer.
Over 14 days, we’ll visit Sri Lanka’s most bountiful national parks and admire a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitat, including Asian elephants, birds, crocodiles, and hopefully, leopards. We’ll discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from medieval cities to networks of caves, and the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya.
Sacred Buddhist shrines precede idyllic train journeys past sprawling tea estates and cascading waterfalls, and we’ll learn about spices and tea-plucking at their source, with the help of local professionals. We take a tuk-tuk to Menikkumbura market, where we meet the village’s Ayurvedic doctor, and sample exquisite Sri Lankan cuisine – even preparing an authentic traditional meal ourselves.
Join a small group of like-minded travellers as we explore the Treasures of Sri Lanka together on this superb solo tour.
Save £150 per person on departures from September 2025, when you book by 28th February 2025.
Depart from London Heathrow, Manchester or Birmingham with Emirates. All flights to Colombo operate via Dubai.
In-flight meals and drinks
On arrival, we transfer to the coastal town of Negombo, for our first two nights in Sri Lanka. Our accommodation is the scenic Jetwing Sea Hotel. Later, enjoy a welcome drink with our Tour Manager and fellow travellers, followed by dinner
In-flight meals and drinks and dinner
Following a leisurely morning, we take a sightseeing tour of Colombo, with its fascinating mix of cultures, religions, and colonial influences. We see the stately New and Old Parliament, Independence Square, the Pettah – a neighbourhood famed for open-air bazaars – and the captivating architecture of Gangaramaya Temple. We then embark on a walking tour of Colombo’s thriving food scene, sampling local street food, browsing artisanal markets, and visiting traditional eateries.
Breakfast and dinner
If you’re an early bird, don’t miss out on the optional visit to Lellama village, where we see the second-largest fish market in the country, where over 4000 boats depart daily. Chat with locals while admiring the day’s catch. We return to the hotel for a hearty breakfast before travelling to Dambulla. On arrival, we check in at Amaya Lake Hotel, where we will stay for the next two nights. This afternoon, experience a game drive in either Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park, both set in the mesmerising Sri Lankan countryside, where wild Asian elephants roam in abundance.
Breakfast and dinner
Tour Highlight
We take an early breakfast before visiting the famous site of Sigiriya to discover its fascinating history. Surrounded by the remains of extensive gardens, the most celebrated site is Sigiriya Rock, with its flat-topped summit some 200 metres above sea level, amidst the ruins of an ancient civilisation. The more energetic amongst us can climb to the summit, passing remarkable frescos and the famous ‘Lion’s Paws’ along the way. Later, we enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan lunch before travelling to the medieval city of Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the grand Royal Palace complex, including the majestic Kings Palace and Audience Hall. We witness the spectacular Gal Vihare complex featuring four gigantic images of Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite – a dramatic highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
This morning, we embark on our journey to the Last Kingdom of Sri Lanka, Kandy. En route, we visit the Cave Temple of Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex of magnificent caves dates back to the 1st century BC. Later, we stop at the Sri Lankan Spice Garden in the rural village of Matale, a working spice and fruit farm, to learn about the local trees and crops in the company of our host. Enjoy a traditionally-prepared rice and curry lunch, then continue to Kandy and the Cinnamon Citadel Hotel, or the charming Earl’s Regent Hotel for our next two nights.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, we enjoy a village walking tour. We visit Yatiwawala, walking through lush jungle paths and verdant rice fields, spotting the roaming buffalo. See spices at their source and visit an Ambalama, a shelter built by ancient kings to house weary travellers. Afterwards, we take a tuk-tuk to Menikkumbura market, where we meet the village’s Ayurvedic doctor. We will then prepare and sample an authentic Sri Lankan meal and return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure. In the early evening, we visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth, also known as ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’. A significant shrine for Buddhists worldwide, the temple holds the blessed tooth relic of the Lord Buddha himself. We arrive in time for the evening ceremony, followed by a cultural show – a fascinating performance of traditional Sri Lankan dances.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Tour Highlight
Today, we journey towards the cooler climates of Sri Lanka’s hill country, as we join a local train travelling through an idyllic panorama of forests, villages, tea estates, and waterfalls. Please note, whilst we endeavour to arrange seats on the train as soon as tickets become available to book, this included rail journey is always subject to availability. Disembarking in Nuwara Eliya, enjoy a brief city tour before arriving at the Jetwing St Andrew’s Hotel, offering scenic views of the countryside.
Breakfast and dinner
After breakfast, enjoy a tea-plucking experience. Prepare to be decked out in local attire as we head to the organic tea fields. We are taught the art of which leaves to pluck and the tricky techniques to ensure the leaves end up in our baskets and not on the ground! Accompanied by professional tea pluckers along the way. We’ll conclude the day with High Tea at the hotel.
Breakfast, High Tea and dinner
After enjoying our breakfast, we travel to Udawalawe, where we stay the night in either the Hotel Centauria Wild or the Grand Udawalawe. After settling in, embark on an afternoon safari in Udawalawe National Park. The park is renowned for its elephants, so get ready to admire these majestic creatures up close. The park is also a birders’ paradise, and you can spot deer, buffalo, and crocodiles from the comfort (and safety) of our guided vehicle.
Breakfast and dinner
For those interested, there is the option to purchase a further early morning safari in Udawalawe National Park. After breakfast, we visit the Elephant Transit Home, a wonderful facility which rehabilitates orphaned baby elephants, aiming to release them back into the wild. We continue our journey towards Yala and our overnight stay at the Cinnamon Wild Hotel. This afternoon, we embark on a safari in Yala National Park, the largest National Park in Sri Lanka, located approximately 24km northeast of Tissamaharama. Yala is the best location to see rare leopards. Other highlights of Yala include elephants, bears, wild boars, buffalos, deer, crocodiles, and many species of birds. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle, with an abundance of water for the wildlife.
Breakfast and dinner
We have an opportunity this morning to take a second safari (own expense) in Yala National Park, before we begin our journey to Kalutara, via Galle. We experience a city tour in Galle, a striking and historic city on the southwest coast. The main maritime port for the country for more than 200 years, Galle is famous for its Dutch fort with its colonial buildings, stylish cafés, and quirky boutique shops. We continue to Kalutara beach and spend our final two nights in Sri Lanka at the Anantara Kalutara Resort.
Breakfast and dinner
Today, we have the chance to spend the day at leisure. Alternatively, there are various optional excursions for you to further explore the area. The first is a Madu River Boat Safari, heading out into the wetland estuaries to discover their mangroves. Lunch is included in this excursion, and so is a visit to Kosgoda Beach, one of Sri Lanka’s most important nesting grounds for marine turtles. Admire these beautiful creatures and learn about the conservation efforts. The other optional excursion is a tour to Ahangama to participate in the local art of stilt fishing! This excursion also includes a visit to local villages to learn about finger-weaving and how various artisanal household items are made.
Breakfast and dinner
After 14 amazing days full of unforgettable memories, it’s time to say goodbye to Sri Lanka. We depart early this morning for Colombo airport for our Emirates flight home. All flights will operate via Dubai. We arrive at our chosen UK airport this evening, bringing to a close our amazing Sri Lankan adventure.
Breakfast and in-flight meals and
drinks
Why not extend your stay in Kalutara? If you wish to spend a little longer relaxing at the Anantara Kalutara Resort, please speak with one of our travel experts.
Save £150 per person on departures from September 2025, when you book by 28th February 2025.
To really help you make the most of your time in Sri Lanka we have a maximum group size of 19 passengers, allowing more time to experience this wonderful country.
Departure date | Price (pp) | Availability | Offer |
2025 | |||
22 January^ | £3,995 | AVAILABLE | – |
29 January | SOLD OUT | SOLD OUT | – |
05 February | £3,895 | 1 ROOM | – |
12 February^ | £3,995 | 4 ROOMS | – |
19 February | £3,895 | 3 ROOMS | – |
05 March | £3,895 | 2 ROOMS | – |
02 April | £3,895 | 8 ROOMS | – |
2026 | |||
28 January | JUST LAUNCHED | SAVE £150 per person | |
18 February | JUST LAUNCHED | SAVE £150 per person | |
04 March | JUST LAUNCHED | SAVE £150 per person | |
01 April | JUST LAUNCHED | SAVE £150 per person |
^This date uses some alternative hotels. Please call for further details.
Deposit
£500 per person if travelling Economy Class, £1,000 per person if travelling Premium Economy Class and £1,500 per person for Business Class.
Flight upgrades
Emirates upgrade to Premium Economy from £1,895 per person return, or Business Class from £3,895 per person return.
Visa information
A Tourist visa is required for travel to India. For more information on applying for your visa and the associated costs, please refer to our FAQ’s page.
Important information
Our holiday prices are subject to fuel surcharges and the availability of flights in the lowest fare booking class. The correct price will always be confirmed to you before you book, and once you have booked, our Price Promise will guarantee there will be no further increases. Full Booking Conditions are available here.
Please note, alternative airlines may be considered or further supplements may apply in certain periods when international flight prices are higher.
At Distant Journeys, we offer a leisurely tour of Sri Lanka that represents exceptional value for money. Your scheduled international flights, overseas transfers, expertly chosen hotels, experienced local tour managers and knowledgeable guides and many amazing excursions are all included. Great food is always a feature of India tours, and we make it easy for you by including breakfast and dinner every day, plus three lunches and a High Tea. Knowing that so much is taken care of in the price of your tour means you can relax and truly enjoy every minute.
At Distant Journeys, we understand the importance of good hotels throughout a touring holiday. All the hotels on our tours of Sri Lanka have been personally selected by our travel experts to ensure they meet the highest standards. Their many years of industry experience mean they know exactly what features of a hotel are most important, and that the quality is maintained throughout. Each hotel on the Treasures of Sri Lanka tour has its own unique style and character, but all share the same excellent standard that our guests have come to expect.
Explore further during your free time with optional excursions to enhance your experience of Sri Lanka. You don’t have to decide if you want to arrange anything before you go, your tour manager will happily arrange this for you while you are on tour.
Please note: information on optional excursions in Kalutara will be coming soon.
To make the most of your time in Sri Lanka, why not extend your stay after the Treasures of Sri Lanka tour, with our relaxing Kalutara extension?
If you wish to spend a little longer relaxing at the Anantara Kalutara Resort, please speak with one of our travel experts.
This is a new tour with the inaugural departure in 2024. This page will be updated with reviews as soon as our returning customers are contacted by the independent reviews company Feefo. In the meantime, please feel free to look at the reviews for our other tours – we’re sure you will be impressed with the service our guests receive and the great reviews they kindly give us!
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