Asia

Sri Lanka

Escorted tours & holidays

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4.9/5

Last-minute savings: Save £100 per person

on Sri Lanka tours departing between January and April 2026. Book by 30th November 2025.

Early Booking Offers: SAVE £200 per person

on Sri Lanka tours departing from September 2026. Book by 30th November 2025.

Discover the best

of Sri Lanka on our escorted tours

Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, is an irresistible destination. This tranquil island boasts idyllic beaches, ancient ruins, sacred temples, verdant tea plantations, and an abundance of elephants and diverse wildlife. Uncover Sri Lanka’s cultural treasures in the famed triangle of Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy, or take in the colonial charm of Galle and the lively streets of Colombo. A journey by rail through emerald hills and cascading waterfalls offers another perspective on this remarkable land, while moments of tranquillity can be found on palm-fringed shores. Discover our tours of Sri Lanka and experience the island’s history and natural beauty on an unforgettable holiday.

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Sri Lanka

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The Very Best of Sri Lanka

Explore the historic site of Sigiriya
Visit Sri Lanka's tea plantations
Safari in Yala National Park

Save up to £200 per person

Jan 2026 - Apr 2027

17 days

Prices from £3,595 Per person

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Sri Lanka

Wild Sri Lanka

Experience the natural beauty of Sri Lanka’s national parks
Ride the scenic train through the hill country
Visit the iconic Nine Arch Bridge

Save up to £200 per person

Jan 2026 - Apr 2027

18 days

Prices from £3,695 Per person

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Sri Lanka

Treasures of Sri Lanka

Safari in Udawalawe National Park
Discover the ancient site of Sigiriya
Explore the old Dutch Fort in Galle

Save up to £200 per person

Jan 2026 - Apr 2027

14 days

Prices from £4,095 Per person

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Essential information in Sri Lanka

Time difference

GMT +5.5 hrs

Best time to visit

January - April

Official languages

Sinhala & Tamil

Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)

Flight time

Around 11 hrs from UK

Electricity

Voltage: 230V; Plug type(s): D, G

Featured

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Travel Advice: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Sri Lanka offers a variety of wildlife, cuisine, history and culture that few other destinations on earth can match. What the pearl-shaped island lacks in size it more than makes up for in adventure, and our Asia travel experts have put together their top Sri Lanka travel advice to give you all the information you need for your trip.

13 min read

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Meet our travel specialists for Sri Lanka

Planning a holiday to Sri Lanka has never been simpler. Our dedicated travel experts are with you every step of the way. Our Product Managers carefully curate each experience so you can discover the very best of Sri Lanka, while our Reservations Specialists make the booking process effortless. We’ve personally travelled on these tours and visited the destinations
ourselves, giving us first-hand insight to share with you.

a woman standing on a cliff overlooking a body of water

Kath Morris

Product Manager

With 25 years of travel experience, Kath is passionate about crafting exceptional tours across destinations. She’s especially inspired by Asia and Australasia – from India and Sri Lanka’s ancient wonders to the striking landscapes and natural beauty of Australia and New Zealand.

Louise Moss

Head of Service Delivery

With over 30 years in the travel industry, Louise leads Service Delivery at Distant Journeys and recently experienced our Very Best of Sri Lanka tour, where the country’s warmth, wildlife, and vibrant culture captured her heart.

From our blog

Discover more about this incredible destination with our collection of travel blogs, filled with expert insights, local highlights and inspiration for your next adventure.

a large rock formation in the middle of a forest with Sigiriya in the background

Spotlight on… Sri Lanka, where ‘a warm welcome’ awaits

Recently, one of our co-founders visited ‘The Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka, and described it as “one of the most breathtaking countries I have ever been fortunate enough to visit”. From the warm and welcoming people to the abundance of elephants that wander contentedly along the side of the road, Sri Lanka is a place of resilience and pure joy; a sensory overload of colours, aromas and culture that truly embraces the people who visit.

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Customer testimonials

Distant Journeys uses Feefo, the global feedback engine, to gather genuine and independently verified reviews. Our guests are invited by Feefo to review our company on all aspects of their holiday experience, from the customer service they received to the product itself.

This is not the holiday for everyone - yes you see all the main sights, yes you stay in great hotels and eat great food, but I worry how much money did we really put in the local economy, we used the same guide, driver and helper for all the 17 days with no real chance to shop locally or meet locals and experience local veiw on what we saw

Very Best of Sri Lanka

Excellent itinerary,excellent tour guide A J . (AJINTH Fosaka). Very good hotels. Freedom time and optional excursions if wanted.

Very Best of Sri Lanka

Everything was excellent.

Paul Edwards

Very Best of Sri Lanka with Beach Extension

The itinerary and hotels were excellent. The country & people are wonderful. Wildlife stunning. Temples marvellous. It’s a shame the guide was adequate rather than excellent- it would have been 5 stars otherwise

Very Best of Sri Lanka

superb tour taking in the spectacular highlights of a beautiful country. High standard hotels and a well organised trip.

Brian Clark

Very Best of Sri Lanka with Beach Extension

Great hotels, great sightseeing trips well planned.

Peter Terry

Very Best of Sri Lanka with Beach Extension

Jetwing Lighthouse in Galle was certainly worth the beach extension stay. The hotel and facilities were brilliant as well as the staff and the view. So glad we had extra time here. Our experience with Distant Journeys was excellent from start to finish. We were so impressed, and our trip to Sri Lanka was superb. Certainly recommend this trivandrum this travel company, and we hope to travel with Distant Journeys again next year.

Very Best of Sri Lanka with Beach Extension

Beautiful, friendly country. Great guide (Chami), well looked after and good hotels. Fun group of people.

Julie Rogers

Very Best of Sri Lanka

An excellent, varied itinerary and we had a great guide, Su, who was very knowledgable about everything, he was organised and had a great sense of humour!

Very Best of Sri Lanka

Lovely room and views. Great food and helpful staff. Not necessarily beach resort as we had hoped (cafes and sun lounges etc).

Malcolm Turnbull

Very Best of Sri Lanka with Beach Extension

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Frequently asked questions

Sri Lanka is GMT +5½ hrs.
Sri Lankan Rupee
Sri Lanka’s climate is tropical and consists of distinct wet and dry seasons. Generally speaking, the coastal areas of Sri Lanka enjoy temperatures averaging 28°C (82°F) while the upland areas are cooler and more temperate, with a yearly average around 16-20°C (60-68°F). Our tours of Sri Lanka operate in January, February and March, which is a great time to travel across the whole country. Sri Lanka is generally basking in sunshine and relatively dry throughout these months. Temperatures will be warm, although it is noticeably cooler up in the hill country around Nuwara Eliya. We recommend checking up-to-date weather forecasts before you travel.
Dress for our tours is generally relaxed and informal during the day, dressing to suit the weather conditions and the activity you are undertaking. It’s likely there will be occasions when exploring you’ll be walking on uneven surfaces, so we recommend sturdy and comfortable walking shoes. Wearing layers of clothing means it’s much easier to deal with potentially varied weather conditions and it’s always advisable to carry a waterproof. Any included evening dinners are also informal, with smart casual dress being the norm. We would also recommend taking good insect repellent, a high factor sun-screen lotion and a hat for protection from the sun.
It is always worth being aware of local customs when visiting sacred places. As a general rule, when visiting such places, it is recommended that arms and legs are covered. Women may also wish to take a shawl to cover their shoulders and all visitors should wear long trousers, skirts or shorts that reach below the knee. Taking off your shoes is also a prerequisite before entering many sacred places, and as floors can sometimes be wet or very hot, a few pairs of spare socks will be very useful. For our safaris in Yala National Park, we recommend layered clothing including something warm as it can be cold on early morning drives. If you have them, binoculars will provide a great opportunity for closer wildlife viewing.
You cannot obtain Sri Lankan Rupee before arrival in the country. Opportunities for cash withdrawals from ATMs are limited and restricted to daily limits ranging between Rs40,000 and Rs60,000 (approx. £148 and £220). We recommend taking some sterling or US dollars that can be exchanged locally in Sri Lanka at local money exchanges. When you change money, ask for some small bills and keep these separate from the larger ones, so that they’re readily accessible. Small amounts of US dollar bills are handy for tipping.
Major credit cards can be used throughout your tour in most hotels. We recommend advising your bank of your travel plans so you do not encounter potential problems when trying to use your card to make a purchase or withdraw money.
Your tour manger will be on hand to help you find the best places to exchange your money.
You may also wish to consider a currency card to buy currency and lock in a great exchange rate before you travel. Distant Journeys recommends Revolut, a digital banking app which offers a pre-paid physical or virtual currency card. It is also simple to apply for, set up and use.
For more information on the Revolut Currency Card, please click here
Unlike the UK, tipping is very much a way of life in Sri Lanka. We have included a number of gratuities into your tour, although for your Tour Guide, Drivers and assistants, suggested tipping amounts are as follows
Very Best of Sri Lanka: USD $100 per person to be distributed amongst the Tour Manager, driver and assistant.
Treasures of Sri Lanka: USD $120 per person to be distributed amongst the Tour Manager, driver and assistant.
Private Tours
Driver Guide: USD $25 per day
Holiday Extensions
Drivers: USD10 per transfer
The following information on entry requirements, passports and visas is for British citizens only. Holders of a British Subject passport, non-British citizens and holders of a passport endorsed in any way should check immigration requirements with the relevant embassy or consulate of the country to be visited, as should clients with dual nationality or renounced citizenship.
A valid ten-year British passport is required for all holidays, valid for a minimum of 6 months after your return date to the UK. If you are not currently in possession of a valid passport, please make sure you leave plenty of time before your holiday to apply for this document. Our recommendation is that you should apply at least three months before your holiday.
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and may change at any time. You should take health advice from your GP or local travel clinic about your specific needs as early as possible and ensure that vaccinations or preventative measures are taken early enough (which may be a month or more prior to departure) to be fully effective by the date of travel.
We also suggest referring to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website, and the NHS Travel Vaccinations website.
You are required to obtain a Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online before you travel.
The cost of an ETA is $50 USD. You can apply within 90 days of travel here.
For more information on passport information and entry requirements please visit the Government Passport Office website and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website.
Please note entry requirements may change and it is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of all necessary travel, passport, visa and other entry requirements before departure. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to obtain and carry all required documentation.