Serene Southern Sri Lanka

Set off this morning on a relaxing bicycle ride through surrounding villages. Your bicycle tour will take you past farmers working in their paddy fields, village women going about their daily chores and offers the opportunity to witness first-hand the local community’s lifestyle and the unhurried pace of life. Enjoy a tuk-tuk ride to Galle in the afternoon and explore the historic fortified town on foot.

Bicycle Trail length / Time: 12km / 2 hours.

Begin your day with a boat ride on Koggala Lake, which includes visiting the Talathuduwa Temple Island, where you will have the chance to visit the Buddhist monastery built over 100 years ago and observe young monks chanting prayers. Then, continue to Spice Island, which offers the opportunity to learn first-hand how Cinnamon quills are produced and how Cinnamon is used as a spice as well as medicine by Sri Lankans.

A scenic drive along the south coast, passing through typical Sri Lankan villages, will bring you to Yala – Sri Lanka’s premier wildlife reserve. In the afternoon, a private jeep safari offers the thrilling prospect of encountering wildlife up close.

Go on early morning and late afternoon wildlife safaris (private jeep) searching for elusive leopards, sloth bears, wild elephants, and crocodiles. Spot a variety of colourful birds, including the Malabar pied Hornbill and crested serpent eagle, and look out for mammals such as toque macaque monkeys.

Return to Yala National Park for one last time. Then, navigate the sharp hairpin bends and enjoy the stunning panoramas as you drive into the hills. On arrival, check in to your chosen converted planter’s bungalow, surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens and set overlooking mist-covered hills of tea bushes.

Hike up to the plateau from where Sir Thomas Lipton used to sit and proudly survey his tea plantations. Then, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the surrounding tea plantations and follow the trail of the colonial period British tea planters. Learn how they trekked through dense jungles to identify the best slopes to plant tea and observe tea pluckers at work. Later, proceed to the historic Dambatenne Tea Factory, which was built by Sir Thomas Lipton and where the term ‘Ceylon Tea’ was coined. Learn first-hand about the journey of tea from leaf to cup before returning to your hotel.

The picturesque hill country dotted with charming tea estates, tumbling waterfalls and quaint villages offers inspiring hiking trails for those keen to explore the region on foot. Accompanied by your guide, discover the dramatic landscape at your own pace and enjoy a picnic lunch near a gurgling freshwater stream before returning to your hotel in time for afternoon tea with just baked cakes and biscuits.

Leave the hill country behind and descend to the west coast of Sri Lanka, famed for its secluded, expansive beaches. Here, you will unwind in style at an idyllic ocean-front resort that is perfect for soaking up the warm winter sun.

At leisure.

At leisure.

Transfer to Colombo International Airport and check in for your onward flight.