Ancient Cultures & Coasts

12 days

Indicative cost incl. flights:

A typical 4* holiday costs from

£2,865 per person

(Based on two people travelling in February 2025. Prices can be cheaper with 3* properties or during rainy season, and more expensive with 5* hotels or during school holidays.)

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Kandy

Day 1

Your journey begins with an overnight flight to Colombo.

Day 2

Today you will arrive into Colombo, where you will be met by your private chauffeur guide and car, and taken directly to Negombo, a pretty fishing town with Dutch canals and traditional dried fish markets.

Day 3

This morning you will visit a traditional fish market which is chaotic and wonderful! You'll then take a boat safari along Hamilton Canal, where you can observe local life and spot marine wildlife, birds, monkeys, and enjoy the mangrove forests.

Day 4

Today your chauffeur driver will bring you inland to Kandy, Sri Lanka's cultural centre and a town surrounded by verdant green hills. This evening you'll visit the famous Temple of the Tooth for a traditional puja ceremony.

Day 5

This morning you will enjoy a tour around Kandy along with a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens this afternoon. The gardens are incredibly impressive and historic with a fantastic display or orchids.

Day 6

Your driver will take you north to Sigiriya today, visiting The Golden Temple of Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, en route.

Day 7

Enjoy a guided tour of Sigiriya this morning, a ruined ancient capital that sits atop a gigantic rock. Afterwards, you have a tour of the magnificent ancient city of Polonnaruwa, another UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 8

Continue to the Ancient City of Anuradhapura, where you will have a tour of its well-preserved ruins, including huge brick stupas and crumbling temples.

Day 9

Your last few days will be spent on a beach north of Negombo, an idyllic coastline. Here you can simply relax and unwind on the beach! We recommend Kalpitiya for kite surfing and dolphin watching boat trips and rustic accommodation, or Chilaw and Waikkal for more comfortable properties and quiet beaches.

Day 10

Day at leisure to relax by the pool or on the beach.

Day 11

Day at leisure to relax by the pool or on the beach.

Day 12

Today you will be driven to the airport for your flight home after the most wonderful trip!

Where you'll go
What you'll do
Where you'll stay

Similar Holidays

Everything we do is tailor-made; our itineraries are just suggestions to give you an idea of what is possible. Please contact us so we can tailor the perfect holiday exclusively for you.

Perfect for history & culture enthusiasts and beach lovers, this 12-day adventure explores five UNESCO World Heritage sites, an unspoiled Sri Lankan beach and a charming fishing town. The trip starts in Negombo with its Dutch canals and fish markets close to the airport. The trip comes inland to Kandy, a gloriously verdant area home to the famous Temple of the Tooth. Continue to the ‘Cultural Triangle’ area, with many of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities. Here you’ll find remnants of ancient civilisations atop giant rocks, temples buried within caves and even roaming wild elephants. The trip then ends on Sri Lanka’s northwest coast, an untouched region famed for its beaches, and in some areas kite-surfing and whale watching! If you love history and want time to relax, this trip is for you.

2 nights Negombo – 2 nights Kandy – 2 nights Sigiriya – 1 night Anuradhapura – 3 nights Northwest Coast Beach