A Culture-Rich & Active Adventure To Sri Lanka For The Kingdom's

Approx 45 mins

2 x Park Suites with breakfast

Set off tree-lined Park Street and close to the lakeside Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, Residence by Uga Escapes is one of the finest boutique hotels in Colombo.

The grand Victorian townhouse was built in the 19th century by a wealthy barrister, its great halls and expansive gardens once entertaining British governors, Indian maharajas, European nobility and the cream of the colonial Ceylon society.

Today, its 11 unique luxury suites are a calm and secluded oasis in spite of its central location. The style is elegant, contemporary and comfortable, with numerous hints of its rich heritage.

This urban retreat also has a wonderful swimming pool, private courtyards, a gourmet restaurant, bar and gym within its walls.

Approx 5h journey time

2 x Ulagalla Pool Villa on half board

You haven’t tasted Sri Lanka, locals say, until you fully experience an authentic “Kamatha” meal – rice paddy dining pavilion serving revered royal recipes from a Kingdom long forgotten.
The Kamatha, a new dining experience by Uga Ulagalla’s award winning team, set in the centre of a working paddy (rice) field brings together travellers and locals who have an appetite for exploring flavours.

On this epicurean adventure you will sample traditional dishes, explore old world ingredients and even work with home cooks and their favourite recipes. You will learn ; how the traditions of a Kingdom are reflected in the myriad of fragrant spices and seasonings, about the utensils still in use after 2000 years and of the preparation of food in hand made clay pots and open wood fires at a whole different taste.

These thoughtful multi-course meals incorporate vegetables harvested at Uga Ulagalla’s organic farm, lake fish and free-range meats sourced locally and traditional breads and old-world rice, the signature crop of Uga Ulagalla’s paddy fields.

Ancient cities don’t get much bigger than Anuradhapura, and few capitals around the world have ever been as long lasting. Dating back to the fourth century BC, Anuradhapura was the spiritual and secular capital of the island for well over a millennium. At its height, the city was dotted with monasteries and home to over 10,000 monks, many of these monasteries and colossal dagobas can still be seen today.

This privately guided cycling tour takes you through a dozen sites, such as the three largest man made stupas in Sri Lanka, the Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred fig said to be the southern branch from the tree under which Buddha was enlightened. You will bike along flat terrain and can make stops along the way for pictures and to enjoy the scenery.

Explore our local area by four-wheel drive on a journey in search of cultural, natural and history highs. Our routes take in ancient reservoirs, lakes, farmland and local villages, and provide a visual introduction to rural village life. Witness the seasonalities of rice cultivation, travel through areas of indigenous forest, and observe local fisherman. We may come across herds of domesticated buffalo, rich varieties of birds and tree-hopping monkeys, and there is always a chance of seeing wild elephants. Drawn to water, patches of forest and farmland, elephants are ever-present, yet champions at blending in. All sightings are mapped and tracked (visit our Elephant Research Centre for more info), and every jeep drive assists in our efforts to protect and preserve these endangered animals.

This unique drive takes you well off the beaten track, weaving along earthen tracks through rural countryside dominated by rice paddies. Birds and buffalo are often sighted alongside other wildlife, including elephants, particularly when you reach scenic Nachchaduwa Lake, a vast reservoir framed by dense pockets of forest and the distant hills. This setting makes a great spot for enjoying sundowners before heading back to the hotel.

Approx 3h journey

Today you'll enjoy a walk to three compelling temples. Located in the Central Highlands, just a few kilometres to the south west of Kandy, a seven kilometre path links the Embekke, Lankathilake and Gadaladeniya temples. The path will take you past fertile rice fields and through small bustling towns lined with colourful houses, where you'll see local woman swathed in vibrant saris. Along the way, chat to friendly locals and sip tea in tea stalls. The three temples can also be conveniently linked by car.

1 x Deluxe Room and 1x Junior Suite with breakfast

Sri Dalada Maligawa, or the Temple of the Tooth, is a temple in the city of Kandy which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site partly due to the temple. Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily, at dawn, at noon and in the evenings.

Continue on to explore Kandy itself with your chauffeur guide.

At the heart of the city is the man-made Kandy Lake, where a scenic shaded path offers views of the surrounding hills and town, ideal for walkers, joggers and bird spotters. Browse bustling market places with bright, fresh produce, local delicacies and fragrant spices, or spend the day exploring the opulent temples and learning about the city’s rich history. The dense downtown area is surrounded by tropical rainforest, so look out for exotic monkeys swinging overhead.

Transfer time: approximately 3 hours

Dunkeld - 1 x Luxury and 1 x Garden Suite on all-inclusive basis

With astounding views out over green tea fields and misty mountains, the Ceylon Tea Trails resort is the ideal place from which to explore this breathtaking part of Sri Lanka.

Dating back to colonial times, five spacious bungalows feature antique furniture and exemplary, personalised service. With between four and six rooms, they are perfect for families and small groups.

All of the 26 rooms and suites, which are named after tea planters who lived there, are elegantly outfitted in natural colours and materials, and make for a tranquil escape. Spend time out on the veranda in the fresh mountain air enjoying the views of Castlereagh Lake, the Bogawantalawa Valley and Dunkeld Estate; or curl up with a book in front of a fire.

Take long, leisurely walks through the tea plantations learning all about the ancient process of making tea, enjoy a tempting spread of sweet treats on the lawns or have a light lunch at the pool side. Sri Lankan-inspired meals at Ceylon Tea Trails feature the freshest of seasonal produce with home grown vegetables, herbs and teas from the estate. Rates at Tea Trails are fully inclusive of meals and drinks.

Make the most of the calming surroundings and start the day with an aromatic bath, or treat yourself to a selection of therapeutic spa treatments in your room. Get a healthy dose of fresh air and explore some of the walking and biking routes through the mountains, or enjoy a game of tennis or croquet.

The guided tour of the Dunkeld Tea Factory is the quintessential tea experience in Sri Lanka. A resident Tea Planter passionately delves into all aspects of tea in just the right amount of detail – from a look back to the early days of “planting” and the lifestyles of the early colonial settlers, to the manufacturing process, to how flavours are created to suit various palates – they've got it covered.

What went into creating the perfect cup of refreshing Ceylon tea in 1867 were equal parts science, art, sleight of hand, and a spot of luck. And not much has changed since! As some of the methodology and machinery are over a century old we strongly believe that Ceylon Tea itself is part of the world’s living heritage. And this is your invitation to partake in it.

Undulating hills blanketed in green plantations, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) is the world’s fourth largest producer of tea. You'll see the hills dotted with women quickly but meticulously harvesting leaves by hand, baskets slung across their backs. Skillful workers deftly pluck the most flavoursome and aromatic parts of the bushes – the topmost leaves and buds – which are then sent to nearby factories to be dried and processed. The first tea plantations were established in Kandy in the 1860s and now most of the scenic central region’s elevated slopes are covered in contoured rows of painstakingly maintained plants.

Transfer from Tea Country to Colombo

Old Colombo was once a hustling and bustling port city packed to the brim with many merchants. The hard-working laborer had very little time for a hearty meal, so make did with high-calorie fatty or sweet snacks. Late evening was dedicated to the watering hole where many tiresome sailors would drown themselves in alcoholic beverages. The next morning’s hangovers would be treated by a frothy, sugary strong tea. These bold dietary habits still carry on thanks to some of the surviving establishments that serve the blue-collar and white-collar folk alike. On this tour you'll get to experience a little of that. Visit street food carts and taste delicacies as you hear the stories behind them, visit a historic tea shop, pass by some of the town's best sites, and take a tuk tuk to an old British mason mansion turned hotel for a distilled coconut toddy.

Featuring seven rooms with open verandahs, Uga Riva is a heritage manor located within an historic 180-year-old property on a five-acre coconut plantation near Negombo’s beaches and Colombo International airport. The property is thoughtfully reimagined with Uga’s signature style, sophisticated design and personalised service, with a commitment to unparalleled guest experiences.