Explore Galle, Yala National Park and the Tea Country before some blissful island relaxation

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

What's included

  • Safaris in Yala National Park
  • Private tours
  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Flight from Colombo to the Maldives
  • Private transfers
  • Five nights in the Maldives
  • Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

Explore some of our favourite corners of Sri Lanka before some well-earned beach time in the Maldives.

Begin with two nights in Galle Fort where you’ll stay at the Amangalla, a building which dates back to 1684 and has been a hotel since 1864, a most fitting venue from which to discover this fascinating historic town and its rich atmosphere.

Next follow the southern coast around to Yala National Park and two nights at the luxurious Chena Huts, the finest place to stay between leopard-spotting safaris.

Head northward into the lush heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country, a place of rolling hills covered in verdant plantations, staying at the colonial Thotalagala. Take in the views and be shown around a tea factory founded by Thomas Lipton in the 19th century.

Finally, after one night outside of Colombo, fly west to the Maldives for five blissful days of relaxation at a sumptuous island resort. Snorkel in gin-clear waters over vibrant reefs, enjoy some spa time and discover this paradise archipelago at your own pace.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-3

Galle

Flights & transfers

Transfer

VIP meet and greet at Colombo airport

Transfer

Private transfer to Galle

Accommodation in Galle

Two nights in Galle Fort Two nights in Galle Fort

Spend your days soaking up the unique atmosphere of Galle, a stunning town at the southern edge of Sri Lanka with fascinating colonial history evident at every turn through its eclectic assemblage of architecture. It's walls and everything inside them are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with beautiful Dutch fusion architecture, a commanding Victorian lighthouse, grand churches and mosques, all in a sultry tropical setting.

Walking tour of Galle Fort with a local resident Walking tour of Galle Fort with a local resident

Take a walk with a local resident from the spot where the first Portuguese boats landed to where the English left off, learning about tales of legendary past battles for the Fort, alliances that were forged and destroyed and insider knowledge of the Fort’s unique urban ensemble, a melting pot of culture, styles and traditions spanning over three centuries. Stroll through fortifications, public administration buildings, warehouses, underground cells and business houses of the past and present interspersed with churches, temples and mosques.

Your host’s Moorish ancestors first arrived on the shores of Galle in the mid-17th century in one of the earliest waves of spice traders and gem merchants. Having being based in different parts of the island in the past, he now resides in Galle, exploring news ways to help people connect with Sri Lanka.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Yala National Park

Days 3-5

Yala National Park

Accommodation in Yala National Park

leopard-sri-lanka
Two nights in Yala National Park Two nights in Yala National Park

Occupying the south-eastern corner of the island, the vast Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s second largest national park and also its most popular. The park itself is divided into five blocks, two of which, Ruhuna and Kumana, can be explored on guided game drives, and stretches from the sea inland, encompassing some 979 square kilometres (378 square miles) of forest, wetlands and savannah. This varied landscapes provides a vital home for hundreds of Sri Lankan elephant, sloth bear, crocodile and rare wild water buffalo, as well over 200 bird species.

But it is the leopard that are iconic of the park, found here in perhaps the highest concentration in the world. Their secretive nature means spotting Sri Lanka’s top predator is still a challenge, but accompanied by a skilled guide and a little luck, there a few better places in the world to find these enigmatic cats.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to the Tea Country

Days 6-8

Tea Country

Accommodation in Tea Country

tea-picker-sri-lanka
Two nights in Tea Country Two nights in Tea Country

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. Skilful 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.

Tea plantation tour Tea plantation tour

A guided tour of the Dunkeld Tea Factory is a quintessential tea experience for those visiting Sri Lanka. The resident Tea Planter delves passionately 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 – he’s 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 little has changed since. With some of the methodology and machinery dating to more than century old, we strongly believe that Ceylon Tea is part of the world’s living heritage.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Colombo

Days 7-8

Overnight in Colombo

Accommodation in Overnight in Colombo

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Colombo airport

Flight

Flight from Colombo to Male

Days 8-13

The Maldives

Seaplane or speedboat transfer to your resort Seaplane or speedboat transfer to your resort

Accommodation in The Maldives

Five nights in the Maldives Five nights in the Maldives

Spend your days relaxing on the picture-perfect islands of the Maldives. While away the hours on the powder soft sand or take to the sparkling waters to discover the wealth of marine life that teems beneath the surface. Your luxury accommodation is the perfect place to simply switch off and enjoy the fine dining and impeccable service, but as soon as you want to take it up a gear and explore, the Maldives are one of the world's most beautiful destinations in which to do so.

Seaplane or speedboat transfer to Male airport Seaplane or speedboat transfer to Male airport
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A Luxury Getaway to Sri Lanka and the Maldives

13-day example trip
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We create fully personalised trips from start to finish, working with you to pick locations, accommodation and guides that suit you.

Every trip helps support Conservation.

From in-depth private tours to restaurant reservations, we take care of every detail so you can make the most of your journey.

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