Culture & Beach: one week touring, one week by the sea

Into the Cultural Triangle and the painted cave temples of Dambulla.

You drive inland through coconut groves and rice fields to Dambulla, where more than 150 Buddha statues sit in five painted rock caves over 2,000 years old. In the afternoon you check in near Habarana and relax by the pool.

Lion Rock in the morning, a jeep safari among wild elephants in the afternoon.

Early in the morning you climb Sigiriya Lion Rock past the water gardens and frescoes to the palace ruins on the summit. In the afternoon an open jeep takes you into Minneriya National Park, where dozens of wild elephants often gather around the great reservoir.

Spices at Matale, Kandyan dancers and the evening ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth.

On the way into the hills you stop at a spice garden near Matale. In the afternoon you reach Kandy, the old royal city by the lake. After a performance of Kandyan dancers you visit the Temple of the Tooth for the evening ceremony.

Tea estates, a tea factory and the colonial hill station of Nuwara Eliya.

Winding roads take you up into the hills, where tea bushes cover the slopes. At a traditional tea factory you see how black tea is made and taste it on the spot. In the afternoon you reach Nuwara Eliya, known as “Little England” for its colonial buildings.

Reserved seats on one of the world’s most beautiful train rides.

At Nanu Oya you board the train on reserved seats and roll for about three hours through tunnels, over bridges and past tea pickers and waterfalls down to Ella. Your luggage travels in the car and your driver meets you at Ella station.

The blue train on the Nine Arches Bridge, then down to the quiet bays of Tangalle.

Early in the morning you walk through tea gardens to the Nine Arches Bridge to watch the blue train cross. Then you drive about three hours down to the south coast and Tangalle, one of the island’s quietest beach towns – your home for the next week.

A first full day on the beach – swim, read, do nothing.

Your first full day by the sea. Swim in the calm bays, read in the shade of the palms or simply do nothing after a week of temples, tea and trains. In the late afternoon, walk along the beach to the fishing boats.

Optional whale watching from Mirissa (Dec–Apr) – or another lazy day.

From December to April blue whales and sperm whales pass the south coast. If you like, a boat from Mirissa takes you whale watching in the early morning – we can book it with a driver. Otherwise stay on the beach, snorkel or book an Ayurvedic massage.

An optional day trip to Galle Fort and the stilt fishermen – or more beach.

Galle, the old fortified town by the sea, is about an hour and a half to the west. If you like, your driver takes you there past the stilt fishermen of Koggala; you stroll the lanes of the fort and watch the sunset from the ramparts. Or stay on the beach.

A boat through the mangroves and, in the evening, turtle watching at Rekawa.

A day for nature around Tangalle: in the morning, glide through the lagoon’s mangroves by small boat; in the evening, visit Rekawa beach, where a conservation project guides turtle watching as sea turtles come ashore to nest. Sightings are never guaranteed.

Ayurveda, a long breakfast – or a tuk-tuk to the Mulkirigala rock temple.

A day just for you – an Ayurvedic treatment, a long breakfast and an afternoon with a book under the palms. If you want to see more, take a tuk-tuk to the Mulkirigala rock temple. Our team in Sri Lanka is available throughout your beach week.

One more swim, and a dinner on the beach by lantern light.

Your last full day on the coast – one more swim in the bay, the pool, a long walk on the beach. In the evening we recommend dinner right on the sand: grilled fish, curry and a cool coconut by lantern light as the sun sets.

After breakfast, the drive to Colombo airport along the expressway.

After a last breakfast by the sea your driver takes you along the expressway to Colombo airport, about three hours away, timed to your departure. If you are not ready to leave, simply add a few more nights by the sea.