A journey of luxury and astounding sights, uncover the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean' from five-star hotels, exploring from Dambulla Caves to Yala National Park

With awe-inspiring history and inspiring scenery ahead, your sensational Sri Lankan holiday begins this afternoon at London Heathrow. Here, meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travellers, ready for an overnight flight to Colombo, via Doha in Qatar.

Known as the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean', the tropical teardrop-shaped island of Sri Lanka is separated from India by just 22 miles of the Gulf of Mannar, yet it is distinctive in its rich culture and heritage. Colonised by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, Sri Lanka was settled around 500BC by the Sinhalese, who adopted Buddhism and found inventive methods for growing rice. A cycle of wealth and subjugation followed for the next thousand years, though reminders of this great civilisation remain throughout the picturesque landscape.

With endless sandy beaches, lush jungles punctuated with temples and flavourful cuisine, today, Sri Lanka has much to offer yet remains off the tourist route - for now.

As our plane touches down at Bandaranaike International Airport this morning, a coach transfer takes us to our five-star hotel in Sri Lanka's executive capital, Colombo. Sitting alongside the waterfront in the city centre, this luxurious resort hotel is a short distance from natural attractions and cultural points of interest.

Although a bustling city of business and trade, Colombo is brimming with historic sights and an appealing stretch of coast on the Indian Ocean. This afternoon and early evening is free to unwind and acclimatise to the surroundings, maybe taking a dip in the pool overlooking the water and the skyline or venturing out to Galle Face Beach.

We reconvene this evening to travel a short distance to a nearby restaurant that recreates the enchanting surroundings of a traditional Sri Lankan village around an ancient banyan tree. Here, we celebrate our first night in Sri Lanka with a delicious buffet of authentic local cuisine.

Setting out after breakfast this morning, we explore Colombo's deep history and many centuries of architecture. An expert guide joins us, highlighting points of interest as we drive between sites.

We begin by driving through the Pettah neighbourhood, whose bustling streets are lined with vibrant markets, and pause to see the intricate facade of the Red Mosque. Our route continues past the Old Parliament Building and the Galle Face Green waterfront promenade and makes a photo stop at Independence Square, built to commemorate Sri Lanka's freedom.

Our tour concludes at the Colombo Lotus Tower, the tallest self-supported structure in Southeast Asia. In addition to presenting 360-degree views, the tower has a revolving restaurant, where we have lunch.

Returning to the hotel in the afternoon, you have some free time to relax or continue exploring Colombo independently before we set out this evening for a holiday highlight, dinner at the Ministry of Crab. This elegant restaurant is renowned for its seafood with a menu inspired by Sri Lanka's famous mud crabs. Travellers with seafood allergies will dine at an alternative restaurant.

Breakfast is at the hotel before we begin our journey back in time to the ancient city of Anuradhapura. Considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, Anuradhapura was said to have been built around a sapling of the 'Tree of Enlightenment', the sacred bodhi tree, beginning in the 3rd century BC.

Our journey towards this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city, which was abandoned in 993, yet remained an important pilgrimage site, is filled with jungle scenes and beautiful countryside views. We arrive early this afternoon, surrounded by remnants of the past, with sacred temples and stupas highlighting Anuradhapura's religious significance.

We check into our five-star hotel, staying in sumptuous pool villas with private pools on each balcony. More than 50 acres surround the property, giving the feel of being tucked away in nature. Once you have checked in, you are free to soak up the serenity or embark on an optional sightseeing tour in Anuradhapura (payable locally).

We have dinner together this evening at the hotel.

Heading out before sunrise with a packed breakfast, we take a seat in our Jeep for an early morning safari into Sri Lanka's oldest and largest national park, Wilpattu. This protected area encompasses more than 131,693 hectares and features a range of habitats, from thorny scrub to sand dunes, open plains and wetlands. Between these unique terrains are dense forests - more dense than most other parklands in the country - where many species make their home.

We set out with an expert guide in search of sloth bears and Sri Lankan elephants, a subspecies of Asian elephants. Mugger crocodiles are common in the park, as are colourful birds. Of course, we keep a lookout for the elusive Sri Lankan leopard as we make our way through the untamed terrain.

Returning to our hotel around lunchtime, the rest of the afternoon is yours to soak up the scenery, relax poolside or perhaps enjoy a treatment in the on-site spa.

We gather this evening for dinner at the hotel.

Some of Sri Lanka's most beloved sites lie ahead as we depart Anuradhapura after breakfast, following a route filled with cultural wonders and beautiful scenery to Kandy. We board our motorcoach and head towards our first stop, the UNESCO-listed Dambulla Cave Temples.

A giant golden Buddha guards the main entrance of this pilgrimage site, and inside are sacred, concealed cave temples filled with Buddhist iconography. See ancient carved images, paintings, murals, more than 150 different statues of the Buddha and stunning statues of Hindu deities.

From here, we continue to Matale Spice Garden, where a guide walks us through the spice gardens. Learn to identify the plants grown here and about their various uses before visiting the on-site shop.

The final stop of our journey is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a two-storey golden-roofed shrine said to hold one of Buddha's teeth. The tooth is laid on a golden lotus flower, encased in a jewelled casket and situated on a throne.

We arrive at our five-star hotel overlooking Kandy's jungles and mountains in time for dinner this evening.

Established in 1821 and home to more than 4,000 species of vibrant plant life, we begin our day at the Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya. This garden is renowned for its collection of orchids; however, there are palm trees, spices and medicinal plants at every turn, constantly revealing a new scent or colour to behold. We visit the Royal Botanical Gardens alongside a guide and then continue our morning with a guided walking tour of Kandy, Sri Lanka's religious capital.

As we wander, you can see the contrasts of ancient Buddhist temples and Kandyan art with colonial British architecture. After visiting the city's market square, where local vendors sell tropical fruits, spices, and authentic crafts, and passing food stalls and handicraft shops, we head to the historic Queen's Hotel to have lunch at the oldest pub in Sri Lanka.

We return to the hotel after lunch with a relaxing afternoon ahead. With your free time, you could settle into one of the sunloungers beside the pool, surrounded by palm trees and terraced gardens, before we have dinner this evening.

Enjoy a leisurely morning to linger over breakfast at our peaceful hotel before a coach transfer takes us to the station for a highlight of our Sri Lankan holiday - a journey on the 'tea train' to Nanu Oya.

This scenic route is famed for its picturesque scenery as we climb into the central highlands, navigating mountainous slopes, bridges and tunnels as misty hills, lush forests and cascading waterfalls pass our windows. With a packed lunch provided to enjoy in our First Class seats, we are free to marvel at this stunning landscape lined with vast tea plantations. The breathtaking vistas make this trip popular, but it also provides a glimpse into daily life in rural Sri Lanka.

We arrive in Nanu Oya after skirting the Great Western Mountain. Here, we are transferred to our luxury hotel near Nuwara Eliya. With its temperate climate, manicured green spaces and colonial architecture, it's easy to understand how this town became known as 'Little England'. Our five-star hotel is surrounded by verdant forests and after checking in, dinner is served in the restaurant.

Once famed for coffee, Sri Lanka is now renowned for its tea production. The British brought tea to the island in 1824, and when coffee was hit by a terrible blight, tea boomed. The first shipment of 'Ceylon' tea reached London in 1875, and today, Sri Lanka provides tea for 10% of the world's cuppas.

We learn all about this popular drink and its global reach as we travel to Ramboda after breakfast to tour a tea plantation and its factory. After discovering the types of black tea produced here, we enjoy a hands-on experience of plucking tea leaves straight from the plant and get to see how the product goes from plant to cup in the factory. You can also have lunch independently in the restaurant.

Back at our hotel, enjoy the afternoon at your own pace. The Grand Hotel Garden has invited visitors to explore its well-manicured expanses for nearly 200 years, and the spa offers a welcome retreat. There is also an indoor pool and a billiards and snooker room to enjoy before dinner this evening.

Our journey through Sri Lanka continues after breakfast as our motorcoach takes us to the station, where we reboard the tea train for a journey to Demodara. We settle into our First Class carriage and watch as a world of deep jungles, tree-covered mountains and deep wilderness unfolds. Waterfalls plunge down rugged cliffs, and beautiful tea plantations punctuate the views.

One of the most impactful stretches of the line comes as we cross the Nine Arches Bridge, a curved viaduct nearly 100 feet above the ground. Soak up stunning views as the train trundles across and approaches its destination, Demodara.

A coach meets us at the station to transfer us to our resort hotel on the shores of Weerawila Lake. We stop enroute with time for you to have lunch independently and arrive late this afternoon. After checking in, you have some free time to enjoy your room's private terrace overlooking the gardens until dinner.

Savour an early morning cup of local Ceylon tea or Sri Lankan coffee before we set out on the second Jeep safari of our holiday - this time in Yala National Park. Our hotel provides a packed breakfast for us to enjoy as we uncover the astonishing wildlife and majestic scenery of Sri Lanka's most popular nature park.

We explore diverse landscapes, including monsoon forests, dusty plains and serene lagoons, with a backdrop of the Indian Ocean. Our knowledgeable local guide leads the search for leopards, wild boar, elephants, and crocodiles, and we look out for bird species, including the crested serpent eagle and rare purple heron.

Afterwards, we return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the resort's pool or to book a spa treatment. Before dinner this evening, we meet at the hotel's rooftop bar for drinks and snacks inspired by local flavours. Enjoy drinks infused with arrack, a liquor made from the fermented sap of coconut flowers, and classic Sri Lankan snacks, including fried dhal and cassava chips.

Like other island nations in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has incredible tropical beaches - long, golden sandy slices of paradise lined with lofty palm trees and lapped by bright blue waters. With these visions on the horizon, we set out towards Sri Lanka's stunning southwest coast after breakfast.

Enroute to our stunning beachfront hotel, we travel along the south coast to the historic port city of Galle, where there is free time to have lunch independently before we set out for a guided walking tour. With a natural harbour, a labyrinth of quaint, narrow streets, and a delightfully preserved UNESCO-listed Portuguese and Dutch fortress, Galle is fascinating to explore. We admire white-washed houses and grand religious buildings along the peninsula, as well as the 16th-century fortifications and car-free historical centre alongside our expert guide.

From here, we continue to our hotel in Bentota Beach, checking in for the final three nights of our Sri Lankan discovery. With several dining options on site and others nearby, there are plenty of places to enjoy local cuisine during your free evening.

This morning is another highlight of our holiday as we transfer by coach to the Balapitiya Estuary after breakfast and set out on a boat ride on the Madu River. This tranquil cruise experience showcases the region's thriving ecosystem, interesting marine animals and traditional river life. Our route takes us through narrow tunnels through lush mangroves and past small islands covered in foliage, including one that produces cinnamon.

Sit back and relax with a refreshing Sri Lankan king coconut drink, and watch out for monkeys, crocodiles, and more than 100 species of birds, all of which call this biodiverse region home. In addition to the natural features of the Madu River, we can also spot traditional shrimp and prawn traps used by locals and old temples built on some of the islands.

Returning to the hotel after our cruise, you are free to spend the remainder of the afternoon and evening enjoying the hotel's amenities or lounging on the golden sand of Bentota or Ventura beach.

After an itinerary brimming with sightseeing, wildlife spotting and mesmerising adventures through Sri Lanka, your final day on the island is at your leisure. Enjoy a range of options that allow you to wind down your journey or continue the excitement.

Our hotel has a unique pool complex with an island in the centre and plenty of sunloungers under the palm trees. Taking to the beach instead, you could relax while listening to the waves crash against the shore or walk along the beach to Secret Island, a calm respite amid the resort-lined coast. Here, you can find temples, stupas and a breathtaking lookout point. Heading to this location in the morning or evening invites the opportunity to join guided meditation sessions for a small donation.

For lunch and dinner, you could explore local Sri Lankan cuisine or dine independently at our hotel. You might like to seek out string hoppers (steamed batter shaped into thin noodles) served with spiced curry or sambar, a lentil and vegetable stew.

Complete with First Class rail trips through ever-changing scenery, luxurious five-star hotel accommodations in every stop and curated experiences that revealed the soul of Sri Lanka, this atmospheric tour has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From leopard and elephant spotting in protected lands to UNESCO World Heritage-listed destinations and serene tea plantations, each day has offered an unforgettable immersion into this beautiful nation. Our route has taken us from the vibrant city of Colombo to the deep wilderness, where misty mountains and verdant jungles set the backdrop.

Our holiday comes to a close early this morning as we depart our hotel with a packed breakfast. A coach transfer takes us to Colombo's airport for our flight back to the UK. We travel via Doha in Qatar, arriving at London Heathrow this evening, where you can continue your travels home.

Our Landmark range offers an unforgettable mix of incredible experiences and First Class rail travel*, unique accommodation, tours with smaller groups, and one-of-a-kind experiences that you'll want to tell your friends about. Group sizes begin at 16 travellers, with an average of around 22 and a maximum of 30. *where available

Offering an idyllic blend of splendid views and urban convenience, the 5-Star Cinnamon Life City of Dreams has a fantastic location within Colombo that puts top attractions within reach. Guests can soak up the scenery from the outdoor infinity pool or from the rooftop terrace, which features a garden and a bar. There are several restaurant and bar options on site, including a restaurant with a globally influenced menu. Air-conditioned guest rooms are drenched with natural light and feature free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, minifridges, coffee makers and hairdryers.

Nested amidst the rice paddies and lush gardens of Anuradhapura, the 5-Star Uga Ulagalla has a 150-year-old mansion at its centrepiece and beautifully designed modern villas. The grounds have acres of manicured gardens to explore, as well as a sprawling central pool. Further amenities include a spa, a fitness centre and a restaurant. The pool villas are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, safes, minibars, tea & coffee-making facilities and hairdryers.

The 5-Star Earl's Regency hotel recounts a bygone era of royalty while offering a convenient location within 15 minutes of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Complementing its setting are views of the mountains and the Mahaweli River. Guests enjoy access to an on-site spa and a unique swimming pool built into the landscape rather than intruding upon it. There are also two restaurants and a bar and lounge. Guest rooms are air-conditioned with private balconies and include amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, safes, desks, tea & coffee-making facilities, hairdryers and complimentary toiletries.

Built in 1827 and first becoming a hotel in 1891, the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya exudes colonial grandeur amidst the mountains and jungles of this part of Sri Lanka. The 5-Star hotel features a temperature-controlled indoor pool, a games room featuring billiards and snooker, a spa, a fitness centre and the carefully maintained Grand Garden. There is a shopping arcade with luxury brands and several restaurant options on-site, as well. Guest rooms feature scenic views and amenities like free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, safes, minifridges, tea & coffee-making facilities, hairdryers and complimentary toiletries.

Natural beauty awaits at every turn at the 5-Star DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort. This hotel is tucked along the shore of Weerawila Lake and sits near several national parks and reserves, adding to the untamed surroundings. The grounds include an expansive outdoor pool, as well as a spa and several restaurants, including one offering gourmet seafood. Guest rooms are air-conditioned with balconies or terraces and include free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, a safe, a minibar and coffee-making facilities.

Tucked between the golden sandy beaches of the coast and the Bentota River, the 5-Star Cinnamon Life Bentota Beach has a privileged waterfront location. Guests are steps from Bentota Beach and are surrounded by 11 acres of lush gardens, palm trees and coconut groves. The property offers a range of on-site dining experiences and a fitness centre, as well as a unique pool with an island in the centre. Guest rooms are air-conditioned with balconies or terraces and include free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, safes, minibars, minifridges, coffee makers, hairdryers and complimentary toiletries.

Flight upgrades are available. For information regarding the types of upgrades offered by the various airlines we use, call our expert team for details.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.