Spectacular Sri Lanka holidays & tours
Discover Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean. This teardrop-shaped island hides colourful temples, natural wonders, golden beaches and ancient cities. Oh, and don’t forget the historic hillside tea plantations that produce some of the globe’s finest cuppas.
Join one of our Sri Lanka tours to this welcoming country and you’ll see elements of its fascinating history while exploring centuries-old palaces, as well as learning about its British and European colonial past. Legendary temples, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites, tell stories which took place thousands of years ago, linking back to the country’s two significant ethnic groups – the Sinhalese and Tamils. Both groups tell their own engrossing versions of Sri Lanka’s past, including the origins of the many temples and Buddhist shrines.
Visit Sri Lanka's national parks and reserves and you might spot leopards and sloth bears, as well as elephants, sambar deer, wild buffalo and an astonishing variety of beautiful birds - it truly is paradise for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers.
But that’s only the start of the gems to be find. Whether it's walking on pristine golden beaches, soaking up mountain views, strolling through the scenic Royal Botanical Gardens, or admiring a thousand-year-old temple, our Sri Lanka holidays always leave you feeling inspired.
Phil Ellis
Product Manager
What our experts love about Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is packed full of culture, wildlife and historical sites. However, for me what really knits the country together is the joyous nature of the Sri Lankan people. It's rare to meet a Sri Lankan without a smile on their face and a positive attitude, and I suppose it's easy to understand why, considering the beautiful island they're blessed to inhabit.
What are the best places to visit in Sri Lanka?
From vibrant capital Colombo, the starting point for most Sri Lanka holidays, discover ancient cities like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, cave temples at Dambulla, the rock palace of Sigiriya, scenic hill towns, golden sand beaches galore and impressive wildlife.
Colombo
Most visitors to the country begin their Sri Lanka tours in Colombo, the island’s capital city with its mix of historic tradition and bustling commercial modernity. Discover a taste of the city’s past at the Pettah bazaar district, where stalls and shops packed with fragrant spices and exotic fabrics cram the streets, as well as visiting a 16th century fort built by the Portuguese. Learn more about Sri Lanka’s history at the National Museum then wander down streets where churches, mosques and temples sit side by side, or along the city’s seafront promenade, Galle Face Green.
Most visitors to the country begin their Sri Lanka tours in Colombo, the island’s capital city with its mix of historic tradition and bustling commercial modernity. Discover a taste of the city’s past at the Pettah bazaar district, where stalls and shops packed with fragrant spices and exotic fabrics cram the streets, as well as visiting a 16th century fort built by the Portuguese. Learn more about Sri Lanka’s history at the National Museum then wander down streets where churches, mosques and temples sit side by side, or along the city’s seafront promenade, Galle Face Green.
Yala National Park
Home to the highest concentration of leopards in the world, Yala National Park is unmissable if you’re hoping to see this elusive and majestic cat. But there’s plenty of other wildlife to spot as well, from elephants and sloth bears to buffalo, monkeys and crocodiles, plus more than 400 species of birdlife, 33 of which are rare and endemic. Stretching for around 378 square miles, only two of the park’s five sectors are open to visitors, but you can find jungle, grasslands, wetlands and turtle-nesting grounds on Indian Ocean beach among the varied habitats.
Home to the highest concentration of leopards in the world, Yala National Park is unmissable if you’re hoping to see this elusive and majestic cat. But there’s plenty of other wildlife to spot as well, from elephants and sloth bears to buffalo, monkeys and crocodiles, plus more than 400 species of birdlife, 33 of which are rare and endemic. Stretching for around 378 square miles, only two of the park’s five sectors are open to visitors, but you can find jungle, grasslands, wetlands and turtle-nesting grounds on Indian Ocean beach among the varied habitats.
Anuradhapura
This UNESCO World Heritage site was the Sinhalese capital from the fourth century BCE until the 11th century, home to Sinhalese kings for well over a millennia. Today the ancient city is an evocative place to explore, walking between the bell-shaped dagobas, temples, ancient reservoirs, palaces and sculptures. One of the most unusual sights is the Sri Maha Bodi tree, an ancient pipal tree that’s believed to have been grown from the Bo tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Planted here in around 245 BCE, it’s thought to be the oldest tree in existence that’s recorded by history.
This UNESCO World Heritage site was the Sinhalese capital from the fourth century BCE until the 11th century, home to Sinhalese kings for well over a millennia. Today the ancient city is an evocative place to explore, walking between the bell-shaped dagobas, temples, ancient reservoirs, palaces and sculptures. One of the most unusual sights is the Sri Maha Bodi tree, an ancient pipal tree that’s believed to have been grown from the Bo tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Planted here in around 245 BCE, it’s thought to be the oldest tree in existence that’s recorded by history.
Sigiriya
One of the most memorable experiences of any Sri Lanka holidays is the astonishing rock palace of Sigiriya, and the chance to climb up to the high plateau where the fortress once stood, 182m above the ground. The work of a 5th century ruler, the ‘lion rock’ fortress was named for the huge lion sculpture which once guarded the stairs – today, only the giant paws remain to give an idea of its magnificence. Look out for the frescoes painted in the rock wall more than 1,500 years ago, as well as the ancient gardens and reservoirs at the summit.
One of the most memorable experiences of any Sri Lanka holidays is the astonishing rock palace of Sigiriya, and the chance to climb up to the high plateau where the fortress once stood, 182m above the ground. The work of a 5th century ruler, the ‘lion rock’ fortress was named for the huge lion sculpture which once guarded the stairs – today, only the giant paws remain to give an idea of its magnificence. Look out for the frescoes painted in the rock wall more than 1,500 years ago, as well as the ancient gardens and reservoirs at the summit.
Dambulla
One of the most unusual places to visit on Sri Lanka tours, the Golden Temple at Dambulla has been home to Buddhist monks since the 3rd century BCE. But it’s the five natural caves which are the highlight, a pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, decorated with eye-catching murals and sculptures, as well as around 150 statues and paintings of the Buddha. In one, a 14m Buddha has been hewn from the rock, while another features 56 standing and seated statues. High above the surrounding countryside, there are also spectacular views back to Sigiriya.
One of the most unusual places to visit on Sri Lanka tours, the Golden Temple at Dambulla has been home to Buddhist monks since the 3rd century BCE. But it’s the five natural caves which are the highlight, a pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, decorated with eye-catching murals and sculptures, as well as around 150 statues and paintings of the Buddha. In one, a 14m Buddha has been hewn from the rock, while another features 56 standing and seated statues. High above the surrounding countryside, there are also spectacular views back to Sigiriya.
More information about Sri Lanka
Our tours to Sri Lanka have been carefully designed to ensure you really get under the skin of this incredible island. You'll see and do lots, with expert guides on hand to bring each location to life.
Your holiday includes our award-winning VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland, and carefully chosen accommodation at every step of your journey. During your trip, your dedicated tour manager works to ensure your holiday is never less than memorable - all you have to do is sit back, relax and wait for one of the world's most incredible countries to come you.
With two monsoon seasons affecting different parts of the island, and different microclimates to take into account, it’s not always easy to choose the best time of year for Sri Lanka holidays. On the plus side, the sun will usually be shining on at least one coast, and temperatures stay at around 30C year-round, unless you head into the hills.
December to March are the driest months on the south and west coasts but also one of the busiest times to visit Sri Lanka. The Maha monsoon season runs from October to January so it can be humid and rainy in the north, east and around the ancient cities (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla) during these months. November to April is also a great month to spot elephants and leopards in the island’s wildlife reserves, although the gathering of elephants at Minneriya National Park is later in the year, between July and September.
The Yala monsoon runs from May to August, affecting the south, west and hill country, although this is a good time to explore the less-visited north and east. It's also worth considering the shoulder season months between the two monsoons – April can be busy for Sinhala and Tamil New Year, but September and October have good weather across the country without the crowds, and lower temperatures if you’re exploring the hill country or climbing Sigiriya.
Flight time from London to Sri Lanka is approximately 10 hours 40 minutes.
Sri Lanka’s top tourist attractions are a mix of historic sights, wildlife spotting, glorious beaches and fascinating heritage, with more crammed into one small island than you might expect. If you love history, the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, as well as the rock palace of Sigiriya, and the temples of Dambulla and Kandy are all an unmissable part of any Sri Lanka tours. There’s also colonial heritage to explore in the Hill Country, along with some great walking in the hills. Yala National Park is one of the best places to see leopards, while Sri Lanka is home to the world’s largest land and sea creatures – the elephant and the blue whale, best spotted off the south coast at Mirissa. You can also explore vibrant Colombo, the country’s capital, and the colonial heritage of Jaffna and Galle. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to beach time during your Sri Lanka holidays with heavenly stretches of golden sand along the west coast in particular, plus snorkelling at Trincomalee in the east.
UK citizens need a visa for trips to Sri Lanka lasting up to 30 days. You can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online at least a few days before departure. Requirements can change, though – for the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.
Violent crime against tourists is rare, although theft, bank card scams and opportunistic crimes such as bag snatching can be an issue. It’s best to avoid wearing expensive jewellery or taking valuable possessions with you, and take sensible precautions. Some areas of northern and eastern Sri Lanka have a high military presence and work is ongoing to clear landmines from the country’s civil war – the majority of tourists will be unaffected though, as they tend not to visit these parts of the country on Sri Lanka holidays. Joining guided Sri Lanka tours is a good option if you’re concerned about travelling independently, with tour managers on the ground to help as needed, and who have a good idea of any risks.
The official currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan rupee. Notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000. You’re unlikely to come across coins because of their small value but these also exist in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10. As a closed currency, you can only exchange money within Sri Lanka but pounds sterling, Euros and US dollars are accepted in banks or bureaux de change. Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, especially Visa and Mastercard, but this is often limited to hotels, high-end restaurants and larger shops in cities and tourist destinations, so it’s a good plan to have cash as well for your Sri Lanka holidays.
Absolutely, Sri Lanka is fantastic for children (we allow children 12 and over to join our tours). As well as being warmly welcomed around the country, the fabulous beaches and the impressive wildlife is a big draw for teens. With colourful temples, statues hidden away in caves, the ruins of a palace atop a giant rock, and ancient cities to fire the imagination further, it’s a perfect family holiday destination.
The two main languages spoken in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil, with the majority speaking Sinhala. Tamil is less widely spoken, restricted mainly to the northern and eastern parts of the country. English is also spoken to some degree in cities and major tourist centres across the island.
Sri Lankans are generally very welcoming to visitors but politeness and manners are considered very important, so raising your voice too loudly will be frowned upon, along with any overt displays of affection. Culture and dress is generally conservative, so you’ll be expected to cover up at religious sites, as well as removing shoes. It is also considered highly offensive to turn your back on statues of the Buddha, including for photos, with pictures entirely forbidden in parts of some temples and cultural sites.
Tipping is customary in Sri Lanka, although there’s no obligation to do so if you’ve received bad service. In restaurants, you’d normally expect to add around 10% to the final bill in cash. Your tour manager can advise on tips for drivers and guides; you can also find suggested amounts in our useful information sheet, which will be sent to you before you travel. Porterage is included in our guided Sri Lanka tours.
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Titan Travel have always been about seeing more and doing more – which is why we meticulously plan our award-winning escorted tours so that our expertly crafted itineraries make sure that so much is included. Once you book your holiday, you can relax knowing that every element has been taken care of. Choose the tour that gives you more.
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Getting to the airport is easy, thanks to our nationwide return shared chauffeur service, which is included on every tour.
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Be guided by some of the most passionate and knowledgeable tour managers in the world, on hand to help every step of the way.
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Feel free to amend or extend your travel plans, up until final payment, and enjoy free time on your tour with us too.
