Sri Lanka luxury travel map & highlights

“Go for as long as possible. We were fortunate enough to take three weeks travelling around beautiful Sri Lanka so we were able to chill and relax in between all the exciting trips and activities we planned...We stayed at homestays, very small hotels and on an organic tea plantation so we really feel that that we were able to support the local people” – Catherine Huzzey

“Try to pace yourself to include everything you can because there is so much to see in this fabulous place... brilliant driver, friendly and knowledgeable. We would happily recommend this holiday with this operator as one of the best holidays we have ever had” – Peter Carter

“Take protection from the heat. Make sure you cover up your shoulders as a woman in the temples to avoid any stares or the wrath of the locals. Always take the time to say hello to those helping you as they are very friendly people and try to tip well in local restaurants. You should not be too worried about crime, but remember to be firm to those who are trying to sell you trinkets if you do not want them to. Once you have made it clear, they will leave you alone unlike other countries “ - Alastair Francis

“Leave time to relax between excursions when planning your itinerary and take the advice of the holiday provider as they are the experts!...Sri Lanka has a tipping culture and we tried to tip generously particularly to our driver. The tour operator gave us a guide for fair tipping” – Elaine Brown

“Stick to the small bijou hotels/ bungalows away from the crowds whenever possible. Having your own driver and car makes for comfortable travel. Another time I would probably not move every two days waits quite exhausting” – Stan Deboehmler

“The aspect we most appreciated of the tour operator was that we said what we personally most wanted from the holiday - in our case, cultural interest, the opportunity to meet Sri Lankans, absence of crowds, high level of comfort, empty beaches where we could walk unmolested, wonderful scenery, and a leisurely itinerary - and they tailored the holiday the trip to meet our requirements exactly... Castlereagh Bungalow was the most luxurious, most welcoming, most helpful place we have ever stayed in; and the walks through the tea estate with idyllic views of the reservoir and surrounding hills, both relaxing and inspiring” – Ruth le Guen

It's a really varied holiday which is great. Do some reading before you go so that you can make the most of your time there. If it's a sunny day take a pair of socks with you when you visit the temples, because the sand and the stones are very hot… the most memorable bit? The visit to Sigirya. The climb up the rock is exhilarating and the views from the top are amazing!” – Jenny Fewtrell