Sri Lanka invites you in gently – through the aroma of freshly prepared tea, the echo of footsteps on temple floors, and the soft ripple of lakes that mirror the sky. Led by your handpicked Signature Guide, slip from the stillness around Negombo to the cultural heartlands of Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, where local chefs, wildlife researchers, and temple hosts open windows onto everyday life. Encounters unfold slowly: observing primates among timeworn ruins, joining almsgiving, and cycling highland trails where the tea country unfurls in shifting greens.
Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.
Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between immersive optional activities such as dawn birdwatching in the Sigiriya Sanctuary, a village cycling trail with roti-making, a tuk-tuk exploration of Anuradhapura, or a sunrise climb to the top of the iconic Sigiriya rock fortress
Signature Stay: Stay at Jetwing Vil Uyana, a serene wetland sanctuary near Sigiriya, where freestanding dwellings open onto paddy fields, marshes, and forest, and nature moves quietly at your doorstep
Signature Guide: Let your handpicked Signature Guide lead you to the country’s soul — sharing their home, heritage, and heart
Activity Areas
Culture
Region & Country & City
Asia: Indian Ocean, Kandy, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Included in the Price
Elegant, hand-picked hotels and a Signature Stay in Jetwing Vil Uyana, a serene wetland sanctuary near Sigiriya - All breakfasts, three lunches, six dinners, featuring restaurants that capture the authentic cuisine of Sri Lanka - Your preferred Signature Day experience, selected and prebooked ahead of travel - Named Signature Guide with outstanding knowledge and guest satisfaction - Complimentary transfers on arrival and departure, plus comfortable transport throughout (private minibus) - Gratuities for local support staff so every detail of your journey feels effortless
Not Included In The Price
Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.
Itinerary
Day 1 Settle into the rhythms of nature | Welcome reception in the gardens
Welcome to Sri Lanka, the island of serendipity. Complimentary arrival transfers ensure an effortless beginning as you settle into our elegant beachfront haven near the fishing village of Negombo.
Those arriving early may join an optional exploration of Colombo’s art and architecture, beginning at the former private residence of Geoffrey Bawa, father of tropical modernism, before visiting leading contemporary galleries and a private artist studio (available to prebook on request).
As dusk softens, we gather for a welcome reception with our Signature Guide, followed by dinner taking in the sunset and sea breeze.
Day 2 Rise into the Cultural Triangle | Share an almsgiving ceremony with a Buddhist host
Journey to the Cultural Triangle, landscapes opening into lakes, rock outcrops and village life. We pause en route at Kurunegala Amakie Café, before arriving at our Signature Stay, Jetwing Vil Uyana, a wetland sanctuary woven through forest and water.
Signature Experience: In the early evening, step into a quiet rural temple, where a Buddhist host welcomes you into an almsgiving ceremony – a gentle, contemplative ritual at the heart of Sri Lankan religious life. As offerings are prepared and presented, your host explains the significance of generosity, merit-making, and community support in Buddhist practice.
The day closes with an intimate dining experience, where the hotel’s executive chef and a village cook prepare classic Sri Lankan dishes exclusively before you, sharing stories through food.
Day 3 Follow Sri Lanka’s wildlife stories | Track primates with leading researchers and safari in Minneriya
Signature Experience: Arrive at the ancient city of Polonnaruwa to observe its resident primates, including toque macaques, grey langurs, and purple-faced leaf monkeys. Accompanied by field researchers from the Smithsonian Primate Research Station, gain rare insight from conservation specialists whose decades of work have shaped global primate research and featured in acclaimed television documentaries and a Disney film.
After exploring the ancient city, continue to a family farming home for a farm-to-table lunch prepared with seasonal produce and time-honoured recipes.
Later, an afternoon safari in Minneriya National Park – renowned for its elephant population – unfolds across grasslands and wetlands, ending with a relaxed sundowner.
Day 4 Signature Day | Choose birdlife, village trails, or the iconic Sigiriya
Today is your Signature Day, where you can select an authentic, curated experience to connect deeply with Sri Lanka’s cultural and natural heritage. You could:
Climb the iconic rock fortress of Sigiriya at sunrise, tracing water gardens, frescoes, and ancient stone walls, before continuing to Mapagala fortress for a private picnic breakfast in a secluded spot. (4.30am-7.30am)
Join a naturalist for birdwatching at Sigiriya Sanctuary, exploring waterways at dawn as you spot a remarkable variety of endemic and migratory birdlife, with insights into local ecology and conservation. (6am-9am)
Explore the ancient capital of Anuradhapura by tuk-tuk, travelling through jungle trails and monastic ruins while visiting soaring stupas, the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree, and ancient reservoirs. Lunch is included. (8am-2pm)
Cycle through rustic villages near Sigiriya, riding past lush paddies and rural lanes before ending with a hands-on roti-making session and herbal tea shared with local hosts. (2pm-5pm)
Regroup this evening to join a local village community, offering insight into everyday life in the Cultural Triangle through informal conversation and shared stories. Conclude with a relaxed barbecue dinner under the stars, prepared using locally sourced ingredients and by a local family.
Day 5 Enter the highlands | Walk forest trails and dine by torchlight
Travel into the cooler central highlands, arriving at Simpson’s Forest (near Wattegama, Kandy), a tea and clove estate set against mountain ridges.
A traditional lunch served in clay pots introduces regional flavours, followed by a nature hike through estate paths, past tea bushes and towering clove trees, and among the sounds of native birds. It ends at a natural rock pool for a refreshing dip in crystalline waters.
As night falls, enjoy an exclusive garden dinner hosted by the estate’s executive chef, where torchlight and the surrounding forest create an intimate atmosphere.
Day 6 Pedal the hill roads | Transition through the tea country
Begin the day with a cycling adventure along the winding Alkaduwa Road, through quiet estate roads, tea gardens, and among village homes set against misty hills.
Journeying deeper into Sri Lanka's enchanting hill country, we arrive in the charming village of Ella, a place of rolling tea estates, mist-cloaked peaks, and breathtaking mountain panoramas. With its refreshing climate and unhurried pace of life, Ella provides the perfect setting to experience a different side of the island.
Later, we gather for dinner at Ravana Pool Club, a stylish hillside retreat where contemporary design meets the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Enjoy a relaxed evening of fine food and warm hospitality as you soak in the atmosphere of one of Sri Lanka's most scenic mountain destinations.
Day 7 Trace tea heritage | Exclusive estate tour with a farmhouse lunch
Signature Experience: Nestled among the rolling hills of Sri Lanka's Uva Highlands, enjoy an intimate introduction to the country's renowned tea heritage at Amba Estate, a locally owned working organic farm. Explore flourishing tea, cinnamon and lemongrass plantations, meet the people behind the estate's handcrafted teas, and gain insight into its artisanal production methods and community-led sustainability initiatives.
Enjoy a homegrown farmhouse lunch overlooking the countryside before setting out on a scenic walk through the estate to the hidden side of Ravana Ella Waterfall, crossing a rope bridge along the way. The experience concludes with a tasting of four handmade teas at a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the Ella Gap.
This evening is at leisure, allowing time to relax or discover Ella's vibrant cafés and restaurants at your own pace.
Day 8 Discover Sri Lanka’s cinnamon traditions | Farewell dinner by the Indian Ocean
Leaving Sri Lanka’s hill country behind, we journey south to Ahangama for a unique cinnamon experience at Kurundu Villa. Surrounded by cinnamon plantations and emerald rice paddies, we discover the story behind one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated spices. Learn how cinnamon is traditionally grown and harvested, meet the people keeping this centuries-old craft alive, and enjoy a delicious lunch that showcases the spice's delicate flavours.
Afterwards, we continue to our coastal hotel, where there is time to relax before dinner.
Tonight, we gather for a special farewell dinner. With the Indian Ocean as our backdrop, we enjoy good food and relaxed conversation as we reflect on the experiences we’ve shared throughout our journey.
Day 9 Say a fond farewell to Sri Lanka
After breakfast, take a quiet moment to absorb the morning calm – the soft rush of the ocean, the stillness of the gardens, and the gentle coastal light that frames your final hours here.
Those with later flights may choose to linger a little longer, enjoying an unhurried coffee or a last walk along the sand before a complimentary transfer to the airport.
While this chapter closes, the island’s colour, ancient pulse, and serendipitous moments linger well beyond the journey itself.
Alternatively, open a new chapter of discovery by speaking to your Signature Collection travel expert about extending your stay.
