Day 1, 2 & 3On arrival in Sri Lanka you will be met at the airport by a Red Dot representative and transferred directly to Villa Bentota, a luxurious beach side boutique hotel in the coastal village of Bentota. The villages along the west coast – Wadduwa, Bentota, Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa – all share a vibrant cultural heritage including folklore, music and dance as well as architectural influences from the Dutch period to the more modern creations of the iconic local architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Visit nearby Lunuganga – a garden retreat that was created by Geoffrey Bawa with numerous varieties of foliage, many pavilions, and statues. Take a boat ride along the tranquil Madu River past quaint rural villages, en route, visit the local markets, temples & craft and antique shops. Bentota and Hikkaduwa situated nearby, offer a range of watersports including surfing, snorkelling, diving and water-skiing.

Day 4 & 5Journey further south along the coast to the historic city of Galle where you will stay the next two nights at Kahanda Kanda, a luxurious boutique hotel located about 15 minutes inland from Galle. Explore the surrounding tea estate and visit the nearby tea factory. Take a boat ride on Koggala Lake, scattered with islands including Fish Eagle Island and Cinnamon Island. Swimming, surfing and snorkelling is possible in Unawatuna and Mirissa just 15 minutes away. We recommend a day’s excursion to Galle’s 17C Dutch Fort. Several hours can be spent wandering along the narrow streets, well preserved ramparts, the lighthouse, and the Dutch Reform Church. Explore boutique shops and hotels, visit art galleries and museums, or just soak up the special atmosphere of a living walled town.

Day 6, 7, 8 & 9Travel along the beautiful palm fringed coast to Tangalle in the Deep South where you will stay four nights at the Last House, a boutique hotel positioned on an idyllic strip of land – lagoon on one side, beach on the other. The beach is fabulously long – perhaps one of the best for villa sites in the island – and offers safe swimming for much of the year. Tangalle and the surrounding areas are renowned for its superb unspoiled and undeveloped beaches. Around Dickwella and Tangalle there are also some of the country’s best diving spots. As well as the bright corals and exotic fish, there is the opportunity to go cave and wreck diving. Mirissa Water Sports offers sailing, fishing, coastal cruises, river trips, sea kayaking, snorkelling and boating. During the season from December to April, Mirissa Water Sports organises Dolphin and Whale watching excursions. Seas surrounding Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the best areas in the world to spot the giant Blue Whale and the humpback has also recently been spotted. Visit Yala National Park, arguably Sri Lanka’s finest. Yala is the best place to see all of the ‘big three’ - elephant, leopard & water buffalo. Visit Rekuwa, a small fishing village near Tangalle where a fascinating Marine Turtle Conservation project is helping to save this endangered species.

Day 10, 11 & 12Today you will drive up into Sri Lanka’s famous tea-country, an area with tea covered hills, gushing waterfalls, and scenic beauty. Stay three nights at Ceylon Tea Trails, a wonderful collection of refurbished tea planter’s bungalows in the southwest corner of the hills, an area renowned for its fine tea and beautiful countryside. The following morning you might like to enjoy the “Tea experience”, which involves a visit a plantation to observe first hand the process, starting from the plucking field where it all begins with the picking of “two leaves and a bud” to the factory where the processing begins. The Tea Trails also provides an excellent base for a variety of adventure activities. There are a number of mountain bike trails that loop through the surrounding tea estates and guides are available on-demand. The reservoirs of Castlereagh and Maskeliya offer a pristine lake environment for kayaking – stable one or two-man kayaks are available for hire. Maps, guides and safety gear are all provided. A number of treks and scenic walks are also available.

Day 13Transfer to the luxurious Wallawwa located just 15 minutes from Colombo’s international airport, for your final night’s stay in Sri Lanka. Immerse in a pampering massage at the Z Spa and relax by the poolside set amidst beautiful tropical gardens.