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From $ 3,670 per person

Essential Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
15 days (14 nights)
Staying in carefully curated guesthouses and homestays, ensuring the best value for money while offering a deep cultural connection. You’ll be exploring ancient sites, wandering misty tea plantations, trekking mountain paths, tracking leopards and surfing glassy waves off powder-soft beaches.

This sample tailor-made itinerary shows how you can combine the best of Sri Lanka’s iconic sites with immersive cultural experiences, without costing the earth.

Inspired? Tell us what you most want to see or do, and we’ll design a private itinerary to Sri Lanka built around your own interests.

You’ll be met by your private driver on arrival at the airport and taken directly to your hotel, a short drive away. Time to relax and recharge as tomorrow your adventures begin.
This morning you’re driving into Sri Lanka’s cultural heartland. You’ll stop at Dambulla Cave Temple to admire its opulent, ancient murals, sweeping views and golden Buddha statues before an evening visit to Thalkote Lake with its striking views over Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
See
  • Dambulla Cave Temple, Thalkote Lake
Your day starts with a climb up to Sigiriya Rock Fortress where you’ll walk between lion’s paws before wandering the ornate pools, fountains and terraces. Later, explore Polonnaruwa, viewing impressive seven-storey palaces, vast stone-carved Buddha sculptures and wonderfully preserved circular relic houses.
See
  • Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Polonnaruwa
Start with a sunrise picnic on Pidurangala Rock, watching golden light spill over Sigiriya and the jungle below. In the afternoon, explore the wild beauty of the national parks here on safari, viewing wildlife experiences including the mass elephant gathering.
See
  • Pidurangala Rock, Minneriya, Kaudulla or Eco Park safari
Explore Kandy with your guide today, winding along vibrant streets, visiting cultural highlights and artisan stores. This evening, you’re heading to the revered Buddhist shrine, The Temple of the Tooth Relic, before an evening watching a cultural dance performance.
See
  • Guided tour of Kandy, Temple of the Tooth Relic, dance performance
Delve into Kandy’s gardens with a botanist guide, discovering Sri Lanka’s first tea bushes and rare orchids. Explore the peaceful Kandy Lake, then wander colonial streets and vibrant craft and spice markets, before sipping tea in this culturally rich highland Delve city.
See
  • The Royal Botanical Garden
You’re winding along the beautiful road to Nuwera Eliya this morning, passing misty mountains and cascading waterfalls. You’ll stop along the way to visit a tea factory and stroll the hillside blanketed in tea plantations. From here, you’re riding the iconic mountain railway to Bandarawela.
See
  • Tea factory visit, mountain railway ride
You’re trekking a stage of the revered, long-distance Pekoe Trail today with a guide. Hiking through lush tea plantations and the Ella Forest Reserve, you’ll stop to view the staggering Nine Arches Bridge and the ingenious spiralling railway line along the way.
See
  • Stage 16 of the Pekoe Trail with a guide
Thunderously breathtaking waterfalls and towering, 9th century Buddhist rock sculptures puncture your journey from the misty hills to the wildlife-rich plains. This evening, you’re heading out on your first safari in Yala National Park, famed for having the highest leopard density in the world.
See
  • Ravana Falls, Buduruwagala, evening Jeep safari in Yala National Park
Set out on a morning ranger-led safari through Yala’s forests, grasslands and lagoons, where, beyond the elusive leopard, you’ll likely spot elephants, deer, boar, jackals, mongooses, langurs, macaques and a dazzling array of over 200 bird species.
See
  • Morning jeep safari
You’re heading to the coast today and the stunning ‘sandy village’ of Weligama for some beachside relaxation. After a seafood lunch by the pool, you could watch the traditional stilt fishermen and take a beginner SUP or surf lesson off the beach.
Start the day with an Ayurvedic yoga class, then sample hoppers, kottu, and sambals on a Weligama street food stroll. In the afternoon, try batik or wood carving at a local artisanal studio, before mixing island-style cocktails back at your hotel.
Maybe head out on a dolphin and whale watching trip from Mirissa or a snorkel at Jungle Beach. Indulge in a massage at one of the town’s wellness retreats or take a tuk-tuk to view the street art at Makumbra.
Explore the historic Galle Dutch Fort this morning, strolling colonial streets, sea-breeze ramparts and artisan shops, followed by a taste of vibrant street food. In the evening, tour Colombo, immersing in its blend of colonial charm and modern energy.
See
  • Galle Fort visit, Colombo city tour
Your driver will take you to the airport today in time for your return flight home. Time to reflect on everything that you have seen on the island and start editing your photographs.

Does this sound like the ideal adventure for you?

Tailor-made holidays designed for adventure, relaxation, and memories that last

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What our travellers say

We went to Sri Lanka as a three-generation family of three. The superb trip was organised by Samanthie and the team and it's difficult to see how it could have been bettered.
Roy Wood (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google
Red Dot organised the most wonderful 3-week holiday for us. Samanthie built a trip around the amazing sights we had requested visiting, together with her own suggestions and a wide mix of hotels, which gave us the flavours of both traditional Sri Lanka and the sleek, stylish contemporary version of the country. Our Driver made the whole experience incredibly special for us.
Alie C (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor
I can’t thank Cherylle and the Red Dot team enough for their meticulous planning of our family holiday to India travelling through Rajasthan over Christmas. As a family of all adults, every suggestion from daily activities to hotel choices was simply perfect. We travelled through Delhi, Ranthambore (an unforgettable tiger safari!), Jaipur and Agra and I truly feel we experienced the very best of each destination while moving at a relaxed, well thought out pace
Daisy Stanton (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google
My partner arranged a holiday trip at fairly short notice to Sri Lanka with Red Dot on a recommendation, Samanthie was so patient & helpful with her suggested itinerary which we followed with some minor amendments. On arrival at Colombo we met Manjula our chauffeur/guide who was absolutely brilliant!
Andrew S (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor
Dulmini and the Red Dot Team arranged a fantastic trip for us around Assam and North Eat India. Faultless service. I cannot recommend them more highly.
Martin Thomas (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google
Wonderful company. Our holiday in Sri Lanka was perfect. Local knowledge made all the difference
Sandra Nicholson  (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google
We looked up, and communicated with umpteen tour operators. Though Red Dot seemed to have offices in Sri Lanka and the UK, they seemed to have the best reviews. We were fortunate enough to correspond with Cherylle, who not only assured us of the safety of our friend, but created a personalised, and flexible, itinerary which we could not have done ourselves.
Jayant Banerji (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google
A 14-day tour with Red Dot Tours was the perfect antidote to the bleak UK winter. After a glowing recommendation from a friend, we contacted Red Dot Tours and were not disappointed. Our consultant, Lahiru, curated a seamless itinerary. Throughout the planning phase, Lahiru was incredibly responsive; the final itinerary—delivered via a user-friendly 'Guest Portal'—was impressively detailed, covering every hotel stay and excursion.
Phil Blair ( February 2026) Read the whole review here Google
Red Dot Testimonial

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Our Conversation
We'll ideally have a detailed chat to get to know how you love to travel. What gets you excited? Where have you already explored? We'll share some ideas and start crafting something that's perfectly you.
Itinerary Planning
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Return
Come home feeling absolutely inspired and wonderfully restored. And when you're ready for your next adventure? We'll be here, probably already bursting with ideas for you.
Cherylle, Travel Consultant

Meet our experts

Speak to our Sri Lanka experts to help you plan your trip

Want to see Sri Lanka through local eyes? Our specialists have spent years building relationships across the island and discovering places most visitors never find. They'll get to know exactly what you're looking for and design something that's completely yours. Ready to start planning? Get in touch and let's create your perfect Sri Lankan adventure.

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