Snapshot
Discover Sri Lanka’s awe-inspiring tea hills, diverse wildlife, vibrant history and tropical beaches on this ten-day tour of southern Sri Lanka. Begin in Hatton and explore the tea estates surrounding the picturesque Castlereagh Lake, then wind down to the jungles of Udawalawe and go on jeep drives through the park to spot herds of elephants, sloth bears and a variety of other animals. You will then drive along the south coast to stay two nights in Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to historic monuments, restaurants and quirky shops, before ending with three days of relaxation on the beach.
Highlights
- Go whale watching and try water-sports
- See large herds of elephants at Udawalawe
- Experience the sensational views of Hatton
- Explore the streets and ramparts of Galle Fort
- Loll on picture-perfect tropical beaches
Package includes
- Accommodation in a shared double / twin room
- Chauffeur-guide and vehicle for the duration of the tour (including leisure days)
- Both airport transfers
- Customer Care for the duration of your tour
Terms & Conditions
- Valid from 1st September 2020 – 30th November 2020
- Price shown is based on two people sharing and may be subject to change
- See our Booking Conditions for more details

Day 1 & 2 Hatton, Hill Country
Upon arrival at the airport, head straight to Hatton, a hill station with spectacular scenery of rolling tea estates and the picturesque Castlereagh Lake. Why not visit Warleigh Church during your stay, or take a tour of a tea factory? Otherwise just relax by the heated pool and take in the views.
Accommodation: The Argyle

Day 3 & 4 Udawalawe National Park, Tissa & Kataragama
Wind out of the hills and down to Udawalawe National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful parks which is home to over 500 elephants and has an Elephant Transit Centre where orphaned elephant calves are raised before being released into the wild. Head out on twice daily jeep drives through the park and enjoy the beautiful scenery whilst you look out for elephants and a variety of other wildlife.
Accommodation: Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort
Recommended Activities: Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home , Udawalawe National Park

Day 5 & 6 Galle Fort, Galle Coast
Journey along the south coast on a scenic drive that hugs the coastline until you reach Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its 17th-century ramparts, colonial-period buildings, variety of cafés and restaurants and a range of small shops. Your hotel is within the walls of the fort, so everything is on your doorstep. As well as exploring the fort, you can also visit a nearby cinnamon plantation, go on a guided bike ride through the inland countryside and take a traditional cooking class.
Accommodation: 50 Lighthouse Street
Recommended Activities: Galle Dutch Fort , Traditional Sri Lankan Cooking Class , Galle Guided Bicycle Trails , Cinnamon Trails

Day 7, 8 & 9 Unawatuna, Galle Coast
Your final three days will be spent on the idyllic beaches close to Galle Fort. Optional things to do – other than soaking up some sun – include whale watching, surfing, jet-skiing and sailing.
Accommodation: Coco Bay
Recommended Activities: Take a Sri Lanka surfing lesson , Whale Watching in Mirissa

Day 10 Airport
Today, your chauffeur-guide will pick you up and take you to the airport in time to catch your flight home.The Argyle
Hatton, Hill Country
Located in Hatton, the Argyle is a modern hotel offering a comfortable getaway in the hill country. The Argyle in Hatton commands a fine view of the hill country and Sri Lanka’s famed Adam’s Peak.
Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort
Udawalawe, Tissa & Kataragama
Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort is a modern four-star hotel which lies just 10 minutes away from the Udawalawe National Park entrance. Set in seven acres of tropical gardens, this 57-room hotel is a welcome addition to an area where accommodation options are limited.
50 Lighthouse Street
Galle Fort, Galle Coast
50 Lighthouse Street is a charming four-bedroom colonial-style villa in the heart of Galle Fort. This stylish accommodation is ideal for couples, groups of friends and families with older children.
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home
Udawalawe, Tissa & Kataragama
Visit the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe National Park, a rehabilitation centre for orphaned elephant calves, in the confidence that you are supporting an ethical commitment towards enhancing their chances of survival in the wild. The Elephant Transit Home exists for the primary objective of rehabilitating orphaned elephant calves before releasing them.
Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe, Tissa & Kataragama
Udawalawe, in Sri Lanka's south-central sector, is the area that most resembles an African game park. Elephant sightings are pretty much guaranteed in a national park that is conveniently positioned between the southern highlands and the south coast. It centres upon Udawalawe reservoir and although it is about a third of the size (at around 300sqkm) and less well known than Yala, it can be somewhat quieter and it generally packs a punch. Opened in 1972, as Sri Lanka’s fifth national park, It is open all year round for safaris even in the dry season in September and October. The nearby Elephant Transit Home is another attraction with good ethical credentials.
Galle Dutch Fort
Galle Fort, Galle Coast
Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and then further developed by the Dutch and the British over the next 350 years. It covers nearly 4sqkm and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts. During the early 18th century, the Old Dutch Gate was the entrance to the Fort, but subsequently the British built the Main Gate that is still used today. Buildings of interest include the Dutch Reformed Church, All Saints Church, Amangalla Hotel (formerly the New Oriental Hotel),the lighthouse and bell tower. The Dutch also developed what was then an innovative tide-based sewage-system within the Fort.
Traditional Sri Lankan Cooking Class
Galle, Galle Coast
Learn how to make rice and curry, Sri Lanka’s delicious and underrated traditional cuisine, which is overshadowed on the international culinary stage by the food of its neighbours, such as India. Although it sounds simple, rice and curry is actually a complex dish comprised of seven different elements, including curries, spiced vegetables in a variety of textures, sambols, chutneys and rice.
Galle Guided Bicycle Trails
Galle, Galle Coast
Galle’s rural inland landscape is largely unfrequented by tourists who visit this region, as they are often more preoccupied with visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle Fort, or relaxing on the popular beaches along the Galle Coast. However, the countryside around Galle is truly picturesque and is particularly nice to explore if you are looking to discover the ‘authentic’ Sri Lanka which is sometimes hidden on the tourist trail – cycle past lush green paddy fields dotted with water buffalo, bright white egrets and vibrant kingfishers, sloping tea plantations, rice fields, small villages, temples and colourful gardens growing spices and fruit.
Cinnamon Trails
Weligama, South Coast
True cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka and has been coveted by travellers from across the world for many centuries. Globally, it is still known as Ceylon cinnamon, and its appeal has led to wonderful stories, wild claims and even wars between competing traders. In recent years, modern science has begun to acknowledge the health benefits of cinnamon that have been long upheld in Ayurvedic practices, and the spice’s sweet aroma continues to enchant people across the world.
Take a Sri Lanka surfing lesson
Weligama, South Coast
Learn to surf the waves at Weligama Bay on Sri Lanka's blissful south coast with the extra assurance of your own instructor to guide you every step of the way.
Whale Watching in Mirissa
Mirissa, South Coast
Go whale watching in Sri Lanka, acclaimed as one of the best places in the world to see whales. Spot dolphins, sperm whales and blue whales near Mirissa. The island’s shoreline lies unusually close to the continental shelf, the point when the ocean floor drops dramatically and where larger marine life is found, and so it does not take too long to reach these deep waters from Sri Lanka’s western, southern and eastern coastlines. Whale and dolphin watching is possible from Kalpitiya, Bentota and Mirissa between December and April, and from Trincomalee and Pasikudah on the east coast between June and August, but Mirissa is widely thought of as the best place for whale watching in Sri Lanka.