Sri Lanka is a tapestry of amazing places of interest and activities ranging from Buddhist temples to ancient cities , from Ayurvedic spa treatments to wild elephants , from tea plantations to mountain treks , not to mention the warm tropical climate and miles on miles of golden sand .

Smaller in size than England , yet so diverse , this beautiful bite-sized island offers a world of wonderful escapes . Its enticing array of places to stay range from boutique hideaways to resort hotels , from tea estate bungalows to eco-lodges , from colonial heritage to contemporary designer-chic .

At Expressions Holidays we link all these experiences together to create a tailor-made holiday to suit your tastes , including anything from a single beach stay to a private chauffeur-driven tour . Young or old , family or couple , beach-bound or culture-vulture – whatever your holiday bent , Sri Lanka ’ s got the lot and we ’ ll find the best of each for you .

Sri Lanka surely merits a two-week holiday as it is at least an 11 hour flight from the UK and there is so much to do and see . Stay in one place , stay a while in two or three locations , or tour around and fully explore . There are plenty of options for shorter holidays too , from relaxing beach flops to cultural sightseeing , wildlife and tea country tours .

We invite you to cherry pick from this brochure the places of interest , the activities , the services and accommodation that appeal to you and we will bring all these ideas together to design a holiday that fits your interests , time constraints and budget . There are also a number of sample holiday itineraries on the following pages that may well be exactly what you are looking for .

SRI LANKA TOURING HOLIDAYS A touring holiday of Sri Lanka is at the heart of what many of our clients want to experience from this fascinating country and it is where we excel at using our personal knowledge and experience to tailor a holiday that is a perfect match for you . Stay in several different locations around Sri Lanka , allowing time to explore and relax in each . Combine a few nights on the beach with stays in the Kandy Hills , in the Cultural Triangle , on a high tea estate , in a national wildlife park , or in Galle , Negombo or Colombo . It makes sense to factor in a night or two in Colombo , Negombo , Wadduwa or at the Wallawwa ( near the airport ), at the beginning and / or end of your holiday to coincide with flight times .

Here are a few favourite suggestions :

1 . Cultural Triangle and Minneriya National Park Relax at Reef Villa in Wadduwa for 4 to 7 nights , then travel to the Cultural Triangle ( 5 hour drive ) and stay at Elephant Corridor for 3 nights , visiting Sri Lanka ’ s ancient sites and Minneriya National Park . Continue to Negombo for a 2-night stay at Jetwing Beach before your flight .

2 . Kandy and Tea Country Stay 1 night at the Wallawwa on arrival from your long haul flight . Then drive to Kandy , staying at Theva for 3 nights , exploring the culture of Kandy and the cool teaclad hills and stunning scenery of the highlands . Then continue to the luxurious Saman Villas to relax by the beach for 7 nights .

3 . Colombo and the tea plantations Stay 1 night in Colombo at the Regency at the Galle Face Hotel on your arrival day , then journey inland to the cool mountains and the tea plantations , staying 3 nights at Ceylon Tea Trails . Continue to the south-west coast to chill out by the beach at Serene Pavilions in Wadduwa for 7 nights .

4 . Cultural Triangle and Kandy Finish your holiday with a relaxing 4-night stay at Club Villa , after exploring the culture , nature and wildlife of the Cultural Triangle and the Hill country , staying 3 nights first at Heritance Kandalama near Dambulla then 3 nights at the Kandy House near Kandy .

5 . The heritage of Galle and Yala National Park Enjoy the culture and heritage of the Amangalla hotel and Galle , then continue along the south coast for a relaxing time lazing by the beach at the splendid Amanwella resort , perhaps taking a jeep safari excursion to observe nature and wildlife in Uda Walawe or Yala National Parks .

6 . The North , North-East , and Cultural Triangle Stop on your way north for a fasinating insight into the wildlife and culture of the Cultural Triangle at the luxury eco-retreat Vil Uyana near Sigiriya . Once in the north , you may wish to explore the beaches and history around Trincomalee or venture even further to the northern tip of the island and the hidden delights of Jaffna .

Polonnaruwa , Cultural Triangle

Kandyan dancers

For more detailed Touring Holidays staying 1 or 2 nights in each place , perhaps with a few days relaxing at the beginning , middle or end .

TRI , Koggala

12 FOR EXPERT ADVICE AND TO MAKE A RESERVATION CALL OUR TRAVEL CONSULTANTS ON 01392 441224