...Trip idea
Summer in Sri Lanka
Strike out in Sri Lanka this summer and encounter intriguing ancient sites, rare wildlife and gloriously peaceful east coast beaches.
Negombo Nights
Arrive in Sri Lanka and immediately feel immersed in the country’s evocative sights and scents as you are swiftly transferred to your hotel by your driver who will act as your guide and translator on your trip. Settle in and recover from the journey with a swim in the pool and perhaps your first taste of Sri Lanka’s unique cuisine with a freshly plucked king coconut and some spicy snacks.
Take a day to explore your surrounds – Negombo is a small fishing town where you can watch fishermen haul in their catch and lay them out to dry on coconut mats on the beach or admire an eye-opening array of fish and seafood in the bustling market. Take a tranquil boat trip on the lagoon, watching monkeys leap between the shoreside trees and herons and cormorants elegantly glide over the water. End the day with a creamy Negombo crab curry, the first of many deliciously fragrant Sri Lankan meals.
STAY: Wallawwa
Just 15 minutes from the airport, Wallawwa feels like a cool, calm greeting and marks the start of your two-week holiday. A traditional colonial hotel with terracotta tiled roofs and an airy colonnaded reception, Wallawwa also has a lush garden with a jade-green pool, ideal for acclimatising to the country’s tropical warmth.
The Wilds of Wilpattu
With an early morning transfer that will ensure you arrive for lunch, travel with your private car and driver north to one of Sri Lanka’s most notable and oldest wildlife havens – Wilpattu National Park. After a refuelling lunch, head out on your first game drive into Wilpattu’s 130,000-hectares. Characterised by sand-rimmed lakes, archaeological ruins and untamed jungle, Wilpattu is where rare wildlife hide out. With a guide to take you to the right spots, get up close to Asian elephant, langur, mongoose and if you’re lucky – the shy and retiring leopard. Sloth bears love to feast on the fruit from the palu tree which blooms in summer so you may catch a glimpse of this furry creature, while birders will be happy to spy the Ceylon grey hornbill, the Ceylon parakeet and the red-backed woodpecker.
Stay: Leopard Trails
Enjoy a luxurious camping experience at Leopard Trails in a spacious tent with air-con, bathroom and outdoor shower. Spend evenings listening to the wildlife calls while enjoying a delicious Sri Lankan curry feast with numerous dishes, many vegetarian, and all of them unforgettably tasty.
Cultural Heart
Spend the last morning in Wilpattu on an early game drive, looking out for the last few wild animal spots whether it’s the splash of an elephant, the flash of a kingfisher or the rustle of a python. From here you will leave Wilpattu and travel down to Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, so named because of the wealth of revered ruins, relics and sights in one area. Basing yourself here for a few days, spend time in the intriguing painted cave temples of Dambulla, or climb high at dawn onto Sigiriya rock to discover the ruins of an ancient fortress and be rewarded with a mesmerising view. Discover the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a religious centre 800 years ago, now it’s an atmospheric maze of temples, tombs and a beautifully carved reclining statue of Buddha.
Stay: Water Garden
After busy day’s exploring, enjoy your tranquil setting at Water Garden, encased by channels of water, making it a magnet for wildlife. The duplex villas come with plunge pools which are ideal for families and the hotel also has a large pool. There’s plenty to do onsite from cycling the grounds, cookery classes, archery or a game of croquet.
Beachside Bliss
After all this exploring, feel justified in spending your last five nights on the beach. Sri Lanka’s east coast has beautifully calm waters from June to September and some spots have the perfect conditions for surfing too. In under three hours, be transported from Sri Lanka’s cultural heart directly to a beach hotel that opens out onto the golden sands of Kalkuda Bay. Unlike the southwest coast, this part of eastern Sri Lanka feels peaceful and low-key with significantly less development and wide stretches of sand that are often blissfully empty. Aside from enjoying beachside pleasures, you can take a day trip to Pigeon Island National Park to snorkel the teeming coral reefs or head out on a whale-watching experience – over the summer months you can gaze in wonder at 40 strong pods of sperm whales. After five days soaking up this glorious beachside perch, fly back with Cinnamon Air from Batticaloa to Colombo for your return flight home. Alternatively, let the adventure continue with a road trip to the surf hotspot of Arugam Bay, wildlife spotting in Yala National Park or a stay in a luxury hotel near the tropical coastline of Tangalle.
Stay: Kalkuda Beach House
Newly opened for 2025, Kalkuda Beach Hotel is part of the Teardrop Hotel collection, meaning a high standard of service and accommodation and Kulkuda is no exception. With an intimate boutique feel, the restored heritage hotel has just five suites spread between two villas, a 22-metre swimming pool and direct access to the golden sands of Kalkuda Bay.
Stephanie Carthy
Personal Travel Designer
01488 689700 stephanie.carthy@baileyrobinson.com Read Stephanie’s profile
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Stylish Stays in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka offers an experience-rich holiday from beaches, temples, tea plantations to whale-watching, not to mention an introduction to a delectable cuisine. Discover our pick of Sri Lanka’s best villas.
Booking with Bailey Robinson means access to the finest travel experiences. When planning your holiday we do all the hard work – in-depth research and meticulous organisation. You can be confident in the individual care for your holiday from your dedicated and experienced Personal Travel Designer and Concierge.
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A Taste of Sri Lanka
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