Few places in the world offer so many incredible experiences within such a small area.
On a tour to Sri Lanka, you’ll discover ancient ruins steeped in captivating stories, vibrant culture, lush green landscapes, and endless, idyllic beaches.
Travel to Sri Lanka and discover magnificent ancient cities steeped in captivating history, a vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, endless beaches, and an abundance of wildlife. Few places in the world bring together such a wealth of truly unique experiences as Sri Lanka does.
“Sri Lanka holds a very special place in my travel heart. Everything feels easy here – from the minimal time difference to the incredible variety of experiences that await within just a few hours’ drive. This is where you’ll find everything I love about travelling: untouched beaches, idyllic bays, and landscapes that shift from mountains and valleys to rainforest, rocks, and sweeping plains, where elephants move gracefully through the trees and leopards hide in the tall grass.”
“But what truly makes Sri Lanka special to me is the people. Their genuine warmth and hospitality make the island feel both exotic and reassuring, and together with its stunning nature and rich cultural heritage, it’s a destination that keeps calling me back.”
– Mikkel, travel expert and Product Manager for Sri Lanka
Our tours to Sri Lanka have been carefully crafted by our travel specialists to ensure you experience some of the country’s absolute highlights.
All our tours in Sri Lanka are package holidays, where the price includes flights, carefully selected accommodation, transport, and scheduled excursions. Many of our tours also include free time, allowing you to add more experiences with our optional tours or extend your journey with a beach holiday. Along the way, we, our local partners and our travel specialists, are always ready to assist you, so you can focus on enjoying your adventure in Sri Lanka.
Below, you can read about selected highlights you can experience on our tours in Sri Lanka. You can also see exactly what is included in each tour itinerary.
Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and is the most visited historic attraction in all of Sri Lanka.
The dramatic 200-metre-high rock rises majestically above the flat, forested plains and is famous for its fascinating ruins at the top, which date back to the late 5th century AD.
According to legend, King Kasyapa moved the ancient capital of Anuradhapura to Sigiriya, where he built a palace on top of the rock. The palace was later transformed into a Buddhist monastery, which remained active until the 14th century.
As you climb the more than 1,000 steps to the summit, you’ll encounter beautifully preserved frescoes of graceful women, said to be Kasyapa’s wives and concubines. Before reaching the top, you’ll pass between two enormous lion’s paws – the last remnants of the colossal lion statue that gave the rock its name.
Today, Sigiriya ranks among the most spectacularly situated ruins in the world, offering breathtaking views across central Sri Lanka.
Kandy is Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, known as the city that preserved its independence long after the rest of the country had fallen under Portuguese and Dutch colonial rule. Today, the city is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, where you can experience unique traditions and culture through its architecture, music, and dance. For example, you can watch traditional Sri Lankan dance performances featuring fire, drums, and colourful costumes.
Kandy is beautifully situated beside the artificial lake of the same name, surrounded by mountains and lush tea plantations. Sri Lanka is the world’s fourth largest tea producer, and just outside Kandy you can gain a fascinating insight into the production process at the Giragama tea factory and plantation, where some of the finest tea in the world is grown.
The city is also home to some of Sri Lanka’s most important religious sanctuaries, including the Temple of the Tooth. The Temple of the Tooth, Dalada Maligawa, safeguards Sri Lanka’s most revered Buddhist relic – one of Buddha’s canine teeth, which is said to have been smuggled to Sri Lanka hidden in a princess’s hair.
Most people might associate safaris with Africa, but Sri Lanka’s rich wildlife can also be experienced on a safari in the country’s stunning national parks. Here, you’ll have the chance to encounter elephants, crocodiles, and colourful birds.
Below, you can read about some of the highlights of Sri Lanka’s national parks.
Yala National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most famous national parks.
The park is home to nearly 50 different species of mammals and more than 200 species of birds. It’s especially known for its elephants, deer, crocodiles, and monkeys.
Yala is also among the best places in Sri Lanka to see leopards, and it’s considered one of the top spots in the world with one of the highest densities of leopards.
Not far from Yala National Park lies Udawalawe National Park – Yala’s lesser-visited little brother.
Here, you can experience one of Sri Lanka’s largest elephant populations (around 500), and the park is known to be the very best place to spot these gentle giants.
In addition to elephants, you can encounter water buffaloes, sloth bears, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and macaques. The park is also a real treat for bird enthusiasts – look forward to seeing hornbills, kingfishers, owls, and eagles.
Minneriya National Park is also a wonderful place to visit if you want to witness Sri Lanka’s wild elephants, especially during the dry season.
From May to September (the dry season), you can experience the famous “Elephant Gathering”, when elephants travel from afar to drink from the park’s large reservoir. At certain times, hundreds of elephants gather here.
In addition to elephants, you may encounter crocodiles, monkeys, deer, and birds – and perhaps even a rare bear or leopard.
With a coastline stretching over 1,300 km and countless stunning beaches, Sri Lanka is a perfect place to end your tour with a relaxing beach holiday, for example in Trincomalee, Bentota, or Mirissa.
Selected tours can be rounded off with a beach holiday. Read more about the different coastal towns below.
Trincomalee is a truly spectacular coastal area on Sri Lanka’s north-eastern shore.
The area is especially known for its picture-perfect sandy beaches, Uppuveli and Nilaveli, and the small island of Pigeon Island. The waters surrounding Pigeon Island are among the very best places in Sri Lanka for snorkelling and diving.
In addition to its exceptional opportunities for snorkelling and diving, the coastline near Trincomalee is a wonderful place to embark on a whale and dolphin safari.
The coastal town of Hikkaduwa is located in the south-western part of Sri Lanka.
Hikkaduwa is one of Sri Lanka’s first beach holiday towns, and here you’ll find plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops. If you enjoy snorkelling, you’ll also find a large coral reef just off the coast of Hikkaduwa, home to an array of colourful fish and turtles.
Negombo lies on Sri Lanka’s west coast and is famous for its wide, golden sandy beaches and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
The town offers a perfect blend of relaxation and local culture, where you can meet friendly fishermen from the small seaside community as you stroll along the shoreline.
Negombo is also the ideal spot if you’re into water sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing, with excellent waves particularly from January to March.
Situated on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, Mirissa is a charming seaside town with golden sandy beaches, sparkling waters, and palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. The town invites you to unwind by the beach or head out to sea for a thrilling adventure on the waves.
Beneath the surface, colourful fish and sea turtles await at Parrot Rock, while on a whale-watching tour, you might be lucky enough to spot blue whales, sperm whales, and dolphins. As the sun sets, you can enjoy fresh seafood at a beachfront restaurant or take in the sunset from Coconut Tree Hill with a refreshing drink in hand.
On the southwest coast of Sri Lanka lies one of the country’s most popular beach holiday destinations, Bentota, renowned for its wide, golden sandy beaches, peaceful atmosphere, and beautiful surroundings.
Bentota offers plenty of opportunities for both relaxation and adventure, including a river safari through lush mangrove forests, water sports in the Bentota Lagoon, or a dip in the turquoise sea.
Sri Lanka offers a wealth of fascinating experiences, and the following are also well worth mentioning:
If you’d like to end your Sri Lankan adventure with a few relaxing days at one of the world’s most iconic beach holiday destinations, combine Sri Lanka with the Maldives.
Just an hour and a half’s flight from Sri Lanka lies this stunning island nation, made up of nearly 1,200 gorgeous islands, of which only around 200 are inhabited.
On a tour to the Maldives, you can:
It’s only natural to have a few questions when you’re considering a tour to Sri Lanka. Do I need vaccinations? When is the best time to visit? Can I travel with children?
Below we’ve gathered answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our tours to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located to the southeast of India.
The best time to visit Sri Lanka’s west and south coasts, as well as the central highlands, is from November to April, while the east coast is most enjoyable between March and August.
Sri Lanka can be visited all year round, although the country’s two monsoon seasons affect different regions at different times. Even during the monsoon period, rain showers are usually short, and there are always areas with pleasant weather, making it possible to plan an amazing tour at any time of year.
Read more about the weather in Sri Lanka.
Yes, it is wonderful to visit Sri Lanka with kids.
The country offers fascinating wildlife, child-friendly beaches, scenic train rides through lush landscapes, and a kind and welcoming local population. On top of that, Sri Lanka’s relatively short travel distances make it an ideal choice for families.
Our tours are designed to offer the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation – even when you’re travelling with children.
Yes, as a UK citizen, you are required to obtain a visa to travel to Sri Lanka. The visa must be applied for online before departure.
We recommend that you stay updated by visiting our practical information page or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.
Yes, it is safe to travel to Sri Lanka. We closely follow the travel advice issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and would never send our guests to destinations that are not considered safe to visit.
We also work in partnership with trusted local operators to ensure that your tour is safe and carefree from start to finish.
In general, it’s always a good idea to exercise caution when you’re travelling, no matter where your destination may be.
At TourCompass, we know Sri Lanka like the back of our hand. With many years of experience in crafting well-organised tours, we give you the confidence guarantee to explore the world without having to worry about the details yourself.
Our tours are package holidays where flights, carefully selected hotels, transport, and scheduled excursions are all included. You’ll also have great opportunities to personalise your tour with our optional tours or extend it with a relaxing beach holiday.
We work closely with skilled local guides who know the country’s culture and nature inside out. Both our own team and our local partners are ready to assist you through our emergency hotline staffed 24/7, so you can set out on your adventure with peace of mind – before, during, and after your tour.
A tour to Sri Lanka offers everything from lush tea plantations, ancient ruined cities, and sites on the UNESCO world heritage list to palm-fringed beaches, cascading waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.
Are you ready to take the first step towards an adventure brimming with culture, history, and breathtakingly diverse landscapes? Get in touch with our travel specialists today, and together we’ll find the perfect tour for you.
Exploring the world with TourCompass is a safe choice – we’re with you all the way.
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
You can check out the itinerary and dream yourself away in photos and videos of all our tours. You can read more about accommodation, combination options and all the practicalities – and see prices and departure dates for the next 18 months.
You are always welcome to call or write to us. We are here to answer all your questions, listen to your wishes and provide you with honest and competent advice based on our extensive travel experiences with Africa, Asia and Latin America.
You will receive a detailed quote for the tour, which you can save, print out or share with your travelling companions. If you decide to go ahead and book the tour, you can do this easily via the quote itself.
Emily loves to travel and is extremely passionate about helping others achieve their travel dreams.
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