Boutique Sri Lanka SPECIAL OFFER

Fly overnight from the UK to Colombo, where your private driver-guide greets you and transfers you just 30 minutes to The Wallawwa, an 18th-century country house set in tropical gardens.

This tranquil oasis sets the tone for your Teardrop adventure — intimate, stylish and steeped in quiet Sri Lankan charm. Stretch out by the pool, wander beneath frangipani trees, or enjoy an Ayurvedic massage to shake off the flight. Dinner is served al fresco beneath hanging lamps, with local dishes reimagined using organic ingredients from the gardens.

Arriving early? Ask us to arrange a visit to a nearby temple or a short walk in the surrounding countryside before your welcome dinner.

After breakfast, your driver takes you inland to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural heart. Explore the shimmering Temple of the Tooth, where monks file past the relic chamber amid clouds of incense, then stroll the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, a lush expanse of orchids, palms and spice trees.

Continue through winding mountain roads to Camellia Hills, a five-bedroom modern-colonial bungalow overlooking the Castlereagh Reservoir. Check in for one night and settle in with afternoon tea on the terrace as the mists roll over the hills. Take a guided plantation walk with the resident naturalist, then enjoy a gourmet dinner by the fireplace as the night cools and crickets begin their chorus.

All our holidays are designed for each individual. Contact us on 01273 923100 to start designing yours.

Call 01273 923100 to start planning your holiday

This morning, travel like a local in style — board the train from Hatton to Ella, one of Asia’s most beautiful rail journeys. Watch tea pickers at work, mist drifting over valleys, and children waving as you pass sleepy stations painted in bright pastels.

Arrive in Ella and transfer to Nine Skies, an elegant 1920s tea planter’s bungalow surrounded by emerald hills and manicured lawns. With just five rooms, an infinity pool overlooking the Demodara Valley, and the warmth of a private home, it’s a sanctuary of peace and charm.

Spend the afternoon exploring the gardens, or join the chef for a Sri Lankan cookery demonstration to learn the secret of perfect dhal or coconut sambol. End your day with a gin and tonic on the terrace as fireflies flicker across the garden.

Wake to the scent of fresh tea and birdsong. With your driver-guide, explore Ella’s beautiful surroundings: climb Little Adam’s Peak for sweeping views of the highlands, visit the iconic Nine Arches Bridge as the train passes, and tour a working tea factory to see how the island’s famous brew is made.

Return for a relaxed afternoon at Nine Skies — swim in the pool, read on the verandah, or walk down to the tea fields with your butler to learn about daily life on the estate. Dinner tonight features garden-fresh vegetables, local spices, and sweeping views of the valley under a canopy of stars.

Call 01273 923100 to start planning your holiday

Today, leave the highlands and journey south toward the coast, with two of Sri Lanka’s most fascinating stops along the way.

First, visit the Elephant Transit Home near Udawalawe — a conservation project dedicated to rehabilitating orphaned elephants for release back into the wild. Time your arrival for the daily feeding session, a moving moment as the young elephants amble in from the forest to drink their milk before disappearing again into the trees.

Continue southwest through lush countryside to the Mulkirigala Cave Temples, a series of rock-cut shrines carved into a towering cliff. Climb gently between terraces, admiring centuries-old murals depicting the life of the Buddha and serene reclining statues that glow in the half-light of oil lamps.

By late afternoon, arrive in the coastal city of Galle and check in at Fort Bazaar, a chic Moorish-inspired boutique hotel set within the historic fort’s 17th-century walls. Relax in the shaded courtyard with a lime soda, then dine on spice-infused modern Sri Lankan cuisine at the hotel’s stylish Church Street Social restaurant.

Call 01273 923100 to start planning your holiday

This morning, meet your expert local guide for a walking tour of Galle Fort, where narrow lanes reveal a patchwork of Portuguese, Dutch and British heritage. Hear stories of spice merchants and explorers as you stroll past coral-stone ramparts, colonial mansions and boutique-lined alleys.

The afternoon is free to explore or relax. Take a short tuk-tuk ride to Unawatuna or Jungle Beach for a swim, visit a local cinnamon plantation, or join one of Fort Bazaar’s cultural experiences, such as a cooking class or heritage photography walk.

As evening falls, sip a cocktail while watching the sunset from the ramparts — the sky glowing gold over the Indian Ocean — before returning to your hotel for dinner beneath the stars.

After breakfast, follow the curve of the coast to Kumu Beach, a serene, design-led retreat near Balapitiya. With just ten rooms opening onto sweeping lawns and the sea beyond, this minimalist-chic escape is all about space, light, and relaxation.

Spend your days at leisure: take a boat safari on the Madu River, weaving through mangrove islets alive with kingfishers and monitor lizards; visit the sea turtle conservation project at Kosgoda; or simply unwind beside the black-stone infinity pool.

Kumu’s open-air restaurant serves some of the best coastal cuisine in Sri Lanka — think tamarind prawns, coconut fish curry and mango salad. As the sun melts into the horizon, toast the end of your Sri Lankan adventure with a glass of chilled rosé and the rhythmic sound of waves on the shore.

Want to end with more time at the beach? We can tailor this itinerary to suit you. 

Call 01273 923100 to start planning your holiday

After breakfast, your driver transfers you to Colombo Airport for your flight home.

Welcome home!