
Luxury Sri Lanka Holidays
Sri Lanka brings an extraordinary amount of variety into one island, with ancient cities, wildlife-rich national parks, rolling tea country and beautiful Indian Ocean beaches all within easy reach. The Cultural Triangle reveals centuries of history through UNESCO-listed ruins, temples and rock fortresses, while Kandy and the central highlands lead into emerald tea plantations, misty hills and scenic rail journeys. Further south, Galle brings colonial architecture and characterful streets, while the national parks offer encounters with elephants, leopards and prolific birdlife.
Then there are the beaches, with the south-west and east coasts offering different seasons and styles of escape. Add wonderfully warm hospitality, distinctive food and a growing collection of exceptional boutique hotels and lodges, and Sri Lanka becomes a destination that is as rewarding for first-time visitors as it is for those returning to discover another side of the island.
Suggested itineraries for Sri Lanka
These example journeys will give you a starting point from which to plan your holiday to Sri Lanka. This collection of ideas includes our favourite combinations of hotels, regions and destinations. Every Turquoise itinerary is unique, so please treat these as inspiration and get in touch with our destination experts to create your bespoke journey and quote.

Family Sri Lankan Summer Escape
9 nights from £16,700 per family
This family focused itinerary combines Sri Lanka’s ancient heritage, gentle adventure and relaxed coastal living on the…
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Ultimate Sri Lanka
13 nights from £5,500 per person
This classic Sri Lanka itinerary combines everything from elephants and tea plantations to culture and beach. Travel…
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Sri Lanka in Style
10 nights from £7,800 per person
Stay at some of the country’s most celebrated luxury properties, from the historic charm of Ceylon Tea Trails to the…
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Sri Lanka with Uga & Barefoot Maldives
11 nights from £8,300 per person
This journey through Sri Lanka brings together Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural landscapes and…
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Seychellois Charm
8 nights from £4,400 per person
8 day journey - Mango House Mahé and Denis Island From £4,449 per person This beautifully balanced Seychelles itinerary…
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Sapphire Seychelles - Blow the Budget
8 nights from £21,700 per person
This extraordinary Seychelles journey begins at Cheval Blanc Seychelles, where contemporary luxury, intuitive service…
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Seychelles Island Hopping
10 nights from £3,900 per person
Experience the magical islands of the Seychelles without blowing the budget on this carefully curated island hopping…
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Family Seychelles with Four Seasons
10 nights from £24,500 per family
This Seychelles itinerary is designed for families seeking a genuine sense of island life. Splitting your stay between…
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A Seychelles Journey with Constance Hotels
10 nights from £4,400 per person
Hop between two pristine islands on your luxury Seychelles holiday with Constance Hotels. This perfect journey combines…
View ItineraryBest time to visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s weather is shaped by two monsoons, so the best time to visit depends on where you are travelling. December to March brings the driest, sunniest weather to the south and west coasts, as well as the Cultural Triangle and hill country. From May to September, the east coast comes into its own, with calmer seas and sunnier days. October and November are more changeable across the island.
For a classic Sri Lanka journey combined with the Maldives, January to April is particularly appealing, pairing good conditions across much of Sri Lanka with the Maldives’ drier season.
Regions in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Tea & Hill Country
Sri Lanka’s mesmerizing beauty truly lies in the central regions of the island, where rainforests carpet towering peaks, vast…
Sri Lanka
South Coast Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan beach scene on the south and west coastline is palm-fringed and low-key, perfect for lazing a few days away.…
Sri Lanka
East Coast Sri Lanka
For those looking to venture to a more undiscovered Sri Lankan beach, the east coast of the island is starting to wake up, and…
Sri Lanka
Cultural Triangle
The fascinating ancient cities and UNESCO-listed heritage sites of Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle’ are a must see for all. Visit…
Sri Lanka
Colombo & Surrounds
A coastal city and the heart of Sri Lanka’s commercial district, Colombo is a heady mix of sites, smells, history, heritage and…

Sri Lanka & The Maldives
Combine Sri Lanka’s culture, wildlife, tea country and ancient cities with the Maldives’ white-sand beaches and turquoise lagoons for the ultimate journey-and-beach escape.
Where to stay in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s accommodation is a real part of the journey. Stay in a characterful boutique hotel, a locally owned tea-country bungalow, a tented camp on the edge of a national park or a private villa by the coast. Some of the most memorable stays are small, independent and deeply connected to their surroundings, with local hosts, thoughtful design and a strong sense of place. Moving between them is what makes a Sri Lanka itinerary feel so varied, personal and unmistakably its own.
Uga Jungle Beach
Located on the untouched east coast near Trincomalee, Jungle Beach is a boutique hideaway offering wild beach, golden sand pierced with drift wood and accommodation set deep in the jungle or directly on the beach.
Uga Halloowella
A simply gorgeous historic home filled with character and stories, restored by Uga into a truly special hotel with just six suites. The estate where Uga Halloowella sits was established in 1880 and was owned by a World War 1 British Royal Air Force fighter pilot, Major Elton Lane. Set on a hilltop with curving lawns, you’ll enjoy views over the quiet, green hills of Hatton and the glittering Castlereagh Reservoir beneath.
Uga Ghiri
A classic location, but far from an ordinary hotel. We’ve been excited about the arrival Uga Ghiri for some time – a chic, all-villa retreat in Ella, bringing a new level of luxe to the area. The fifteen villas are vast and private, dotted around the ten acre tea estate, with luxurious touches including a private jacuzzi on every balcony.
Uga Riva
This charming manor is a true oasis, blending a fascinating mix of history as well as a real sense of home. The house dates back 180 years, owned for six generations of a prominent Colombo Chetty family, playing host to Mahatma Gandhi, and various Prime Ministers and Presidents over the years.
Uga Prāva
This is minimalist design at its absolute finest - just seven suites perched along Tangalle's stunning coastline where an infinity pool melts seamlessly into the Indian Ocean. We love how Prāva (meaning coral in Sanskrit) embraces that pared-back philosophy completely, stripping away all unnecessary distractions to create a sanctuary focused purely on rest and renewal.
Halcyon Mawella
This isn't just another boutique hotel - it's a purposeful community where every cocktail comes from their own garden, every meal supports local farmers, and your stay genuinely empowers the village through their foundation work.
Tekanda Lodge
We love how Tekanda strikes that magical balance between wilderness immersion and coastal chill, surrounded by wildlife and tranquility while keeping the south coast's best beaches and Galle's colonial charm within easy reach.
Wild Coast Tented Lodge Yala
Newly opened, the Wild Coast Tented Lodge, located in the Yala National Park is where jungle meets beach on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka.
Uga Chena Huts
A boutique hotel comprising of just 14 individual wooden cabins blending perfectly with the environment each with their own private pool! It’s the ultimate luxurious safari style experience and a totally new concept.
Adigar's Manor
Located just outside Kandy, this boutique escape is a beautifully restored manor house. Stylish rooms take their names from the vivid island butterflies and have morphed into elegant spaces.
Why House
Situated a short drive from Galle, this boutique hideaway is ideal for couples and families alike looking for luxury with a home from home feel.
Rosyth Estate
Rosyth Estate luxury hotel is in Sri Lanka and located in Kandy & Surrounds.
Kings Pavilion
Spread across three glorious acres, this stylish boutique hotel is a serene hill country oasis which enjoys beautiful views overlooking the Hunnasgiriya and Knuckles mountain range and yet is just 10 minutes from Kandy.
Fort Bazaar
Located within the heart of the old historical Galle Fort, a 17th century UNESCO site on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Fort Bazaar offers a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of Galle Fort.
Ishq Colombo
A colonial villa in the heart of Colombo, lovingly transformed from a private home to a stylish retreat that feels more like staying with sophisticated friends than a hotel. Designed by Geoffrey Bawa protégé Channa Daswatta, every detail pays homage to Sri Lanka's Dutch and English heritage - from brushed brass fittings to elegantly landscaped gardens.
Thotalagala
Like a catapult into the past, a stay at Thotalagala is like being in Sri Lanka’s Tea Country during its 19th-century prime. It really is old-world luxury living, so much so that you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d bump into Sir Thomas Lipton, the legendary tea merchant who made his fortune here in its heyday.
Mosvold Villa, Ahangama
Tucked at the tranquil southern tip of Kabalana Beach, just moments from the buzz of Ahangama, Mosvold Villa is a serene hideaway that feels both stylish and soulful.
Nine Skies
Nine Skies is located within the beautiful Tea & Hill Country
Haritha Villas & Spa
Haritha Villas & Spa is a stylish Sri Lankan hideaway set on a hilltop, amidst the verdant Sinhajara Rainforest, a few kilometers from the beach town of Hikkaduwa. Boutique in size and nature, the Haritha experience epitomises luxury, romance and privacy. Its design, mastered by award-winning architect Garry Fell, is clean and contemporary, with each villa offering complete seclusion.
Kalkudah Beach House
This is exactly what we picture when we dream of the perfect beach escape - two gorgeous villas tucked into a coconut grove with nothing but powder-soft sand between you and the Indian Ocean.
Ceylon Tea Trails
Sri Lanka’s heritage is inextricably tangled with the Ceylon tea industry and this magnificent Relais & Chateaux property takes all things ‘tea’ and turns it into a breathtakingly charming experience.
The Last House
The Last House, aptly named to mark Bawa’s final private commission on the island, is a truly boutique and charmingly barefoot, beach-front bolthole.
Gal Oya Lodge
Far from the madding crowds of better known Sri Lankan safari hot spots, a bird lover’s paradise and elephant enclave awaits all those who choose to stay at the ecocentic Gal Oya Lodge
Water Garden Sigiriya
Water Garden Sigiriya is a new luxury boutique hotel, just six kilometres from Sigiriya Rock. This breathtakingly beautiful hotel is set around lakes and water streams and boasts incredible views of Sigiriya Rock.
Sri Lanka highlights
Sri Lanka holiday types
Sri Lanka travel inspiration
The Ultimate Sri Lanka Itinerary
Our experienced travel specialist, Antony recently went on the trip of a lifetime to Sri Lanka for three weeks. Here is his return interview, including recommendations on the best things to do and where to go!

Antony De Liseo
15 Mar 20254 mins read
The love of travel
Calling all Hodophiles…

Suzy Higgs
02 Jan 20252 mins read
Top Wildlife & Nature Holidays for International Earth Day 2024
This International Earth Day, we have curated a collection of wanderlust-inducing wildlife and nature holidays that shine a light on nature’s diverse marvels. From swimming with whale sharks to observing the release of baby turtles into the ocean, here are …

Lizzie Heeley
22 Apr 20247 mins read
Your Guide To Sri Lanka | Things To Do & Where To Go
Our Holiday Specialist, Nick, has just returned from a trip to Sri Lanka. Here is his return interview, including recommendations on the best things to do and where to go!

Lizzie Heeley
05 Jun 20234 mins read
Once-In-A-Lifetime Holidays & Destinations
Everyone should have one holiday in their lifetime, which is truly extraordinary. Experiencing a destination, a journey or an event so spectacular it blows the socks off everything else. Maybe it’ll be for a celebration, your retirement or a big …

Lizzie Heeley
21 Apr 20227 mins read
Our Top 40th Birthday Holiday Ideas
Do you or your loved one have a very special birthday coming up, and you are looking for 40th birthday ideas? Our team of specialists would love to help. We have a number of ideas up our sleeves for the …

James Bell
07 Dec 20217 mins read
Where to Go for Your 25th Wedding Anniversary
Twenty five years is a milestone that deserves to be marked in any marriage. For most of us, the journey is one of many ups and downs, with plenty of good times and our fair share of challenges. But hey, …

James Bell
17 Nov 20215 mins read
Turquoise Holidays' Alternative Olympics
From Tom Daley finally getting the gold medal he's been dreaming of to winning two gold medals in the modern pentathlon (one of the many events we suddenly become experts in every four years), we've loved watching the Tokyo Olympics …

Lizzie Heeley
09 Aug 20216 mins read
It's time to say hello to summer holidays!
After the Prime Minister's announcement regarding England's roadmap out of lockdown, it seems international travel could be on the cards by the summer. Of course, we don't want to get too ahead of ourselves and we'll have to wait for …

Lizzie Heeley
01 Mar 20213 mins read

Why Choose Turquoise?
Family Owned & Run
We are one of the few remaining family owned and run operators of our size. We have direct relationships with every single destination, island, resort and hotel we work with, in order to deliver exceptional and truly personalised service.
Our Passion Runs Deep
We are - and always have been - mad about travel. For almost 25 years we've been scouring the globe for the best places to stay, the newest routes to take, the perfect people to meet. No-one will care more about your holiday.
Definition of Luxury
Luxury means something different to everyone. Whether you are seeking the silence of vast spaces, the isolation of a private island, the buzz of a new city, the adrenaline of a safari or anything in between, we listen, we learn, we advise.
Fun & Refreshing
We endeavour that every Turquoise experience is unique, fun and refreshing. Travel is all about experiences, about serendipitous moments and endless smiles. It is a joy and an honour to plan each and every Turquoise holiday.
Frequently asked questions in Sri Lanka
Answers to the questions we’re asked most often about Sri Lanka. If you have a more specific question, please get in touch with our destination experts.
British passport holders need a visa to visit Sri Lanka. This needs to be done online in advance prior to travelling by visiting www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa.
The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee.
The direct flight time from London to Colombo, Sri Lanka, is 11 hours.
The time difference is GMT +5.5 hours.
There are no vaccinations currently recommended for Sri Lanka. If you’re entering Sri Lanka from a Yellow Fever zone, possession of a valid Yellow Fever inoculation certificate is required. For any current travel health advice, you should seek guidance from your GP at least four to six weeks prior to travel.
Speak to our Sri Lanka specialists

Nick Prentice
Senior Travel Specialist

Lara Cowtan
Head of Sales

Katie Owen
Travel Specialist

Chris Gardner
Senior Travel Specialist

Bethany Preston
Senior Travel Specialist & Team Leader

Antony De Liseo
Senior Travel Specialist
What Our Travellers Say
“As enthusiastic retirees with a serious case of wanderlust, my wife and I now travel abroad at least four times a year.We'd been subscribed to The Turquoise Holiday Company mailing list for years, but it wasn't until we spotted a special offer for Thailand in November 2019 that we finally booked our first holiday with them.Interestingly, a few months earlier, while waiting for a flight to the Maldives in June 2019, we noticed another couple travelling with a Turquoise travel bag. At the time, we thought little of it, but looking back, it was perhaps an early sign that we were about to discover a travel company that would become our go-to specialist for luxury holidays.Our first experience with Turquoise was excellent and gave us the confidence to book a Maldives holiday for June 2020. Then, of course, COVID struck and brought the travel industry to a standstill. What impressed us most was the way Turquoise handled an incredibly difficult situation. Rather than leaving us in limbo, they worked tirelessly to rearrange our holiday multiple times, adapting to constantly changing restrictions and circumstances. Eventually, in November 2020, despite flying with a different airline and staying at a different hotel than originally planned, we were able to enjoy a much-needed Maldives escape when many other travel plans around the world had simply been cancelled altogether.That experience cemented our trust in The Turquoise Holiday Company. Since then, we have booked many holidays through them and now use them for the vast majority of our trips abroad.What consistently sets Turquoise apart is the quality of its people. Every member of staff we have dealt with has been knowledgeable, professional, friendly and exceptionally thorough. Their expertise, attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile give us complete confidence that every aspect of our holiday is being carefully managed.In an age where genuine customer service can be hard to find, The Turquoise Holiday Company continues to deliver it in abundance. We would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone looking for a travel agent that combines expert knowledge, outstanding customer care and absolute professionalism. They have played a major part in some of our most memorable travel experiences, and we look forward to booking many more adventures with them in the years ahead.”
“Right from first contact, Bethany & colleagues were great. Bethany adjusted the holiday offered several times to get it just how we wanted it, & it was everything she said it would be. We went to Coco Bodu Hithi & it was amazing, I thoroughly recommend it. Turquoise have a great app which was really useful & they were there for us all along the way, even sending me updates on flights. I recommend them 100%.”
“Everything was so efficient from our very first contact. We are not seasoned travellers so the support/help/advice we received from Lucy all the way through was so reassuring. Even the daftest question was never too much trouble. Looking forward to booking again for 2028 - we wouldn’t dream of looking forward alternative travel agents. Thank you so much 🥰”
“I am so thankful we used Turquoise Holidays! From start to finish they were exceptional. A shout out to Martha who designed and organised our honeymoon for us - she took the stress out of planning, understood the vision and put together our dream holiday. She was a pleasure to work with and it was beyond anything we could have imagined. I can’t tell you how relieved we were to have all of our transport and transfers sorted the other side. Especially for a trip like ours with lots of flights and travel, using Turquoise Holidays made it so much easier. We also used the concierge services to book activities and they were so helpful and kind. Will definitely use Turquoise again, I can’t wait for our next holiday!”
“Sophie was brilliant from start to finish. From the very first email she was professional but also had that friendly touch. Any amendments I wanted to our honeymoon plans she came back with the updated itinerary. Even after 5 iterations she was still incredible with the responses. I would highly recommend using turquoise travel and we will definitely be using them again”
“Amazing Family Holiday and just what we asked for! We wanted a resort and location that was approriate for small kids but had all the luxuries for adults, and Turquoise holidays provided a great service. Commincation was great and they took all the pain out of the small details and provided an excellent service and the value was outstanding!”
“Just got back from a fantastic Holiday in Mauritius with which I booked the Holiday with Turquoise Holidays. This is my first time I have booked with this company and I will have no hesitation in booking again, from start to finish the correspondence I had with Milly and the rest of the team at Turquoise as been outstanding. Thankyou Neil & Jane”
“Enjoyable trip to Canada.Jonty made excellent recommendations as always, hotels were great in every respect.Highly recommend Turquoise for their advice and insight into places and hotels at a very good price point. We have used many times in the past and will continue do use again in the future.”
“Mrs Stone organised all my flights details and extra help extremely well.”
“This was the best travel agent experience we have ever had. We went on a bespoke 5 week trip to Australia. Our agent, Stuart, designed a trip exactly matching our requirements and really listened to us when we described the brief. What came through strongly during the course of the trip was Turquoise’s ability to not just source the best properties/accommodation, but the best rooms in those properties. Likewise with the tours and activities that they organised — everything felt highly curated and considered. When any queries arose or we wanted to change the bugs, the team was super-responsive through the app. We will definitely use them again have recommended them to many friends.”
“We had a really good time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The blend of activity and adventures in Sri Lanka mixed with the relaxation and tranquility of the Maldives, worked extremely well and the itinerary put together by Turquoise was excellent.Overall we were very impressed with Sri Lanka and whilst hectic at times enjoyed our busy agenda. We found all the accommodation wonderful and food was plentiful and enjoyable. We were pleased to have climbed the two rocks to see the sunset/sunrise albeit a bit daunting when we realised the climbing challenge ahead.Special mention has to go to our driver/guide Mahesh who was excellent and really helped make our trip run smoothly. He was knowledgeable, practical and always prompt.In fact our only hiccup occurred when trying to leave the Notary House to fly to Male. We had booked a 4am alarm call, bags to be picked up at 4.20am and “breakfast to go” ready for 4.30am. Fortunately we had used our own phone alarms as we awoke to a completely silent hotel, no alarm call, no bags collected and no breakfast, and no driver.We did however just about hear a car hooting and on seeing some lights at the end of the long drive to the hotel set off and found Mahesh. However, the gates were padlocked shut and Mahesh was locked out and we were locked in! Fortunately Mahesh had a number for the hotel and after ringing several times, an apologetic staff member appeared and unlocked the gate and off we went. Phew !After making our plane we successfully arrived in Male and took the speedboat to Velassaru. We thought the island was impeccably well kept and had obviously been recently modernised in many areas. Our room - 205 - was perfectly positioned close to the Chill Bar, and ideal for drinking cocktails and watching the sunset, yet only a small walk from all other amenities including the buffet restaurant where we ate all our meals. We found the breakfast plentiful and varied but thought the offerings for dinner were less extensive than on other islands( maybe we were a bit spoilt at Six Senses last year ! ). We were also disappointed that given we were half board had we wished to use any of the other 3 à la carte restaurants for dinner then this was additionally chargeable albeit with a 30% discount.And yes, sadly the view from our villa of Thilafushi was certainly not ideal or romantic but overall we still agreed that Velassaru was a lovely island with everything you would expect from a trip to the Maldives.Overall we were very satisfied and would consider doing a similar trip again and definitely using Turquoise albeit I think we would allow for a longer journey from Male and take the seaplane even if that did eat into a bit more of our holiday time.Thanks again to Anthony for listening to our requirement and tailoring our trip to suit our needs.Steve ( and Cathy )”
“Always so helpful, professional and efficient, thank you once again!”

Get in Touch With Us Today
Ready to start planning your holiday to Sri Lanka? Contact our team of experts for first-hand knowledge, expert advice and your bespoke holiday quote.





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