Luxury Sri Lanka Holidays

This mysterious 17th century temple, the legendary home of the Buddha’s tooth, is one of Sri Lanka’s most captivating. See the six golden caskets the tooth was hidden in after it was smuggled here in the hair of a princess.

This once small nature reserve is now an attraction to thousands every year. Everyone who visits takes away the amazing experience of the vast areas of roaming space and the mix of wildlife that inhabit it.

Likened to South Indian cuisine, Sri Lankan flavours are dominated by spices, coconut and chillies, with the island's dishes considered among the world's hottest. While standard foods are spicy, many restaurants tone the chilli content down for tourists.

Built on and around a towering 200-metre-high rock, this is just one of Sri Lanka's World Heritage Sites.

Dating back to the 1st century, and containing stunning Buddhist murals, this is the best-preserved temple in Sri Lanka.

See the remains of this remarkable city, filled with ruins, statues and Brahmanic monuments.

This is where you will get a true taste of Sri Lanka, with raging rivers, herds of majestic elephants, fabulous scenery and walking opportunities.

1,000 miles of palm-fringed beaches are waiting to welcome you to this exquisite island, from the golden swathes of Negombo and the beautiful lagoons of Bentota to the pristine coral reefs of Unawatuna in Galle.

Spend a day with a relaxed snorkelling trip and discover Sri Lanka’s beautiful underwater world. Pigeon Island is a national park featuring pristine, magical corals. If you're very lucky you might spot a shark or a turtle, among the vibrant reefs teeming with animals. Alternatively, simply relax on the beautiful beaches and watch the locals playing in their cherished waters.

Visiting Sri Lanka's Hill Country offers a chance to taste and sample the traditional Ceylon Tea at many of the local plantations. Sri Lankan tea is delicious, scented and relaxing, and all grown locally. Many of the tea plantations offer tours, helping you learn how the process develops the tiniest plant into the tastiest tea.

There's a wonderful bonus to visiting these hills on your holidays in Sri Lanka. In the regions of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya you can see many waterfalls; some are huge while others are more tranquil and calming. There are some truly beautiful plunge pools, like Ramboda Falls, where you can take a dip.

The Kandy Esala Perahera is a colourful, lively and loud Buddhist pageant steeped in tradition and history. Running over ten nights in July/August, the tooth relic from of Lord Buddha is released from the Temple of the Tooth and taken around the city of Kandy on elephant-back, followed by a jubilant procession with plenty of dancing and drumming.

Vesak, also known as the Festival of Light, commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Buddha on the same consecutive full moon day in the month of May.

From August to September, witness over 7,000 wild Asian elephants as they gather together in Minneriya National Park in search of water.

Fish ambul thiyal, malu ambul thiyal or - as some call it - ‘sour fish curry’ is a delicious way of preparing fish in Sri Lanka. Fish is mixed up into a paste mainly containing goraka (an acidic and fruity spice) and is then cooked on a low flame until all the water evaporates and the fish is slightly charred at the bottom.

Kukul mas curry is a traditional recipe from Sri Lanka's native Sinhalese cuisine. Succulent pieces of chicken are cooked with whole spices in a coconut milk gravy. This curry has a spicy and earthy in flavour with its soothing coconut milk base.

Parippu curry (or dhal curry) is a traditional Sri Lankan dish prepared with masoor dal (red lentils), that is cooked in coconut milk and scented with mustard seeds, saffron, turmeric, cumin and fenugreek.

Watalappan is a sumptuous custard dessert from Sri Lanka. It's made with coconut milk, eggs, jaggery (a natural palm sugar), and a few spices - usually cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves.