Pioneer Phase!
Currently taking commitments for this journey. Lock your space with a fully refundable
$250/person commitment deposit, and receive Complimentary Upgrade to our Spice It Up Package
Decision date: December 15, 2020
Accompany us on a culture-rich and diverse journey to the tropical island of Sri Lanka, where ancient tradition meets world-class luxury and hospitality. The adventure begins in the Cultural Triangle, surrounded by towering Buddhist temples and statues, after which we travel by train to the famous Ceylon Tea Plantations. In the hills of Sri Lanka’s Tea Country, our accommodation is complete with spa treatments and an infinity pool. Take to the air in a private helicopter transfer, and enjoy a birds-eye view of deep jungles where Sri Lankan leopards and elephants roam.
Led by one of our Sri Lanka specialists, enjoy a vast array of experiences, including cooking a clay pot curry under a thatched garden pavilion, meandering through natural wonders and basking in the setting sun, while lazing on the idyllic beaches. This curated and flexible itinerary will foster a feeling of immense fulfillment and adoration for the charming island of Sri Lanka. Continue reading below to discover what our 'Snapshot of Sri Lanka' travel experience entails!
Being the oldest continually Buddhist country in the world, Sri Lanka offers experiential travel opportunities that delve into a 3,000-year-old culture. Immerse yourself in the local culture with visits to World Heritage Sites and ancient Buddhist temples.
From a world-renowned train ride through the tea plantations to a luxury helicopter transfer, from authentic local experiences to world-class accommodation, experience the beauty and charm of Sri Lanka from all perspectives.
Despite being just 270 miles long and 140 miles wide, Sri Lanka is a country of tropical rainforests, diverse climates, an abundance of wildlife (including the endangered Sri Lankan leopard), countless waterfalls and acres of lush tea estates.
Both impressive and humbling, Sri Lankan hospitality is of a high standard. Experience the benevolence of the country's people, as they warmly share their culture and relax with a variety of indulgences, including butler services and spa treatments.
Upon arriving at Colombo International Airport, a private airplane transfers you to Sigiriya Domestic airport, where we whisk you away to your home for the next two nights, the magical Water Garden Sigiriya. Arguably the biggest attraction on this island paradise is the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, which you will have perfect views of from our home base. With little knowledge of the rich history of this iconic landmark, anyone who is a fan of Machu Picchu will see instant similarities and appreciate the advanced architectural skills employed in the creation of the fortress. The evening holds pampering with a traditional Balinese massage and a welcome dinner.
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we embark on a full-day private guided tour of Sigiriya and Dambulla. Visiting the exquisite Dambulla Cave Temple comprising of Buddhist shrines and sculptures, we marvel at the gigantic granite rock formation and the 157 ornate statues that form part of a World Heritage Site. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, the Dambulla Cave Temple evokes an awe-inspiring sense of wonder. The next destination on our curated tour is Sigiriya Rock, where we behold the gigantic rock fortress in all its splendor. Lunch and dinner will be served at a restaurant recommended to you by your AIV hosts.
After breakfast, we depart for a guided tour of Kandy and en-route visit the Ranweli Spice Garden, where we indulge in an hour-long private guided spice tour and lunch. We continue to Kandy, where we settle in at Kandy House and experience an optional stroll through Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and a high tea. In the afternoon, we embark on a private guided tour of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This temple is considered Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist shrine as it is where Buddha's tooth is housed. Dinner will be served at the Golden Crown Restaurant and the Buddhist festival, Esala Perahera taking place over this time can also be enjoyed.
We have breakfast at the hotel and leave for one of the world's most scenic train trips to Hatton, our impeccable home for the next two nights. As the train leisurely meanders up into the rolling hills blanketed in tea plantations, sit back and experience the breathtaking scenes of waterfalls between misty valleys and colorful local villages. We arrive at the Ceylon Tea Plantations, where we will be staying in a private villa at the Summerville Hotel. Envisage an infinity pool cascading in front of the villa, in-room spa treatments, and luxury baths. Enjoy a delightful Tea Planter's picnic lunch before a private guided scenic walk and hike into the tea plantation. Dinner will be served at the property.
After an impressive Sri Lankan breakfast, we depart for the Dunkeld Tea Factory for a quintessential tea experience and a private guided tour. Upon returning to the property, we indulge in an interactive hour-long tea tasting, before an authentic cooking class lunch experience. The afternoon can be spent at leisure or partaking in a variety of inclusive optional activities. From Castlereigh Reservoir nature walks and kayaking to a Warleigh Church visit, we assure you that your afternoon will be a delightful one. Dinner will be served in the comfort of the villa where you will experience the gracious butler service and gourmet cuisine that creates an ambiance that sets the gold standard for luxury in Sri Lanka.
After our last tasty breakfast at our private villa, we depart for Yala National Park by two luxury four-seater helicopters for a beautiful and exhilarating journey. Upon arrival at the Chena Huts Helipad, we settle into the heavenly sanctuary of Chena Huts Hotel, where we have a relaxing afternoon brimming with delights. Set among the golden dunes and the lush greenery in Yala, Chena Huts blends Sri Lanka’s most celebrated features – its tropical beaches and its exotic wildlife. Take a light stroll along the immaculate beach, where you will be served a traditional lunch, while the waves hypnotize you into serenity. Enjoy a special dinner back at the property and receive world-class service.
A delicious breakfast will be served at Chena Huts before we embark on a unique safari experience in Sri Lanka's most popular wildlife sanctuary, Yala National Park. Hop into one of two Jeeps, each commanded by a knowledgeable ranger, for a private guided tour tracking the impressive amount of elephants, crocodiles, buffaloes, and hopefully, a leopard along the way. Despite the elusive nature of the leopard species, Yala boasts one of the densest leopard populations on the globe, increasing the likelihood of an encounter. Revel in a sunset picnic and complimentary drinks, before enjoying a leisurely evening at the property.
After breakfast, we have a private vehicle transfer to Galle Fort and en-route enjoy lunch on the secluded and pristine Tangalle beach. A Sri Lankan meal along the coastline is best enjoyed sipping from a freshly picked coconut offered by the locals. We then journey to the Amangalla Hotel, where we will be spending the next two nights in luxury. After check-in, we embark on a private walking tour of the Galle Fort. Best experienced on foot, the fort has Dutch and English heritage and the sun setting over the historic structure will certainly impress you. Enjoy optional spa treatments on request and dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast, you have the opportunity to decide how you would like to end your journey. Experience either a cooking class on Paddy Island or a half-day catamaran sailing tour, the choice is yours. For our cooking tour option, your private chef will take you to local markets to buy an authentic array of ingredients and spices that we use to cook a Sinhalese curry in traditional clay pots under the thatched garden pavilion. For the catamaran experience, we depart from Mirissa and enjoy cocktails and a picnic lunch while languorously cruising the coast. Dinner will be at leisure this evening.
After experiencing the highlights of Sri Lanka over the past nine nights, your private transfer will transport you back to Colombo airport for your connecting flight home. We do, however, warn you that Sri Lanka has a way of captivating hearts and souls that makes leaving the enchanting island feel laborious. If this is the case, the Art In Voyage Team will gladly arrange an extension in Sri Lanka, or offer recommendations for a visit to the magnificent Maldives to enhance your journey home.
Water Garden Sigiriya is a beautifully laid out, resort-style boutique hotel in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle, with spacious, free-standing chalets designed to indulge guests with stunning views of the area's principal attraction: The ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya. The hotel’s rural location feels well off the beaten track, yet the ruined rock fortress of Sigiriya, one of the region’s chief attractions, is within sight and a 20-minute drive away. Paddy fields and mature trees surround the hotel’s substantial grounds, and the area buzzes with wildlife while remaining blissfully peaceful.
The hotel sits in semi-rural surroundings, 20 minutes' drive from Kandy. The city is famed for its revered gold-roofed Temple of the Tooth and exotic Botanical Gardens home to stands of giant bamboo, and is also notoriously busy. This nine-bedroom former manor house is one of Sri Lanka's original boutique hotels, carved out of an understated 18th-century abode. From the front, it looks like a modest single-story villa with a series of nine gentle arches and a low slung pitched roof, yet as you walk through the building, it splits into two floors around a central open-to-the sky courtyard. The...
A sprawling tea estate in Hill Country dotted with luxurious tea-planter bungalows, decorated in colonial style. Visiting Ceylon Tea Trails is like stepping back in time, with butler service, afternoon tea, and lawn croquet juxtaposed with infinity pools and a menu of activities and excursions to choose from. The five bungalows of Ceylon Tea Trails are scattered among the emerald hillsides of Sri Lanka´s Golden Valley of Tea, Bogawantalawa. it is set in the cool, verdant hills so loved by the British during the colonial era, with bungalows dotted around Castlereagh Lake, offering nothing but uninterrupted valley views, absolute quiet...
The resort rests in arid jungle scrub on the boundary of Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s premier game reserve, and above a sand dune sculpted beach. The park entrance is less than a 10-minutes’ drive away but wildlife, including wild boar, hares, buffalo, and the occasional elephant, are regular visitors to the resort while eagles fly high overhead. Yala is one of the world’s best spots to sight wild leopards, and sloth bears are another exciting prospect. Chena Huts tread new ground with their unique blend of cathedral-domed, palm-thatched residences, which are inspired by the lofty tree huts of farmers...
Grand dame Amangalla (an Aman property) offers classically beautiful rooms and suites with butler service in a 300-year-old sensitively converted building in the heart of Galle Fort, close to shops, sights, and restaurants. Luxe-lovers will delight in the spa's treatments and hydrotherapy rooms. In the historic port of Galle, Amangalla lies within the ramparts of Sri Lanka’s 17th-century Galle Fort, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Offering views of the Fort and harbor on one side and the hotel’s lush gardens and swimming pool on the other, the graceful residence presents 30 rooms and suites, the two-story, free-standing Garden House and...
All journeys booked before December 31, 2020 are subjected to special, more flexible booking terms and conditions. click here to learn more
All listed retreats (hotels, villas and barges) are, at times, subject to changes. If replaced, similar or higher standards will be upheld.
In case of a cancelation at more than 90 days prior to departure, your deposit will be returned minus a $250 per person administrative fee.
NEW! Find a replacement at least 30 days prior to departure and your journey will be fully refunded, minus a $250 per person administrative fee.
