Welcome to beautiful Sri Lanka! A land of verdant hills, spectacular beaches and ancient temples, this island is a uniquely dynamic destination.
Your adventure begins upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), where you’ll be met by your driver guide and transferred to an elegant hotel in Colombo.
Spend the day at leisure – mingle with locals in the bustling street markets, uncover romantic colonial architecture across the city or take a sunset stroll along the beach.
Savour a refreshing breakfast, then hit the road on your way to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple. Home to five sanctuaries, countless statues and paintings dating back to the 1st century BCE, this sacred complex has hosted the pilgrimage of countless individuals for millennia.
After taking time to admire this grand sanctuary, it’s time to make your way to tranquil Uga Ulagalla for a restorative stay amongst the trees.
Make use of the luxurious facilities and recline by the pool in comfort. You might choose to delve deeper into the resonant peace found in cave-like surrounds with an optional spa treatment in the hotel's carefully constructed spa caverns (surcharges apply). Alternatively, join an optional sunset safari surrounding the nearby Nachchaduwa Reservoir for a chance to see elephants, buffalo and myriad native birdlife (surcharges apply).
Optional activities:
- Uga Ulagalla spa treatment (prices vary, surcharges apply).
- Nachchaduwa sunset safari (from A$235 per person).
With fresh breakfast and a cleansing breath, you’re free to enjoy the morning at ease. Perhaps take a dip in your villa's private plunge pool as the day's heat begins to rise.
Later, explore the organic gardens and surrounding farmlands of this hidden sanctuary on a guided walk. Once you’re acquainted with the vibrant vegetables and aromatic herbs and spices – including an introduction to the historic uses of medicinal herbs – it’s time to apply your newfound knowledge during a traditional cooking demonstration. Cut to the core of seasonal dishes and slow-cooking methods within clay pots that protect both rich nutrients and fragrant flavours, using an array of fresh local produce.
This afternoon, take time to appreciate the little wonders with a quiet moment in your lush hideaway amongst the canopy, perhaps choosing to unwind with an optional Ulagalla signature spa ritual treatment or rejuvenating body wrap (surcharges apply).
Optional activities:
- Uga Ulagalla spa treatment (prices vary, surcharges apply).
Wake to a hearty breakfast and an early drive to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Awe-inspiring palace ruins are set high atop a granite rock formation here, offering sweeping jungle views and astoundingly well-preserved ancient architecture and water gardens. Take your time unearthing this unparalleled wonder, pausing during your ascent to study the graffiti along the historic outer wall – a fascinating record of the Sinhala language as it developed over many centuries.
Return to your jungle abode and a well-earned rest in your poolside villa. Animal lovers may opt to keep the adventure rolling and join a thrilling afternoon game drive at Minneriya National Park, famed for its Asian elephant popuatlion. Here, a host of endemic wildlife roam, including the purple-faced langur and the curious toque macaque (surcharges apply).
Optional activities:
- Minneriya National Park game drive (from A$150 per person).
Relish a filling breakfast, then bid farewell to your villa as you travel onward to Kandy. An ancient seat of royal power, Kandy is known for a plethora of must-see cultural sites, from the humbling Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to the spectacular Kandy Lake.
Arrive in the early afternoon at luxurious Santani Wellness Kandy – a former tea plantation in the central highlands where you’ll make your home for the next few days. Elegant, minimalist design and breathtaking views over the tumbling hills converge to make this sustainable wellness retreat one of the most spectacular of its kind. Invest in your wellbeing with early morning birdwatching trails, access to the resort's spa facilities – including a sauna and thermal saltwater bath – and a free-flowing selection of freshly squeezed juices and expertly brewed herbal teas.
Check in for your initial consultation to establish a wellness treatment plan, then prepare for indulgent relaxation. From traditional Ayurvedic treatments to consciousness-centred opportunities for meditation, Santani’s varied therapeutic offerings are designed to help you rebalance, recentre and reconnect with yourself. Seek harmony within during evening Hatha yoga practice, then breathe deep the crisp mountain air amidst an abundant Sri Lankan wilderness.
After a refreshing breakfast and morning Hatha yoga at your dream-like resort, the day is open for you to focus on restoration and revitalisation.
Follow Santani’s resident naturalist guide through the verdant hills, keeping your eyes peeled for unique flora and fauna, on your way to the ethereal Huluganga River. Close your eyes, relax your shoulders and allow yourself to float in the organic symphony of sounds and scents unique to this parcel of bountiful paradise.
Return from your walk and spend some time enjoying the bathhouse and your prescribed spa treatment. Later, choose to join an optional visit to local contemporary artist Rahju for a fascinating chance to discuss his journey towards a life in harmony with the world.
Tonight, continue your wellness journey with a grounding evening yoga session.
Optional activities:
- Local artisan visit (from A$110 per person).
Another morning in idyllic seclusion, another morning yoga session. Go further in your practice today as you explore the principles of yoga and meditation, unlocking the methods for conscious embodiment through breathing techniques and considered postures – a gift of knowledge that will last long after your Sri Lankan wellness experience concludes.
This evening, partake in a guided meditation, then retire to your mountain-view chalet for a restful sleep.
Savour every bite of your final flavoursome Sri Lankan breakfast, then wave goodbye to stunning Kandy as you make your way to the airport. Refreshed, revitalised and restored, your journey concludes with a sense of peace that’s yours to keep on your return.