Yala National Park 4x4 safari with a local guide

Kandy Day Tour with Temple of the Tooth Relic

Cultural hotspot Kandy, the last capital of a pre-colonial Sri Lankan kingdom, is a must-visit. As well as touring the city, you'll also visit a spice garden, a tea plantation and botanical gardens. Aashvi, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Kandy's most famous and magnificent temple houses the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha, one of the most revered artifacts in Buddhism. The temple complex is a tranquil contrast to the city itself, which is a hive of activity with tree-lined streets crammed with hawkers, tuk-tuks, and vintage buses.'It's almost non-stop action on this cultural tour. As you weave through the central highlands, you'll stop at a fragrant spice garden in Mawanella and a tea plantation and factory – for a proper cuppa of Ceylon tea – in Giragama. The sight of undulating hills covered in row after row of tea plants is one of the most emblematic images of Sri Lanka. Aashvi adds, ‘Tea is the world's favourite drink if you discount water, with the highest consumption of any beverage. Good quality tea like that found in Sri Lanka contains a high level of polyphenol, which is a health-promoting antioxidant.'As part of your city tour of Kandy, you'll visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic temple – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to Buddha's tooth – and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, which are home to more than 4,000 species of plants. To make the day extra special, a traditional lunch is included.

Kandy, Sigiriya and Dambulla Two-Day Tour

Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 48 hours. As calling cards go, few can beat this history-drenched two-day tour of Kandy, Sigiriya and Dambulla in central Sri Lanka. You'll visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the Rock Temple and the ‘Lion Rock'. Half-board overnight accommodation and lunches included.

Udawalawe National Park full-day tour with 4x4 safari

If there's a single word that defines Sri Lanka, it's ‘wild'. This is a destination famous for its wildlife, particularly elephants. Udawalawe National Park, home to some 500 elephants, is considered the best park to spot them in the country. On this tour, you'll visit the park's Elephant Transit Home to see orphaned young elephants being fed and then tour the park in a 4x4 safari. Dilini, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘As well as being a top spot for elephant spotting, the park is great for bird enthusiasts, with over 180 avian species recorded. Keep your eyes peeled for various eagles, owls, herons, and waterfowl.'First up, we'll visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are cared for after rescue from the wild. You'll arrive at feeding time so you can watch the little ones bottle-feed from a viewing platform just metres away. Once the elephants have been rehabilitated, they are released back into the wild, often straight into Udawalawe where they can rejoin the existing wild herds.Udawalawe National Park is centred on a huge reservoir and features vast open grasslands, making wildlife spotting relatively easy as you set off by 4x4 vehicle on safari. It's a great place for spotting elephants, and the lack of tall vegetation makes it perfect for other animal-watching, too. In addition to elephants, you can expect to see water buffaloes, various deer, wild boars, macaques and crocodiles. And, if you're lucky, there's also the elusive Sri Lankan leopard to look out for. To top it off, lunch is included.

Galle: Sri Lanka's Hidden Gem

Galle epitomises Sri Lanka's multicultural history more than any other city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it boasts an exotic mix of architecture. On this small group excursion, you'll enjoy a puppet show and a walking tour of Galle Fort, followed by sunset watching.

Kandy Day Tour by Train

A train ride through the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka is one of the most scintillating ways to discover the country. You'll trundle through the verdant hills to discover the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, as well as a few other green delights on this full day tour.A scenic train ride through the Central Highlands sets the tone for a great day of exploration. Watch the rolling hills, tea plantations and lush wilderness pass as you make tracks towards Kandy. Once you're there, it's off to the Temple of the Tooth Relic – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's Sri Lanka's most sacred temple, and the complex also includes a royal palace.And you can also look forward to visits to a botanical garden, a tea plantation and factory in Giragama, and a spice garden in Mawanella. What's more, lunch is included.

Yala National Park 4x4 safari with a local guide

With the world's highest concentration of leopards, Yala National Park should be on any animal-lovers' holiday wishlist. Add more than 300 elephants and 42 other species of mammals and it becomes a must-visit. Nadeesh, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘They may not be as famous as the leopards, but Yala is home to more than 200 bird varieties including the Sri Lanka grey hornbill, painted stork, and black-capped bulbul. A safari here is so much more than looking for leopards – it is likely to be a highlight of your holiday.'It's a fairly long journey so there's a break en route and a stop for lunch in Tissamaharama. On arrival at Yala, you'll set out on a safari in search of Sri Lanka's ‘big four' – leopards, elephants, sloth bears and buffalo. Touring in a 4x4, enjoy pit stops to observe storks and crocodiles in the wetlands or monkeys in the treetops. The park encompasses a variety of ecosystems, including grasslands, shrublands, forests, and coastal lagoons. This diversity supports the impressive array of flora and fauna.Hopefully, with a bit of luck, you might catch a glimpse of the rare Sri Lankan leopard. There are about 100 of them known to live within Yala National Park, but despite boasting one of the highest concentrations of these magnificent felines on the planet, spotting them is by no means guaranteed. They are solitary animals - notoriously shy and elusive, but with such a wealth of wildlife in Yala you are sure to see some memorable creatures nevertheless.

Sinharaja Forest Trek

It says a lot that in a country with such a rich variety of flora and fauna, Sinharaja Forest Reserve is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve. That's because as the island's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest, it is home to almost two-thirds of its endemic trees.

Mirissa Whale Watching Tour

Between November and April, the seas off Mirissa are absolutely brimming with whales and dolphins – and this cruise offers you the chance to see them basking and cavorting in the Indian Ocean. As well as dolphins, blue, killer and sperm whales can be spotted off southern Sri Lanka. You'll also enjoy some free time on Unawatuna beach.You'll head out on a trip to catch a glimpse of these huge creatures, known to take residence off southern Sri Lanka at this time of year. Keep an eye out for any spurts of water in the distance – a sign that one of the whales is near. And you can hear them a mile off, as their songs can reach almost 200 decibels – that's louder than a jumbo jet.On the way back to port, you might encounter pods of dolphins racing with the boat. Back on dry land, lunch will be served, and after there's time to chill out on Unawatuna beach – kick back and relax or go for a dip.