Beach, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Summer in Sri Lanka

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

12 Days

Prices Start from

£6,995pp(ex. flights)

This Sri Lankan holiday idea is ideal for those travelling during the British summer and wanting to experience the culture and wildlife of Sri Lanka, as well as some time to relax on the beach.

Diverse and easy to travel around, this 12 day holiday to Sri Lanka offers a wonderful overview of the whole island, from the wildlife of Wilpattu National Park to the culture of Anuradhapura and Sigiriya Rock Fortress, ending with a beach escape on the pristine east coast.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka 1

Cultural Triangle

Home to eight UNESCO sites, from ancient capitals to rock fortresses.

Baby Elephant, Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka 2

Elephant Gatherings

Witness large gatherings of Asian elephants at Minneriya National Park.

Cow and Temple, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka 3

Coastal Relaxation

Relax on the beach and visit the historic harbour and temples of Trincomalee.

Sri Lankan Leopard, Sri Lanka 4

Sri Lankan Wildlife

Track leopard and search for sloth bear in Wilpattu National Park.

Explore our suggested itinerary

Sri Lanka on your wishlist? Talk to our experts about tailoring this trip for you.

  • Day 1

    Colombo

  • Day 2

    Colombo - Wilpattu National Park

  • Days 3 - 4

    Wilpattu National Park

  • Day 5

    Wilpattu National Park - Sigiriya

  • Day 6

    Sigiriya & Minneriya

  • Day 7

    Sirigiya

  • Day 8

    Sigiriya - Trincomalee

  • Days 10 - 11

    Trincomalee

  • Day 12

    Trincomalee to Colombo

Day 1

Colombo

Arrive in Colombo and transfer 30 minutes to the peaceful Wallawwa.

Day 2

Colombo - Wilpattu National Park

Transfer three hours to Wilpattu National Park – home to birds, sloth and, if lucky, leopard.

Days 3 - 4

Wilpattu National Park

Spend two days in Wilpattu, accompanied by expert guides in search of wildlife.

Day 5

Wilpattu National Park - Sigiriya

Drive approximately three hours to into the heart of Sri Lanka, called the Cultural Triangle.

Day 6

Sigiriya & Minneriya

Visit the ruins of the ancient city at Sirigiya rock before an afternoon game drive in Minneriya National Park, home to a wealth of wildlife including large gatherings of elephants during the summer months.

Day 7

Sirigiya

Visit local villages and explore the less trodden back roads of Polonnaruwa by bike. with a local villager as your guide.

Day 8

Sigiriya - Trincomalee

Transfer to the north east coast for some time on the beach, a journey of around three hours.

Days 10 - 11

Trincomalee

Relax on the beach or engage in some of the many coastal activities on offer, from whale watching to jet skiing.

Day 12

Trincomalee to Colombo

Transfer overland, a journey of around five hours, or fly to Colombo for your onward travel arrangements.

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Indian scops owl looking out from tree, Wilpattu, Sri Lanka
Indian scops owl in Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu Safari

From your camp accommodation head out on game drives into the verdant jungle, dotted with natural sand rimmed lakes. As the largest park in Sri Lanka, what sets Wilpattu apart is the peace and space away from other safari vehicles. Home to a wealth of wildlife, you can hope to see Asian elephant, crocodile, various deer species and possibly even the elusive leopard. Wilpattu also has the largest sloth bear population in the country as well as abundant bird life.

Children viewing Elephants, Sri Lanka

Family Friendly Sri Lanka

If travelling with children you will be enchanted by Sri Lanka’s warm welcome. Compact and diverse it is a fabulous family holiday destination and perfect for summer travel. Educate and fascinate the kids while having lots of fun, from scrambling around ancient ruins to walking with elephants, learning to surf or joining local kids for a spot of cricket.

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

The Wallawwa £££££

  • Sri Lanka
  • Boutique

The Wallawwa is a small, boutique hotel 15-20 minutes drive from Colombo international, in the peaceful Sri Lankan countryside. A charming former old manor house, the Wallawwa is set in elegant gardens and built with columns, courtyards and verandas. The rooms look out on to a central courtyard with a pond, there is a super restaurant serving Asian food, a spa and a large swimming pool. The Wallawwa is a perfect start and/or end to a Sri Lankan itinerary.

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Leopard Trails Wilpattu Campsite £££££

  • Sri Lanka
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Leopard Trails is an experienced mobile camping company that operates a campsite within the buffer zones of Wilpattu National Park. Leopard Trails prides itself on providing an adventurous camping holiday amidst the wilderness without having to give up modern-day comforts and personalised service. 

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Vil Uyana £££££

  • Sri Lanka
  • Wilderness

Surrounded by paddy fields and forest, Vil Uyana has 25 individual villas on stilts. Connected by wooden walkways and decked with wooden floors, each villa has a pitched rattan and bamboo ceiling and a sloping thatch roof made of coconut palms. In-villa dining is available here, while a small spa offers a range of treatments.

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Uga Jungle Beach £££££

  • Sri Lanka
  • Beach and Island Escapes

Uga Jungle Beach has the feeling of a luxury tree house. With 48 villas facing the beach, lagoon or jungle, thatched with Illuk grass and set around pathways through gardens, there is an air of seclusion. Most villas have private decks and tropical style outdoor rain showers and the beach cabins have their own walkway to the seashore.

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How does this holiday make a positive impact?

Teardrop Hotels, of which The Walawwa is a member, have created their own charitable foundation CARE which supports local community causes. Your stay here will contribute to providing food, medicine and reading glasses to low-income families across Sri Lanka. The charity has strong ties to a local orphanage and helps some of the older children find work, with one currently being trained to work at the Wallawwa.

The man-made lakes at Jetwing Vil Uyana are filled with water that is harvested entirely from rain. Not extracting water from local sources such as irrigation canals, their wetland removes the need to compete for water with local farmers. In addition, all wastewater from hotel operations is treated onsite and used for irrigation purposes to reduce freshwater usage at the property.

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A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Price
From £6,995 Per person

When to travel

Sri Lanka in January

Sri Lanka benefits from generally good weather all year round and experiences a tropical climate with the best and most popular to visit being during our winter months, from January to April.

Sri Lanka in February

Visit the Southern and Western coast of Sri Lanka to experience the hot and humid climate in coastal areas or visit the mountainous regions for cooler temperatures with less humidity.

Sri Lanka in March

In Northern and Central Sri Lanka, temperatures will start to rise, and these regions will become more humid with March being generally a dry month for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka in April

Overall, April is a very good time to visit Sri Lanka, with most of the island experiencing high temperatures and lots of sunshine, all before the first monsoon rains of the year begin in the South.

Sri Lanka in May

From May to August, the country experiences the first of its two annual monsoon seasons in Southwest Sri Lanka. Therefore, during these months it is best to visit Northeast Sri Lanka including Batticaloa and Passekudah.

Sri Lanka in June

Rainfall with continue in the South during the monsoon season whereas in Northern Sri Lanka, June is one of the best times to visit this area with a warm climate and high temperatures throughout.

Sri Lanka in July

In Northern Sri Lanka, the months of June and July are particularly good times to travel to the area, with minimal rainfall, particularly high temperatures and long days of sunshine.

Sri Lanka in August

Throughout the country, you can expect excellent climate conditions. August is an ideal month for those wanting to experience both the Northeast and Southwest regions of the island, typically quite unusual due to Sri Lanka’s monsoon seasons.

Sri Lanka in September

September will start to see the end of the monsoon season in the Southwest and whilst rainfall and thunderstorms are less frequent, are still likely across the region.

Sri Lanka in October

Prior to the monsoon season, rainfall is likely throughout the country and can sometimes be unpredictable, meaning disruptions in travel are likely.

Sri Lanka in November

From November to February, Northeast Sri Lanka will experience one of two annual monsoon seasons. Whilst most days will experience rainfall, it is a great time to travel to experience the lush, green countryside.

Sri Lanka in December

Due to the monsoon in the Northeast, it is best to visit the southwest coast of Sri Lanka prior to the second monsoon reaching this area in May. Experience high levels of sunshine, perfect for Sri Lanka’s beaches.

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