Our Team
Our Tour Experts
Heroes and Heroines
Sri Lankan Wildlife
Spot birds, elephant, sloth bear and leopard as the sun rises and sets over Wilpattu National Park.
-
![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
-
![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
-
![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Wildlife and Communities of Sri Lanka
Incredible diversity in such a small space is Sri Lanka’s trump card. Explore the highlights whilst wandering a less-trodden path and meet local people working to protect tradition, the environment, and local culture.
This holiday pays particular attention to sustainability: travel is, where possible, by train and smaller properties with a positive impact ethos are used. Spend time with plantation workers, marine biologists and local historians to discover Sri Lanka alongside the people striving to protect it.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
1
2
Tea Country
Explore the tea plantations by train and on foot, meeting workers and local communities.
3
Local Communities
Cycle through plantations and paddy fields visiting villages and cottage industries.
4
Marine Life
Board a catamaran in search of dolphins and whales, accompanied by a marine biologist.
-
Day 1
Colombo - Horathapola (Horathapola Estate)
-
Day 2
Horathapola (Horathapola Estate)
-
Day 3
Horathapola - Wilpattu National Park (Thamarvila Tented Lodge)
-
Day 4
Wilpattu National Park (Thamarvila Tented Lodge)
-
Day 5
Wilpattu National Park - Sigiriya (Water Garden)
-
Day 6
Sigiriya (Water Garden)
-
Day 7
Sigiriya - Kandy (The Kandy House)
-
Day 8
Kandy (The Kandy House)
-
Day 9
Kandy - Ella (Nine Skies)
-
Day 10
Ella (Nine Skies)
-
Day 11
Ella - Galle (KK Beach)
-
Day 12
Habaraduwa (KK Beach)
-
Day 13
Habaraduwa - Colombo
Day 1
Colombo - Horathapola (Horathapola Estate)
Arrive in Colombo. Met and driven to Horathapola Estate.
Day 2
Horathapola (Horathapola Estate)
Spend the morning on bikes exploring village trails. Weave through paddy fields and plantations, passing village temples and learning about local cottage industries.
Day 3
Horathapola - Wilpattu National Park (Thamarvila Tented Lodge)
Driven from Horathapola to Wilpattu. For something different, stop on the coast at Kalpitiya to volunteer with a Seagrass Restoration project, collecting and transplanting the seagrass into the shallows before enjoying a lunch prepared by local villagers.
Day 4
Wilpattu National Park (Thamarvila Tented Lodge)
Full-day safari in Wilpattu National Park with a private park ranger. Head out at dawn when the temperatures are cool and the wildlife active. This is also a great time to spot leopards as they return from a night of hunting. After lunch at the lodge and time to relax, late afternoon is a magical time in the park as light fades and the animals are on the move once more.
Day 5
Wilpattu National Park - Sigiriya (Water Garden)
Drive from Wilpattu to Sigiriya and the Lion Rock Fortress.
Day 6
Sigiriya (Water Garden)
Early morning visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Head out this evening for a peaceful elephant safari and sundowners at Minneriya National Park.
Day 7
Sigiriya - Kandy (The Kandy House)
Drive to Kandy with a stop at Digana – home to a small spice-growing start-up. After a walk through their forest gardens and reforestation area, return to the small forest lodge for a simple but delicious lunch using some of the spices collected. Continue onto your accommodation in Kandy.
Day 8
Kandy (The Kandy House)
Morning at leisure. Later in the afternoon explore the local markets of Kandy and visit the Temple of Tooth Relic.
Day 9
Kandy - Ella (Nine Skies)
Travel by train from Kandy to Ella. Experience a little more of Sri Lanka on this beautiful train journey, passing lush tea plantations and mist-covered mountains as well as crossing the iconic nine arch bridge. Met and driven the short distance to Nine Skies.
Day 10
Ella (Nine Skies)
Walk through the estate, which offers an opportunity to meet local tea pickers. For those who like hiking there is a circular route around Nine Skies, part of the Tea Country Trail. Alternatviely, walk a section of the 185 mile Pekoe Trail. Nine Skies is ideally placed to enjoy stages 15, 16 or 17.
Day 11
Ella - Galle (KK Beach)
Driven from Ella to Habaraduwa, near Galle. Visit Galle this afternoon to explore with a local historian.
Day 12
Habaraduwa (KK Beach)
Spend the day on the water with a marine biologist, learning more about Sri Lanka’s diverse marine life.
Day 13
Habaraduwa - Colombo
Transfer to Colombo for onward travel.
More details
Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s oldest reserve, is one of the lesser visited parks and is home to the elusive leopard, elephants and the sloth bear. Located not too far from the cultural sights of Anuradhapura, the park is made up of open forests, a thick jungle and lakes. It is these lakes that during the hot, dry days visitors to the park are more likely to catch a glimpse of its resident wildlife.
Community Initiatives
A short drive from Kandy you will find a small community with a wonderful story of resilience and adaptability. In 2020, as tourism dwindled, this community based eco lodge diversified and launched a small spice exporting business, alongside a reforestation initiative. Visit them and their forest gardens to learn about the community’s story, the spices grown and sold, as well as their reforestation project. Having purchased adjacent barren land, caused by tree felling, they introduced endangered plants in support of The Forest Healing Foundation, protecting and restoring forests in Sri Lanka. Head to the kitchen to put the spices to good use in a home cooked curry.
Explorations on Foot
The Pekoe Trail is a 185-mile, 22-stage network of hiking trails across Sri Lanka’s tea country. Each stage covers between eight and sixteen kilometres, with a range of difficulties that can be walked with or without a guide. Spanning seven valleys, each route connects scenically beautiful and historically significant parts of the region and are designed to be walked in stages or as individual day trails. Most stages begin or end in small towns or villages with incredible diversity in between – cloud forests, farmland, waterfalls and local temples. The goal of the trail is to promote, protect and preserve the cultural heritage and natural habitats of the Sri Lankan Tea Country.
Marine Encounters
Board a private catamaran from Habaraduwa, accompanied by a young and ambitious marine biologist and conservationist. In a bid to avoid the over tourism of many ocean trips, this simple experience focuses on searching for marine wildlife in an ethical way, with a focus on the wealth of knowledge and stories your marine biologist will bring. The morning on the water will include a simple breakfast and time for a swim or paddle board.
How does this holiday make a positive impact?
- Relevant SDGs
-
-
-
Get involved with the tree planting initiative during your stay at Thamaravila in Wilpattu. The MEE tree (Madhuca Longifolia) is a favourite, as unlike most trees it releases oxygen during the night as well as daytime as well as acting as a natural pest control and source of herbal medicine. The coconut thatch roofs at the hotel are locally sourced from nearby villages, which are a natural insulator, as well as being biodegradable when replaced each year.
Teardrop Hotels, of which Nine Skies Hotel 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.
Support the conservation and expansion of seagrass meadows on Sri Lanka’s West coast. In collaboration with OCEA Sri Lanka, the protection and growth of this underwater habitat is important for both humans and sea creatures – increasing marine productivity, biodiversity, quality of water and fishing resources. A donation is included as part of your day with a marine biologist in Habaraduwa. Alternatively, get hands on in the shallows and volunteer for a few hours.
Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals
We're waiting to help you
It all starts here
Let’s put that once-in-a-lifetime trip in your hands. Get in touch with the team and we will work with you at every step to make sure that it’s extraordinary.
01285 880 980Get in touch with our travel experts to start
creating your tailor-made holiday.
A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of the 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 £5,495 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.
Need inspiration? Browse some of our other holiday ideas.
Our experts have created and curated these holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
Featured in the press
