Start your Sri Lanka cultural adventure in Galle, on the south coast. Explore UNESCO-listed Galle Fort with a local, uncovering its Portuguese, Dutch and British influences through its architecture and the communities that call it home. Within the historic ramparts, narrow streets are lined with restaurants, cafés and independent boutiques. For something more active, head beyond the fort for a cycling tour or visit a nearby cinnamon plantation.

Your private driver guide will take you up and away from Galle and the south coast to the Hill Country. Laced with quiet country roads and villages, Sri Lanka’s central highlands are the perfect place to relax with a cuppa in cooler climes. There’s certainly plenty to do here, and you can easily fill your days with hikes along the Pekoe Trail, ziplining across the valleys or local cookery classes. But you wouldn’t be blamed for simply sitting back by the pool in your colonial bungalow retreat.

Just entering into Gal Oya National Park feels like a special privilege. Not only because it’s quieter than other parks, but its terrain feels otherworldly: mountains, grasslands, forest, and vast stretches of water. It feels a little like something out of Jurassic Park.

After the drive from Ella, head out on an afternoon boat safari on Senanayake Samudra reservoir, where you may spot elephants swimming between the islands. The next day, walk with members of the Indigenous Veddah community and learn about medicinal plants and their relationship with the land and wildlife, before an afternoon game drive through the park’s savannahs and forests, riding beside its reservoirs. You are in with a chance of seeing crocodiles, monkeys, sloth bears and even leopards.

This is your chance to unwind with salty, sun-swept days on Kalkudah Beach. Along this wide, sandy bay on Sri Lanka’s east coast, boutique resorts are discreetly tucked back into the trees, giving it a more relaxed feel than other touristy spots. Active families can spend a couple of hours snorkelling or sailing, while honeymooners have the opportunity to bask in the sun or hop between nearby beaches, like Pasikudah, for more lively vibes.

Heading inland from the east coast, you’ll make a stop at Polonnaruwa’s royal ancient capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, your guide will bring the ruins to life with tales of kingdoms gone by.

Sigiriya tops many a Sri Lanka wishlist, and with good reason. Explore its 5th-century citadel, water gardens and ancient frescoes, and the monumental Lion Gate and ruined palace crowning the rock. Beyond, there’s Dambulla Cave Temple, renowned for its centuries-old Buddhist murals and statues.

You don’t have to look far for wildlife here, with exotic birds and monkeys rustling in the dense foliage. But a safari in one of the nearby national parks offers something really special, a chance to see “The Gathering”, the island’s largest elephant migration of around 300 elephants.

Slow down and take time to lounge by the pool, relax in the spa, stroll through tropical gardens or hop in a tuk-tuk to explore the quiet local village. From here, it’s just a short trip back to the airport – you’ll be picked up by your private driver guide.