Seeing Sri Lanka
& the Maldives together
These Indian Ocean nations are a mere 75-minute flight from each other, yet most people don’t think to combine the two into an island vacation extravaganza. They should, however, because with a couple of weeks to spare it’s possible to delve into Sri Lanka’s cultural heartland and explore its national parks, as well as get acquainted with under and over-water life in the magnificent Maldives. What’s more, there are itineraries to suit, whatever your interests. Whether you go for a small group tour, a tailor made adventure or a laid-back, honeymoon, seeing Sri Lanka and the Maldives together will open up a treasure trove of tropical treats.
Our Sri Lanka Vacations
Sri Lanka vacations, tailor made
Independent tailor made vacations to Sri Lanka
From
£1995
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka family adventure vacation
Sri Lanka active tour with children with best family hotels
From
£2980
13 days
inc UK flights
Sri Lanka highlights vacation
An exciting mix of culture, nature, wildlife and beaches
From
£1695
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka vacation, island explorer
Sri Lanka; wildlife, landscapes, culture and history
From
US $1965 to US $2010
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka cycling vacation
Ride the cool highlands, jungle parks and ancient Buddhist cities
From
US $2679 to US $3379
14 days
ex flights
Biking vacation in Sri lanka
Discover Sri Lanka on a two-wheeled adventure
From
US $2410 to US $3005
14 days
ex flights
Adventurous activities
The Maldives offers some of the best underwater experiences on the planet and you’ll be able to dive and snorkel rich coral gardens, as well as take part in water sports ranging from windsurfing to surfing to kayaking, right from the comfort of your island resort. Snorkelling, diving and surfing is pretty good in Sri Lanka, too, and in both countries, there’s a chance to spot dolphins, whales, or whale sharks, if you’re here during the right season (November to March for whales and dolphins, January to April for whale sharks).Above ground, there’s plenty to occupy you, too. Safaris in Sri Lanka’s Wilpattu and Yala National Parks offer the chance to spot leopard, elephant and sambar deer; and there are plentiful hiking and biking opportunities, with the early morning climb to the top of Sigiriya Rock and a walk through the wild grasslands of Horton Plains particular favourites. In the Maldives, sleeping on board a dhoni, visiting dreamy sandbars and tiny local islands and stargazing from the deck, is pretty much an adventure in itself.
Cultural highlights
With a rich history stretching back thousands of years, Sri Lanka packs a mighty cultural punch. First on the agenda for many is the Cultural Triangle – an area of UNESCO World Heritage listed historical and spiritual treasures and a great introduction to the country’s Buddhist inheritance. Sitting at the country’s heart, it includes the ruined cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the rock fortress at Sigiriya and the cave temple at Dambulla. Those interested in colonial history should check out the southwestern coastal city of Galle, whose streets tell the tale of the country’s occupied past, or Hill Country, where former plantation houses are now elegant heritage hotels.
While the Maldives may scream honeymooners’ haven, there’s a rich culture here too – you just have to escape your resort to find it. Some tours will take you to explore local islands, where you’ll still find pristine sands, clear seas and brochure worthy vistas, but you’ll get to interact with local people too – perhaps sharing a typical Maldivian meal or learning the secrets of local fisherman. You should also make time to visit the capital, Male, a frenetic and fascinating place, which for many offers the best chance of a genuine Maldivian experience away from the resort pool.
Our top Sri Lanka Vacation
Sri Lanka vacations, tailor made
Independent tailor made vacations to Sri Lanka
From
£1995
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
Our tailor made Sri Lanka vacations can be arranged at any time to suit you, and adapted to your requirements as necessary although we do not offer trips for under 10 days.
Our tailor made Sri Lanka vacations can be arranged at any time to suit you, and adapted to your requirements as necessary although we do not offer trips for under 10 days.
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Family vacations
A two center Maldives/Sri Lanka trip is a fantastic vacation for families, particularly if you opt for a tailor made option, organised by our expert operators who can provide experienced in-country guides to make sure your trip goes without a hitch. You’ll be able to adjust your vacation to suit your family’s interests and age ranges and our tour operators have thorough knowledge of the family travel landscape. They know which hotels will suit tiny tots, how long to spend on board a dhoni and which ancient site provides the coolest history lesson; and can also provide tips on everything from the most kid friendly eats to how to keep your family safe and healthy while away.
What’s a typical itinerary?
All our Sri Lanka and Maldives tours start in Sri Lanka and finish in the Maldives and involve a flight between the two countries in the middle of your trip. In general, the Sri Lankan half of your journey will see a little more action, and you’ll move on to a new destination every day or two, exploring top cultural and historic sights, national parks, jungles and tea plantations as well as some of the county’s top beaches. Once you get to the Maldives, it’s time to relax and recover from all that action. On some itineraries you’ll spend your time relaxing at a private island resort, which will have perks such as a pool, spa and plenty of water sports on offer. On others you’ll take to the waters on a dhoni – a traditional Maldivian sailing boat. You’ll live on board, cruising remote atolls, snorkelling and swimming from the boat and stopping at local islands.On most two-week itineraries you’ll spend the bulk of your time in Sri Lanka, with four or five days in the Maldives at the end, and on three-week trips you’ll spend two weeks in Sri Lanka and a week in the Maldives. On small group tours, you’ll share your journey with other likeminded travelers, with a less flexible itinerary. On tailor made trips, it’s just you and your friends or family, so you can tweak your route to your heart’s content. Whichever way you choose, your vacation company will organise all transfers between trains, planes, boats and automobiles to make your trip run as smoothly as possible.
More about Sri Lanka
The best time to visit Sri Lanka is between November and April in the south-west and February to September in the north-east.
Whether you are traveling by train, wildlife watching in rainforests, or just blissing out at the beach, Sri Lanka has something for everyone. And as for the food – that just ticks everyone’s boxes.
The most glimmering Sri Lanka highlights are the ancient archaeological and sacred wonders of the Golden Triangle. But this teardrop island has so many other glittering gems too.
You can’t really go to Sri Lanka and not touch one of the points on the Golden Triangle. But with beaches, wildlife and Ayurvedic spas, there are endless activities.
White sands, swaying palms and all year round heat in the high 20s makes Sri Lanka beach bliss. There are, in fact, 1,600km of beaches here.
As if Sri Lanka didn’t ooze magic from every pore already, blue whales are jumping out of the ocean to upstage the other natural wonders for a few weeks between February and mid March.
Buddhism is often at the heart of cultural vacations in Sri Lanka, whether you are visiting the ancient sites, a contemporary temple or just just meeting local people.
From the Sri Lanka blue magpie to the Sri Lanka leopard, the great Asian elephant to the ginormous blue whale, Sri Lanka has stupendous wildlife.
Sri Lanka is a culinary paradise, where fresh local ingredients, sizzling spices and recipes bequeathed by a history of colonisation create a diverse and delicious culinary scene.
Sri Lanka translates as ‘resplendent island’ in Sanskrit and after years of conflict both north and south are now united and gloriously resplendent.
Read about tea plantations in Sri Lanka, including which hill towns to visit, why you should give tea picking a miss, and what else there is to do in marvellous, misty Hill Country.
Not for those with vertigo, Sigiriya is a 200m-tall rock fortress that sprouts out of the plains of northeast Sri Lanka.
Yala National Park steals the show on many a Sri Lanka vacation.
Yala National Park is the key destination that big cat safaris in Sri Lanka focus on, as it's home to a higher concentration of leopards per square kilometre than anywhere else on the planet.
Traveling in Sri Lanka with kids is not only a journey through ancient culture, wildlife central and beach bliss, it is also a wonderful island of wonderfully welcoming families.
Our experts give great where, when, who and why Sri Lanka travel advice. Where to cycle, when to go, whom to meet and guide you and safari wisdom too.
There are many issues to take into account, sadly, when it comes to responsible tourism in Sri Lanka, and we encourage you to read on for more details.
Find all of our Sri Lanka guides in one place, for particular types of vacation we offer such as culture, cycling, wildlife or more. Choose from all our Sri Lanka guides
