This was a very special trip for me: a three‑week family holiday that was also an educational journey to explore as much of Sri Lanka as possible. We covered more stops than I would usually recommend for clients, but that was exactly the point: I wanted to experience a wide range of regions, hotels and journeys first‑hand.

Our route took us from a peaceful first night near Colombo out to Kandy and the Cultural Triangle, across to the quiet east‑coast beaches of Pasikudah, then back inland to Gal Oya. From there we continued into the hill country around Ella, down to Yala for safari and finished inside the ramparts of Galle Fort. Along the way we stayed in boutique properties like The Wallawwa, Jetwing Vil Uyana, Uga Bay, Gal Oya Lodge, 98 Acres, Chena Huts and Fort Bazaar, and mixed in temple visits, village experiences, boat safaris, scenic train rides and wildlife encounters.

Travelling this way has given me a deep, practical understanding of how each region feels, how long journeys really take and which hotels work best for different travel styles and ages. I would not usually suggest this many stops for most clients, but it means I now know exactly where to slow things down and which elements to keep or skip.

If you are considering Sri Lanka, you do not have to do it all. Simply get in touch with your ideas and we can pick the parts that are most important to you, then build a bespoke itinerary around them. I already have several tried‑and‑tested versions of this route that I have designed for clients at different ages and budgets, and I will happily adapt and quote one of those, or create something completely new, when you enquire.