SAFARIS & SPICES OF SRI LANKA

Check into your Heritage Sea View room at Colombo’s Galle Face Hotel. Admire the timeless grandeur of this Sri Lankan landmark on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Basking in our exceptional location, the morning is ours to rest. Following lunch at the Gallery Café, embark on a guided walk of Sri Lanka’s capital with local expert Mark Forbes. Tonight, we dine at the culinary hotspot, the Ministry of Crab. Owned by former Sri Lankan cricketers, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, this restaurant celebrates the country’s prized crustaceans, the giant lagoon crabs.

Excitement builds this morning as we prepare ourselves to be whisked away, either by large helicopter or light aircraft, to Sigiriya Air Base. Once on the ground, we visit the World Heritage-listed Dambulla Cave Temple complex, which has drawn pilgrims and preachers for more than two centuries. 

This evening’s gourmet affair takes place adjacent to one of the region’s caves, beneath a distinctive rock formation, illuminated by the flickering of candles. As we dine, local musicians serenade us, further enhancing the atmosphere. Our home for the next three nights is the sublime Heritance Kandalama Resort. Vistas of lush forest, as well as Sigiriya itself, are to be enjoyed from our Luxury Rooms.

Rise early this morning for a unique opportunity. Our hotel overlooks what is often described as the eighth wonder of the world – the rock fortress of Sigiriya. Rise early and set out to climb this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage site, whose summit affords sweeping views of the verdant landscape below. As you approach the first flight of stairs, pause to admire the great lion paws on either side. Reaching this point is enough to satisfy many guests. You’re also free to explore Sigiriya from the ground, during a walk of its extensive base. You may also visit the site’s museum. 

Later, we travel to nearby Hiriwadunna Village. This remote region grants us further insight into day-to-day rural life in Sri Lanka. For lunch, we dine on nourishing and organic cuisine among lush surrounds at Cinnamon Lodge, where nearby, serpent eagles, kingfishers and monkeys make their home. We then return to our hotel, where we subsequently reconvene for a seven-course dinner. Savour an evening of fusion fare, served at the exact site where our hotel’s architect drew his plans.

This morning, we visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, formerly the capital of Sri Lanka. Explore the kingdom’s ruins, which comprise a vast collection of temples and monuments, as well as a royal palace. This afternoon is set aside for a spectacular Jeep safari with conservationist and photographer Chitral Jayatilleke. Watch as the elephants of Minneriya National Park graze upon the grassy plains, enjoy a bath in Minneriya’s reservoir and roam the vast expanse of the park.

In a spice garden in Matale, we learn to identify the flavours of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Crossing the hills into Kandy, we are then invited into the home of a batik artist. Walk through the production area to observe the many colourful patterns skilfully applied to pieces of cloth. Afterwards, we check into Jetwing Kandy Gallery, where we stay in Luxury Rooms. This evening, we are treated to a cultural show.

A choice of Your World experiences offers opportunities for further exploration: 

— Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Here, you will witness a Hindu pooja ceremony, which involves prayer offerings through song. 

— Look upon the royal regalia and Sinhalese artefacts on display within the Kandy Museum. Exhibits also show how the British came to occupy the Kandyan provinces.

Reconvene for lunch this afternoon at the Royal Bar & Hotel. Then head to Peradeniya Botanical Garden and join an enlightening walk with a professor of botany. Gaze skyward as you stroll along the grand Avenue of Royal Palms and absorb the myriad colours of some of the many thousands of plant species here.

Aboard the privately chartered Viceroy Special vintage train, we travel to the village of Nanu Oya in style. Roll along tracks cut through flourishing jungle, passing terraced tea plantations and skirting precipitous hillsides. From Nanu Oya, we make the short journey to Nuwara Eliya, in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country. Our final destination today is the Heritance Tea Factory. Here, our Superior Rooms look out over the area’s lush mountains.