Leisurely pursuits on your luxurious resort getaway in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has the extraordinary privilege of welcoming five of the world’s seven species of sea turtle to its shores. At Rekawa Beach, the Turtle Conservation Project aims to nurture the sea turtles in their natural habitat and has established an in-situ nest protection and awareness programme since 1996. Volunteers lead groups to the beach nightly for a chance to sight turtles as they lay their eggs or return to sea. Visitors should note that flash photography and white or yellow torches are not allowed.

Distance: 13 km per way | Duration: 4 hours

Famed for its ‘Virgin White Tea’ that is untouched by human hands, the Handunugoda Tea Plantation is a living, working museum. Step behind the scenes at this 200-acre estate that also contains rubber, pepper, cinnamon and coconut plantations. Sample a variety of special teas and you’ll be sure to find one to suit your tastes. 

Explore the sights and sounds of this quaint town, guided by our Experience Guru. Visit the historic Henakaduwa Temple, an artisan brass making workshop, paddy fields, fishing harbour and organic produce markets including age-old cottage industries such as buffalo curd making and pottery. If you wish to see other attractions along the way, our Experience Guru will try to accommodate your request.

Duration: 4 hours

Designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1969, Bundala was subsequently re-designated to a national park in 1993. In 1991, it became the first wetland to be declared as a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. In 2005, the national park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, making it the fourth biosphere reserve on the island.

Bundala harbours 197 species of birds, the highlight being the greater flamingo which migrate in large flocks. The 6,216 hectare park is also home to very few but evident population of elephants as well as civets, sloth bears, giant squirrels and crocodiles.

Distance: 58 km per way |Duration: 6 hours

Eco-tourists will be delighted to discover this innovative park in Bata Atha. During your visit, you can watch demonstrations of old and new agricultural methods.

With a bountiful fruit orchard and herb garden, guests can sample the sun-ripened produce and admire the floriculture garden. There are also sections for rainwater harvesting and a crop museum.

Only 20 minutes from Tangalle lies the world’s second largest blowhole. The distinctive sound can be heard even before the site comes into view. Watch as the spray gushes through the rock up to 30 metres into the air.

Encounter elephant herds bathing or water buffalo wandering through open grasslands in the protected reserve of Udawalawe, while in Yala, the famed leopard awaits. Over 33 species of migratory birds frequent the sanctuaries, whilst many more call them home.

Bundala gives refuge to 197 species of bird and has been a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2005. Greater flamingos can be spotted when they migrate in flocks to the wetlands. Leopards, wild boar and deer also populate the park.

The majority of areas within Sinharaja was originally declared a forest reserve in 1875, providing a long history of protection. The island’s last viable area of primary tropical rain forest, this forest reserve is afforded the highest level of legal protection under the National Heritage and Wilderness Area Act of Sri Lanka.

Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and subsequently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, more than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. Home to vast indigenous wildlife, this is a truly bio-diverse hotspot not to be missed.

Distance: 75 km per way | Duration: 10 hours

Take a trip from Mirissa Harbour for an up-close view of blue and sperm whales. A leisure trawler will carry passengers to Weligama Bay where the giants feed, swim and socialise.

Whale watching season operates from December to April.

Sri Lanka produces 90% of the world’s supply of cinnamon and cultivation is a unique, scarcely known process. Visit a hilltop villa surrounded by a working cinnamon plantation with views over Koggala Lake and misty mountain ranges. Finish your visit with a four-course cinnamon-inspired lunch, or continue to the nearby Handunugoda Tea Estate. 

Explore behind the iconic walls of this ancient coastal citadel. Meet descendants of the original merchant families. Experience the spice trade first-hand with glimpses back in time, contrasting with today's trendy boutiques and cafes that line the cobble alleys of the fort. 

This ancient monastery is situated on a 210-metre-high rocky hillock, a few minutes inland of Tangalle. A historian’s treasure trove, discover caves with painted murals and statues, all with a story to tell.