Skip to content
Ideal Travels & Tours
Sri Lanka
ayubowan, traveller!Sri Lanka

Explore beyond the ordinary.

Boarding pass · your next holiday
Plan my trip
hello, we’re Ideal

About Ideal Travels & Tours

We'retravel-obsessedSriLankans.Wewon'thandyouabrochure.We'llaskwhereyou'dlovetowakeup,whatmakesyoulaugh,andhowslowlyyoulikeyourmornings.Thenwe'llbuildthewholetriparoundyou.

A tea picker working among the bushes in Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya, 6am
Rocks and surf on a quiet beach near Mirissa
our secret beach

0+

Happy travellers

0+

Hand-built trips

0

Countries covered

0/7

Replies on WhatsApp

so many ways to fall in love

One small island, four completely different moods. Mix and match, most of our guests do.

  • Cultural in Sri Lanka
    Temples · Forts · Festivals

    Cultural

    Ancient rock fortresses, golden temples and the drums of Kandy. Sri Lanka wears 2,500 years of history lightly.

    Read more
  • Beaches in Sri Lanka
    Coves · Surf · Slow sunsets

    Beaches

    Palm-fringed bays on the south coast, warm turquoise water, and a hammock with your name on it.

    Read more
  • Wildlife in Sri Lanka
    Leopards · Elephants · Whales

    Wildlife

    Dawn safaris in Yala, gentle giants at Udawalawe and blue whales off the coast. Bring a long lens.

    Read more
  • Hill Country in Sri Lanka
    Tea · Trails · Cool air

    Hill Country

    Rolling tea estates, misty viewpoints and the world's prettiest train rides. Pack a light jacket.

    Read more
trips we'd happily take ourselves

Every itinerary is a starting point. Swap a day, add a beach, skip the temple, it's your holiday.

things you'll talk about for years

Pick the experiences that make your heart race, or slow it right down. We'll weave them into your route.

01 / 05Best time: Feb – Jul

Dawn drives & big cats

Safari

Climb into an open jeep before sunrise and wait. Yala has one of the highest leopard densities on Earth, and our drivers know where the cats like to nap.

Safari — photo 1Safari — photo 2Safari — photo 3
02 / 05Best time: Nov – Apr

Salt, sand & slow time

Beach days

Surf breaks, snorkel coves and secret bays where the only schedule is the tide. We'll point you to the quiet ones.

Beach days — photo 1Beach days — photo 2Beach days — photo 3
03 / 05Best time: All year

Blue carriages, open doors

Train rides

Kandy to Ella is a travel cliché for a reason. Reserve the right seat, lean out (gently) and let the hills do the talking.

Train rides — photo 1Train rides — photo 2Train rides — photo 3
04 / 05Best time: Jan – Mar

Pickers, factories & first flush

Tea plantations

Meet the pickers, watch leaves become Ceylon tea, then drink the result on a veranda above the clouds.

Tea plantations — photo 1Tea plantations — photo 2Tea plantations — photo 3
postcards from happy travellers

They remembered we'd mentioned loving mangoes and there was a bowl in every room. Small things, big difference. We didn't want to leave.
AJ

Amelia & Jonas

London, UK

South Coast Honeymoon
your turn!

Share a few details and we’ll come back with ideas, not a sales pitch. Usually within a few hours.

Where do you want to go?

Pick the country you have in mind. Not decided? Choose “Not sure yet” and we’ll help you choose.

Pick a country, or “Not sure yet”, to continue.