Sigiriya

An hour over the Cultural Triangle at dawn, with Sigiriya rock and Pidurangala rising out of the mist and the tanks catching the first light. November to April only, and weather dependent.

The classic backpacker route with the hassle taken out: we book your hostels and guesthouses, reserve train seats, arrange key transfers and a safari, and give you a local SIM and 24/7 WhatsApp support – you travel independently by train, bus and tuk-tuk at backpacker prices.

Climb the Lion Rock and see 2,000-year-old cave temples in one unforgettable day, with hotel pick-up from Kandy, Negombo or Colombo.

Hand-picked romantic hotels, private experiences and plenty of time together. Enjoy a sunrise hot-air balloon flight option over the Cultural Triangle, a candlelit dinner in a tea bungalow, a private safari in Yala and three nights in a beach villa in Tangalle.

Four days, two UNESCO sites and one great price. Hike Pidurangala for sunset, climb Sigiriya, explore the Dambulla caves and experience Kandy – all with a private driver and simple but comfortable guesthouse stays.

Sri Lanka is Asia's best-kept safari secret: leopards, elephants, sloth bears and more than 400 bird species on an island you can cross in a day. This tour visits four national parks – Wilpattu, Minneriya, Udawalawe and Yala – with a naturalist guide and comfortable lodges close to the park gates.

A tour designed around light, not a checklist. Travel with a photographer-naturalist, use private safari jeeps with beanbags and extra time at sightings, and plan every shoot around golden hour.

When the monsoon reaches the west and south coasts, the east coast is at its best – calm, sunny and uncrowded. Begin with Sigiriya, then travel down the coast from Trincomalee's snorkelling reefs to the shallow lagoon of Pasikudah and the surf town of Arugam Bay.

The perfect balance: eight days of culture, tea country and wildlife followed by four nights on the beach to unwind. It suits couples and families who want to see the island but also come home rested.

Ten days is the most popular length for a first trip to Sri Lanka, and this route shows why. You will see the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, the royal city of Kandy, the tea country, the leopards of Yala and the colonial charm of Galle – the five experiences almost every traveller comes for.