Sri Lanka’s east coast is a mirror image of its west. When it’s monsoon season in the west, the sun is shining in the east; where the west coast is predominantly Sinhalese, the east is largely Tamil and Muslim; and where parts of the west coast are crowded with tourists and almost buried under a surfeit of hotels, the east remains largely untouched and tourist-free – for the time being, at any rate.
Much of the east’s beautifully pristine coastal scenery derives, ironically, from its often tragic wartime past, during which the region splintered into a fluid patchwork of territories controlled variously by government and LTTE forces. Two decades of fighting took a devastating toll on the region’s already struggling economy: villages were abandoned, commerce collapsed and the coast’s few hotels were simply blown up and allowed to fall into the sea. Meaningful reconstruction and economic development became possible only after the LTTE were finally driven out of the area in 2007, and although the lingering effects of war can still be seen in places, the east’s fortunes appear finally to be turning, with ambitious plans to tap into the coast’s massive tourist potential, exemplified by the extraordinary glut of new resorts under construction around the formerly war-torn and deserted Passekudah Bay.
Tailor-made travel itineraries for Sri Lanka, created by local experts
12 days / from2250 USD
Sri Lanka: Off the Beaten Track
The ideal itinerary for everyone planning to go on a Sri Lankan adventure. Hike historic temples, become part of a Sri Lankan village for a day, visit tea factories, and many more activities included before spending the last few days relaxing on the beach.
view tour ⤍11 days / from3400 USD
Affordable Luxury
Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage exploring stunning sunny beaches; lush green mountains; unspoilt forest trails and breath-taking world heritage sites. This all-encompassing itinerary includes accommodation, private transportation and a variety of excursions and activities.
view tour ⤍10 days / from2520 USD
Discover Sri Lanka
There is so much to see and do in Sri Lanka! This 10-day trip will take you around some of the most exciting parts of the country; spot Elephants in their natural habitat, discover the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and learn more about the famous Ceylon Tea plantations.
view tour ⤍9 days / from2860 USD
The Temples and Sacred Sites of Sri Lanka
Immerse yourself in the rich cultural and religious heritage of Sri Lanka with our tour of the region's most significant temples and other religious monuments. Visit Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and much more.
view tour ⤍12 days / from2860 USD
Sri Lanka Family Adventure
Discover Buddhist temples, impressive rock statues and fortresses, rolling green tea plantations and colonial homes. Get up close to elephants, noisy monkeys and turtles; relax on golden sandy beaches and simply enjoy a good rice and curry - Sri Lanka offers the ultimate family adventure.
view tour ⤍8 days / from2220 USD
Sri Lanka – Culture and Coast
Absorb Sri Lanka's ancient culture at Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, before heading deep into lush jungle plains for jeep safaris and encounters with wild elephants. Journey south to colourful Kandy with its temples and tea factories, followed by a relaxing stay on sandy southwest beaches.
view tour ⤍15 days / from2337 USD
Unforgettable Sri Lanka
From the relaxed golden beaches of Bentota and the clear waters of the Indian Ocean to climbing ancient Sigiriya and Mini Adam’s Peak, not to mention monkeys, elephants and lush, rolling plains of outstanding natural beauty, Sri Lanka widely appeals to all outdoors enthusiasts.
view tour ⤍16 days / from3130 USD
Sri Lanka for Adventure Lovers
The perfect holiday for adventure lovers and ideal for those who love to explore. Visit Sri Lanka's forests, mountains and paddy fields and partake in abseiling, water sports, trekking and cycling.
view tour ⤍13 days / from1750 USD
Around Sri Lanka - Flora and Fauna
If you love to explore the flora, the fauna and some of the most amazing World Heritage sites of Sri Lanka then this trip will be what you are looking for. Discover the lush jungles and rainforests, ancient cities, waterfalls and beaches during this 12 days round trip of Sri Lanka.
view tour ⤍10 days / from1750 USD
Sri Lankan Wildlife Discovery
Marvel at Sri Lanka's wild and untamed beauty with this trip. Watch Sri Lankan elephants in the wild at Yala and Udalawe National Parks, soak in the island's stunning scenery with a sunrise hot air balloon ride and marvel at magnificent drawings at the Dambulla Cave Temple!
view tour ⤍12 days / from6143 USD
Sri Lanka Deluxe
Discover the tea plantations, waterfalls and hill country of the Central Province before being whisked away to the golden sands of Sri Lanka’s glorious Indian Ocean beaches on the south coast. From whale watching to soaking up the rays, this trip offers a relaxing escape to Sri Lanka.
view tour ⤍14 days / from3500 USD
Perfectly Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka offers the perfect holiday package. Visit gilded Buddhist temples and palaces in Kandy, explore ancient ruins and forts, appreciate ancient art and architecture in Polonnaruwa. Go trekking, on safari and to tea plantations. Then let it all hang loose on glorious Indian Ocean beaches.
view tour ⤍15 days / from4500 USD
Luxury Yoga and Ayurveda: A Blissful Sri Lanka Retreat
Choose the paradise island of Sri Lanka, and bring yourself into balance with this restorative holiday, which provides the most relaxing of settings. Leave your stressful life behind and embrace a digital detox, whilst discovering the real you through yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic treatments.
view tour ⤍10 days / from1350 USD
Sri Lanka – Cultural and Natural Beauty
Discover Central Province temples and fortresses before heading to Kandy, home of the sacred Tooth Relic. This luxury Sri Lanka tour then takes in lush tea-growing country en route to Bandarawela hill station. The coastal city of Galle and palm-fringed Balapitiya Beach complete an incredible trip.
view tour ⤍7 days / from2120 USD
Southern Sri Lanka: Mirissa, Galle and Bentota
Welcome to Sri Lanka’s south coast, a world of pristine beaches where sunsets are hypnotic pink fireballs suspended in meditative skies. Unforgettable excursions will take you whale watching at Mirissa, to see the iconic stilt fishermen of Weligama, and to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery.
view tour ⤍14 days / from3659 USD
Luxury Sri Lanka and The Maldives
A perfect combination, Sri Lanka and the Maldives offers a luxury twin-centre trip of a lifetime. Experience Sri Lanka's cultural treasures and spectacular natural beauty; then take a short flight and a speedboat ride to the Maldives for some luxurious days on soft white-sand shores.
view tour ⤍14 days / from2215 USD
The Best of Sri Lanka
From the tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya over the scenic train ride to Ella to the stilt fishermen on the Southern coast - this itinerary packs plenty of must-do activities and sights into a fast-paced two weeks.
view tour ⤍8 days / from1800 USD
Jaffna and Western Sri Lanka
Discover the serenity of north-west Sri Lanka. From ancient holy kingdoms and lavish hilltop palaces to elephant safaris and forgotten islands with wild pony populations, this unique trip has been specially created to experience the best of north-west Sri Lanka.
view tour ⤍13 days / from3250 USD
Wild and Wonderful Sri Lanka
Experience the wonderful wildlife of Sri Lanka. Sleep under the stars in a traditional safari camp, spot Sri Lankan elephants on safari, look for leopards in beautiful national parks, go whale and dolphin-watching at Mirissa – experience all of this, and much more, on this unique, tailored trip!
view tour ⤍Locals and places of interest
Much of the region’s population is concentrated in the long string of mainly Tamil and Muslim towns and villages that line the coast, backed by fine sandy beaches and labyrinthine lagoons; the vast swathes of predominantly Sinhalese country inland – whose arid climate has always discouraged settled agriculture – remain sparsely populated and largely undeveloped. Capital of the east is the vibrant town of Trincomalee, with its appealing blend of faded colonial charm, colourful Hindu temples and beautiful coastal scenery. Few tourists venture this way, however, except to press onto the extremely low-key beachside villages of Uppuveli and Nilaveli, just up the coast. South from here, the formerly unspoilt beaches at Passekudah and Kalkudah are currently in the throes of major tourist development, while continuing south brings you to the personable town of Batticaloa, strung out around its enormous lagoon. Further south, the laid-back surfing hotspot of Arugam Bay is currently the only place in the east to see significant numbers of foreign visitors and also makes a convenient starting point for trips to the national parks of Lahugala and Yala East, and the remote forest hermitage at Kudimbigala.
Brief history
Although now something of a backwater, the east was for many centuries the most outward-looking and cosmopolitan part of the island, a fact borne out by its (for Sri Lanka) unusually heterogeneous ethnic make-up – with roughly equal numbers of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, the region is the most culturally diverse in Sri Lanka. Much of the area’s early history revolved around Gokana (modern Trincomalee), the island’s principal trading port during the Anuradhapuran and Polonnaruwan eras, and the harbours of the east continued to serve as an important conduit for foreign influences in subsequent centuries. Islam spread widely along the coast thanks to visiting Arab, Malay and Indian traders, while the European powers also took a healthy interest in the region. The Dutch first established a secure presence on the island at the town of Batticaloa, while it was the lure of Trincomalee’s superb deep-water harbour more than anything else that drew the British to the island.
With the rise of the new ports at Galle and later Colombo, the east gradually fell into decline, while its fortunes nosedived during the civil war, which turned Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese against one another in a frenzy of communal violence. LTTE attacks against unprotected Sinhalese and Muslim villagers were a recurring feature of the war years, including one particularly gruesome massacre of around 150 men and boys at Kattankudi mosque in 1990. The LTTE also seized pockets of territory throughout the area (including, for a time, Batticaloa itself), and was only finally driven from its last eastern strongholds in 2007. Today, former LTTE leader Colonel Karuna remains a major figure in the region’s politics.
Monaragala and around
Just beyond the easternmost fringes of the hill country east of Wellawaya, the small town of MONARAGALA sits at the foot of the huge Peacock Rock, whose sheer sides loom dramatically over the countryside hereabouts. The town itself is principally of interest as the gateway to Arugam Bay, and also provides a convenient base for visiting the remote and magical Buddhist statues of Maligawila and the huge ruined stupa of Yudaganawa.
Maligawila
The remote village of MALIGAWILA, little more than a sandy clearing surrounded by a few makeshift shacks, is home to two giant standing Buddhist statues, fashioned out of crystalline limestone, which are thought to have once formed part of an extensive monastic complex. The images, which had collapsed and fallen to bits, were restored in 1991, when the various pieces were rescued from the jungle floor and painstakingly reassembled – though the Maitreya statue still looks rather patched up. The statues are impressive in themselves, but are made additionally mysterious by their setting, hidden away in a stretch of pristine lowland jungle.