7 Reasons to Travel to Sri Lanka with Llama Travel

 1. Small Groups:

At Llama Travel, our groups are a maximum of 18 people, which makes it easier to get around. Whether you are climbing the ancient rock fortress or walking through the busy market in Kandy for a glimpse of daily life in Sri Lanka, travelling in a smaller group helps you enjoy each experience without feeling rushed. It also gives you more opportunities to interact with your guide, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of Sri Lanka’s culture, history and traditions.

2. Choose your Hotels and Excursions

At Llama Travel, we offer both standard and superior hotel options, giving you the flexibility to choose what suits you the best. Our standard hotels are comfortable and offer a calm retreat away from the bustle, with modern facilities and scenic views. Superior hotels offer extra comfort, and the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya is set in a colonial mansion.

What’s more, our itineraries are designed to give you the flexibility to decide how you want your holiday to be, with a range of excursions to choose from. If you’re interested in wildlife, you can take game drives in wildlife parks. If you’re looking for adventure, take the End of the World Hike. If you’re interested in Buddhist history, explore caves filled with Buddha statues and ancient cities. Choose what you want to make the most of your time in Sri Lanka.

Jetwing Yala Hotel, Yala National Park

3. Explore the Cultural Highlights

• Cultural Triangle:

The Cultural Triangle is Sri Lanka’s heart of history and heritage. Climb Lion Rock, an ancient rock fortress with lion-shaped gateways and palace ruins. Explore the ruins of the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa, and the Dambulla Cave Temples which contains over 2,000 years of art, with more than 150 Buddha statues.

Dambulla Caves

• Kandy

Kandy was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese monarchy. Explore the Royal Botanical Gardens, home to over 4,000 species of plants, including the largest Orchid in the world. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, which holds one of Buddhism’s most sacred relics - a tooth of the Buddha. Then stroll through Kandy’s bustling market to see local fruits, spices, and textiles.

Temple of Sacred Tooth

• Nuwara Eliya:

Situated in the hill country, Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka’s most important tea-producing region. You can’t miss the brightly coloured workers picking leaf tips on the nearby estates. The town has a strong connection with UK and is often referred to as ‘Little England’ thanks to its cool climate and colonial architecture.

Tea Pickers, Nuwara Eliya

4. Various Chances to Spot Wildlife

Llama Travel’s itineraries are designed to give you the best chance to see some of the country’s excellent wildlife. Take a jeep safari in Yala National Park, which has the highest density of leopards in the world, as well as Asian elephants, crocodiles, and diverse bird species. Enjoy an early-morning game drive, giving you the best chance of spotting local wildlife, and return in the afternoon if you would like another chance to spot the wildlife.

Take a safari game drive in Wasgamuwa National Park, a quieter park with fewer safari vehicles on the trails. Look for wild elephants, and spot the varied birdlife. Wasgamuwa means ‘forest of sloth bear’, and the park is said to contain the greatest number of sloth bears in Sri Lanka.

Elephants, Yala National Park

5. Ride the scenic train through tea country

The train journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is one of the world’s most picturesque rail routes, winding past tea estates, traditional villages, forests, and gushing waterfalls. The journey takes around four hours, giving you plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the scenery of Sri Lanka’s central highlands.

Scenic Train Ride to Nuwara Eliya

6. End your trip on the sandy beaches of Bentota

This laid-back beach town is the perfect spot to round off your trip, with miles of sandy beaches to relax on or just lie around the hotel pool. Bentota is a two-hour drive from Colombo, making it perfect to relax and head straight to the airport for your flight home. 

Bentota Beach

7. Speak to an expert

Our travel experts have experienced Sri Lanka first-hand, so when you speak to us, you’re getting advice from people who’ve actually been there. With our knowledge and experience, we’ll help you create a holiday that’s planned perfectly for you, and filled with memories to last a lifetime.

Inspired by this, and want to experience the best of Sri Lanka for yourself? Order a free brochure to find out more about our Sri Lanka itineraries, or contact us to speak to one of our Travel Consultants today.

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