Excursions

Once performed in the grand palaces of ancient Ceylon, Ayurvedic treatments include aromatic foot baths and head massage. Skilled, experienced therapists soothe away tension with organic essential oils of jasmine, Ceylonese spices, lemongrass and sweet lime, as mind, body and soul settle into blissful calm.

Yoga has been practised in South Asia for some 5,000 years and remains a living tradition. Rooted in holistic healing, it unites physical and mental wellbeing with breath, energy and spiritual balance. Visit a dedicated retreat and rediscover harmony between body, mind and breath.

Discover the island from the serenity of the skies. Trained, professional staff help you plan a personalised route to suit your preferences, then you soar above stunning landscapes. Private, quiet and reliably on time, it leaves traffic, queues, crowds and waiting far behind.

Founded in 1988, the Kosgoda sea turtle conservation project has released 3.5 million hatchlings into the wild. Eggs gathered by local fishermen are reburied in the sand and hatch after about 50 days, then are released into the sea at night. Tanks also shelter injured, disabled and albino turtles.

The Madu Ganga winds through natural mangroves and 64 islands, a raw coastal ecosystem. On a daytime boat safari, watch monkeys feasting in the trees, water monitors gliding below, and egrets and kingfishers waiting on the banks. By evening, fishermen light lanterns in their canoes to lure shellfish.

Sri Lanka's varied landscapes and rich biodiversity shelter many endemic species, joined each winter by nearly 200 migrants, some from the Arctic tundra. Look out for sandpipers, storks, cormorants, kingfishers and plovers, and marvel as hundreds of flamingos fly into the lagoons. Just bring binoculars.

Local fishing boats set out from the shore just steps from your villa. Join a guided tour or lend a hand with net fishing on the beach. At first light, fishermen cast their nets in a sweeping crescent, then haul in the catch as the waves roll.

Choose from kayaking, canoeing, jet skis, sailing, yachting or a catamaran. Take a daytime or overnight cruise, or try water skiing, banana, tube and speedboat rides. Windsurfing, snorkelling and scuba diving complete an exhilarating array of activities. The choice is yours.

Trek the Sinharaja Rainforest, climb mountains, go white-water rafting or explore ancient ruins on foot or by bike. Enjoy a village life experience, or watch cricket at the celebrated stadiums of Colombo and Galle. Surf, kite surf, windsurf, snorkel or dive in a world water-sport hot spot.

This celebrated holy site is home to Kalutara Bodhiya, an ancient sacred fig said to be one of 32 saplings of Anuradhapura's Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. Admire the famed Buddha statue and the Gangatilake Stupa, the only entirely hollow stupa, its inner walls painted with Jataka tales.

Built between 1900 and 1910, this Edwardian mansion stands on a 42-acre hillside estate beside the Kalu River in Palatota. Built for a wealthy regional governor, its architecture reflects the Indian-British colonial style. After his personal misfortunes and early death, the estate passed to Sri Lanka's Public Trustee.