A colonial era lake at the heart of Nuwara Eliya, popular for a gentle boat ride against a backdrop of surrounding tea hills and cool mountain air. A relaxed counterpoint to the more active highland excursions nearby.
ADVENTURE AND HIDDEN GEMS
ADVENTURE AND HIDDEN GEMS
Waterfalls, ethical wildlife and viewpoints most itineraries never reach.
The destinations that give the Hidden Ceylon Collection its name, quietly spectacular places that reward travellers willing to go slightly further off the standard route.
Gregory Lake
A colonial-era lake in Nuwara Eliya, popular for a gentle boat ride.
Where to Stay: Nuwara Eliya tea estate hotels
In Our Packages: Featured across several packages
Horton Plains National Park
High montane grassland ending abruptly at an 880 metre escarpment.
High montane grassland ending abruptly at World’s End, an 880 metre escarpment with sweeping views over the southern lowlands on a clear morning. The early start is genuinely necessary, since cloud typically closes the view by mid-morning.
Where to Stay: Nuwara Eliya tea estate hotels
In Our Packages: Featured in most collections
Pottuvil Lagoon
Crocodiles, wading birds and, seasonally, elephants, by boat.
A boat or canoe safari across the lagoon behind Arugam Bay, spotting crocodiles, wading birds and, seasonally, elephants, in genuinely quiet wetland surroundings just minutes from the surf.
Where to Stay: Arugam Bay beach hotels
In Our Packages: Featured in the Wild Frontier Collection
Millennium Elephant Foundation
Walking alongside rescued elephants, no rides, no chains.
An ethical sanctuary for rescued and retired working elephants in Kegalle, where visitors walk alongside, feed and help bathe the elephants in the river rather than watching them ride or perform. A genuinely different kind of elephant encounter.
Where to Stay: Accessed as a stop between Negombo and Kandy
In Our Packages: Featured in the Hidden Ceylon Collection
Diyaluma Falls
Sri Lanka’s second-tallest waterfall, descended on rope.
Sri Lanka’s second tallest waterfall at 220 metres, descended in part on rope with a certified canyoning guide before a swim in the natural infinity pools at the top. A genuine adrenaline day rather than a gentle photo stop.