Travel the island of Sri Lanka with a discerning eye inspired by Geoffrey Bawa who redefined and influenced South-East Asian architecture.
Begin your Sri Lankan holiday tours by spending two nights in the cultural triangle at one of Geoffrey Bawa’s very own hotels;
travel far south for a night in the hills of Ella before arriving for a night on the coast of Galle at another of Geoffrey Bawa’s hotels.
Route : Airport > Negombo
Drive : 25 minute
Hotel : Heritance Kandalama
Highlights : Tour of Jetwing Beach, enjoy a Negombo city tour
At the airport you will be greeted our Jetwing Representative and your Chauffer Guide who will take you to the modern beach town of Negombo. Check-in to the hotel and rest and relax to recover from any jet lag. If you have spare time, your chauffeur will introduce you to some of Negombo’s curious sites such the Dutch churches, perhaps take a boat ride along the Dutch canals or laze on the golden sands.
Route : Negombo > Anuradhapura > Kandalama
Drive : 4 and half hour drive
Hotel : Heritance Kandalama
Highlights : Visit to the Fish market, Visit the Sacred city of Anuradhapura, Tour of Bawa designed hotel – Heritance Kandalama
Early morning, indulge in a diverse experience by visiting the famous fish market in Negombo known as the ‘Lellama’. Walk on the beach and watch fishermen untangle their fishing nets and witness the fish being auctioned and sold to retail and commercial customers alike.
Set off from coastal Negombo to experience the inland delights of Sri Lanka.
We recommend you break your journey in Anuradhapura: an ancient city which was the history of Sri Lanka for over thousand years. Complete a walking tour of this sacred city with your chauffeur guide which includes a visit to the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi; Ruwanweli seya and Mihintale.
After an exhilarating day, arrive at Bawa’s most tranquil haven perched on the hills. You will realize that the very structure of tonight’s hotel in Kandalama is well worth this journey – Heritance Kandalama is built not on flat land but upon a mountain side, surrounded by a jungle overlooking Kandalama Lake.
Route : Kandalama > Sigiriya > Polonnaruwa > Kandalama
Drive : 3 and half hour drive
Hotel : Heritance Kandalama
Highlights : Ascend the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and discover the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
Begin the morning, by mounting the mesmerizing rock fortress of Sigiriya – a 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky”. Admire the architectural marvel of how a king’s fortress was carved from a massive rock in the 5th century A.D.
Late afternoon learn about the better kept ruins of ancient Ceylon – the UNESCO World Heritage City of Polonnaruwa which was a medieval capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th – 13th century A.D. Take a walking tour of one of the ruins of ancient Ceylon which includes a visit to Lankathilaka, Thuparamaya, Royal Palace, Rankoth Vehera and Gal Viharaya. Also do take note of the vata-da-ge design of Sinhalese architects as well as the unique moonstone formations. After an exhilarating day, retreat to your tranquil haven perched on the hills
Route : Kandalama > Matale > Kandy
Drive : 3 hour drive
Hotel : Kandy House
Highlights : Visit the Matale Heritage Centre, Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic
As you leave from Kandalama, break your journey at the Matale Heritage Centre. Here you may witness the artistic designs of Mrs. Ena de Silva – a close friend and collaborator of Geoffrey Bawa who contributed many artifacts to his projects.
Continue your journey to the hill capital of Kandy. Eminent as the center of Buddhism and the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom, the name Kandy evokes romantic notions in people of a lost hill kingdom, a lake, tea plantations and a famous temple. At your convenience, become acquainted with the city; pay your respects to the golden-roofed Temple of the Tooth Relic, which houses Sri Lanka’s most sacred relic, a tooth of the Lord Buddha. Admire the delicate hill-country breezes that urge the mist to gently part revealing colorful houses amid Kandy’s forested halo, visit the lively market places and the Upper Lake drive.
Retreat to the comforts of the cozy private home in the hills; an ancestral manor house ideal for a perfect gateway!
Route : Kandy > Bandarawela > Ella
Drive : 4 and half hour drive
Hotel : 98 Acres Resort and Spa
Highlights : Visit the Bandarawela Chapel of the Good Shepherd’s Convent, Demodara Nine Arch Bridge, Rawana Falls
Today take a scenic drive to the hills of Bandarawela – relish the drive through endless views of tea carpeted valleys and the bright flash of female “tea pluckers” in their pimento, fuchsia and cerise saris. Drop by the granite built Bandarawela Chapel of the Good Shepherd’s Convent; designed both by Geoffrey Bawa and Ulrik Plesner.
Continue your journey to the charming town of Ella; a small village nestled in a valley peering straight through the Ella Gap and surrounded by hilly countryside perfect for walks. Do stop to admire the cascading Ravana Ella waterfalls and the iconic Demodara Nine Arch Bridge.
Retreat to your luxurious resort in the hills. Set amidst stunning mountains, 98 Acres Resort & Spa is an elegant, chic hotel that stands on a scenic 98 acre tea estate. Spend your evening leisurely in this paradise resort enjoying the breath taking vistas!
Route : Nuwara Eliya > Yala
Drive : 4 hours half hoour drive
Hotel : Jetwing Yala
Highlights : Enjoy a leopard safari at the Yala National Park.
One of Sri Lanka’s charms is that how in a short time you will pass from the hills to the meandering rivers, past the farms and then to the idyllic Southern coast. Today we recommend you drop by another one of Bawa’s works– the Ruhunu University Campus and the Matara Office building. In between we also suggest you drop in for lunch at the Heritance Ahungalla hotel, where Bawa created features such as interconnecting expanses of water that lead guests into the hotel.
Continue your journey to the historical city of Galle. Galle is the country’s oldest living city and is sure to capture your interest, with its historic sites and its unique fusion of European and Arabic cultural and Architectural influences. Once in the town of Galle, explore the Galle Fort with its low lined streets and history behind its Rampart. Walk through the alleys lined with stores and restaurants. The Fort remains a hive of activity and is one of the few World Heritage listed sites in which a bustling population continues to thrive.
Retreat to the luxurious Jetwing Lighthouse; an architectural masterpiece designed by Bawa!
Route : Galle > Colombo
Drive : 2 and half hour drive
Hotel : Galle Face
Highlights : Discover Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga Country House, engage in a city tour of Colombo, visit the Bawa House in Colombo, scrumptious dinner Gallery Café.
As all good things must come to an end, your chauffeur guide will comfortably take you back to the international airport for a safe return journey. Alternatively, you could always extend your holiday and explore other creations of Geoffrey Bawa such as Mohotti Wallauwwa, the Piliyandala Education Centre and more.
Route : Colombo > Airport
Drive : 1 hour drive
As all good things must come to an end, we bid you farewell as our Chauffeur Guide transfers you to the Airport to meet your departure flight home.
