Ceylon Tours

Ceylon Tours Sri Lanka's first tour operator — est. 1946. Private, tailor-made journeys for discerning travellers

18/08/2026

Sigiriya makes much more sense when you look beyond the rock.

In the 5th century, King Kassapa I made Sigiriya his royal capital. It wasn’t just a palace on top of a 180-metre rock. Below it was an entire walled and moated city, with elaborate gardens, gateways and ramparts stretching across the landscape.

Even the climb tells part of the story. Along the way are Sigiriya’s surviving wall paintings, before the route continues towards the summit and the remains of the royal complex above.

What we know as Lion Rock was only one part of a much bigger city.

📍 Ancient City of Sigiriya, Central Province, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle is less about a line on a map and more about what happens when you travel through these pl...
17/08/2026

Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle is less about a line on a map and more about what happens when you travel through these places together.

Anuradhapura flourished as a political and religious capital for 1,300 years. Polonnaruwa emerged as the capital that followed. At Sigiriya, King Kassapa built a royal stronghold around a towering rock in the 5th century. Inside Dambulla, Buddhist worship has continued for more than two millennia. And in Kandy, the island’s last royal capital remains home to the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. Visit them separately and each is extraordinary.

That connection is what makes the Cultural Triangle more than a collection of historic sites.

Ready to see the story for yourself? Explore Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle with Ceylon Tours.

12/08/2026

Wildlife doesn’t need our permission to be wild.

Sri Lanka’s elephants share much of their range with people. In fact, people live within 69.4% of Sri Lanka’s elephant range.

That makes coexistence essential to their future.

Give them space. Respect their path. Let them remain wild.

This World Elephant Day, their survival is our shared responsibility. 🐘🌿

August brings together some of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable cultural and wildlife experiences.In the Cultural Triangle, t...
11/08/2026

August brings together some of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable cultural and wildlife experiences.

In the Cultural Triangle, the dry season draws wild elephants towards the reservoirs and grasslands of Minneriya, Kaudulla and the surrounding area.

In Kandy, the Esala Perahera brings dancers, drummers, torchbearers and ceremonial processions into the streets in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Further north, Jaffna’s Nallur Kandaswamy Festival unfolds over 25 days of worship, rituals and processions dedicated to Lord Murugan.

On the east coast, August is one of the best times to head out in search of blue whales off Trincomalee.

These are not the entire journey. They are some of the experiences that can be carefully woven into a broader holiday through Sri Lanka.

At Ceylon Tours, we plan the route, timing and pace around what you most want to experience. We have been doing so since 1946.

📩 Planning an August journey through Sri Lanka? Message us or follow the link in our bio.

Most travellers come to Sri Lanka’s southern coast for the beaches. Hummanaya offers something entirely different.Near K...
08/08/2026

Most travellers come to Sri Lanka’s southern coast for the beaches. Hummanaya offers something entirely different.

Near Kudawella, the Indian Ocean surges into a sea cave beneath the cliffs. As the pressure builds, water is forced through a narrow opening in the rock, sending spray high into the air.

Hummanaya is the largest known blowhole in Sri Lanka and is widely recognised as one of the tallest in the world. Its name is believed to come from the deep “hoo” sound that echoes across the cliffs just before the water bursts through the rock.

The strength and height of the spray depend on the waves and sea conditions, which means every visit can feel different.

Located close to Dikwella and around 20 minutes from Tangalle, it is an easy addition to a journey along Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

📩 Planning your Sri Lanka itinerary? Message Ceylon Tours or follow the link in our bio.

20/07/2026

Somewhere on this island, there is a version of a trip that will stay with you for years. A morning you didn't plan. A meal you still describe at dinner parties. A view that made you put the camera down.

We have been finding those moments for travellers since 1946. 🌿

📤 Tag the friend who needs this trip before another year passes.

14/07/2026

The Ves costume is traditionally worn only by male Kandyan dancers who have completed years of rigorous training and undergone the sacred Ves Mangalaya initiation. Until then, not even a trained dancer may wear the sacred headdress.

The costume is traditionally believed to be inspired by the attire of the deity Kohomba. Every ornament carries meaning, making the Ves far more than a performance costume. It is a symbol of devotion, discipline, and a living tradition passed down through generations.

One of the most remarkable places to witness the Ves in motion is the Kandy Esala Perahera, held each July or August in Kandy. As drummers, dancers, and torchbearers move through the streets, you’re witnessing one of Sri Lanka’s most enduring cultural traditions.

Since 1946, we’ve been helping travellers experience moments like these with the stories behind them, because understanding a tradition often makes it even more unforgettable.

🌿 Private Sri Lanka journeys, crafted entirely around you. Link in bio.

12/07/2026

Eighty years ago, before Sri Lanka even had a national tourism board, one man began introducing this island to the world.

In July 1946, journalist and war correspondent P. A. Ediriweera founded Ceylon Tours. Long before Sri Lanka became the destination it is today, he was promoting the island overseas, introducing Ceylon to international travellers and helping bring some of the world’s most celebrated film productions here.

That pioneering spirit has guided us ever since.

For 80 years, we have had the privilege of sharing Sri Lanka’s wildlife, culture, landscapes and people with travellers from around the world. Through every changing chapter in tourism, one thing has remained the same: our passion for creating journeys that reveal the very best of this remarkable island.

To every traveller, partner and member of the Ceylon Tours family who has been part of our story, thank you. This milestone belongs to all of you.

Here’s to the next chapter. 🥂

Ceylon Tours. Since 1946.

Escape. Discover. Experience.

10/07/2026

You told yourself you’d go when things calmed down. 🌿

But life doesn’t really slow down. It just finds new reasons to keep you waiting.

Sri Lanka doesn’t ask you to be ready. It simply asks you to arrive.

Watch blue whales surface off Mirissa. Wake to mist rolling across the Hill Country at dawn. See wild elephants in their natural habitat. Experience traditions that have been passed down through generations.

These are the moments that stay with you long after the journey ends.

Don’t wait for the perfect time.

✈️ Discover Sri Lanka with Ceylon Tours.

Kandy itself carries weight that most visitors feel before they can explain it. It served as the last capital of the Sin...
08/07/2026

Kandy itself carries weight that most visitors feel before they can explain it. It served as the last capital of the Sinhalese kingdom before falling to the British in 1815. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic sits at its centre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has drawn pilgrims for centuries. The Udawatta Kele Forest Reserve, once a forbidden forest reserved exclusively for Kandyan royalty, edges the city quietly. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, covering 147 acres, began in 1371. 🌿

Kings Pavilion puts you within easy reach of all of it — and then gives you every reason to stay exactly where you are. The restaurant looks out over the Hunnasgiriya Mountain range and serves Sri Lankan dishes that guests keep thinking about long after they leave. A hotel that understands this island — its history, its food, its particular quality of morning light through highland mist — changes what you carry home. We have been making these choices for our travellers since 1946.

📩 Private Sri Lanka itineraries with hand-picked accommodation. Link in bio.

Address

8A Sir Ernest De Silva Mawatha
Colombo
00700

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 17:30
Tuesday 08:30 - 17:30
Wednesday 08:30 - 17:30
Thursday 08:30 - 17:30
Friday 08:30 - 17:30

Telephone

+94115531611

Website

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