Upon arrival in Colombo, you’ll be met and transferred to the Wallawwa, an historic manor house turned boutique hotel just 15 minutes north of the airport. Despite the proximity to the capital, the hotel enjoys a peaceful, rural setting and is the perfect place to recover from your journey and recharge for the adventure ahead.

After a leisurely breakfast, your private driver/guide will drive you up the west coast to Leopard Trails Wilpattu to kick off your holiday with a two-day safari. Wilpattu is Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest national park, famous for its sightings of leopards, sloth bears and barking deer, not to mention elephants, crocodiles and an incredible array of birds. The entire park is dotted with large, sand-rimmed lakes that collect rain water and therefore attract animals, especially in the dry season when water is more scarce. Visitor numbers are also lower here than in many other parks, giving Wilpattu a wonderful, and genuine, wilderness feeling.

Leopard Trails Wilpattu is a luxury tented camp offering twice-daily game drives in the company of expert guides, gourmet dining in a range of locations and the chance to share stories around evening campfires. Choose from Africa-style safari tents with queen-size beds and outdoor showers, or larger family tents with more space and indoor showers.

Head further inland for a three-night stay at Water Garden Sigiriya, where hugely indulgent freestanding villas – many with private pools – lie arranged around a series of wildlife-rich lakes. The hotel offers wonderful views of Sigiriya Rock in the distance, on top of which lie the remains of a 5th-century royal palace. We recommend visiting early in the morning so as to climb the steep steps that lead to the summit before temperatures start to soar.

The UNESCO-listed rock fortress sits in the centre of what’s commonly referred to as Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle’ – a figurative line drawn between the ancient capital of Anuradhapura in the north, the 11th-century capital of Polonnaruwa in the east and the last of the royal capitals, Kandy in the south. All can be visited on day trips from the hotel, as can the ancient cave temples at Dambulla – one of the island’s holiest Buddhist shrines – and Minneriya National Park, famous for its large elephant population.

Journey south-east for a three-night stay at Gal Oya Lodge, set in beautiful protected jungle on the fringe of Gal Oya National Park. Gal Oya is one of Sri Lanka’s least visited national parks – a land of forests, lakes and evergreen valleys set against a backdrop of striking mountains and craggy granite outcrops. It’s home to the Senanayake Samudra, Sri Lanka’s largest reservoir, where boat safaris offer the rare opportunity to watch elephants swimming between islands.

Bungalows at the lodge are built from local materials – including teak, granite and illuk grass for the roofs – and designed to blend into the surrounding jungle. All come with four-poster beds, private verandas and indoor/outdoor bathrooms, and a few boast private plunge pools. The restaurant embraces seasonal, locally grown produce and looks out towards the pool and Monkey Mountain, which keen hikers can summit for impressive dawn views.

We’ve allowed two full days here to provide time to take advantage of the activities on offer, which in addition to boat safaris include jungle drives and the chance to walk in the forests with members of Sri Lanka’s indigenous, forest-dwelling Vedda community. The lodge borders some of the last remaining Vedda villages in the country and the walks provide a fascinating insight into how hunter-gatherers lived in the jungles of Gal Oya.

Leave the lowland jungles behind and climb into the Hill Country for a three-night stay at Nine Skies, a luxury tea-planter’s bungalow perched on a hilltop near Ella, featuring five beautifully appointed bedrooms, stunning mountain views and highly personalised service. The surrounding hills are sprinkled with tea estates and we highly recommend a guided tea factory tour or hike among the neatly clipped tea plantations.

Aside from tea, hikes to Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock – both close by – offer awe-inspiring views through the famous Ella Gap, while railway enthusiasts should board the train from Ella to Badulla, which not only travels the scenic Demodara Loop but also crosses the Nine Arches Bridge, the remarkable viaduct that’s become one of Sri Lanka’s most legendary landmarks.

End your adventure with a relaxing four-night stay at KK Beach on the island’s south coast. The boutique, 10-bedroom hotel commands an ideal location on a stunning stretch of beach just east of Galle. Rooms offer mesmerising Indian Ocean views, as does the 20-metre infinity pool just steps from the beach and the open-plan, ground-floor restaurant, which specialises in seafood and traditional Sri Lankan curries.

When not relaxing around the pool, a trip into Galle is an absolute must. The town’s 17th-century Dutch fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounded on three sides by the ocean and crammed full of boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels and historic houses. It’s also one of the best places to buy jewellery and precious stones in Sri Lanka.

Alternatively, why not take advantage of the restaurant and spa at Kahanda Kanda, KK Beach’s sister hotel, reached by complimentary tuk tuk and wonderfully located in a 14-acre tea estate in the hills above Lake Koggala. On day 17, transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.