Geoffrey Bawa; An Architectural Tour of Sri Lanka

13 days from £6,600 for 2023 per person

• Kandalama
• Kandy
• Colombo
• Bentota
• Galle
• Tangalle

Geoffrey Bawa... An Architectural Tour of Sri Lanka is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Winter Sun Trips.

This tour draws pure inspiration from the late, great and talented Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Sri Lanka is often thought of as ‘India light’ and people visit for its dreamy beaches and balmy weather, but it also has a strong modern design and architectural history that’s often overlooked. Bawa helped give Sri Lanka an individual and sophisticated sense of style, and produced sustainable architecture long before it became a fashionable trend. On this exciting and stirring itinerary, you will visit the places he lived in, designed and drew inspiration from.

Start your Bawa journey in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle where you will visit such sights as Sigiriya and Dambulla, as well as the ancient city of Anuradhapura. Whilst you discover Sri Lanka’s ancient past, stay at perhaps Bawa’s most dramatic architectural creation. Built into a cliff face and overlooking the Kandalama reservoir, this hotel encompasses all that is sustainable in a hotel. With multiple layers and about a kilometre in length, over the years the hotel has been enveloped by the jungle as if it has always been part of the landscape.

From Kandalama to Kandy, where you will explore the historical city and visit the Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya. Next, head to Sri Lanka's capital city of Colombo, and visit Geoffrey Bawa’s home and architectural studio, which was transformed into Colombo's most loved restaurant, The Gallery Café. Whilst Bawa’s office has been transformed into a bar, the space has been kept much as it was during Bawa’s time with and open courtyard and a reflecting pool.

From Colombo continue on to the coast and stay at the modernist beach property, Villa Bentota. From here, you can also visit Club Villa Bentota next door, also designed by Bawa. From here, carry onto his country house estate Lunuganga which remains close to the beach resort of Bentota. This masterpiece was a true labour of love, a 50-year project which documented his ability to tame wild tropics and turn them into a cultivated vision.

End your stay relaxing in Tangalle at The Last House, which, as the name suggests, was Bawa’s final architectural creation.

This luxury tour is purely a suggested itinerary. It can be booked as it is or alternatively used as a starting point for creating your own perfect bespoke holiday to Sri Lanka. If you'd like to see similar trips, take a look at our collection of Epic Journeys; as well as our favourite Active, Beach, Wildlife and Family Holiday itineraries.

My favourite thing is to go where I've never been.
Diane Arbus