When legends meet legends, it can only be legendary. Between late January and early February 2025, the Australian Men’s Cricket Team will tour Sri Lanka for two test matches and one ODI. Those who want to make the best of the paradisical blue skies and their love of cricket, free up your diary for a personal tour of Sri Lanka. Follow the action and your heroes in person, and have a glorious time while you do. Let’s see what’s in store for you on the island.
The Fixtures
1st Test, 29th January-2nd February 2025, Galle
2nd Test, 6th-10 February 2025, Galle
Only ODI, 13th February 2025, venue TBC
Galle – The quaint historic maritime city
Worldwide cricket fans are all too familiar with Galle, thanks to its international cricket stadium, which has hosted many action-packed games. Fringed by the Indian Ocean on two sides and situated close to the UNESCO-designated Galle Fort, it is one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world.
Beyond the grounds is the sprawling city of Galle, still preserving colonial legacies and identity. First occupied by the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally the British, it is the most popular coastal destination on the south coast.
Galle Fort and its Old Town are considered the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and Southeast Asia. Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese as a maritime city, the Dutch and the British fortified it in the 17th and 18th centuries. Records show it was a busy port during pre-colonial times, too.
Within its ramparts are a mixture of Dutch colonial buildings, from chic boutiques to high-end hotels. Stroll through the city and discover numerous mansions, villas, museums, churches, mosques and temples. Among the most notable are The Galle Lighthouse, National Maritime Museum, Galle National Museum, Old Reform Church and Dutch Hospital.
Amangalla and Galle Fort Hotel offer luxurious stays within the Fort. If you want somewhere further from the daily footfall of Galle Fort, Jetwing Lighthouse, Kahanda Kanda, The Fort Printers, The Fortress, Taru Villas- Rampart Street, Taru Villas – Lighthouse Street, The Fort Bazaar, Le Grand, Owl and the Pussycat and Tamarind Hill bring classic, modern and tropical charm to your Galle stay.
Galle excursions are perfect for soaking up Sri Lanka’s southern culture and colonial history. You can also look forward to culinary specialities and fresh seafood to keep your discerning palate tantalised.
Around Galle
Sri Lanka’s south and southwest coasts are some of the most beautiful on the island. Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Tangalle, Weligama, Bentota, Unawatuna, Koggala and Ahangama offer everything from surfing to snorkelling to lazing. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to beach hopping between matches.
Turtle watching
Five of the six sea turtle species visit Sri Lanka’s coastline for nesting. Turtle hatcheries and protected areas provide a sanctuary for these endangered creatures. You might even get to release a baby turtle into the ocean. Rekawa, Hikkaduwa, Kosgoda, and Mirissa beaches along the southern coast are ideal for turtle watching. Mirissa, Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna are great for snorkelling and swimming with turtles.
River safaris
Bentota and Madu Rivers on the southwest coast are famous waterways for boat safaris. Explore mangrove forests, aquatic habitats, and unique sights. Madu River consists of 64 islands. Some islands are noteworthy for their attractions, including Koth Doowa, which contains a Buddhist monastery. Cinnamon Isle has a 2-acre cinnamon plantation, and one of the islets has a shrine built to God Kataragama.
Bawa creations
The southwest coast is home to the magnificent creations of the Bawa Brothers. These extraordinary landscapes and architecture are Sri Lanka’s finest examples of tropical modernism.
Lunuganga by the Dedduwa Lake in Bentota is a visionary masterpiece by Geoffery Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most celebrated architect and pioneer of tropical modernism. This exquisite country estate is evocative, whimsical and serene, and what more? You can stay in its exclusive accommodation.
Brief Garden in Beruwala, conceived by the brilliant imagination of the legendary landscape artist Bevis Bawa, is a beautiful symphony of plants, trees, sculpture and tropical modernist architecture. Bevis’s eccentric and playful artistry is beyond compare.
Adventures beyond Galle
Welcome to the Tea Country!
Cricket isn’t the only British legacy Sri Lankans perfected. Hand in hand, Ceylon tea dominates the island’s landscapes, culture and the world’s tea trade. Here, it extends well beyond the twenty-minute break that separates lunch and the end of a day’s play.
Onwards and upwards to the Central Hills, where tea plantations carpet the misty hills. Get a fresh brew at the end of a production line at one of the many tea factories, some dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries.
Explore the Horton Plains, a stark, vast wilderness with mist-covered landscapes, undulating grasslands and dense cloud forests. Its most famous feature is World’s End, a dramatic escarpment that plunges 4000ft. Stay at a planter bungalow, ensconced by modern comfort and old-world charm.
Take one of the world’s most scenic train rides (Colombo to Badulla) to travel deep into the hills.
Accessible via both the south and the central hills, Udawalawe National Park enthrals visitors with sightings of herds of elephants, wild buffalos, sambars, spotted deer, water buffalos, golden jackals and giant squirrels.
Nestled in the hills are two international cricket stadiums, Asgiriya and Pallekele. Asgiriya is the only Test-class cricket ground owned by a college anywhere in the world. It is carved straight out of a hill. Pallekele Stadium, surrounded by emerald tea-laden hills in the Kandy suburbs, has hosted numerous high-stake games, including the 2011 World Cup.
The Rock Citadel of Sri Lanka
The northcentral plains are considered the cradle of the island’s civilisation. Buddhist monuments, colossal stupas, monastery complexes, temples, ancient reservoirs, rivers, dense jungles and rice fields create the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan culture and history.
However, cricket fans are more familiar with Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO site in the Cultural Triangle. Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium overlooks the Cave Temple and the Dambulla Reservoir.
Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple
It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Inhabited by forest-dwelling Buddhist monks since the 3rd Century BC, the five caves under the overhanging rock have transformed over centuries. The first temple dates back to the 1st century BC. The caves contain statues, murals, shrines and artwork commissioned by various kings of Rajarata (ancient kingdoms of the northcentral plains). The top of the rock affords sweeping views of the plains below and the nearby towering Sigiriya Rock.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
The flattish summit of this 590ft rock, rising above the jungle, is iconic and imposing. Once the kingdom of King Kashyapa, it is still a marvel of ancient engineering and irrigation. Taking its name from the giant lion paws carved into the rock at the entrance, Sigiriya offers the most spectacular views from the top, where the palace ruins lie. Along the way, you can see the most famous frescoes of the island. At the base are the water gardens, symmetrically landscaped to blend into the natural aesthetics. Climb to the top for the stunning 360-degree view of the jungle plains and undulating hills.
Colombo, the cultural nexus
Home to the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium, Colombo is the ultimate metropolis of the island. Located on the West Coast, the city is a dynamic blend of the old and new. Dotted with colonial buildings and landmarks, Colombo has been a bustling harbour town since Sinhala kingdoms and colonial rule. Galle Face Green – the oceanside promenade, the bazaar streets of Pettah, the National Museum, the Red Mosque, Gangaramaya Temple, old churches, the many colourful Hindu Kovils and the swanky shopping centres offer diverse experiences for the visitors.
- Take high tea at the Galle Face Hotel, one of the oldest hotels east of Suez.
- Stroll along the promenade and sample an assortment of delectable street food.
- Shop at the 17th-century Dutch Hospital, the oldest building in the Colombo Fort.
- Immerse yourself in the heterogeneous mix of Asian Buddhist artistry at Gangaramaya Temple.
- See artefacts from the ancient Buddhist civilisation to European occupation that shaped modern Sri Lanka at the National Museum.
Australian tour of Sri Lanka tailormade for you by Blue Lanka Tours
Cricket is a passion we share with you. And, as much as we are excited to welcome the Australian men’s national cricket team to the island, we are excited to welcome the fans. Blue Lanka Tours’ curated itineraries ensure you have much more than cricket memories to take home. You can look forward to a comfortable and luxurious stay and diverse experiences that reveal the true beauty of Sri Lanka.
From airport pickup to drop-off, we ensure you have the best time, surpassing expectations. We deploy a fleet of luxury vehicles and experienced and attentive chauffeurs for your travels around the country. Our customer support team is ready to serve 24/7, so we are always by your side. Get in touch, and let’s custom-create your cricket tour under the sun in tropical bliss.