A SLOWER MORE CONSIDERED JOURNEY THROUGH SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka, the Lido way
Most itineraries are designed to show you as much as possible.
This one is designed to help you feel different.
A slower, more considered journey with fewer moves, more time, and space to properly arrive.
Small group. Private rooms as standard.
23 November – 1 December 2026
Sri Lanka beginning and ending in Colombo
This journey is intentionally intimate and limited to just 5–8 women.
Explore the journey below, or jump to a section.
WHAT THIS IS
This is a 9-day small-group journey through Sri Lanka designed to feel calm, considered and easy from the moment you arrive.
Beginning in Colombo, the journey moves through a small number of carefully chosen locations including Sri Lanka’s hill country, a national park and the country’s south coast.
Rather than constantly changing hotels, we stay longer in fewer places allowing time to properly settle in rather than continuously packing, unpacking and moving on.
Throughout the journey, accommodation has been thoughtfully selected to reflect each setting from misty mountain landscapes and a short safari stay to several nights within a private beachfront villa on the coast.
Days balance lightly guided experiences with unstructured time for swimming, walking, resting or simply doing very little at all.
Along the way, curated experiences have been designed to feel immersive and specific to place without filling every hour of the day.
Private rooms are included throughout the journey unless travelling with a friend and choosing to share.
Every detail from how we move between locations to the pacing of each day has been carefully considered so the experience feels smooth, relaxed and effortless throughout.
Hosted by Paula Fletcher, founder of Lido Atelier.
WHY SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka offers a rare combination of elements that make this style of travel feel both effortless and deeply restorative.
The south coast brings warm ocean water, palm-lined beaches and a naturally slower rhythm — the kind of place where mornings begin with a swim and afternoons stretch easily into sunset drinks by the water.
Within just a few hours, the landscape shifts completely. Moving inland, the air cools, tea country emerges through the mist and the pace becomes quieter and more spacious.
It’s this contrast between coast and hill country that makes Sri Lanka feel so special. The journey offers variety and richness without the exhaustion of constantly moving.
There is also a softness to Sri Lanka that stays with you. Beautiful design, local craftsmanship, incredible food and genuine warmth can all be experienced in a way that feels relaxed rather than overly curated or overwhelming.
The result is a journey that feels immersive yet unhurried one that allows you to properly settle into each place rather than simply pass through it.
Signature Moments
Four nights within a private beachfront villa near Thalpe and Galle, with slow mornings, ocean swims and long dinners shared together by the water
Elephant safaris through Udawalawe National Park at first light and dusk, when the landscape feels at its quietest.
Misty hill-country mornings in Ella, with slower walks, tea country scenery and time to properly settle into Sri Lanka’s cooler inland rhythm
Gentle coastal cycling, saltwater swims and relaxed afternoons exploring Sri Lanka’s southern coastline
An afternoon through Galle Fort exploring hidden laneways, coastal cafés and jewellery making with local third-generation artisans before sunset cocktails overlooking the ocean.
Optional yoga, movement and wellness moments woven naturally throughout the journey rather than rigidly scheduled
A final evening together in Colombo with farewell cocktails and dinner before departure
WHERE WE ARE STAYNG
Villa Suites
Our south coast stay takes place within a private beachfront villa in Talpe, designed for slow coastal living, long lunches, ocean swims and relaxed evenings shared together.
The villa features a small collection of individually designed suites, each with its own character, layout and connection to the surrounding gardens or ocean.
Master Suite
The villa’s most expansive suite, the Master Suite is designed for guests seeking additional space and privacy. Featuring a king-sized bed, separate living area and sweeping ocean views, the suite combines beautifully layered coastal interiors with generous indoor-outdoor living to create a calm and elevated retreat within the villa.
Ocean Suite
Wake to sweeping views across the Indian Ocean from one of the villa’s most beautifully positioned suites. Featuring a king-sized bed, private terrace, palm-shaded lawn and an open-air jacuzzi plunge courtyard, the Ocean Suite offers an elevated level of privacy and coastal luxury within the villa.
Garden Suite
Opening onto a private light-filled garden courtyard, the Garden Suite offers a calm and beautifully relaxed retreat within the villa. Featuring a king-sized bed, twin washbasins and both indoor and outdoor rain showers, the suite blends understated luxury with Sri Lanka’s indoor-outdoor coastal living.
Garden Retreat Suite
A spacious ground floor suite opening onto a private courtyard garden, thoughtfully designed for relaxed coastal living. The suite features one king-sized bed and one single bed, along with twin washbasins and both indoor and outdoor rain showers.
Shared suite availability is limited and best suited to friends travelling together.
Request the full itinerary for additional accommodation details, suite options and journey inclusions.
Imagine slow mornings that begin with an ocean swim, long lunches that turn into afternoons, and evenings spent barefoot by the water as dinner is prepared downstairs.
From the character and energy of Colombo to misty tea country mornings and the relaxed rhythm of Sri Lanka’s south coast, each stay throughout the journey has been intentionally chosen for its sense of place, understated luxury and connection to the surrounding landscape.
Our final days unfold within a private beachfront villa in Talpe, designed for slow coastal living, beautiful meals and time to properly unwind.
WHO THIS IS FOR
This is designed for women who want to travel in a slower, more considered way.
You’re drawn to:
– beautiful, well-considered places
– time by the water
– gentle movement, without pressure
– space to properly switch off
You value:
– your own space (private rooms are standard throughout the journey)
– comfort, without excess
– a small group, rather than a large one
– an experience that feels easy, not over-planned
You’re comfortable investing in travel that prioritises ease, space and quality over quantity.
You don’t need to be highly social, “wellness-focused,” or experienced in this kind of travel.
Just open to a different pace and the idea of sharing it with a small group of like-minded women.
If this resonates, it was designed with you in mind.
WHATS INCLUDED
Eight nights across a small number of carefully chosen stays from Colombo to Sri Lanka’s hill country, a national park and the south coast including a fully staffed private beachfront villa in Thalpe with a dedicated chef and house team.
All in-country transport and private transfers throughout the journey, designed to be seamless, comfortable and thoughtfully paced.
Daily breakfasts, selected lunches on transfer days and all evening meals, centred around local flavours and relaxed shared dining.
A considered program of guided experiences, including a curated Galle experience, coastal cycling, local cultural moments and time exploring Sri Lanka’s south coast.
Safari experiences in Udawalawe National Park timed around quieter wildlife viewing opportunities.
Time in Sri Lanka’s hill country, including guided walks, slower mornings and optional wellness experiences.
Access to carefully selected swimming locations, chosen for their beauty, atmosphere and suitability for the group.
A balance of guided experiences and intentionally slower time to rest, explore or simply enjoy the rhythm of the journey.
Seamless luggage handling between locations, along with entry fees for included experiences and activities.
Personally hosted throughout by Paula Fletcher, founder of Lido Atelier.
Private airport transfer upon journey completion
WHATS NOT INCLUDED
International flights to and from Sri Lanka.
Travel insurance (comprehensive cover is required for all guests).
Private airport transfers prior to journey commencement.
Lunches and selected beverages, allowing flexibility and personal choice throughout the journey.
Personal expenses, including shopping, additional spa treatments and incidental purchases.
Optional experiences outside the curated program.
We’re also happy to provide recommendations for preferred travel insurance providers should you wish.
Investment
Shared Suite from AUD $9,500 per person
Private Suite from AUD $10,500 per person
The villa’s Master Suite is available on request.
A small and intentionally intimate experience, limited to a maximum of seven women.
Payment Schedule
To confirm your place, a non-refundable deposit of AUD $1,500 is required at the time of booking.
The remaining balance will be split into two instalments:
Second payment due: 30th June 2026
Final balance due: 31st August 2026
Detailed booking terms and cancellation policies will be provided prior to confirmation.
Please note:
A limited number of shared suites are available within the south coast villa for friends travelling together.
Suite configurations vary and feature generous, relaxed layouts designed for boutique coastal living.
A small and intentionally intimate group experience, limited to a maximum of seven women.
Meet Your Host
Paula Fletcher is the founder of Lido Atelier, a design-led travel and lifestyle brand creating thoughtfully curated coastal experiences and small-group journeys for women.
Based in Sydney, Paula brings together a background in design, a lifelong connection to the ocean and extensive travel throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America to create escapes that feel immersive, beautifully considered and deeply restorative.
But more than anything, Paula is simply someone who understands the season of life many women find themselves in.
She’s been the corporate professional, the wife, the mother the woman trying to hold everything together while quietly craving space to breathe again.
Lido Atelier was created from a desire to offer something different from traditional touring experiences: slower, more thoughtful journeys that balance beautiful places, local culture, connection and time to properly exhale.
Paula isn’t a travel influencer or wellness guru. What guests connect with is her warmth, honesty and ability to create an atmosphere that feels relaxed, welcoming and genuinely real.
The women who join Lido Atelier often arrive as strangers and leave feeling lighter, reconnected and deeply glad they came.
Throughout the Sri Lanka journey, Paula will personally host the group, bringing thoughtful details, humour, energy and a calm, caring presence from beginning to end.
Upcoming Journeys 2027
A small number of Lido Atelier journeys are released each year, each carefully shaped around place, pace and experience.
Future destinations are shared in limited numbers, with early access offered to our community first.
Join The Waitlist and View Itinerary
Be the first to receive dates, details, and early access.
A small number of places will be released.
