Kuoni claims to be the first major UK operator to feature northern Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war in 2009.
Jaffna, capital of the Northern Province, is offered for 2015 for ‘car and driver’ itineraries and as part of two escorted tours.
The latter use Cinnamon Air eight-seat seaplane transfers to travel to the remote region.
Kuoni is also introducing French-owned Réunion Island next year and adding five exclusive properties in the Indian Ocean.
The new product forms part of Kuoni’s strategy to strengthen its position in the Indian Ocean to ensure it “doesn’t lose ground to competitors”.
Kuoni’s 2015 Indian Ocean and Arabia programme also features a refined range of “best-in-class hotels”, with some hotels of poorer standard sifted out. It has also launched 13 ‘boutique’ hotels.
Mark Duguid, commercial and product vice-president, said: “The Indian Ocean is a key strategic focus for us and we want to remain the operator of choice for agents.”
The strategy includes expanding the number of exclusive properties in the Indian Ocean to 14 next year, up from nine this year: seven in the Maldives, three in Mauritius and four in Sri Lanka.
Duguid said the decision to offer northern Sri Lanka showed Kuoni’s desire to be the first UK operator to offer new product on the island.
The lack of tourist infrastructure meant only one hotel “made the cut”, he said, adding: “Sri Lanka is changing at an astounding pace and we want to be at the forefront as new opportunities arise.”