Sri Lanka Highlights
This tour takes you to Sri Lanka’s cultural and natural highlights, from ancient royal cities and tea plantations to a safari in Yala National Park. Discover impressive temples, colonial architecture and the country’s varied landscapes, staying in comfortable 3- or 4-star hotels.
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Sri Lanka Highlights – 3-Star
- Accommodation in 3-star hotels
- half board
- Travel in air-conditioned vehicles
- Entrance fees as listed in the itinerary
- Transfers to and from Colombo Airport (CMB)
Itinerary subject to change and dependent on arrival and departure times in Colombo:
Day 1: Colombo - Anuradhapura
Meet and greet at Colombo Airport. Drive to Anuradhapura. Visit the stupas, temples and monastic complexes. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Anuradhapura - Sigiriya / Dambulla / Habarana
Sightseeing: Avukana Buddha statue, village visit with an ox-cart ride, boat trip and visit to a local home, followed by a return journey by tuk-tuk. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Sigiriya or Pidurangala Rock
Visit to the rock fortress of Sigiriya, with its gardens and frescoes. Alternatively, climb Pidurangala Rock. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Dambulla - Kandy
Sightseeing: Dambulla Cave Temple and a spice garden, followed by the drive to Kandy. Optional traditional dance performance. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Kandy
Sightseeing: Peradeniya Botanical Garden, a tour of Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth. Free time to explore at your own pace. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
Travel by train through the mountainous countryside to Nuwara Eliya (seat reservations subject to availability; alternatively, travel without a reservation or by vehicle). Visit a tea plantation and tea factory, then take a walk through “Little England”. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Yala National Park
Sightseeing: Drive via Ella, stopping at Ravana Falls and Ella Gap. Safari and jeep tour in Yala National Park. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Yala - Galle - Departure
Sightseeing: Stilt fishermen and Galle Dutch Fort. Farewell dinner. Transfer to the airport or, optionally, to a separately booked hotel on the south coast (at an additional charge).
Not included: Lunch, tips, personal expenses for drinks and souvenirs. Photography and filming permits.
Booking information
Christmas and New Year surcharges are already included in the displayed price.
For a booking for 2 or 3 people, first select 1 or 2 people in the booking form, then select “from 2 people” or “from 3 people” under room. You will then need to make multiple bookings. For 3 people, you can book 1 Double Room and 1 Single Room, or 3 Single Rooms. For 2 people, you can book 1 Double Room or 2 Single Rooms. Please contact us if you have any questions about booking.
Sri Lanka Highlights – 4-Star
- Accommodation in 4-star hotels
- half board
- Travel in air-conditioned vehicles
- Entrance fees as listed in the itinerary
- Transfers to and from Colombo Airport (CMB)
Itinerary subject to change and dependent on arrival and departure times in Colombo:
Day 1: Colombo - Anuradhapura
Meet and greet at Colombo Airport. Drive to Anuradhapura. Visit the stupas, temples and monastic complexes. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Anuradhapura - Sigiriya / Dambulla / Habarana
Sightseeing: Avukana Buddha statue, village visit with an ox-cart ride, boat trip and visit to a local home, followed by a return journey by tuk-tuk. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Sigiriya or Pidurangala Rock
Visit to the rock fortress of Sigiriya, with its gardens and frescoes. Alternatively, climb Pidurangala Rock. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Dambulla - Kandy
Sightseeing: Dambulla Cave Temple and a spice garden, followed by the drive to Kandy. Optional traditional dance performance. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Kandy
Sightseeing: Peradeniya Botanical Garden, a tour of Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth. Free time to explore at your own pace. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
Travel by train through the mountainous countryside to Nuwara Eliya (seat reservations subject to availability; alternatively, travel without a reservation or by vehicle). Visit a tea plantation and tea factory, then take a walk through “Little England”. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Yala National Park
Sightseeing: Drive via Ella, stopping at Ravana Falls and Ella Gap. Safari and jeep tour in Yala National Park. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Yala - Galle - Departure
Sightseeing: Stilt fishermen and Galle Dutch Fort. Farewell dinner. Transfer to the airport or, optionally, to a separately booked hotel on the south coast (at an additional charge).
Not included: Lunch, tips, personal expenses for drinks and souvenirs. Photography and filming permits.
Booking information
Christmas and New Year surcharges are already included in the displayed price.
For a booking for 2 or 3 people, first select 1 or 2 people in the booking form, then select “from 2 people” or “from 3 people” under room. You will then need to make multiple bookings. For 3 people, you can book 1 Double Room and 1 Single Room, or 3 Single Rooms. For 2 people, you can book 1 Double Room or 2 Single Rooms. Please contact us if you have any questions about booking.
Sri Lanka Highlights in detail
Hotel
Day 1: Colombo – Anuradhapura
Meet at Colombo Airport, then travel to Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first royal capital. Visit the impressive stupas and significant ruins of the ancient city, with its many temples and monastic complexes, including Sri Maha Bodhi, a sapling of the tree beneath which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Anuradhapura was the centre of Sinhalese and Buddhist culture for over 14 centuries. Dinner and overnight stay in Anuradhapura.
Day 2: Anuradhapura – Sigiriya / Dambulla / Habarana
After breakfast, visit the impressive Avukana Buddha statue, a 46-foot-high stone sculpture dating from the 5th century, crafted with great skill. Then explore a village, with a bullock-cart ride, a boat trip and a visit to a local home for an insight into rural life. Return by tuk-tuk. Dinner and overnight stay in the Sigiriya / Dambulla / Habarana region.
Day 3: Sigiriya or Pidurangala Rock
In the morning, climb the world-famous rock fortress of Sigiriya, with its intricate frescoes, gardens and Lion Gate. From the top, enjoy spectacular panoramic views across the green landscape. Alternatively, for those seeking adventure, climb Pidurangala Rock for a different perspective on Sigiriya. The afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel facilities. Dinner and overnight stay in the Sigiriya / Dambulla / Habarana region.
Day 4: Dambulla – Kandy
Travel to Dambulla and visit its impressive cave temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with intricate wall paintings and Buddha statues. Then visit a spice garden to learn about the cultivation of cinnamon, pepper and other spices. Continue to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s last royal capital, with an optional visit to a traditional dance performance. Dinner and overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 5: Kandy
In the morning, visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, with their impressive collection of tropical plants and enormous trees. Then explore Kandy, including a visit to the sacred Temple of the Tooth, where one of the Buddha’s canine teeth is revered as Sri Lanka’s most important relic. Free time to explore at your own pace. Dinner and overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 6: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, travel by train through Sri Lanka’s picturesque highlands to Nuwara Eliya (with a seat reservation subject to availability and route conditions; alternatively, travel without a seat reservation or by private vehicle). Visit a tea plantation and factory to learn about traditional tea production. Take a walking tour of charming “Little England”, with its colonial architecture and Tudor-style post office. Dinner and overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Yala National Park
Travel through the highlands to Ella, stopping at Ravana Falls and the famous Ella Gap viewpoint. Continue south to Yala National Park. In the afternoon, enjoy an exciting jeep safari in the park, with the chance to see elephants, leopards and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Dinner and overnight stay in the Tissamaharama / Kirinda / Yala area.
Day 8: Yala – Galle – Departure
After breakfast, travel along the south coast, stopping to watch the famous stilt fishermen. Continue to Galle and explore the impressive Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its well-preserved colonial buildings and historic city walls. Enjoy a farewell dinner with a local cocktail or mocktail. Transfer to the airport or, alternatively, to a separately booked hotel on the south coast (bookable at an additional charge).
Arrival
- Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB): approx. 129 km / 163 min
Return transfer to Colombo Airport (CMB) included.
Additional information
Travelling with children? We'll be happy to check availability and prices for you – just add their ages at the time of travel in the comments field when you book or enquire.
Hotel rooms at a glance
Depending on your booking, accommodation is in 3- or 4-star hotels.
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From 2 Guests: Double Room
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From 3 Guests: Double Room
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1 Guest: Single Room
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From 2 Guests: Single Room
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From 3 Guests: Single Room
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