Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Colombo
Your English-speaking chauffeur will meet you at the airport when you land, then drive you to your hotel in Colombo for check-in. Once you've had time to settle in, the city tour begins with visits to Independence Square, the Old Parliament Building, and Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. You'll walk through Galle Face Green and spend time exploring the colorful streets, local markets, and shops. Dinner happens at your hotel before you rest for the night.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Colombo
- Visit Independence Square
- Visit Old Parliament Building
- Visit Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple
- Visit Galle Face Green promenade
Optional Activities
- Explore Colombo's colorful streets and markets
- Visit shops
- Sample local cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Independence Square Old Parliament Building Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple Galle Face Green - Day 2
Colombo to Galle
After breakfast, you head toward Galle with stops along the way. At Madu River, you'll walk through mangrove forests, then visit Cinnamon Island to see how cinnamon is actually grown and processed. The turtle hatchery comes next, where you can watch baby turtles and help release them into the ocean. Once in Galle, explore the Dutch Fort, a UNESCO site with colonial buildings, a working lighthouse, and an old Dutch Reformed Church from centuries past. You'll have dinner and sleep in Galle.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Madu River
- Visit Cinnamon Island
- Learn about cinnamon cultivation
- Sample cinnamon products
- Visit turtle hatchery
- Release baby turtles into the ocean
- Visit Galle Dutch Fort
- Explore colonial-era structures
Landmarks/POIs Madu River Cinnamon Island Galle Dutch Fort - Day 3
Galle to Ella
After breakfast, you're off to Yala National Park for a safari where you might see elephants, leopards, sloth bears, and other wildlife. Later that day, you visit Ravana Waterfalls, which drops 82 feet and offers a chance to swim or just take in the views. The hike up Little Adam's Peak takes you through tea plantations, forests, and streams with nice views at the top. Before heading to Ella for the night, you'll see the Nine Arches Bridge, a colonial-era structure that's quite impressive. Dinner and overnight in Ella.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Safari tour in Yala National Park
- Wildlife spotting tour
- Visit Ravana Waterfalls
- Hike Little Adam's Peak
- Visit Nine Arches Bridge
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Ravana Waterfalls
Landmarks/POIs Yala National Park Ravana Waterfalls Little Adam's Peak Nine Arches Bridge - Day 4
Ella to Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
After breakfast, you travel to Nuwara Eliya, which sits surrounded by green tea plantations. A Hindu temple shows off the town's cultural mix and colorful design. You stop at Ramboda Waterfalls, a 109-meter drop with views of thick vegetation and tea farms below. Next, a tea factory and estate tour teaches you about production and lets you sample different types. Gregory Lake in town provides a quiet spot with cafes and restaurants for a break. From there, you continue on to Kandy for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hindu temple
- Visit Ramboda Waterfalls
- Tea factory and estate tour
- Sample different tea varieties
- Visit Gregory Lake
Optional Activities
- Purchase tea from the estate shop
- Take a boat trip on Gregory Lake
Landmarks/POIs Ramboda Waterfalls Gregory Lake - Day 5
Kandy
After breakfast, the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic is your first stop, a Buddhist shrine containing the tooth relic in a gilded coffin, plus museums and daily ceremonies to see. You then walk around Kandy Lake, a man-made body of water right in the city center. The Gem Museum shows you Sri Lankan gem trading with rare sapphires, rubies, and emeralds on display. From Kandy View Point, you get panoramic views of the city spread out below. This evening includes a traditional cultural dance exhibition with local music, costumes, and choreography. Before dinner, you can browse through markets for handicrafts, batik work, and traditional jewelry. Overnight in Kandy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic
- Watch daily temple ceremonies
- Visit Kandy Lake
- Visit Gem Museum
- Visit Kandy View Point
- Attend cultural dance exhibition
- Shopping at Kandy markets
- Sample street food
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic Kandy Lake Gem Museum Kandy View Point - Day 6
Kandy to Dambulla
After breakfast, you check out the Royal Botanical Garden, known as one of Asia's nicest gardens with orchids, palms, and medicinal herbs spread throughout. Then to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage where you watch elephants bathe and play in the river, see young elephants being bottle-fed, and learn about conservation work happening there. Next comes Sigiriya Rock Fortress with its old frescoes, water gardens, and ancient structures carved into the rock. You'll have dinner and stay overnight in Dambulla.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Royal Botanical Garden
- Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Watch elephants bathing and playing
- Watch newborn elephants being fed
- Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Explore frescoes and water gardens
Landmarks/POIs Royal Botanical Garden Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Sigiriya Rock Fortress - Day 7
Dambulla to Negombo
After breakfast, you visit Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO site with five major caves filled with statues and paintings, making it Sri Lanka's largest cave temple complex and a key Buddhist pilgrimage location from the first century BCE. If interested, you can explore traditional village life with canoe rides, bullock cart rides, tuk-tuk tours, demonstrations of old-style home equipment, and local food tastings. Dinner and overnight in Negombo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Dambulla Cave Temple
Optional Activities
- Optional village tour including canoe ride
- Bullock cart ride
- Tuk-tuk ride
- Traditional home appliances demonstration
- Sample regional cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Dambulla Cave Temple - Day 8
Departure from Negombo
After breakfast at your hotel, you need to head to the airport for your flight. Depending on where you're staying, an early morning departure might be necessary to get to the airport with enough time before your flight departs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
