Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Negombo
Your flight touches down at Bandaranaike International Airport and you'll head straight to Negombo, just 20 minutes away. This beachside town is the perfect place to start settling in. After checking into your beachfront hotel, the afternoon is yours to take it easy by the pool, walk along the beach as the sun sets, or just soak in that tropical feel.
- Start point
- Colombo, Sri Lanka (Colombo BIA -Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Warm welcome at Bandaranaike International Airport
- Transfer to beachfront hotel in Negombo
- Check-in and leisure time at hotel
- Evening meeting with tour guide to discuss itinerary
Optional Activities
- Walk along golden sandy beach
- Swim in the pool
- Explore local beach surroundings
Landmarks Bandaranaike International Airport Negombo Beach - Day 2
Negombo
Have breakfast at the hotel and then explore Negombo on foot. Walk along the golden beach to watch the fishing community at work with their colorful catamarans. Check out St. Mary's Church with its ornate frescoes, then head to Angurukaramulla Temple where you'll see a giant Buddha statue and a dragon entrance. The drive past Negombo Lagoon and historic Hamilton Canal rounds out the morning. By evening you can relax, catch the sunset, or check out local shops and restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning walk along Negombo Beach
- Visit to fishermen's village to observe traditional fishing activities
- Explore St. Mary's Church
- Visit Angurukaramulla Temple
Optional Activities
- Boat ride on Dutch Canal
- Explore local shops and restaurants
- Sunset viewing
Landmarks Negombo Beach St. Mary's Church Angurukaramulla Temple Negombo Lagoon Hamilton Canal - Day 3
Negombo to Habarana
Leave Negombo at 7:00 AM and head into the Cultural Triangle. First stop is Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to watch rescued elephants bathe in the river, and you can ride one through coconut groves if you'd like. Then move on to Dambulla Cave Temple set on a granite outcrop with vivid frescoes and over 150 Buddha statues. After lunch, climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress passing the mirror wall and the heavenly maidens' frescoes to reach the sky palace ruins. You'll have views across the jungle from up there. End the day settling into your jungle hotel in Habarana.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and observe elephant bathing
- Explore Dambulla Cave Temple
- Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Optional Activities
- Elephant rides near Pinnawala
- Climb Pidurangala Rock for panoramic views
- Habarana village tour with bullock cart ride, catamaran boat ride, paddy field activities, and home-cooked lunch
Landmarks Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Maha Oya River Dambulla Cave Temple Sigiriya Rock Fortress Pidurangala Rock 
- Day 4
Habarana
After breakfast, climb Pidurangala Rock for views of Sigiriya and the surrounding landscape, and it's quieter than the main site. Then get into village life with bullock cart rides through the countryside, a catamaran river safari, and time in the paddy fields. You'll have a home-cooked lunch made with fresh local ingredients. In the afternoon, walk through Habarana Eco Park on shaded trails where you can spot native birds, butterflies, and unique plants. Get back to your hotel to relax and take in what you've seen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Climb Pidurangala Rock
- Authentic village tour with bullock cart ride
- Traditional catamaran river safari
- Paddy field activities and village interactions
- Visit Habarana Eco Park for wildlife spotting
Optional Activities
- Home-cooked village lunch
Landmarks Pidurangala Rock Sigiriya Rock Fortress Habarana Eco Park - Day 5
Habarana
Start around 5:00 to 5:30 AM with packed breakfast for a full day at Minneriya National Park. During dry season you could see up to 100 wild elephants gathering at the Minneriya Tank. Watch for sambar deer, axis deer, wild boar, toque macaques, and if you're lucky, leopards. Birdwatchers can spot over 130 species. Break for a light lunch inside the park midday. In the afternoon, visit an Elephant Home sanctuary to learn about conservation and see the animals up close. Head back to your hotel in late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Picnic-style breakfast), Lunch (Light picnic lunch inside the park), Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day guided jeep safari in Minneriya National Park
- Witness wild elephant gatherings at Minneriya Tank
- Observe diverse wildlife including sambar deer, axis deer, wild boar, and bird species
- Picnic lunch inside the park
- Optional visit to Elephant Home
Optional Activities
- Observation or interaction at Elephant Home
Landmarks Minneriya National Park Minneriya Tank - Day 6
Habarana
Travel to Polonnaruwa after breakfast, a UNESCO site and former capital from the 10th to 12th centuries. Walk through the Royal Palace Complex and Council Chamber, then explore the Quadrangle with its ancient architecture. The highlight is Gal Vihara where four Buddha statues are carved from a single granite rock. See the Shiva Devalaya temple showing South Indian influence, the Vatadage and Hasadage shrines, and walk around Parakrama Samudra, the vast man-made lake built by King Parakramabahu. Return to Habarana in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Royal Palace Complex
- Visit Gal Vihara complex with four Buddha statues
- Discover Shiva Devalaya
- Visit Vatadage and Hasadage ancient relic shrines
- Walk around Parakrama Samudra lake
Landmarks Polonnaruwa Royal Palace Complex Gal Vihara Shiva Devalaya Vatadage Hasadage Parakrama Samudra - Day 7
Habarana to Kandy
Check out of Habarana after an early breakfast and head north to Anuradhapura, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities and a UNESCO site. Visit the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the oldest documented tree in the world, planted here in 288 BCE from a sapling of the original Bodhi tree. See the brilliant white Ruwanweliseya Stupa and the Brazen Palace with its stone pillars. Stop at a Spice Garden in Matale along the way to learn about cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, clove, and nutmeg, then try some herbal tea. Arrive in Kandy by late afternoon and settle in to this charming city surrounded by hills and tea plantations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
- Explore Ruwanweliseya Stupa
- Visit Brazen Palace (Lohapasada)
- Spice Garden visit in Matale with introduction to Sri Lankan spices
- Herbal tea at Spice Garden
Optional Activities
- Ayurveda massage at Spice Garden
Landmarks Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Ruwanweliseya Stupa Brazen Palace (Lohapasada) - Day 8
Kandy
Wake to cool mountain air and explore Kandy, the last royal capital and a UNESCO site. After breakfast, spend time at the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, a 147-acre space with over 4,000 plant species including orchids, towering palms, and a massive Java fig tree. Then go to Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world with intricate architecture and golden roofs. Walk along the shores of Kandy Lake. In the evening, watch a Kandyan Cultural Dance Show with traditional dancers, rhythmic drumming, fire dances, and folk rituals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya
- Explore Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
- Stroll along Kandy Lake
- Evening Kandyan Cultural Dance Show
Landmarks Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) Kandy Lake 
- Day 9
Kandy to Kitulgala
After breakfast, drive to Kitulgala, a lush village on the Kelani River banks. The route takes you through rolling hills, tea estates, and misty forests, arriving around midday. Check into your plantation hotel and have lunch at Kitulgala Adventures Camp. Get into natural rock pool sliding and confidence jumps if that appeals to you, then go white water rafting on the Kelani River. After your action-packed day, return to your hotel and meet with your tour guide in the evening to plan tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch at camp), Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic road transfer from Kandy to Kitulgala
- Transfer to Kitulgala Adventures Camp
- Lunch at camp
- Natural rock pool sliding
- Confidence jumps
- White water rafting on Kelani River
Landmarks Kelani River - Day 10
Kitulgala to Nuwara Eliya
Spend 3 hours driving through highland tea estates and rolling mountains. Stop at Devon Falls and St. Clare's Falls to breathe in the mountain air and take photos at these dramatic waterfalls. Arrive in Nuwara Eliya, a charming town called 'Little England' for its colonial architecture and cool climate. Visit a local tea factory to watch tea production from withering through drying, then taste a fresh cup while looking out over tea estates. Walk through Victoria Park with its flowers and bird species. Visit Lake Gregory for boating or explore Hakgala Botanical Gardens with its roses, orchids, tree ferns, and native wildlife. Spend the evening exploring the town's colonial character.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Devon Falls and St. Clare's Falls
- Explore local tea plantation
- Visit tea factory and observe tea production process
- Stroll through Victoria Park
- Visit Lake Gregory
- Explore Hakgala Botanical Gardens
- City tour including Old Post Office and local Vegetable Market
Optional Activities
- Visit Seetha Amman Hindu Temple
Landmarks Devon Falls St. Clare's Falls Victoria Park Lake Gregory Hakgala Botanical Gardens Seetha Amman Temple 
- Day 11
Nuwara Eliya to Ella
Start at 5:00 AM for Horton Plains National Park, a UNESCO site high in the central mountains. Morning mist and cool air create an ethereal atmosphere as you go. Have packed breakfast in that fresh mountain air, then take about a 3-hour nature walk to World's End, a dramatic escarpment with views nearly 900 meters down to the plains, and Baker's Falls surrounded by forest and wildflowers. See Thotupola Kanda, one of Sri Lanka's highest peaks. This area is the source of three major rivers. Later, board the iconic train to Ella at Ambewela Railway Station. Watch the train wind through tea estates, misty valleys, and villages on what's considered one of the world's most beautiful railway journeys. Arrive in Ella and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Packed breakfast en route), Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning departure to Horton Plains National Park
- Packed breakfast amidst mountain scenery
- Scenic nature walk through Horton Plains (approximately 3 hours)
- Visit World's End escarpment
- Visit Baker's Falls waterfall
- Explore Thotupola Kanda
- Train journey from Ambewela to Ella
Landmarks Horton Plains National Park World's End Baker's Falls Thotupola Kanda - Day 12
Ella
After breakfast, explore Ella and its surrounding beauty of tea plantations, waterfalls, and misty hills. Visit the Nine Arch Bridge, a stone marvel from the colonial era standing 24 meters high and spanning 91 meters, where trains cross over jungle and tea-covered hills. Discover the Demodara Loop, one of only a few railway loops in the world where the station sits directly above the tunnel. Hike to Little Adam's Peak for panoramic views of valleys, cloud-kissed mountains, and tea estates. You can try the Flying Ravana Zipline if you want an adrenaline rush, stretching over 500 meters above treetops. Explore Ella town with its caf\u00e9s, produce markets, and boutique shops. Return to your hotel to unwind.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Nine Arch Bridge
- Witness Demodara Loop
- Hike to Little Adam's Peak
- Explore Ella town and local markets
Optional Activities
- Flying Ravana Zipline experience
Landmarks Nine Arch Bridge Demodara Loop Little Adam's Peak Ella Gap - Day 13
Ella to Tissamaharama
Begin your journey from Ella toward southern Sri Lanka. First stop is Dadayampola Natural Pool, a hidden gem in quiet forest where you can take a dip in cool, clear water. Pass through Buttala and its rural charm with small villages and rice paddies, where you might spot wild peacocks or elephants in the distance. Arrive in Kataragama, a sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims. Visit the vibrant Kataragama Hindu Temple where devotees pay homage to Lord Skanda, and see the nearby Kiri Vehera Buddhist Stupa believed to be from the 6th century BC. Continue to Tissamaharama by late afternoon, a historic town once the capital of the ancient Ruhuna Kingdom. This is your gateway to Yala National Park. Settle into your hotel and prepare for tomorrow's wildlife safari.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Dadayampola Natural River Pool
- Visit Kataragama Hindu Temple (Kataragama Dewalaya)
- Explore Kiri Vehera Buddhist Stupa
Optional Activities
- Refreshing nature bath at Dadayampola Natural Pool
Landmarks Dadayampola Natural Pool Kataragama Hindu Temple Kiri Vehera Buddhist Stupa - Day 14
Tissamaharama
Leave at 5:00 AM for Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's premier wildlife sanctuary with forest, grasslands, and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean. This park has the world's highest density of leopards, and you'll also see wild elephants, deer, and other fascinating wildlife. Watch for sloth bears, water buffalo, spotted and sambar deer, and golden jackals. Over 130 bird species live here including painted storks, crested serpent eagles, and black-necked storks. The lagoons attract migratory waterfowl while you might spot mugger and estuarine crocodiles, monitor lizards, and various snakes. Sea turtles like Olive Ridley and Leatherback nest along the coastline. Have a traditional Sri Lankan lunch at a rest area inside the park. Return to your hotel in the evening for hot cinnamon tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Sri Lankan lunch inside the park), Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day game drive in Yala National Park
- Explore diverse wildlife including leopards, elephants, crocodiles, and over 130 bird species
- Traditional Sri Lankan lunch inside park
Landmarks Yala National Park - Day 15
Tissamaharama to Udawalawe
Start early to visit Bundala National Park, a paradise for bird watchers with over 200 bird species including flamingos, painted storks, spoonbills, and kingfishers. This Ramsar wetland and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve has peaceful wetlands, salt pans, and coastal dunes. Have breakfast en route, then head toward Udawalawe National Park known for its large elephant herds and open landscapes. After lunch, do an afternoon safari game drive spotting elephants, water buffalo, crocodiles, deer, wild boar, and birds in their natural habitat. Later visit the Elephant Transit Home, a conservation center established in 1995 where orphaned and injured baby elephants get fed and cared for until they're strong enough for reintroduction to the wild. Transfer to your hotel in Udawalawe.
- Meals
- Breakfast (En route), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Bundala National Park for birdwatching
- Afternoon safari game drive in Udawalawe National Park
- Visit Elephant Transit Home (ETH)
- Breakfast en route
Landmarks Bundala National Park Udawalawe National Park Elephant Transit Home - Day 16
Udawalawe to Mirissa
Drive to Mirissa, a coastal haven with golden sands and turquoise waters. After days of exploring and adventure, today is about unwinding and rejuvenation. Settle into the serene ambiance and let the ocean rhythm wash away your fatigue. Spend your day on Mirissa Beach, one of the island's most tranquil shores, whether that means sunbathing, swimming, or sipping a fresh king coconut under a palm tree. You can also head to Weligama to see the iconic stilt fishermen perched on wooden poles in shallow waters, a centuries-old tradition. Or visit Unawatuna, a nearby coastal village with a laid-back vibe and Wella Devalaya temple. Return to your hotel to listen to the calming ocean sounds under the stars.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Mirissa (approximately 5-hour scenic drive)
- Arrival and check-in at hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Weligama to observe traditional stilt fishermen
- Visit Unawatuna and explore Wella Devalaya
- Beachside walk and refreshing sea swim
- Relax on Mirissa Beach
Landmarks Mirissa Beach Weligama Wella Devalaya Unawatuna 
- Day 17
Mirissa to Balapitiya
Wake before dawn for whale and dolphin watching from Mirissa. Board a boat and head about 15 kilometers into the Indian Ocean. You might see the majestic Blue Whale, the largest animal ever to live, or Sperm Whales, Bryde's Whales, Fin Whales, and Killer Whales. Watch for playful pods of Spinner, Bottlenose, Risso's, and Striped Dolphins doing acrobatic leaps. Enjoy light snacks while taking in ocean views and watch for flying fish, manta rays, sea turtles, and sharks. Return to shore and drive along the southwest coast to Balapitiya. Explore Galle Fort, a UNESCO site where Portuguese and Dutch architecture blends with Sri Lankan life. Visit the Ahungalla Turtle Hatchery to learn about conservation. Stop at Meetiyagoda for traditional moonstone mining, do a boat safari on Madu River Wetland with its 60+ islands and mangrove forests, and see Ambalangoda's Mask Museum. Arrive at your beachfront hotel in Balapitiya.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour (includes snacks onboard)
- Explore Galle Fort UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Ahungalla Turtle Hatchery
- Visit Meetiyagoda moonstone mines
- Madu River Boat Safari
Optional Activities
- Explore Ambalangoda Mask Museum and Workshop
Landmarks Galle Fort Ahungalla Turtle Hatchery Meetiyagoda Madu River Wetland 
- Day 18
Departure from Sri Lanka
Your 18-day journey through Sri Lanka winds down today. Enjoy a leisurely morning to relax or shop for souvenirs, then head to Bandaranaike International Airport with plenty of time to check in for your flight. Take time to reflect on everything you've experienced, from ancient cultural sites and tea plantations to wildlife encounters and pristine beaches.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final breakfast at hotel
- Prepare for departure
- Airport transfer
Optional Activities
- Time-dependent brief Colombo city tour en route to airport
Landmarks Bandaranaike International Airport
