Summary
Enjoy this Sri Lanka Itinerary (10 days): Culture, Nature and Beach and experience the true essence of the tropical island’s attractions - ancient cities, temples, ruins, cultural sites, scenic routes including a train journey with stunning views and wildlife. Sri Lanka is a splendid mix of everything - sun, fun, culture, wilderness and beach. To let you see the best parts of Sri Lanka, this amazing Sri Lanka itinerary takes you on a 10-day journey across the island. From ancient temples to lush gardens, from long sandy beaches to endless rows of tea bushes, Sri Lanka has a little bit of everything for everyone. You will be able to discover new cultures and old worlds, answer the call of the wild, spend endless days on the beach and immense in the adrenaline spiking adventures. This special itinerary is perfect for couples, families and groups of friends looking for different kinds of adventure together. This is a private tour that can be customized according to your preferences.
Individual travel request form Enjoy a private tour
Rozanne
Local travel expert in Sri Lanka
My passion for travel has taken me to many parts of Sri Lanka and I’m eager to offer you the opportunity to explore and experience the endless beaches, timeless temples, impressive wildlife, scenic trains, famous tea, and flavorful food.
Itinerary
Welcome to Sri Lanka - an island like no other with a splendid mix of everything - sun, fun, culture and wilderness.
Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport of Colombo, you will meet your guide at the arrival lobby and proceed to the city. You will receive a special welcome gift including a bottle of wine, a fruit basket and a personalized card.
Colombo, which is Sri Lanka’s bustling capital city, faces the Indian Ocean and stretches along more than 14 kilometers of the island’s western shores. The city is home to tree-lined boulevards, colonial buildings, open air markets, temples, lakes, and churches which add great character to this city.
You will be transferred to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day on your own.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Colombo.
After breakfast, you will meet your tour guide at the hotel lobby for a sightseeing tour of Colombo. The tour focuses on exploring the commercial capital. Bustling with energy all day long, this is a cosmopolitan city with vibrant colours and rich culture, offering amazing insights into the national psyche of Sri Lanka. During your brief tour, you will be able to view the old Wolfendhal Dutch Church (built in 1749), Sri Kaileswaram Hindu Temple, the famous Gangaramaya Temple facing Beira Lake. During the city tour, you will also witness many shopping malls with designer brands, beautifully landscaped gardens and colonial precincts such as the Old Colombo Dutch Hospital and more.
Thereafter, you will proceed to the cultural triangle, a region transformed by the country’s kings into a great civilization based on agriculture and Buddhism.
En route, you will visit the Dambulla Cave more Temple located north of Kandy and considered by most to be the centre point of Sri Lanka. Dambulla is famous for the five cave sanctuaries of varying sizes and magnificence built at the base of a 150 m high rock. The caves date back to the Anuradhapura (1st century BC to 993 AD) and Polonnaruwa times (1073 to 1250) and are by far the most impressive of the many cave temples found in Sri Lanka. Important attractions are spread over the five caves, containing statues and paintings, but the first 3 caves are older and larger than the other two. These beautiful statues and paintings are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. The caves host 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses, which are unique in scale and degree of preservation. The depictions include magnificent Buddha images and rock paintings of vivid colours and shapes. Dambulla Cave Temple was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Dambulla.
In the morning, you will enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel.
Optional: Picnic breakfast on top of the Pidurangala Rock - trek to the top of the Pidurangala Rock and enjoy a picnic breakfast with stunning views.
Next, you will proceed to the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The site comprises the remnants of the second capital of Sri Lanka including several monuments such as the Royal Palace of Parakramabahu, the Vatadage Temple, the Rankoth Vehera (translated to English as “Gold Pinnacled Stupa”), the Gal Vihara (a rock temple of the Buddha).
Polonnaruwa King Parakramabahu’s reign is considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa when trade and agriculture flourished under the patronage of the King, who was adamant that no drop of water falling from the heavens was to be wasted, and each was used towards the development of the land. more Therefore, the irrigation systems built during King Parakramabahu’s reign were far superior to those of the Anuradhapura Age. These systems supply the water necessary for paddy cultivation to this day during the scorching dry season in the east of the country.
Later, you will return to your hotel and freshen up (if time allows) before heading back out for an afternoon jeep safari at Minneriya National Park. During your safari you will see elephants and sambar deer roam free in Minneriya National Park. This is an incredible place to get up close with some of the wildlife of Sri Lanka. The main feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank that was built in the 3rd century by King Mahasen. During the dry season (June to September), this tank is an amazing place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze, as well as the huge flocks of birds such as cormorants and painted storks that come to fish in the shallow waters.
You will return to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Dambulla.
In the morning, you will climb up the Sigiriya Rock Fortress named “Fortress in the Sky”, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Situated in the middle of Sri Lanka’s famous cultural Triangle, Sigiriya dates back to the 5th century. At its summit are the foundations of what was once a sumptuous Palace, built on top of the rock by King Kashyapa, which included a garden complete with a swimming pool. On one of the stairways, the only known ancient artwork of Sinhala secular painting is preserved in the form of frescoes of life-sized damsels in all the delicacy of their original colour. An early start up is desirable to avoid the mid-day heat.
Later, you will return to your hotel and freshen up. You will check out of your hotel and proceed towards Kandy, the last kingdom of Sri Lanka.
Upon arrival in Kandy, you will visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. The Royal more Botanical Gardens are the oldest formal gardens in Sri Lanka. The gardens are renowned for the collection of orchids and the long, palm framed pathways and have more than 4,000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Kandy.
After a delicious breakfast, you will visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and attend the “Pooja ceremony”, a small ceremony of reverence involving drummers performed for this sacred place (subject to availability). The famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is an important pilgrimage site not just for the Buddhists in Sri Lanka but is a world-renowned place of worship. The temple is known as “Sri Dalada Maligawa” in Sinhalese, which implies the English meaning of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The beautiful palace temple with its golden roof is located on Victoria Lake and is said to house the tooth of Lord Buddha.
Optional: Lunch at the Royal Bar - this is a recommended experience and the setting is a lovely restored authentic colonial pub located in the centre of the town.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of Kandy with a visit more to the Bahirawakanda viewpoint to witness the panorama of the city. Kandy, more popularly known as the hill capital of Sri Lanka, is the second biggest city in Sri Lanka. The city is 115 km from Colombo and its history dates back to the 15th century, when it was the last royal capital of the country. Kandy is an attractive tourist destination and has an abundance of culture around it, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic being the most popular attraction. The centre of the city is situated in a valley at an elevation of 600 m above sea level and is surrounded by hills covered with tropical vegetation. A scenic central piece of the town is Kandy Lake, an artificial creation by one of the past rulers. The city is also home to an international cricket stadium and brings in thousands of cricket fans. Whether you are interested in sports, religion, history or culture, Kandy has it all! It was also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Kandy.
In the morning, you will be transferred to Kandy railway station and enjoy a scenic train journey from Kandy to Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya) which takes about 4 hours. You will travel through lush green mountains and narrow tunnels enjoying amazing views of beautiful tea plantations, dense vegetation, and steep-sided valleys. Upon arrival at Nanu Oya railway station, you will meet your tour guide and you will be transfered by road to Nuwara Eliya.
Next, you will enjoy a city tour of Nuwara Eliya. The main hill resort of Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya is the heart of Sri Lanka’s lush tea-growing region and is considered to be one of the most important locations for tea cultivation. Also known as the “Little England of Sri Lanka”, Nuwara Eliya was founded by the British explorer Samuel Baker in 1846 and was a sanctuary to the colonialists in order to escape the humidity and heat of Sri Lanka. The city more and is well known for its cool climate being the coolest area in Sri Lanka. It was originally built with mock-Tudor houses that feature inglenook fireplaces and billiard tables, a golf course, racetrack, gentlemen’s clubs, and botanical gardens and many of the buildings still have preserved features from the colonial period. During the tour you will also have the opportunity to visit a Tea factory and tea plantation.
Thereafter, you will be transferred to Ella and check in to your hotel for your overnight stay.
Optional: Dinner at the Ravana Pool Club - enjoy a delicious dinner at the pool club with stunning views.
Please note that you will arrive at the hotel in Ella in the late evening.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Ella.
You will start the day with a hike to the top of Little Adam’s Peak, which is rather easy and is more of a leisurely walk. The peak is 1141 m high and the 360-degree view from the top is truly magnificent, as you overlook a deep valley and its surrounding hills. The hike, which takes about 2 hours, begins on a relatively flat ground with a moderate incline and goes through picturesque tea plantations. The trail is marked the whole way with well-maintained paths and stairs and the higher you go, the better views you can enjoy. Once you reach the top, there are multiple platforms, rocks, and viewpoints that are perfect for taking amazing photos.
Later, you will return to your hotel and enjoy a delicious breakfast. You will check out of your hotel and make your way to the city centre for a sightseeing tour of Ella, where you will get the opportunity to visit the Nine Arch Bridge. Located between more Ella and Demodara railway stations, the bridge connects two mountains and is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country. The landscape around the bridge includes fantastic rolling hills and dense jungle attracting many tourists to the area.
Thereafter, you will travel towards Yala. En route, you will make a stop in Udawalawe to visit the Elephant Transit Home. Established in 1995, the Elephant Transit Home rehabilitates isolated baby elephants for releasing them back into the wild. Since its foundation, more than 200 elephants have been cared for at the Elephant Transit Home. These isolated wild elephants are reintroduced back into the wild in their natural habitats at the age of five when they can take care of themselves.
Upon arrival in Yala, check in to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Yala.
You will have an early start to your day today as you embark on a jeep safari in Yala National Park, the most famous and visited wildlife park of Sri Lanka. It is a rather arid land with the highest density of leopards in the world! While the elusive cat is the star here, 215 species of birds and over 44 diverse mammals are also found in this expansive space of wonder. The park is also an important conservation centre of Sri Lankan elephants and aquatic birds.
Later, you will return to your hotel and freshen up. You will check out of your hotel and you will be transferred to Galle, the capital of the southern province. Upon arrival in Galle, you will enjoy a guided tour of Galle on foot, learning about the town’s history. This beautiful colonial town in the Bay of Galle along the southern coast, which was once the chief port of Sri Lanka, houses the largest occupied fort in Asia. The town is more still well known for the hand-made lace, which was introduced by the Dutch, and Galle Fort, designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. Galle Fort was originally built by the Portuguese in 1588 to defend the town and was later fortified by the Dutch from 1649 onwards. It spans over 90 acres and is the largest colonial-built fort of Asia protecting a wealth of interesting architecture and now housing galleries, cafes, and shops. The 300-year-old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the fort and amidst its many historical buildings not invaded by the skyscrapers. The nearby beaches with shimmering blue waters and alluring waves provide a beautiful scenery and an intriguing taste of life in the south of the country.
After spending some time exploring the Galle Fort, you will make your way to Hikkaduwa, your next beach destination.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Hikkaduwa.
You will have a free day to enjoy the beach.
Optional: Visit a local turtle hatchery near Weligama - you can visit the sanctuary (the Sea Turtle Conservation Project is the most famous attraction in the area) and witness how the wounded turtles are rescued and rehabilitated until they are put back into the ocean.
Overnight stay at the hotel of your choice (mid-range or luxury) in Hikkaduwa.
On your departure day, you will be transferred from the hotel to Colombo Airport.
If your flight is in the afternoon, you will have the option to explore Hikkaduwa for a while on your own in the morning and buy some souvenirs.
Please Note: you must be at the airport 3 hours before your flight time.
Prices
Travel dates
Upon request for individual travellers
Price per person in €
2 Pers.
4 Pers.
6 Pers.
Mid-range hotels (3*): Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2023
1252€
1051€
995€
Mid-range hotels (3*): July 1 - Aug. 31, 2023
1517€
1197€
1100€
Mid-range hotels (3*): Nov. 1 - Dec. 20, 2023
1302€
1101€
1046€
Mid-range hotels (3*): Dec. 21, 2023 - Jan. 20, 2024
1426€
1220€
1161€
Mid-range hotels (3*): Jan. 21 - Feb. 28, 2024
1371€
1147€
1087€
Mid-range hotels (3*): Mar. 1 - Apr. 30, 2024
1362€
1138€
1079€
Luxury hotels (4*/5*): July 1 - Aug. 31, 2023
1691€
1371€
1280€
Luxury hotels (4*/5*): Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2023
1385€
1184€
1129€
Luxury hotels (4*/5*): Nov. 1 - Dec. 20, 2023
1494€
1293€
1238€
Luxury hotels (4*/5*): Dec. 21, 2023 - Jan. 20, 2024
1800€
1595€
1535€
Luxury hotels (4*/5*): Jan. 21 - Feb. 28, 2024
1699€
1485€
1426€
Luxury hotels (4*/5* hotels): Mar. 1 - Apr. 30, 2024
1631€
1407€
1343€
| Travel dates | Accommodation | Price per person in € | ||
| 2 Pers. | 4 Pers. | 6 Pers. | ||
|
Upon request for individual travellers |
Mid-range hotels (3*): Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2023 | 1252€ | 1051€ | 995€ |
| Mid-range hotels (3*): July 1 - Aug. 31, 2023 | 1517€ | 1197€ | 1100€ | |
| Mid-range hotels (3*): Nov. 1 - Dec. 20, 2023 | 1302€ | 1101€ | 1046€ | |
| Mid-range hotels (3*): Dec. 21, 2023 - Jan. 20, 2024 | 1426€ | 1220€ | 1161€ | |
| Mid-range hotels (3*): Jan. 21 - Feb. 28, 2024 | 1371€ | 1147€ | 1087€ | |
| Mid-range hotels (3*): Mar. 1 - Apr. 30, 2024 | 1362€ | 1138€ | 1079€ | |
| Luxury hotels (4*/5*): July 1 - Aug. 31, 2023 | 1691€ | 1371€ | 1280€ | |
| Luxury hotels (4*/5*): Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2023 | 1385€ | 1184€ | 1129€ | |
| Luxury hotels (4*/5*): Nov. 1 - Dec. 20, 2023 | 1494€ | 1293€ | 1238€ | |
| Luxury hotels (4*/5*): Dec. 21, 2023 - Jan. 20, 2024 | 1800€ | 1595€ | 1535€ | |
| Luxury hotels (4*/5*): Jan. 21 - Feb. 28, 2024 | 1699€ | 1485€ | 1426€ | |
| Luxury hotels (4*/5* hotels): Mar. 1 - Apr. 30, 2024 | 1631€ | 1407€ | 1343€ | |
What's Included
- 9 nights accommodation in a double (DBL) or twin (TWN) room at the hotels of your choice (mid-range or luxury);
- Breakfast at the hotels;
- Excursions on the entire itinerary;
- Entrance fees according to the itinerary;
- Welcome and assistance on arrival at the airport;
- Fruit basket and a bottle of wine per couple on arrival;
- Transportation in an air-conditioned car / minibus during the entire itinerary;
- Vehicle amenities: Wi-Fi, cushions and light snacks;
- Personalized card and gift bag;
- 2 x 500 ml bottles of water per day per person throughout the tour;
- English speaking chauffeur guide during the itinerary.