03 Day Sri Lanka Tour: Explore Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella & Udawalawe

Embark on a 3-day adventure through Sri Lanka, visiting Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, and Udawalawe. Explore ancient fortresses, temples, tea plantations, and the stunning wildlife of Udawalawe National Park.

Duration: 3 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

COLOMBO – SIGIRIYA – KANDY

Sigiriya Museum - This well-maintained museum features a detailed diorama of the site, offering an excellent overview and highlighting Sigiriya’s cultural significance beyond its natural beauty. The museum presents the theory that Sigiriya was a Buddhist monastery, although the prevailing belief is that it was a palace or fortress.

Dambulla Cave Temple - Also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, this World Heritage Site is located in central Sri Lanka, 148 kilometers east of Colombo and 72 kilometers north of Kandy. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.

Kandy Lake Club - Cultural Dance Show - While referred to as a traditional Kandyan dance performance, the show is designed for audience entertainment and includes dance routines and costumes from across Sri Lanka, including the famous ‘devil’ dances of the west coast, which are rarely seen in their original region.

Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress - Rising dramatically from the central plains, the striking rocky outcrop of Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka’s most impressive sight. Near-vertical walls ascend to a flat-topped summit that holds the ruins of an ancient civilization, believed to be the heart of the short-lived kingdom of Kassapa, offering breathtaking views over mist-covered forests in the early morning.

KANDY-NUWARA ELIYA- ELLA

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. During puja (offerings or prayers), the heavily guarded room containing the tooth is open to devotees and tourists. However, the tooth itself is not visible as it is kept in a gold casket shaped like a dagoba (stupa), which contains a series of six diminishing dagoba caskets. The complex also includes a series of smaller temples, shrines, and museums.

Kandy View Point - Climb the hill by Kandy Lake to reach Kandy View Point for an unbeatable view of the city. This popular tourist spot attracts many peddlers, though their items are often of low quality. The area is also known for pickpocketing, so be vigilant with your belongings. From the hill, you can enjoy stunning views over the lake and the city.

Kandy Lake - Also known as Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk, Kandy Lake is an artificial lake in the heart of Kandy, built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe next to the Temple of the Tooth. Over the years, its size has been reduced. It is a protected lake, with fishing prohibited.

Glenloch Tea Factory - Located in the Nuwara Eliya District at Katukithula on the way to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy, Glenloch Tea Factory is known for its well-maintained tea plantations. Sri Lanka is renowned for its tea, and Glenloch is a significant contributor to the country’s reputation as a top producer of quality tea. The factory uses proper planting methods, soil conservation, and technology to ensure the best tea production.

Ramboda Waterfall - Ramboda Falls, standing at 109 meters high, is the 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and the 729th highest in the world. It is located in the Pussellawa area on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass and is formed by Panna Oya, a tributary of Kothmale Oya. The falls are situated at an altitude of 945 meters above sea level.

Gregory Lake - Created in 1873 by British Governor Sir William Gregory, Gregory Lake was initially intended to provide electricity but was mainly used for leisure and recreation. At its peak, it was the most prominent attraction in the area, serving as a relaxing spot for many visitors.

Kandy - Kandy is a large city in central Sri Lanka, set on a plateau surrounded by mountains that are home to tea plantations and biodiverse rainforests.

Nuwara Eliya - Nuwara Eliya is a city in the tea country hills of central Sri Lanka. The Hakgala Botanical Gardens feature roses and tree ferns and are home to monkeys and blue magpies. Nearby, the colorful Seetha Amman Temple is adorned with religious figures.

Ella City – Udawalawe National Park - Colombo

Mini Adams Peak - Don’t miss the beautiful Little Adams Peak, named for its resemblance to the sacred Adams Peak (Sri Pada, where the footprint of Lord Buddha is preserved). The mountain offers stunning views and a rewarding hike.

Ravana Ella Falls - Ravana Falls is a popular attraction in Sri Lanka and is one of the widest waterfalls in the country.

Nine Arches Bridge - The Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, part of the Demodara loop, spans 91 meters and stands 24 meters high. Its nine arches create a picturesque scene, especially as it is set in a dense jungle and agricultural area. The bridge is unique as it is constructed entirely from rocks, bricks, and cement, without any steel or metal.

Udawalawe National Park - This park is home to several hundred elephants and other rare plants and wildlife.

Ella - The views through Ella Gap are stunning, and on a clear day, you can even see the faint glow of the Great Basses lighthouse on Sri Lanka’s south coast.

What's Included
  • English-speaking driver and guide
  • Dinner included
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • Accommodations in Kandy and Ella
  • Breakfast provided
  • Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned vehicle
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Gratuities
  • Entrance fees ( Sigiriya Rock , Dambulla Cave Temple , Udawalawe National Park)
  • Jeep Hire For Safari at Udawalawe
Additional Information

Experience the breathtaking sights of Sri Lanka on this tour that covers six picturesque cities in just three days. During your journey, you’ll engage in various exciting activities such as:

  • Scaling a massive rock fortress
  • Paying a visit to the temple of the tooth and receiving blessings
  • Strolling through the vibrant green tea plantations, a must-see for tea enthusiasts, history buffs interested in Sri Lanka’s colonial past, or anyone who appreciates scenic landscapes.
  • Journeying through Sri Lanka’s chilliest region – Nuwara Eliya
  • Taking in the spectacular views from little Adam’s peak
  • Exploring The Udawalawe National Park, the only place globally where you’re guaranteed to spot an elephant on every safari drive.
  • Comfortable walking shoes recommended for this tour.
  • All visitors to Buddhist and Hindu temples are expected to remove footwear and hats. Also shoulders and knees should be covered
  • The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date
  • Rooms will provide for bookings 1 Person SGL 2 Person DBL 3 Person TPL 4 Person 2 DBL 5 person 1TPL 1 DBL
  • Dec 24th night & Dec 31st night Supplements (peak season additional charge) need to pay directly to hotel as per hotel.
  • August 10 - 20 Kandy Perahara Supplement $ 30 per person need to pay hotel directly ( only for kandy hotel)
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(44 Ratings)
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Alessandro_f
Jul 8, 2024
Incredible! Book now and ask for CJ - If you want to visit Sri Lanka, look no further! CJ is a superstar driver and guide and this tour is exactly what I wanted and needed. Having only 3 days, I was looking for an experience that could allow me to see and do as many landmarks as possible. Apple Vacations and in particular my driver/guide CJ were absolutely outstanding! Incredible driver, very knowledgeable, always nice and flexible. If you want to book this, remember to ask for CJ to be your driver/guide. Here are my pros and tips: // Punctuality, reliability, flexibility safety and cleanliness. Everything was perfect. // Even if I booked a group tour, I was lucky to end up having a private one which meant really good value for money. // I forgot my washbag in one of the hotels and CJ went above and beyond to let me have it back. HONESTLY unbelievable! considering the tight schedule. // The tour is very very packed of things to do which it was great for me but consider this when booking. You'll be tired 😊 // You will need cash for most things // You will stay in very basic hotels, although very clean. For a better food experience, you might want to eat outside. Prices are very convenient anyway. Looking forward to booking again with you in the future and have another tour with CJ.
Review provided by Viator
Y2821wwcharlottef
Apr 28, 2024
Chathu, our guide, was brilliant! - We did the 3 day tour encompassing Kandy and Ella in April. As a multi generational family of 9, including an elderly relative and three autistic children, I was quite nervous. I needn’t have been. Our guide, Chathu, was amazing. He picked us up from our hotel in Colombo on time, and was extremely helpful and friendly. My 7 year old took a real shine to Chathu and still asks about him now. The tour packed in a huge amount, and we had to go slow at times as my 76 year old mother in law struggled with the pace. It didn’t matter. Chathu was happy to rearrange the schedule to meet our needs. As part of the tour, we stayed at Ella Gap hotel and the Royal Kandyan. Both hotels were fairly basic but met our needs and had great locations. Another shout out to Chathu - we ran out of Sri Lankan Rupees whilst in Kandy. Chathu offered to change sterling for us, as he was more likely to get a better deal (he knew the local customs and language). He did just that, and saved us a huge amount of time and effort, enabling us to enjoy more of our holiday. Chathu was a brilliant guide; trustworthy, kind, friendly, and knowledgable. Apple vacations, as a company, were highly communicative and very professional. I would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jrf990
Apr 19, 2024
AMAZING Tour! - This was one of the most amazing tours I've ever been on. My 16 year old son and I went on a tour with Krish who was an amazing tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable, very personable, was focused on making sure we had a great time, and had an amazing attitude. I cannot recommend this enough - really amazing! I just wish we had more time - 5-7 days would have been WAY better, but we packed so much in 3 days it was really incredible!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katherine_b
Apr 12, 2024
Katherine & John - We enjoyed our 3 day tour to Dambulla, Sigiraya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Uda Walawe National Park. Our driver J Nicholas negotiated the traffic with amazing skill and was a pleasant and informative guide. The highlight was the wild life tour with multiple different birds, crocodiles, deer, lizards and the elephants. We recommend this trip if you are short of time but would like to absorb the essence of Sri Lankan culture and scenery. We were happy with the accommodation and lunch in particular was excellent.
Review provided by Viator
621viktorl
Mar 1, 2024
Great way to experience Sri Lanka - The places and the trip as whole was awesome! Our driver/guide Keethee was very good, told us many different facts in good english and was an efficient driver. The car was also very comfortable. We can really recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jovyf2024
Jan 6, 2024
Family vacation - The tour was great love the sigirilya history & hike tour guide was very informative, hotel & restaurant choice was good especially the food people are so friendly.Tea plantation a must visit!! Thank you to our tour guide very nice
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lucykirkham
Nov 24, 2023
The Best Tour !! - We have just finished our 3 day tour today. We had the most amazing time and got to see so much of Sri Lanka that we probably wouldnt have seen if we hadnt been on this tour. We loved the night in Ella and the hotel we stayed in was lovely. We really enoyed every part of the tour but especially the Udawalawe national park and Sigiriya rock. Aaron was the tour driver and he couldnt do enough for us! He was very knowledgable and smiley. The amount of driving he did for us was Insane ! Would highly recommend this tour, it is a definate must do if visiting Sri Lanka.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jackson_s
Nov 5, 2023
Excellent and friendly - I had a great time on this trip the guide was excellent and friendly. I got to see everything that I wanted to.
Review provided by Viator
Teresa_h
Jan 12, 2024
Very funpacked - The scenery throughout journey the punctuality of the driver and his skilful driving we highly recommend Roxanne??he would do anything for you and very professional service
Review provided by Viator
Zahra_a
Feb 13, 2024
Not worthwhile - On paper this seems like a worthwhile tour but it's really not. I didn't even get to see all of the stops on the itinerary, and some that we did see was only as a 'driveby'. I booked this because I wanted to avoid long distance travelling to and fro from Colombo but I think you're probably better off doing day trips for Sigritya and Kandy, with maybe a train journey into Elle. and save yourself a tidy sum. The prices listed for addtional activities/entrance fees are actually much lower than reality (likely out of date) and I ended up paying so much more. The guide was friendly but as I mentioned he did rush through things and I do wonder if that was because I was a solo traveller.
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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