Colombo - Sigiriya

Bandaranaike International Airport - Kingfisher Tours Sri Lanka operates its own fleet of vehicles to ensure high-quality service, supported by a team of professional, licensed tourist guides and chauffeurs fluent in major languages needed for tours. Their customer service, fleet, and drivers are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Kingfisher Tours Sri Lanka is dedicated to understanding and meeting the needs of their valued customers, building a reputation for high-quality products and services. Their ultimate goal is to provide clients with an unforgettable travel experience, allowing them to truly experience Sri Lanka.

Meet and greet your professional guide at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) or your hotel, then head towards Kegalle.

No 21, Ayurvedic Herbal Garden - Experience Sri Lanka’s world-famous spices at their source. Visit a spice garden where the aromas of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, and mace captivate the senses. Gain insight into the ancient spice production industry that attracted European and Asian merchants to ancient Sri Lanka’s ports. Enjoy a complimentary 10-minute head massage.

Sigiriya

Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress - Ascend the 5th-century AD rock fortress, Sigiriya, once ruled by King Kasyapa. Enter through the lion’s paws, fitting for its name, ‘the Lion Rock.’ Admire the beautiful, enduring murals that have made Sigiriya famous. Climb the steep staircase to explore the terraced gardens and functioning cisterns. Walk through tunnels leading to the palace, experiencing the essence of ancient times.

Sigiriya Craft Village - Enjoy an oxen cart ride and see the world from a village farmer’s perspective. Relax on a catamaran safari across a tranquil lake. Stroll through golden fields ripe with paddy. Watch a traditional cooking demonstration to learn the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Savor a home-cooked lunch, prepared over a wood fire and served on fragrant lotus leaves over woven trays. Experience the life of a Sri Lankan villager for a day.

Minneriya National Park - Switch to a 4x4 Jeep and enter Minneriya National Park. Prepare to “GET WILD.” The evening tour offers a chance to see birds like peacocks, eagles, pelicans, parrots, cranes, parakeets, owls, hornbills, and more. Witness about 20% of the elephant gathering, along with other animals like deer, wild rabbits, wild boar, and, if lucky, a sloth bear or leopard.

Sigiriya - Dambulla - Kandy

Golden Temple of Dambulla - Explore the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View ancient murals depicting Lord Gautama Buddha’s life story. See hundreds of Buddha and deity figurines scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King, and the Great New Monastery. Admire the giant golden Buddha statue just outside the cave complex.

Head towards Kandy.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century to venerate and protect Lord Buddha’s sacred tooth. Walk through beautifully decorated passageways and elaborately painted halls in red, cream, and black. Lean against delicately carved pillars and marvel at the stunning golden statues. Experience an unforgettable blend of history and art.

Sorborn Gems & Jewellery Kandy - Sri Lanka, known as RatnaDvipa or the island of gems, is renowned for its abundance and variety of gem deposits. Famous for Sri Lankan blue sapphires, the island also offers cat’s eyes, Alexandrites, rubies, star stones, and other precious and semi-precious gems.

Join a gem tour that includes a gem museum, where you’ll learn about Sri Lanka’s gem industry through an informative film. See a mock-up of a gem pit to understand traditional gem mining, and visit a gem and jewellery gallery to inspect dazzling stones up close with a loupe, learning to assess quality based on color, size, luster, and lack of imperfections. Finally, watch as stones are set into jewellery.

Kandy Lake Club - Cultural Dance Show - Attend the Cultural Dance Show in the evening.

The Kandy Cultural Show offers a glimpse into Sri Lankan traditions. Enjoy this hour-long extravaganza featuring some of the island’s most popular art forms. Be amazed by fire dancers and sword dancers. Watch colorful Kandyan dancers soar to the primal beat of the drums.

Kandy - Nuwara Eliya

Kandy - Take a Kandy City Tour, visiting the Kandy View Point, souvenir shops, and markets.

Royal Botanical Gardens - Explore the famous Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, established in the early 19th century. Wander through the vast area containing over 4,000 plant species. Learn about orchids, spices, and medicinal plants. Stroll down avenues shaded by large, rare trees or bordered by flowering plants. See the cannonball tree, cross the wobbly suspension bridge, navigate short hedge mazes, or climb twisty trees that make excellent jungle gyms.

Ramboda Waterfall - Travel towards Nuwara Eliya, enjoying beautiful backdrops and waterfall viewpoints. Visit Ramboda Falls, the 11th tallest in the country. Take a guided tour of Mackwoods Tea Estate to learn about tea varieties, processing methods, and qualities. Walk through shaded avenues and colorful mazes of Hakgala Botanical Gardens. Relax and stroll along Lake Gregory’s shores. Enjoy a peaceful day filled with beautiful sights.

Pedro Tea Factory - Visit a tea factory and plantation to see how the world-famous “Ceylon Tea” is made. In 1824, the British brought a tea plant from China to Ceylon and planted it in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya for non-commercial purposes. James Taylor, a British citizen, introduced commercial tea plantations in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). He arrived in Sri Lanka in 1852 and settled in Loolecondera estate in Kandy. Today, even those unfamiliar with Sri Lanka recognize Ceylon tea for its quality.

Learn how Ceylon Tea is made inside a factory and taste various cups of tea.

Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya - Nestled in the heart of tea country, Nuwara Eliya is a charming town where the British recreated an English countryside, with homes in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne. Well-kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican church, a famous golf course, and beautiful parks evoke nostalgia. Situated 6,200 feet above sea level, the air is cool and fresh—a serene retreat from city life.

Lover’s Leap Falls - This stunning 30m high Lovers Leap fall in Nuwara Eliya originates from the streams and brooks of Sri Lanka’s highest mountain, Piduruthalagala (2524m). It cascades over hard granite ledges, with water collected in a tank for drinking.

During dry spells, the flow is gentle. The fall’s name comes from a tragic tale of a prince who, while hunting, lost his way and was rescued by a beautiful damsel. The two became inseparable lovers, but the prince’s subjects disapproved, so they immortalized their love by leaping from the fall’s top to their deaths.

Superstitious villagers avoid the fall at night. Located in Havaeliya, 2 km from Nuwara Eliya, the fall is about 3 km from the town. After navigating winding roads to the lane leading to the waterfall, take a 3-wheeler halfway to the falls, then follow a fairly even gravel path for about 250 meters. Alternatively, walk from the road, a 400-meter uphill trek along a narrow tar road, with a shortcut through a tea estate for a more adventurous 400-meter climb.

Gregory Lake - Created in 1873 by British Governor Sir William Gregory, Gregory Lake was initially intended for electricity generation but became a leisure and recreation spot. At its peak, Gregory Lake was the area’s most prominent attraction, offering relaxation for many visitors.

Nuwara Eliya - Bentota

Bentota Beach - Travel to Sri Lanka’s southern coast from the hill country, with beautiful waterfall stops and viewpoints. Relax at the beach and enjoy some leisurely time.

Bentota - Colombo

Madu Ganga Biodiversity Area - Enjoy boat rides on the Madu River.

Explore the Madu River
The Mangroves and Their Ecology – Facts
The Madu River area is surrounded by swampy marshlands covered in mangrove forests.

The forest spans over 61 hectares, or more than 150 acres, with 14 of the 24 mangrove species found here.

Mangroves play a crucial role in preventing erosion, a fact highlighted during the December 2004 tsunami when the forest acted as a natural barrier, protecting the region.

The extensive mangrove growth has led to ecological benefits. The soil protected by mangroves is very fertile, supporting rich growth of other wetland plants.

Over 300 species, 19 of which are endemic, have been discovered so far.

The region remains a treasure trove for biologists and ecologists, with many undiscovered species in the mangrove forests’ depths.

The plant life supports a variety of wildlife.

The largest animal in the region is the wild boar, along with smaller animals like monkeys and various squirrels.

Birds such as cormorants and kingfishers are common. For bird watchers, the mangrove forests are a dream come true, with over 111 bird species identified.

There are 31 types of reptiles, including snakes, lizards, and crocodiles.

The Madu River zone also hosts over 50 butterfly species and 25 mollusc types.

The ecological cycle continues relatively undisturbed in this region, protected as a Ramsar Wetland Site since 2003. The official Ramsar site describes the Madu River zone as a mangrove lagoon connected to the sea by a narrow canal, containing 15 islands of varying sizes, some inhabited. Formed by two shallow water bodies, Maduganga and smaller Randombe Lake, connected by two narrow channels, the area features relatively undisturbed mangrove vegetation with rich biodiversity, meeting 7 Criteria of International Importance. Many globally/nationally endangered, endemic, and rare species, such as Shorea affinis (an endemic and endangered plant), Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) (vulnerable, IUCN Red Book), and CITES-listed Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus vetulus) (endangered), Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata), and Indian Python (Python molurus) find refuge here. The lagoon serves as a breeding, spawning, and fattening ground for many fish species and supports 1.2% of the Little Green Heron biogeographical population. The area is rich in cultural heritage, with numerous ancient temples on the islands and nearby. Maduganga aids in flood control by storing water during monsoon rains and retains nutrient runoff from nearby cinnamon plantations. The local population primarily engages in fishing and agriculture (cinnamon and coconut). However, poaching of wild animals and waterfowl is increasing, and the extensive use of fertilizers and the resulting growth of invasive species, such as Najas marinas or Annona glabra, are concerning.

Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project - Visit the Kosgoda Turtle Care Centre as part of Kingfisher’s South Seas tour experience. See sea turtles of various species at different life stages. Contribute to conservation by donating to the turtles’ needs. Kingfisher can assist with one-day tours or longer volunteering stays.

Colombo - Explore Sri Lanka’s urban commercial area and experience the bustling city life by visiting Pettah Bazaar, Jamiul Alfar Mosque, Gangaramaya Temple, and more.

Colombo - Airport

Bandaranaike International Airport - Enjoy a brief 3-hour city tour of Colombo before heading to the airport, concluding a beautiful tour of Sri Lanka with wonderful memories to cherish.

• 3-4 Star Hotel Accommodations (Only for selected option)
• Driver Accommodations
• 7 x Breakfast (Only for selected option)
• Professional English Speaking Chauffeur Guide
• Lunch
• All Local Taxes & Charges
• Private Air Conditioned Vehicle
• Fuel Charges

• Food / Drinks unless specified
• Entrance Fees for places or activities visiting
• Gratuities (Optional)

Sri Lanka is perpetually rich in stunning locales. 8 Days Of Sri Lanka is a journey designed for those yearning to diverge from the beaten path and traverse lesser-known routes. Explore magnificent ancient kingdoms acknowledged as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, undertake secluded forest and mountain expeditions that push the limits of even experienced trekkers, wander through misty valleys harboring lush, undulating hillsides, marvel at awe-striking forests and nature reserves, and take in the urban buzz of Colombo city, all while catching some downtime on the beach. Without a doubt, this tour is packed with immense allure.

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