Sri Lanka Tour: 8-Day Island Adventure

Embark on an 8-day Sri Lanka tour. Explore national parks, historical sites, and beaches with a customizable itinerary and expert guide.

Duration: 8 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Airport to Sigiriya

Dambulla Royal Cave Temple - Greeted by our English-speaking guide at your hotel in Colombo, any airport, or your chosen pickup location, and drive to Sigiriya with a stop at Dambulla Golden Cave Temple.

Minneriya National Park - In the evening, enjoy a 4x4 safari at Minneriya/Habarana, Kaudulla, or Hurulu Eco national parks, depending on elephant sightings. (Entrance tickets & safari jeep charges not included)
Overnight in Sigiriya. Highlights of the day: Dambulla Golden Cave Temple; Eco national parks 4x4 Jeep Safari.

Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa

Pidurangala Rock - Early morning climb of Pidurangala Rock to watch the sunrise, then return to the hotel for breakfast.

Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress - After breakfast, climb Sigiriya Rock before the sun gets too hot, perfect for photos. Return to Sigiriya village for a tour (experience traditional Sri Lankan food, a cart tour, a boat tour, and cooking with locals) or an elephant ride in the jungle. Then travel to Polonnaruwa. Overnight in Polonnaruwa.

Highlight of the day: Pidurangala & Sigiriya rock climbs, Sigiriya village tour, or elephant ride; travel to Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa to Kandy

Polonnaruwa Vatadage - After breakfast, visit the Polonnaruwa heritage site (historical places, ruins). After the visit, have lunch and travel to Kandy.

Kandy - On the way to Kandy, visit the Matale Spice Garden (free entrance), the Gem Museum and Workshop (free entrance), shopping time (souvenirs), the Sri Lankan cultural & traditional dance show in Kandy (ticket required), and a night city walk in Kandy. Overnight in Kandy.

Highlights of the day: visit the Polonnaruwa heritage site, travel to Kandy, visit the Matale Spice Garden, visit the Gem Museum and Workshop, watch the Sri Lankan cultural & traditional dance show, and take a nighttime city walk in Kandy.

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - After breakfast, visit the Tooth Relic Temple, shop in Kandy (souvenirs), and then travel to Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya - On the way to Nuwara Eliya, stop at Ramboda waterfall (photo stop), a tea plantation, and a tea factory (free entrance). In the evening, visit Gregory Park. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.

Highlights of the day: Tooth Relic Temple visit, shopping in Kandy, travel to Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda Falls, a tea plantation and tea factory, and Gregory Park.

Nuwara Eliya to Ella

Ella - After breakfast, take the 9:15 train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella for a scenic ride. During high season, there’s only a 50% chance of securing train tickets due to high demand, and availability can only be confirmed one day before. (We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.)

Nine Arches Bridge - In the evening, visit the “Nine Arches Bridge” in Ella. Overnight in Ella.

Highlight of the day: train ride (7:30 h) from Nuwara Eliya to Ella; visit Nine Arches Bridge.

Ella to Yala National Park or Udawalawa National Park

Little Adam’s Peak View Point - Early morning climb to Little Adam’s Peak to watch the sunrise, then visit Ravana in Ella Rock (zip line activity, optional), then travel to Yala National Park.

Yala National Park - On the way to Yala, stop at Ravana Ella waterfall (photo stop). Choose between a safari at Yala National Park or Udawalawe National Park (entrance tickets & safari jeep charges not included).

Mirissa - After the safari, travel to Mirissa. Overnight in Mirissa.

Highlight of the day: Ella Little Adam’s Peak hike, Yala or Udawalawa National Park jeep safari, travel to Mirissa.

Mirissa to Hikkaduwa

Mirissa Beach - Whale watching in the morning (6:00 AM) after breakfast, and visit snake farms.

Parrot Rock Bridge - After lunch, visit Parrot Rock and enjoy beach activities (jet skiing, boat rides, surfing, and scuba diving).

Coconut Tree Hill - In the evening, visit Coconut Tree Hill to watch the sunset.

Hikkaduwa - After visiting Coconut Tree Hill, travel to Hikkaduwa (optional) for a night walk on Hikkaduwa Beach or Mirissa Beach. Overnight in Hikkaduwa or Mirissa.

Highlights of the day: Mirissa whale watching tour, snake farm visit, Parrot Rock, Mirissa Beach, Coconut Tree Hill, travel to Hikkaduwa; night walk on Mirissa Beach.

Hikkaduwa to Airport

Galle - Depending on your flight time, visit the Sea Turtle Hatchery & Rescue Centre, Galle Dutch Fort, and the Madu River Boat Safari (boat ride and entrance not included). Optionally, enjoy a unique Sri Lankan seafood experience in Negombo.

Duration: 8 hours

It’s time to say ‘Goodbye’ to Sri Lanka. You will be transferred to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo or Negombo for your onward journey back home.

What's Included
  • Yoga or Fitness session
  • Private transportation
  • Private driver
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Guide service
What's Not Included
  • Other Exclusions (Flight Tickets/Visa Charges/Entrance tickets/Meals & Accommodation))
Additional Information

Explore the island at your own leisure with a customizable itinerary and we may offer ideas for your accommodations.

Discover the enchanting beauty of Sri Lanka on our meticulously organized eight-day tour. Immerse yourself in the wonders of national parks, ancient historical sites, pristine beaches, and the picturesque hill country. Our expert guide will take care of all the arrangements, allowing you to fully enjoy your journey through this stunning island.
From the moment you arrive, you’ll be warmly welcomed at the airport and swiftly transported to your first destination. Explore the iconic Sigiriya, the cultural treasures of Dambulla, the serene city of Kandy, the lush landscapes of Nuwara Eliya, the charming town of Ella, the wildlife-rich Yala National Park, the coastal paradises of Mirissa and Hikkaduwa, and much more.
Join us for an unforgettable adventure in Sri Lanka, where every detail is thoughtfully planned for your ultimate travel experience.

  • Infant Seats available (Age 1-3)
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
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Shigekiy2024
Jul 18, 2024
Trip to Nuwara Eliya - I am from Japan 🇯🇵 . I went on a trip around Nuwara Eliya with him. He arranged the trip very nicely. We took the train from Badulla, the starting station to go to Nuwara Eliya. I could not come up with this idea without him because it was not a route recommended on Google maps, but the train ride from there was one of the best memories during the trip. I could enjoy the view of tea gardens from the window. During the city walk in Nuwara Eliya, he cared my health condition well too. When I had a stomachache, he helped me find a washroom. At the end of the trip he gave me some gifts. The first thing is a calendar with pictures of us during the travel. Whenever I see this calendar, I remember those days spent with him. He also gave me a gift for my mom. I really appreciate his hospitality. I definitely recommend you to travel with him. You must have a precious experience which you would never have without him.
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867shreen
Jul 17, 2024
Amazing Srilankan Trip😍 - We are a group of five people from Dubai and we chose Explore Ceylona travel company for our Sri Lanka trip based on a friend's recommendation. We think it was the best decision we made because their service is so great. Since we came on separate flights, the driver and guide arrived at the right time and picked us up from the airport separately. We were picked up from the hotels on time, and the guide managed the time properly throughout the trip and took us to the places mentioned in the itinerary and he gave us a good understanding of the traditional experiences of Sri Lanka as well as the cultural importance of Sri Lanka. He is a very kind person with a lot of experience even though he is young, and he and his driver are very friendly and their hospitality is very generous and they did not forget to give us gifts at the end of the trip 😎, your Sri Lanka travel experience through this travel company run by Gayasri, our guide. I recommend everyone to get it. Their service is fantastic 👌
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Companion31792229918
Jul 14, 2024
Srilanka with Gayasri - It was a nice experience in Srilanka with Gayasri. Gayasri has taken utmost care and guided us to most of the landmarks we have seen in Srilanka. I recommended Gayasri for the people who will be visiting Srilanka.
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Srinidhit2024
Jul 14, 2024
The trip was fun and enjoyed a lot because of our guide(GayaSri)) - Gayasri was our guide when we went to Sri Lanka. He was ALWAYS ON TIME right from picking us in airport till the end of the trip. He was helpful through out time. During the trip, he guided and explained the historical places that we visited. We enjoyed a lot. He ENTERTAINED all of us by playing guitar. He is a talented and a hardworking person.He maintained good relation with people around him.One of the main advantage for tourists is that he can speak in ENGLISH. He took us to some of the nice places for FOOD. When faced any problem he solved the problems in a very less time. His driver helped us during treking to watch the sunrise(Helped us climb the rocks).GayaSri has good relations with the locals as well...which helped us to know the culture of Sri Lanka. Thank You for helping us throughout the trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
13raghun
Jul 12, 2024
Exceptional Sri Lankan Journey: A Memorable Experience with Gayasri as Our Guide - We traveled to Sri Lanka to attend a local wedding in Nikaweratiya as well as to tour around the country. We were a group of 5 people and Gayasri has been with us since the time we landed in the airport till the time we left the country. He and his driver made our journey truly exceptional. Gayasri's deep knowledge of Sri Lanka's history, culture, and local customs enriched our experience at every turn. His passion for storytelling brought each destination to life, whether we were exploring ancient temples around Sigiriya or enjoying the terrains of Kandy. Gayasri's professionalism was evident in every aspect of our trip. He was always punctual, organized, and attentive to our needs, ensuring that we made the most of our time in Sri Lanka. His friendly demeanor and genuine warmth made us feel welcome and cared for throughout our journey. As few of us were vegetarians in the group, he took every effort to ensure we were treated the best and got the local authentic foods. His driver, whose name unfortunately escapes me now, was equally commendable. His skillful navigation through Sri Lanka's bustling cities and winding countryside roads made our travels smooth and comfortable. Together, Gayasri and his driver formed a seamless team, dedicated to providing us with a safe, enjoyable, and memorable adventure. Overall, our experience with Gayasri as our tour guide in Sri Lanka exceeded all expectations. His expertise, professionalism, and personable nature made him not just a guide, but a true companion on our journey. We cannot recommend him highly enough to anyone planning to explore the beautiful island of Sri Lanka.
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September 2024
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