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Essence of Sri Lanka - 9 Days of Culture, Nature & Wildlife, Private Tour

9 days
•
Start and end in Colombo
4.6 (36 reviews)
  • Aerial view of a tea plantation with a building in the center surrounded by lush greenery.
  • Scenic view from the top of Sigiriya Fortress in Sri Lanka.
  • The Golden Buddha Statue at Dambulla Cave Temple in Sri Lanka.
  • Line of monk statues at a temple in Sri Lanka.
    View all

  • We felt like we saw a lot of Sri Lanka in a short amount of time and got to see/do a lot of sites/major activities.

    Alice•traveled in April4.5
  • Statues of Buddha in a cave at Dambulla, Sri Lanka.
  • Ornate temple facade with detailed carvings, likely in Sri Lanka.
  • A large, flat-topped rock formation surrounded by greenery.
  • Ancient carved lion's paws and steps leading up a rock fortress.
  • A white temple building under a rock and a tree in the foreground.
    View all
From
$1,567
-10%
US $1,410 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

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2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

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2

ChildrenUnder 18

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Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:
Gold Operator
Aitken Spence Travel
Ancient Wonders
Walk among ruins, temples, and timeless landmarks
Private Tour
Travel exclusively with your friends and family
Partially Guided
Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Ages 10+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Intro

    Introduction

  2. Day 1

    Colombo

    Colombo
    Start point
    Katunayaka, Gampaha, Sri Lanka (Pick up at Colombo Airport)
    Accommodation
    Hotel 3* (Palm Village Hotel), Hotel 5* (Cinnamon Lakeside), Hotel 4* (Radisson Colombo)

    Included Activities

    • Meet and Greet at Colombo International Airport

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Pettah bazaar
    • Visit Gangarama Temple
    • Visit Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil
    • Explore Cinnamon Gardens
    • Visit Independence Hall
    • Visit Colombo Town Hall
    • Visit National Museum
    Landmarks
    Pettah Bazaar
    Gangarama Temple
    Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil
    Independence Hall
    Colombo Town Hall
    National Museum
  3. Day 2

    Colombo to Sigiriya

    Colombo to Sigiriya
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel 3* (Kassapa Lions Rock), Hotel 4* (The Paradise Resort), Hotel 5* (Cinnamon Lodge)

    Included Activities

    • Visit Golden Temple of Dambulla
    Landmarks
    Golden Temple of Dambulla
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2Itinerary Image 3
  4. Day 3

    Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa

    Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel 3* (Kassapa Lions Rock), Hotel 4* (The Paradise Resort), Hotel 5* (Cinnamon Lodge)

    Included Activities

    • Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
    • Explore ruins of Polonnaruwa
    Landmarks
    Sigiriya Rock Fortress
    Polonnaruwa
    Gal Viharaya
    Audience Hall of Polonnaruwa
    Lotus Bath
    Shiva Temple Polonnaruwa
    Lankathilake
    Watadage
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2Itinerary Image 3
  5. Day 4

    Sigiriya to Kandy

    Sigiriya to Kandy
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel 3* (Hotel Hilltop), Hotel 4* (Earl’s Regent), Hotel 5* (The Grand Kandyan)

    Included Activities

    • Visit Matale spice and herb gardens
    • Visit Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens
    Landmarks
    Matale Spice Gardens
    Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens
  6. Day 5

    Kandy

    Kandy
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel 3* (Hotel Hilltop), Hotel 4* (Earl’s Regent), Hotel 5* (The Grand Kandyan)

    Included Activities

    • Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
    • Watch cultural show with folk and traditional dances and fire-walking performance
    Landmarks
    Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
    Kandy Lake
    National Museum Kandy
  7. Day 6

    Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

    Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel 3* (Galway Forest Lodge), Hotel 4* (Jetwing St Andrew’s), Hotel 5* (Araliya Green Hills)

    Included Activities

    • Visit tea plantation and factory with Ceylon tea tasting

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Lovers' Leap waterfall
    • Climb Pidurutalagala mountain
    Landmarks
    Sri Lanka Tea Plantation
    Victoria Park
    Lovers' Leap Waterfall
    Pidurutalagala
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2Itinerary Image 3
  8. Day 7

    Nuwara Eliya to Yala National Park

    Nuwara Eliya to Yala National Park
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel 3* (Chandrika Hotel), Hotel 4* (The Safari), Hotel 5* (Jetwing Yala)

    Included Activities

    • Visit temple of Buduruwagala
    • Jeep safari in Yala National Park
    Landmarks
    Buduruwagala Temple
    Yala National Park
    Itinerary Image 1
  9. Day 8

    Tissamaharama to Kalutara

    Tissamaharama to Kalutara
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel 3* (Hibiscus Beach Hotel & Villas), Hotel 4* (Turyaa Kalutara), Hotel 5* (Heritance Ahungalla)

    Included Activities

    • Visit Galle and Dutch Fort
    • Visit turtle hatchery in Kosgoda
    Landmarks
    Galle Fort
    Dutch Reformed Church Galle
    Meera Mosque
    Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery
  10. Day 9

    Kalutara to Colombo

    Kalutara to Colombo
    End point
    Katunayaka, Gampaha, Sri Lanka (Drop off at Colombo Airport)
    Meals
    Breakfast

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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

  • Palm Village Hotel

    Hotel 3*
    day 1

  • Cinnamon Lakeside

    Hotel 5*
    day 1

  • Radisson Colombo

    Hotel 4*
    day 1

  • Kassapa Lions Rock

    Hotel 3*
    Days 2, 3

  • The Paradise Resort

    Hotel 4*
    Days 2, 3

  • Cinnamon Lodge

    Hotel 5*
    Days 2, 3

  • Hotel Hilltop

    Hotel 3*
    Days 4, 5

  • Earl’s Regent

    Hotel 4*
    Days 4, 5

  • The Grand Kandyan

    Hotel 5*
    Days 4, 5

  • Galway Forest Lodge

    Hotel 3*
    day 6

  • Jetwing St Andrew’s

    Hotel 4*
    day 6

  • Araliya Green Hills

    Hotel 5*
    day 6

  • Chandrika Hotel

    Hotel 3*
    day 7

  • The Safari

    Hotel 4*
    day 7

  • Jetwing Yala

    Hotel 5*
    day 7

  • Hibiscus Beach Hotel & Villas

    Hotel 3*
    day 8

  • Turyaa Kalutara

    Hotel 4*
    day 8

  • Heritance Ahungalla

    Hotel 5*
    day 8

Operated by

Aitken Spence Travel

Gold Operator
Rating
4.5 (66 reviews)
Response time
within 2 days
Response rate
50%
Cancellation policy
Learn more

Traveler Moments

  • Buddhist statues in a cave temple
  • Bright sunset with colorful sky
  • Two people posing in front of clouds and mountains
  • Green forest with a distant rocky outcrop
  • Woman standing by a pool on a hilltop
  • Two people posing in front of a scenic view with fog and vegetation.
  • Group selfie with forested mountains in the background.

Traveler Reviews

4.6
Overall rating based on 36 Reviews
  • Itinerary
    4.5
  • Transport
    4.7
  • Guide
    4.8
  • Accommodation
    4.3
  • Food
    4.3
  • Tour Operator
    4.5

Sort by

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Highest First
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  • SilviaThoma5.0•April 2020
    Excellent tour. Loved the local culture and the Sri Lankan food was mind-blowing. Amazing tour and shall recommend...
    Show more
    Traveled in February 2019
  • SilviaThoma5.0•April 2020
    The itinerary was well designed and it was an unforgettable memory of Sri Lanka. Shall definitely visit again to...
    Show more
    Traveled in January 2019
  • KevinReed5.0•October 2019
    Our guide was excellent. Always friendly, approachable and very knowledgeable on local history in each location we...
    Show more
    Traveled in August 2019
  • Emma
    Emma5.0•September 2019
    Just home (we were a group of 4 friends, all girls in our mid-20s) from the most amazing 9 day trip organized...
    Show more
    Traveled in September 2019
    Reply from: Aitken Spence Travel
    Dear Emma, Greetings from Sri Lanka! Many thanks for your wonderful feedback! Thank you so much for taking out your valuable time to give us your opinion on the tour and our services! We look forward to having you in Sri Lanka again! Warm Regards, Aitken Spence Team
    Show more
  • RodneyMiller5.0•July 2019
    Our tour group of 12 Australians were most fortunate to have Sam Samarakoon as our guide for our first SriLankan...
    Show more
    Traveled in July 2019
  • Kerrie3.5•May 2019
    No doubt that the service from Aitken Spence and the people of Sri Lanka was immaculate, however the cost of the...
    Show more
    Traveled in April 2019
  • LindseyLowe5.0•May 2019
    It was one of the best travel experience I ever had in my life. The hotels, food & the places were great. Thanks for...
    Show more
    Traveled in January 2019
    Reply from: Aitken Spence Travel
    Dear Lindsey, Many thanks for your wonderful feedback, and we are delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit to Sri Lanka! Hoping to see you again soon! Thank you & Warm Regards, Team Aitken Spence
    Show more
  • carolyn5.0•April 2019
    A fantastic trip you could not want a better itinerary or service. We had a fantastic driver/ guide who was so...
    Show more
    Traveled in April 2019
    Reply from: Aitken Spence Travel
    Dear Carolyn, Many Thanks for your review on the tour. We highly value the trust and faith you have placed on us and we are grateful to have clients like you traveling with us. Many Thanks for your feedback regarding the qualitative service provided by our Chauffuer Guide Buddhika. We would like to invite you once again to Sri Lanka to enjoy a woundeful stay in this beautiful island. Warm Regards, Aitken Spence Team
    Show more
  • Alice4.5•April 2019
    Asanka was a great tour guide! He was happy to stop wherever we wanted, provided a lot of information about the areas...
    Show more
    Traveled in April 2019
  • Cheryl5.0•February 2019
    We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Our guide Chamith was great
    Traveled in February 2019
    Reply from: Aitken Spence Travel
    Dear Cheryl, Many thanks for your wonderful feedback. Looking forward to seeing you again in Sri Lanka soon. Warm Regards, Aitken Spence Team
    Show more

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Dates & Prices

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2028

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What our customers ask about this tour

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  • E

    Eric

    Asked on June 23rd, 2024

    Why are there no customer reviews since 2019

    Tour Details
    • Aitken Spence TravelOperator•Written June 2024

      Reviews are limited since Sri Lanka was going through the global pandemic followed by the financial crisis, travel was limited and it has now received lot of positivity through the word of mouth.

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From
$1,567
-10%
US $1,410 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

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Good to Know

Tour ID: 103123

  • Currency
    Rs
    Sri Lanka Rupee
    Sri Lanka
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types D, G. As a traveler from England you will need an adaptor for type D. As a traveler from South Africa you will need an adaptor for type G.

    Type D
    Sri Lanka
    Type G
    Sri Lanka
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for Sri Lanka. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Sri Lanka. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Sri Lanka. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Sri Lanka. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Rabies - Recommended for Sri Lanka. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Sri Lanka. Ideally 10 days before travel.
    • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Sri Lanka. Ideally 1 month before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before November 27th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after November 27th, 2026, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Aitken Spence Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Aitken Spence Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Aitken Spence Travel" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy

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  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
  • People also viewed

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TourRadar presents The Dambulla Cave Temple

Keep Exploring Sri Lanka

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