Itinerary
- Day 1
Colombo
Your driver will meet you at the airport or hotel and take you into Colombo City. Depending on when you arrive, you have the option to do some sightseeing around the capital, checking out colonial buildings, local markets, temples, and Mount Lavinia beach. If you're tired from traveling, you can skip the tour and head straight to your hotel to get settled instead.
Optional Activities
- Colombo sightseeing tour including colourful street markets, colonial-era buildings, museums, galleries, churches, mosques and temples
- Visit Mount Lavinia beach for swimming and relaxation
Landmarks Mount Lavinia Beach Colombo Fort - Day 2
Colombo to Kandy
After breakfast at your hotel, your driver picks you up and takes you to Colombo Fort railway station to catch a train heading to Kandy. The route is quite scenic, passing through the Muthurajawela marshland, small villages, and extensive paddy fields along the way. Once you arrive at Kandy railway station, your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel where you can relax for the rest of the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Train journey from Colombo to Kandy
Landmarks Muthurajawela Marshland Colombo Fort Railway Station 
- Day 3
Kandy
Today you'll see Kandy's main sites, starting with the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage where orphaned baby elephants get care and attention. From there, you'll visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which holds an important Buddhist relic inside. Later you'll walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens, which spans 147 acres and has exotic plants, rivers, and nice walking paths throughout. You'll stay overnight in Kandy again.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
- Visit Royal Botanic Gardens including Avenue of Royal Palms, Bamboo-fringed riverside drive, Bat drive, Spice garden, Orchard house, Cactus house, and Glasshouse
Landmarks Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) Royal Botanic Gardens - Day 4
Kandy to Sigiriya and Dambulla
Your driver takes you to Sigiriya Rock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Cultural Triangle. You'll climb the 200-meter fortress to see ancient palace ruins, wall paintings, gardens, and reservoirs up top. The lion's paws carved into the rock are a famous feature here. After that, you head to the Dambulla Cave Temple complex, which has five caves filled with Buddha statues and detailed murals, plus a 47-foot recumbent Buddha sculpture. You'll return to Kandy for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Climb UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya Rock and view ancient palace ruins, wall paintings, gardens, reservoirs, and lion's paws
- Visit Dambulla Cave Temple complex with five caves containing Buddha images and wall and ceiling paintings
Landmarks Sigiriya Rock Dambulla Cave Temple - Day 5
Kandy to Ella
Your driver brings you to catch the Ella train, and this is one of the world's most impressive railway rides through Sri Lanka's hill country. The 2nd class journey climbs to 6,000 feet, winding through lush tea plantations, tall peaks, and waterfalls. The route passes Nuwara Eliya, known as the tea capital, and the Nine Arch Bridge before reaching the scenic highland village of Ella. Your driver won't be on the train unless arranged beforehand. Overnight in Ella.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Train journey from Kandy to Ella through hill country
Landmarks Nuwara Eliya Nine Arch Bridge - Day 6
Ella
Your final day is spent in Ella, the scenic highland village surrounded by tea plantations and hills that are great for walks. There are temples and waterfalls to check out around the area. On clear days you can see views across to the South Coast. The climate here is nearly perfect for just relaxing. From here, you can arrange a train back to Colombo, take a bus to the South Coast, or talk with your guide about extending your tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walks through tea plantations
- Visit temples and waterfalls around Ella
- Explore Ella Gap viewpoint
Landmarks Ella Gap
