Itinerary
- Day 1
Colombo to Sigiriya
You'll land at Colombo International Airport where your Overa Tours representative will be waiting to pick you up. The drive to Sigiriya takes you through Sri Lanka's central region, and once you reach your hotel, there's time to settle in, freshen up, and get ready for the days ahead. This gives you a chance to adjust to the local time and prepare mentally for all the activities coming your way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport pickup from Colombo International Airport
- Day 2
Sigiriya
After breakfast, you'll start early for the climb up Sigiriya Rock Fortress, where the UNESCO-listed ruins sit 200 meters above the surrounding plains. The views from the top extend across the dry zone landscape. Later in the day, you'll head into rural Habarana village and experience a slower pace of life. A canoe trip on the lake gives you a quiet perspective, then you'll try a traditional bull cart ride through the countryside. Lunch features local dishes, and you'll walk through rice and vegetable fields to see how farming works here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress climb with ruins exploration
- Walking tour of Habarana village
- Canoe trip on the lake
- Bull cart ride
- Local lunch
- Exploration of rice and vegetable fields
Landmarks Sigiriya Rock Fortress - Day 3
Sigiriya
You'll drive to Polonnaruwa and spend the morning among 11th-century ruins from when this was Sri Lanka's medieval capital. The Parakrama Samudra reservoir, King's Council Chamber, and Royal Citadel show the sophistication of ancient kingdom planning. After lunch, a jeep safari through Minneriya National Park lets you watch elephants, deer, and other wildlife going about their day in natural settings. The park covers over 8,800 hectares, so there's plenty of terrain to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
- Jeep safari at Minneriya National Park
Landmarks Polonnaruwa Ancient City Minneriya National Park - Day 4
Sigiriya to Kandy
You're heading to Kandy today with a stop at an Ayurvedic herbal centre along the way, where you'll learn how spices have medicinal uses in traditional practice. Once in Kandy, you'll visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism's most important pilgrimage sites. Driving along Upper Lake Drive gives you good city views, and the Gem Museum shows Sri Lanka's precious stone industry. By evening, you'll sit for a cultural performance with traditional Kandyan dancers and fire walking rituals that showcase local artistic traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Ayurvedic herbal centre with demonstrations
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic visit
- Upper Lake Drive visit
- Gem Museum visit
- Cultural performance with Kandyan dancers and fire walking rituals
Landmarks Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic 
- Day 5
Kandy
The morning takes you to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage where you can watch rescued elephants interact and bathe in the river. From there, you'll go to Peradeniya Botanical Garden to walk through tropical plant collections and gardens. In the evening, you've got flexibility for a self-guided walking tour of Kandy city's neighborhoods. Your driver and guide stay nearby if you need help navigating or want recommendations on local shops and boutiques along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanages visit
- Peradeniya Botanical Garden visit
- Kandy city walking tour
Landmarks Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Peradeniya Botanical Garden - Day 6
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
The train journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is scenic in itself, winding through mountain passes and tea plantation country with waterfalls visible from the tracks. You'll stop at Hakgala Botanical Gardens to walk through different plant collections and enjoy the cooler mountain climate. Later, Gregory Lake offers water sports and boat options if you're interested. By evening, you'll reach Nuwara Eliya, a town with a distinctly British feel, sometimes called Little England, where the cooler mountain air is a noticeable change from lower elevations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Train journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya through tea plantations
- Hakgala Botanical Gardens visit
- Gregory Lake water sports and boat trip
Landmarks Gregory Lake Hakgala Botanical Garden - Day 7
Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, you'll head to Horton Plains, the highest plateau in Sri Lanka at about 2,194 meters, where moorland terrain feels quite different from the rest of the country. Later, a visit to a tea factory shows how Ceylon tea gets processed from fresh leaves to finished product, and you'll get a complimentary cup of pure Ceylon tea to taste the quality that makes this region famous.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Horton Plains visit
- Tea Factory visit with cup of Ceylon tea
Landmarks Horton Plains National Park - Day 8
Nuwara Eliya to Thissamaharama
You're traveling to Thissamaharama in the dry zone, where you'll visit an ancient Buddhist sacred site. Thissamaharama Temple is one of four major Buddhist monasteries established in early Sri Lankan history, holding significant religious importance. You'll also see Thissamaharama Lake and spend time taking in the natural landscape of the dry zone, which has a completely different feel from the hill country.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Thissamaharama Temple visit
- Thissamaharama Lake visit
Landmarks Thissamaharama Temple Thissamaharama Lake - Day 9
Thissamaharama to Mirissa
An early morning jeep safari through Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's second largest park at about 97,881 hectares, puts you in the field when wildlife is most active. You might see Asian elephants, sloth bears, leopards, and other coastal species depending on the season and luck. After around two hours of driving through different habitats, you'll head to Mirissa for the night, traveling along the southern coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Yala National Park jeep safari
Landmarks Yala National Park - Day 10
Mirissa to Bentota
You'll start before sunrise for a whale watching excursion from Mirissa, heading out on boats during the season when blue whales and other species migrate through these waters (typically November to April). Later, you'll transfer to Galle and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site Galle Dutch Fort, a well-preserved fortification with centuries of history. The evening gives you time to relax at Galle Beach before traveling on to Bentota.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Mirissa whale watching
- Galle Dutch Fort visit
Landmarks Galle Fort Galle Beach - Day 11
Bentota
Kanneliya Rainforest near Galle is home to monkeys, snakes, chameleons, and extensive birdlife spread across tropical vegetation. The journey includes waterfall stops where you can cool off and enjoy the natural water features. This is one of Galle's major attractions for nature lovers, and you'll get a sense of Sri Lanka's biodiversity. You'll return to Galle for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Kanneliya Rainforest exploration
Landmarks Kanneliya Rainforest - Day 12
Bentota
Your final full day focuses on Colombo's main sites. You'll check out the Dutch Hospital, a restored colonial building now with shops and restaurants. The Galle Face seafront promenade runs along the Indian Ocean with the city behind it. Gangarama Seema Malaka Temple sits on the water with a unique architecture. The National Museum covers Sri Lankan history, Independence Square marks a key historical moment, and the Old Parliament Complex shows colonial administrative architecture. These sites together show how Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial periods combined with modern development shaped Colombo.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dutch Hospital visit
- Galle Face visit
- Gangarama Seema Malaka Temple visit
- National Museum visit
- Independence Square visit
- Old Parliament Complex visit
Landmarks Galle Face Gangarama Seema Malaka National Museum of Colombo Independence Square Old Parliament Complex - Day 13
Colombo to Airport
You've got time in the morning for any last sightseeing in Colombo before your representative drives you to the airport, roughly an hour away. Make sure you arrive at least three hours before your flight departs. This gives time for check-in, security, and any last-minute purchases at the airport shops.
Included Activities
- Final Colombo sightseeing
- Airport transfer to Colombo International Airport
