Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Negombo
Your flight arrives and you'll meet your English-speaking chauffeur at the airport. From there, it's about an hour's drive to Negombo where you'll check into your hotel. Settle in, have dinner, and get some rest before your activities start tomorrow.
- Start point
- Katunayaka, Gampaha, Sri Lanka (Bandaranaike International Airport, 00:00 - 00:00)
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Negombo
This is your day to relax at the hotel in Negombo. The beach town has some nice spots if you want to walk around, but mostly you're taking it easy and preparing for the tour activities that begin tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 3
Negombo to Galle
After breakfast, you'll travel toward Galle with stops along the way. You'll explore Madu River to see the mangrove forests and visit Cinnamon Island. The highlight here is the turtle hatchery where you can actually help release baby turtles into the ocean and learn about conservation efforts. It takes about 3-4 hours driving to get there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Madu River and mangrove forests
- Visit to Cinnamon Island with cinnamon cultivation demonstration
- Visit to turtle hatchery with baby turtle release experience
Landmarks Madu River Cinnamon Island - Day 4
Galle
Following breakfast, you'll head to the Galle Dutch Fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking around this colonial-era fortress takes most of the morning and afternoon. You'll see the lighthouse, the old Dutch Reformed Church, and walls that go back several centuries. The views from the ramparts are worth the time spent here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Galle Dutch Fort including lighthouse and Dutch Reformed Church
Landmarks Galle Dutch Fort - Day 5
Galle to Yala
After breakfast, you'll travel to Yala and check in at your hotel. Spend the afternoon relaxing and settling in. Later, you have a choice: head out for an evening safari at Yala National Park to look for wildlife like leopards, or skip it and do an early morning safari instead. Either way works depending on how you're feeling.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Evening safari at Yala National Park
Landmarks Yala National Park 
- Day 6
Yala
Your alarm goes off around 5 AM for an early morning safari at 5:30 AM when animals are most active. The hotel provides a packed breakfast to take with you. If you want even more time in the park, there's an option for a full-day safari to increase your chances of seeing different species.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Packed breakfast arranged by hotel), Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning safari at Yala National Park
Optional Activities
- Full-day safari at Yala National Park
Landmarks Yala National Park - Day 7
Yala to Ella
After breakfast, you'll travel to Ella in the central highlands. At Ravana Waterfall you can take a swim in the cool water if you'd like. Then you'll check out the Nine Arches Bridge, a colonial-era structure that's fun for photos. If you're up for some adrenaline, there's a zipline experience that takes you soaring over the falls.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Ravana Waterfall with swimming opportunity
- Visit to Nine Arches Bridge
- Ravana Zipline experience
Landmarks Ravana Waterfall Nine Arches Bridge 
- Day 8
Ella
You'll start very early with a hike up Little Adam's Peak to catch the sunrise from about 1,200 meters. After heading back to the hotel for breakfast and rest, you'll drive to Lipton's Seat. This viewpoint gives you panoramic views across tea estates and valleys, and it's one of the best spots in the region for photography.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunrise hike to Little Adam's Peak
- Scenic drive to Lipton's Seat viewpoint
Landmarks Little Adam's Peak Lipton's Seat - Day 9
Ella to Kandy
After breakfast, you'll head to the train station for one of the world's most scenic train journeys. The train winds through misty mountains and past tea plantations on its way to Kandy, usually taking around 5-7 hours depending on stops. You'll pause at Ramboda Falls for photos. Once you arrive in Kandy, you'll visit a tea factory to see how Ceylon tea is processed and taste some fresh varieties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic train journey from Ella to Kandy
- Photo stop at Ramboda Falls
- Visit to tea factory and tea plantation with tea tasting
Landmarks Ramboda Falls 
- Day 10
Kandy
This is a full day in Kandy after breakfast. You'll start at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage watching elephants bathe and eat. Then it's the Royal Botanical Gardens with orchids and tropical plants. Later you'll see the Gem Museum and head to Kandy View Point for city panoramas. In the evening, you'll watch traditional Kandyan cultural dancers perform, and finish at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism's most important sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Visit to Royal Botanical Gardens
- Visit to Gem Museum
- Kandyan cultural dance show
- Visit to Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Landmarks Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Royal Botanical Gardens Kandy View Point Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - Day 11
Kandy to Dambulla
After breakfast, you'll travel to Dambulla to explore the cave temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved into rock. There are five major caves filled with Buddha statues and ancient paintings. If you want to experience village life, there's an optional afternoon with canoe rides, bullock cart rides, and a chance to try traditional Sri Lankan food prepared locally.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Dambulla Cave Temple
Optional Activities
- Optional village tour including canoe ride, bullock cart ride, tuk-tuk ride, and traditional home appliances demonstration with regional cuisine
Landmarks Dambulla Cave Temple 
- Day 12
Dambulla
You'll climb Sigiriya Lion Rock before sunrise, reaching the top for incredible views across the landscape. It's steep but manageable, taking about 1.5 hours up and down. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, you can opt for an Ayurvedic massage to relax. Later in the evening, you might hike Pidurangala Rock for sunset views, or just rest if you prefer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunrise climb at Sigiriya Lion Rock
Optional Activities
- Ayurvedic massage
- Scenic sunset hike at Pidurangala Rock
Landmarks Sigiriya Lion Rock Pidurangala Rock - Day 13
Dambulla to Polonnaruwa
Following breakfast, you'll drive to Polonnaruwa, an ancient city and UNESCO site that was Sri Lanka's secondary capital from the 11th to 12th centuries. You'll explore the Quadrangle, the Royal Palace ruins, the Audience Hall, and the Gal Vihara with its four Buddha statues. By evening, there's time for a sunset walk along the Mahaweli River before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Polonnaruwa Ancient City with Quadrangle, Royal Palace, Audience Hall, and Gal Vihara
Optional Activities
- Traditional dance or music performance
Landmarks Polonnaruwa Ancient City Gal Vihara 
- Day 14
Polonnaruwa to Anuradhapura
After breakfast, you're heading to Anuradhapura, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and Sri Lanka's former capital. Walking through royal ruins takes several hours. You'll see the massive Jetavanarama Stupa and the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, one of the world's oldest trees and deeply sacred in Buddhism. Plan to spend the full day here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Anuradhapura Ancient City with Royal Palace Ruins, Jetavanarama Stupa, and Sri Maha Bodhi Tree
Landmarks Anuradhapura Ancient City Jetavanarama Stupa Sri Maha Bodhi Tree 
- Day 15
Anuradhapura to Chilaw
After breakfast, you'll travel toward Chilaw with a stop at Wilpattu National Park, one of Sri Lanka's largest wildlife reserves. A Jeep safari through the park gives you a chance to spot sloth bears, elephants, and various birds. This is different from Yala so you'll likely see different species here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jeep safari at Wilpattu National Park
Landmarks Wilpattu National Park - Day 16
Chilaw to Colombo
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Colombo for your final night. The drive takes about 2-3 hours depending on traffic. Check into your hotel, relax, and have dinner. Colombo is the capital and coastal city, so there's a different feel from the interior areas you've been exploring.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 17
Colombo
Your last full day starts with breakfast, then you'll explore Colombo's main sites. The Fort area has colonial-era buildings worth seeing. Head to the Pettah Market, which is colorful and chaotic in the best way. The Gangaramaya Temple shows off Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture all in one place. If you have energy for shopping, the malls and boutique stores around the city are good options.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Fort area with colonial-era buildings
- Visit to Pettah Market
- Visit to Gangaramaya Temple
Optional Activities
- Shopping at malls and boutique stores
Landmarks Gangaramaya Temple - Day 18
Departure
After breakfast, you'll head to the airport for your departure flight. You're leaving with memories of ancient temples, green tea hills, wildlife encounters, and beaches. It's been a solid introduction to Sri Lanka's history, nature, and culture.
- End point
- Katunayaka, Gampaha, Sri Lanka (Bandaranaike International Airport, 00:00 - 00:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
