Itinerary
- Day 1
Colombo to Negombo
Your tour leader meets you at Colombo airport and drives you to Negombo, which takes about 20 minutes. There's nothing scheduled, so you can show up whenever works and spend the rest of the day relaxing by the hotel beach or pool. If you arrive early enough, there's an optional lagoon boat tour where you'll see mangroves and watch local fishermen at work. Before dinner, take a walk along the shore as the sun sets.
- Start point
- Katunayaka, Gampaha, Sri Lanka (Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport)
Optional Activities
- Negombo Lagoon Tour - boat ride viewing mangroves, birdlife, and local fishermen
Landmarks Negombo Lagoon Negombo Beach - Day 2
Negombo to Dambulla/Sigiriya
After breakfast, you'll head through Sri Lankan countryside toward Dambulla. Stop at the Millennium Elephant Foundation for guided walks and feeding time with the elephants. Then you reach the Cultural Village where lunch is traditional food prepared locally, and you'll also do a bullock cart ride and canoe ride while learning how people farm and practice traditional crafts. In the afternoon, climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress to see ancient frescoes painted on the walls and get views from the top.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch served on lotus leaves at farmer's house in Cultural Village), Dinner
Included Activities
- Millennium Elephant Foundation - guided walks with elephants and feeding experiences
- Cultural Village Tour including bullock cart ride, canoe ride on scenic lake, and traditional lunch served on lotus leaves
- Local curry cooking demonstration
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress visit - ascend 200-meter rock with ancient frescoes and royal palace ruins
Landmarks Millennium Elephant Foundation Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sigiriya 
- Day 3
Dambulla/Sigiriya
There's an optional early morning hike up Pidurangala Rock if you're interested. After breakfast, cycle through Polonnaruwa Ancient City and see UNESCO heritage sites including the Royal Palace and the Buddha statues at Gal Vihara. Later in the afternoon, head out on a 4x4 jeep safari at Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park to see wild elephants, and timing it for sunset gives you the best chance to spot them. Back at your hotel, you can get an optional Ayurvedic herbal massage if you want to wind down.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Polonnaruwa Ancient City exploration - cycling through historic sites including Royal Palace, Gal Vihara Buddha statues, and Vatadage
Optional Activities
- Pidurangala Rock early morning hike
- Minneriya/Kaudulla National Park 4x4 Jeep Safari - wildlife observation including wild elephants
- Ayurvedic Herbal Massage at hotel
Landmarks Pidurangala Rock Polonnaruwa Ancient City Royal Palace Polonnaruwa Gal Vihara Vatadage Minneriya National Park Kaudulla National Park - Day 4
Dambulla/Sigiriya to Kandy
Following breakfast, visit the Royal Cave Temple at Dambulla where hundreds of Buddha statues and ancient frescoes cover the rock walls. Continue to Matale Herbal Garden to learn about medicinal plants used in Sri Lanka, with tastings and demonstrations included. When you arrive in Kandy, explore the Temple of Tooth Relic by the lakeside, then catch a cultural dance show in the evening featuring traditional Kandyan dances, drumming, and fire-walking performances.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Royal Cave Temple Dambulla visit - UNESCO World Heritage Site with Buddha statues and religious frescoes
- Matale Herbal Garden visit - discover medicinal plants, uses, healing properties, with tastings and demonstrations
- Temple of Tooth Relic visit - sacred Buddhist temple at lakeside complex
- Cultural Dance Show - traditional Kandyan dances, drumming, and fire-walking performance
Landmarks Royal Cave Temple Dambulla Matale Herbal Garden Temple of Tooth Relic 
- Day 5
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, check out the Gem Museum to learn about Sri Lanka's sapphires, rubies, and how gems are mined and turned into jewelry. Next, spend time at Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden, one of Asia's largest with over 4,000 plant species. As you drive through the tea hills, stop at a Tea Plantation and Factory to see how Ceylon tea is made and try different varieties. The afternoon includes walking through Nuwara Eliya's city center and browsing the local fruit and vegetable market.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Gem Museum visit - displays of sapphires, rubies, and gem heritage with mining and jewelry craftsmanship insights
- Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden exploration - guided stroll through Asia's largest botanical garden with 4,000+ plant species
- Tea Plantation and Factory visit - traditional tea-making methods, tea sampling, rolling green landscapes
- Nuwara Eliya city center walk and fruit and vegetable market exploration
Landmarks Gem Museum Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden Tea Plantations Nuwara Eliya - Day 6
Nuwara Eliya to Yala/Thissamaharama
Board one of the world's most scenic train rides from Nanu-Oya station heading to Ella village. The route passes through misty hills, tea plantations, and forested areas with views of valleys, waterfalls, and small villages along the way. Once in Ella, see the famous Nine Arch Bridge, a colonial engineering structure surrounded by greenery, and if timing works you can watch a train cross it. Stop at Ravana Waterfall for photos before heading on toward Yala National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stunning Train Ride from Nanu-Oya to Ella village - one of world's most scenic journeys through tea plantations, forests, and mountains
- Nine Arch Bridge visit and exploration - colonial-era engineering marvel with surrounding peaceful hikes
- Ravana Waterfall visit - picturesque waterfall near Ella for photo stop
Landmarks Nanu-Oya Station Ella Nine Arch Bridge Ravana Waterfall Yala National Park 
- Day 7
Yala/Thissamaharama to Weligama/Mirissa
Start early with a 4x4 jeep safari through Yala National Park where leopards are commonly spotted, though you'll also see elephants and spotted deer. Visit Hummanaya, a natural Blow Hole that creates dramatic waterspouts when the tide comes in. When you reach your coastal hotel, relax on the beach with a drink and settle in under the palm trees.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- 4x4 Jeep Safari in Yala National Park - wildlife viewing including leopards, elephants, and spotted deer
- Hummanaya natural Blow Hole visit - unique geological site with dramatic waterspouts at high tide
Optional Activities
- Relax on the beach with drinks
Landmarks Yala National Park Hummanaya Blow Hole Weligama Beach Mirissa Beach - Day 8
Weligama/Mirissa to Bentota
Drive to Galle in the afternoon and explore the 16th-century fortress, a UNESCO site with Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial architecture throughout. Walk the cobblestone streets, check out cafes and art galleries, and see the historic lighthouse. Stop at a Turtle Hatchery to observe sea turtles at different stages and learn about conservation work. Then take a boat ride through Madu River with mangroves, local cinnamon industry operations, and scenic island views. Check into your Bentota hotel and spend time on the beach or by the pool.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Galle Fortress visit - 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site with colonial architecture and Galle Lighthouse
- Turtle Hatchery Center visit - observe sea turtles at various stages of development with conservation education
- Madu River boat ride - serene journey through mangroves, local cinnamon industry, wildlife encounters including birds and monitor lizards
Optional Activities
- Beach or pool relaxation at hotel
Landmarks Galle Fortress Galle Lighthouse Turtle Hatchery Center Madu River - Day 9
Bentota to Colombo
After breakfast, explore Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital with history going back to the fifth century. The city tour covers places like Red Mosque, Gangarama Temple, and Independent Square. From there, head to the airport for your return flight, or arrange a drop-off at your hotel in Colombo or Negombo if you need extra time.
- End point
- Katunayaka, Gampaha, Sri Lanka (Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Colombo City Tour - visit Red Mosque, Gangarama Temple, Independent Square, and other city highlights
Landmarks Red Mosque Gangarama Temple Independent Square
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