- Search for elephants on an unforgettable game drive
- Cycle through rural Sri Lanka and enjoy a traditional village lunch
- Climb Sigiriya rock fortress in the cooler early morning
- Visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy
- Explore the tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya and taste authentic Ceylon tea
Best of Sri Lanka
New
Culture
Activity Level
Easy & Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Comfort Level
Superior
Itinerary
Colombo Negombo, near Colombo
Adventure starts in Colombo • Sunset, cocktails and dinner
Begin your adventure in Colombo, the energetic capital of Sri Lanka.
At 3.30pm, say ayubowan to your tour leader and fellow travellers at our hotel, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. That’s followed by an orientation tour around the city.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Sri Lankan welcome by arranging dinner and cocktails at the historic Galle Face Hotel, where we can watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean.
Want to explore Colombo further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Accommodation: Ramada Colombo (or similar)
To Sigiriya • Elephant spotting on a safari game drive
Bid farewell to Colombo and transfer (4hr 20min) to Sigiriya this morning, an essential stop on any tour of Sri Lanka.
After dropping off our bags at the hotel, head into Minneriya National Park this afternoon. Riding in open-sided 4x4s, we search for the park’s large elephant herds, while also keeping an eye out for sambar deer, wild buffalo, sloth bears and more.
Alternatively, if your tour leader’s intel reveals the safari is better in Hurulu Eco Park or Kaudulla National Park, we go there instead – ensuring the best safari possible based on where the elephants are gathered.
End the day at Hotel Sigiriya, which has an excellent view of the ancient Sigiriya rock fortress from the pool area.
Overnight: Hotel Sigiriya (or similar)
Experience village life on a leisurely bike ride
We’re off to the small city of Girithale this morning, a 55-minute drive away, where we hop on bikes for a leisurely cycle through small villages and past lakes, which should take around two hours. If you’d prefer not to cycle, you can hire a tuk tuk (approximately 6,000 rupees/US$20) and follow the group.
Along the way, we see the local people going about their daily routine – expect smiles and waves as we go! We should also spot plenty of bird life, including egrets, brahminy kites, kingfishers and bulbuls. Breaking up the journey, we stop for lunch in a traditional village before returning to our hotel in Sigiriya by late afternoon with time to enjoy a post-ride dip in the pool.
Overnight: Hotel Sigiriya (or similar)
Climb the rock fortress of Sigiriya • Dambulla Cave Temple • To Kandy
Rise early this morning to climb the rock fortress of Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, before the strongest heat of the day. Probably the standout attraction in Sri Lanka, Sigiriya comprises the ruins of a fifth-century palace, which crowns an imposing granite peak. We drive to the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens. We then take the route to the top, via a series of steep steps and gangways, ascending 655ft (200m) and passing an overhanging rock, under which portraits of native maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the rock wall. On the flat-topped summit are extensive remains of the King’s Summer Palace.
Returning to the hotel for breakfast, we then set off to Dambulla, where we visit the magnificent Cave Temple, taking the back entrance, where there are fewer steps. Among the most impressive sights in Sri Lanka, it is home to colourful, well-preserved paintings and Buddha statues, which date to the first century BCE.
Finally, we transfer (2hr 40min) to Kandy, where we stay for the next two nights.
Overnight: Hotel Suisse (or similar)
Visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth • Leisurely stroll around Kandy Lake
We visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka. The Tooth of Buddha was taken from his funeral pyre in 543 BCE and only found its way to Sri Lanka in the fourth century CE. Hundreds of worshippers visit the temple each day and in August the most spectacular ceremony takes place. Some of our August trips should coincide with the Kandy festival, but the exact dates, decided by priests, are not known until five months before the event.
Later, we take a leisurely stroll around Kandy Lake, enjoying the peaceful surroundings, and taking in views of the city and hills.
Overnight: Hotel Suisse (or similar)
To the hill station of Nuwara Eliya • Immersive tea factory tour
After breakfast, we leave Kandy and transfer (approximately 2hr 30min to 3hr) to Nuwara Eliya, a popular hill station during the British era, situated in the cool highland air. Known locally as Little England, it is dotted with British-style houses and parks and features a golf club and racecourse.
Here, we visit a tea factory to discover the fascinating process of tea production, from plucking fresh tea leaves to processing and packaging. Enjoy the aroma of freshly brewed tea and enjoy a tasting session to experience the rich flavours of Ceylon tea.
After, we enjoy a scenic drive through Nuwara Eliya, admiring the lush tea plantations, beautifully manicured gardens and rolling hills.
Overnight: Galway Heights (or similar)
To Negombo • Optional white-water rafting at Kitulgala
Leave the tea hills and transfer (4hr 50min) to the coastal city of Negombo, a short drive north of Colombo.
There, you can relax at our beachside hotel, either in the pool or on the sands. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to Kitulgala for a white-water rafting adventure (see the Optional Excursions section of the Trip Notes for more details).
In the evening, our tour leader will arrange a group dinner, where we can share our favourite moments from the trip.
Overnight: Jetwing Blue Negombo (or similar)
Adventure ends in Negombo
The adventure ends in Negombo today, and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively,speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Negombo and enjoying some downtime by the beach.
A selection of hotels
We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.
Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Reviews
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- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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