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BestsellerCultureHill CountrySignature

Classic Ceylon

4.9214 reviews
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Group
Private · up to 12
Activity
Easy
Stops
9 destinations
Start / end
Colombo Airport (CMB)

Eight days that show you the very best of Sri Lanka at a relaxed pace. Climb the Lion Rock at sunrise, ride the famous blue train through emerald tea estates, look for leopards in Yala and end with sundowners on the ramparts of Galle.

You travel privately with your own chauffeur-guide and stay in hand-picked boutique hotels.

Highlights

  • Sunrise climb of Sigiriya Lion Rock
  • Scenic train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella
  • Jeep safari in Yala National Park
  • Evening puja at the Temple of the Tooth
  • Sunset walk on the Galle Fort ramparts
  • Tea factory visit with tasting

What’s included

  • 7 nights in boutique hotels with breakfast
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with chauffeur-guide
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Reserved train seats Nanu Oya – Ella
  • Yala jeep safari with tracker
  • All fuel, parking and highway tolls

Not included

  • International flights
  • Entrance fees to sites (about $140 per adult)
  • Lunches and dinners
  • Tips and personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
Day by day

Your journey

8 days · 7 nights · 10 stops

1Colombo2Sigiriya3Dambulla Cave Temple4Kandy5Nuwara Eliya6Ella7Yala National Park8Mirissa9Galle Fort10Colombo
NowColombo
Day1 / 8
Distance0 / 867 km
  1. Day 1

    Colombo → Sigiriya
    Sigiriya – illustration

    Your chauffeur-guide welcomes you at the airport with a garland and cold king coconut. Drive north through coconut plantations and paddy fields to your jungle lodge near Sigiriya.

    • Airport welcome
    • Lunch stop at a village restaurant
    • Evening swim at the lodge
    Jungle lodge, SigiriyaDinner170 km · 4 h
  2. Day 2

    Sigiriya → Dambulla Cave Temple
    Dambulla – illustration

    Beat the heat with a sunrise climb of Sigiriya, then visit the golden cave temples of Dambulla in the afternoon. Optional village cooking class at sunset.

    • Sunrise climb of Sigiriya
    • Dambulla Cave Temple
    • Optional village cooking class
    Jungle lodge, SigiriyaBreakfast40 km · 1 h
  3. Day 3

    Kandy
    Kandy – illustration

    Drive into the hills via a spice garden in Matale. In the evening join the drummers and pilgrims at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

    • Matale spice garden
    • Temple of the Tooth evening puja
    • Kandyan dance performance
    Lakeside boutique hotel, KandyBreakfast90 km · 2 h 30 min
  4. Day 4

    Nuwara Eliya
    Nuwara Eliya – illustration

    Climb through waterfalls and terraced tea to Nuwara Eliya. Visit a working tea factory and taste fresh BOP straight from the withering lofts.

    • Ramboda waterfall
    • Tea factory tour & tasting
    • Gregory Lake walk
    Colonial bungalow, Nuwara EliyaBreakfast, Dinner77 km · 3 h
  5. Day 5

    Ella
    Ella – illustration

    Board the blue train at Nanu Oya for three hours of tea estates, tunnels and waterfalls. Your driver meets you in Ella for a walk to the Nine Arch Bridge.

    • Reserved seats on the scenic train
    • Nine Arch Bridge
    • Little Adam’s Peak (optional)
    Mountain-view eco lodge, EllaBreakfast60 km · 3 h by train
  6. Day 6

    Yala National Park
    Yala – illustration

    Descend from the hills to the dry south-east. Afternoon jeep safari in Yala with a naturalist – leopards, elephants, crocodiles and hundreds of birds.

    • Afternoon jeep safari
    • Sunset at the park’s beach
    • Campfire dinner
    Safari camp, YalaBreakfast, Dinner110 km · 3 h
  7. Day 7

    Mirissa → Galle Fort
    Galle – illustration

    Follow the coast past stilt fishermen to Mirissa for a swim, then on to Galle. Wander the cobbled lanes and watch the sunset from the ramparts.

    • Stilt fishermen at Koggala
    • Beach lunch in Mirissa
    • Galle Fort sunset walk
    Boutique villa, GalleBreakfast170 km · 4 h
  8. Day 8

    Colombo
    Colombo – illustration

    A leisurely breakfast, then the Southern Expressway to the airport – or extend your stay with a few more beach days.

    • Southern Expressway to the airport
    • Optional Colombo city tour
    Breakfast150 km · 2 h 30 min
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