Classic Round Tour Sri Lanka: 13 Nights / 14 Days
This two week long itinerary includes a variety of highlights across the island at a relaxed pace. Discover remnants of ancient Kingdoms and temples, expansive tea plantations, national parks teeming with wildlife and tropical beaches with a bunch of friendly locals in between!
Highlights
- 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Leopard safari in Wilpattu National Park.
- Scenic train ride with locals.
- Whale watching
Arrival --> Colombo --> Wilpattu NP --> Dambulla --> Sigiriya --> Polonnaruwa --> Kandy --> Nuwara Eliya --> Ella --> Udawalawe --> Mirissa --> Galle --> Departure
DAY 1
- Welcome on arrival and transfer to the capital, Colombo a multi-cultural city with a long and interesting history.
- Spend the day relaxing/exploring the neighborhood.
- Overnight small boutique hotel in central Colombo.
Airport-Colombo: 45 mins
DAY 2
- Spend the day sightseeing around Colombo, visiting landmarks with religious, historic and cultural value.
- Overnight small boutique hotel in central Colombo.
DAY 3
- Drive to bungalow located in a village bordering Wilpattu National Park in time for lunch.
- Afternoon safari at Willpattu National Park, well known for its leopard population.
- Overnight wildlife bungalow in Wilpattu
Colombo-Wilpattu: 3-4 hours
DAY 4
- Morning safari at Wilpattu National Park with picnic breakfast in the jungle.
- Drive to Dambulla to visit the ancient Cave Temple, a UNESCO world heritage site.
- Overnight resort style hotel in Dambulla.
Wilpattu-Dambulla: 2 hours
DAY 5
- Climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the morning.
- In the afternoon travel to Polonnaruwa, another UNESCO World heritage, and explore the ancient city on bicycles.
- Return to Dambulla for the night.
Dambulla-Polonnaruwa: 1 hour
DAY 6
- After breakfast travel to the hill capital and last Kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka, Kandy.
- Spend the rest of the day exploring the city. Experience traditional Kandyan culture and the omnipresent influence of the colonial era.
- Early evening visit to the sacred Temple of the Tooth, one of the world’s most important Buddhist shrines.
- Overnight colonial era hotel in Kandy.
Dambulla-Kandy: 3 hours
DAY 7
- Travel to a Nuwara Eliya, famous for its tea plantations, colonial architecture and cool weather.
- Explore the town and visit a tea plantation to experience the production process of world-renowned Ceylon tea.
- Overnight guest house in Nuwara Eliya town.
Kandy-Nuwara Eliya: 2 ½ hours
DAY 8
- Early morning drive to Horton Plains National Park for a half day trek to Worlds End.
- Catch the afternoon train to Ella, through the scenic central highland mountain region.
- Overnight scenic guest house/hotel in Ella
Nuwara Eliya-Horton Plains: 1 hour / Nuwara Eliya-Ella: 2 hours (Train)
DAY 9
- Spend the day exploring/relaxing/hiking in Ella, a picturesque hill country town.
- Overnight scenic guest house/hotel in Ella
DAY 10
- Depart early morning, to Udawalawe National Park for a morning safari to see herds of wild elephants.
- After the safari visit the Elephant Transit Home in time for the feeding time. ETH was established by the Sri Lankan government to rehabilitate orphaned baby elephants to eventually be released back into the wild.
- Proceed to Mirissa, on the south coast, for a beach stay.
Ella-Udawalawe: 2 hour / Udawalawe-Mirissa: 2 ½ hours
DAY 11
- Spend the day relaxing on the beach.
- Overnight beach front boutique hotel in Mirissa
DAY 12
- Early morning whale watching (November to March)
- Spend the day relaxing on the beach.
- Overnight beach front boutique hotel in Mirissa
DAY 13
- After a late breakfast, travel to the historic Galle Fort City and spend the day exploring the Fort.
- Overnight heritage bungalow inside Galle Fort.
Mirissa-Galle: 1 ½ hours
DAY 14
- Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Galle-Airport: 3 hours
All our itineraries are flexible. Inquire now to customize it to your requirements!