Cultural Heartland to Coastal Escape
From Ancient Rock Fortresses to the Southern Shores
- Information
- Tour Plan
- Location
- Gallery
This 8-day tour connects the marvels of Sri Lanka’s central highlands with the wildlife and blissful beaches of the south coast.
What's included
Destination
Bentota , Ella , Galle , Kandy , Mirissa , Negombo , Nuwara Eliya , Sigiriya , Yala Discover Destinations
Departure Location
Katunayake International Airport, Sri Lanka
Return Location
Katunayake International Airport, Sri Lanka
Price includes
- Bottled Water
- Hotel accommodations with breakfast
- Jeep Safaris
- Private driver/guide with air-conditioned vehicle
- Train Ride
Price does not include
- Entrance tickets
- Lunches/dinners
- optional-activities
Begin with two nights in Sigiriya, where you’ll climb the mighty Lion Rock and explore village life. Enjoy a safari in Minneriya National Park, then continue your journey through spiritual Kandy and the scenic hill country of Nuwara Eliya. Take the stunning train ride to Ella, visit waterfalls and hike peaks. Head to Yala National Park for a leopard-spotting adventure and wrap up on the tropical shores of Mirissa.
Ideal For: Culture lovers and adventurers wanting a balance of mountains, safaris, and beaches
- Tour Timeline
Tour Timeline
DAY 1
Airport to Negombo
- Pickup from Bandaranaike International Airport.
- Relax at Negombo beach or take a lagoon boat ride.
Overnight Stay: Negombo
DAY 2
Negombo → Sigiriya
- Visit Dambulla Cave Temple.
- Optional village tour and traditional lunch.
Overnight Stay: Sigiriya
DAY 3
Sigiriya Exploration
- Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
- Optional Minneriya Safari or Pidurangala Rock.
Overnight Stay: Sigiriya
DAY 4
Sigiriya → Kandy
- Stop at Spice Garden & Matale Hindu Temple.
- Visit Temple of the Tooth Relic and enjoy a cultural dance show.
Overnight Stay: Kandy
DAY 5
Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
- Visit Botanical Gardens and Tea Factory.
- Scenic drive with views and Ramboda Waterfall.
Overnight Stay: Nuwara Eliya
DAY 6
Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala
- Optional train ride to Ella from Nanu Oya.
- Explore Ella: Nine Arches Bridge & Little Adam’s Peak.
- Proceed to Yala.
Overnight Stay: Yala
DAY 7
Yala → Mirissa
- Early morning Yala Jeep Safari.
- Scenic drive to Mirissa via Tangalle.
Overnight Stay: Mirissa
DAY 8
Mirissa → Airport
- Optional whale watching (seasonal).
- Transfer to Colombo, city tour if time allows.
- Drop off at the Airport.
More about Bentota Discover Bentota
Bentota is a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. Its long Bentota Beach stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island, parallel to Bentota Lagoon. Coral-rich dive sites include Canoe Rock. On Bentota River, centuries-old Galapota Temple has a large Buddha statue. Southeast is Lunuganga, the estate and gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa. Northeast is his brother Bevis's Brief Garden
More about Ella Discover Ella
Ella is a small town in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka governed by an Urban Council. It is approximately 200 kilometres east of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1,041 metres above sea level. The area has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna.
More about Galle Discover Galle
Galle is a city on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for Galle Fort, the fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. Stone sea walls, expanded by the Dutch, encircle car-free streets with architecture reflecting Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. Notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church. Galle Lighthouse stands on the fort’s southeast tip.
More about Kandy
Kandy is a large city in central Sri Lanka. It's set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and biodiverse rainforest. The city's heart is scenic Kandy Lake (Bogambara Lake), which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) shrine, celebrated with the grand Esala Perahera annual procession.
More about Mirissa Discover Mirissa
Mirissa is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in the Matara District of the Southern Province. It is approximately 150 kilometres south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 4 metres above sea level. Mirissa's beach and nightlife make it a popular tourist destination.
More about Negombo Discover Negombo
Negombo is a city on the west coast of Sri Lanka, north of the capital, Colombo. Near the waterfront, the remains of the 17th-century Dutch Fort now house a prison. Negombo Lagoon, lined with fishermen’s huts, feeds into the Dutch-era Hamilton Canal. The canal leads south to Colombo. Neoclassical St. Mary’s Church, completed in the 1920s, features a ceiling decorated with vivid religious paintings.
More about Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is a city in the tea country hills of central Sri Lanka. The naturally landscaped Hakgala Botanical Gardens displays roses and tree ferns, and shelters monkeys and blue magpies. Nearby Seetha Amman Temple, a colorful Hindu shrine, is decorated with religious figures. Densely forested Galway's Land National Park is a sanctuary for endemic and migratory bird species, including bulbuls and flycatchers.
More about Sigiriya
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of granite approximately 180 m high.
More about Yala Discover Yala
Yala National Park is a huge area of forest, grassland and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean, in southeast Sri Lanka. It’s home to wildlife such as leopards, elephants and crocodiles, as well as hundreds of bird species. Inland, Sithulpawwa is an ancient Buddhist monastery. Nearby caves contain centuries-old rock paintings. Southwest, Magul Maha Viharaya also has ancient Buddhist ruins. Both are pilgrimage sites.
