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Tour Packages Sri Lanka
8 days CulturalWildlife

Classic Sri Lanka

Colombo → Sigiriya → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Galle → Colombo

Best for: First-time visitors

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Overview

The classic first-visit route. In eight days you complete the island's great loop: the ancient Cultural Triangle, sacred Kandy, the tea country and its famous train, a Yala safari and the ramparts of Galle Fort. If you want one tour that shows you the essentials of Sri Lanka, start here; the 10-day Explorer adds the south-coast beaches.

Highlights
  • Sigiriya Lion Rock
  • Dambulla Cave Temple
  • Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
  • Scenic hill-country train
  • Nine Arch Bridge
  • Yala safari
  • Galle Fort
Pricing

Get your personalised price within 12 hours

Your price depends on your travel dates, the number of travellers, your hotel category and the activities you choose. Tell us yours and we send a clear, itemised quote with no hidden extras.

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Day by day

Your itinerary

A day-by-day overview of your journey, with highlights and experiences at each destination.

  1. Sigiriya Lion Rock rising above the forest

    Airport pickup and transfer straight into the Cultural Triangle. Settle in and relax. Overnight in Sigiriya.

    Private transfer from airport
    Overnight in Sigiriya
  2. Ruins on the summit of Sigiriya

    Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock in the morning light, then the Dambulla Cave Temple and a village experience, with an optional safari to finish. Overnight in Sigiriya.

    Sigiriya Lion Rock
    Dambulla Cave Temple
    Overnight in Sigiriya
  3. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic beside Kandy Lake

    Pause at a Matale spice garden on the way to Kandy for the city, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and an evening cultural dance show. Overnight in Kandy.

    Matale spice gardens
    Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
    Overnight in Kandy
  4. Tea plantation in the hill country

    Tea country: a plantation walk, a factory visit and Ramboda Falls, then sightseeing in Nuwara Eliya. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.

    Tea plantations and factories
    Ramboda Falls
    Overnight in Nuwara Eliya
  5. Nine Arch Bridge, Ella

    The optional scenic train journey, then Ella's icons: the Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak, with the evening free in town. Overnight in Ella.

    Kandy to Ella scenic train
    Nine Arch Bridge
    Overnight in Ella
  6. Leopard in Yala National Park

    Ravana Falls on the way down to safari country, with an optional evening game drive. Overnight near Yala.

    Ravana Falls
    Overnight near Yala
  7. Galle Fort lighthouse

    A morning safari among leopards and elephants, then the southern coastal drive to Galle Fort's historic streets. Overnight in Galle.

    Galle Fort
    Overnight in Galle
  8. Colombo skyline over Beira Lake

    Beach and coastal sightseeing, a Colombo city tour, and your airport drop-off.

    Airport drop-off
Route map 7 stops
INDIAN OCEAN 1. Colombo 1 2. Sigiriya 2 3. Kandy 3 4. Nuwara Eliya 4 5. Ella 5 6. Yala 6 7. Galle 7 Natural Earth
  1. 1Colombo
  2. 2Sigiriya
  3. 3Kandy
  4. 4Nuwara Eliya
  5. 5Ella
  6. 6Yala
  7. 7Galle
What is covered

Included & not included

Included
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle for the whole tour
  • English-speaking driver-guide
  • Airport pickup and drop-off
  • Fuel, parking and highway charges
  • Driver-guide's accommodation and meals
  • Sightseeing as described in the itinerary
  • Government taxes
Not included
  • Yala jeep safari and park entrance fees (we can book them and add them to your quote)
  • Entrance tickets to sites and temples
  • Visas or ETA, travel insurance and international flights
  • Personal expenses and gratuities
Available on request

Accommodation and extras

Not part of the tour price. Ask for any of these and we add them to your quote.

  • Accommodation: we shortlist hotels in your budget band and add them to your quote
  • Meals for travellers
Sigiriya rock fortress
STAYStays in Sigiriya & the Cultural TriangleRequest a Quote →
Kandy Lake and the city of Kandy
STAYStays in KandyRequest a Quote →
Your vehicle

Vehicle options

Every vehicle is private and air-conditioned, with your own English-speaking driver-guide. We match the vehicle to your group and luggage; upgrades are quoted on request.

Car 1 to 2 travellers Comfortable saloon for couples and solo travellers
SUV 2 to 3 travellers More room and a higher seat for the hill-country roads
Van 3 to 7 travellers For families and small groups
KDH high-roof van Larger groups Extra headroom and luggage space
Optional

Optional activities

Extra cost, chosen by you. We can book them in advance or arrange them on the day.

  • Scenic hill-country train tickets (subject to availability; your vehicle meets you at the other end)
  • Kandy cultural dance show tickets
  • Village experience with bullock cart, lake crossing and home-cooked lunch
  • Evening game drive on Day 6
Gallery
Nine Arch Bridge, Ella
Sigiriya rock fortress
Buddha statues inside the Dambulla Cave Temple
Paddy fields and village countryside near Habarana
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy
Attractions on this tour

Places you will visit

Sigiriya Lion Rock Dambulla Cave Temple Hiriwadunna village experience Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Kandy cultural dance show Matale spice gardens Kandy to Ella scenic train Tea plantations and factories Ramboda Falls Nine Arch Bridge Little Adam's Peak Ravana Falls Yala National Park Galle Fort
FAQs

Questions about this tour

Is this a private tour?
Yes. You travel only with your own group, in your own air-conditioned vehicle with your own English-speaking driver-guide. There are no shared coaches and no strangers.
Is accommodation included?
Not in the base tour. We shortlist hotels in your budget band for each night and add them to your quote, so you can see exactly what you are paying for. If you have already booked hotels, we simply plan the route around them.
Are entrance tickets and safari jeeps included?
No. Entrance tickets, national park fees and safari jeeps are paid separately. We can book them for you and add them to your quote, or you can pay on the day.
Can we change the itinerary?
Yes. Every day can be adjusted before you travel, and your driver-guide can make sensible changes on the road, such as starting earlier or adding a stop.
Can we add extra days or change hotels?
Yes. Tell us how many days you have and the kind of places you like to stay, and we will adjust the route and quote.
Which vehicle will we travel in, and can we upgrade?
We match the vehicle to your group and luggage, from a car for one or two travellers to a van for larger groups. Upgrades can be quoted on request.
Is airport pickup included?
Yes. Your driver-guide meets you at Bandaranaike International Airport (Katunayake), day or night, and drops you off at the end.
What if our flight changes?
Send us your new flight details by WhatsApp or email as soon as you know and we will move your pickup time.
Can I book as a single traveller?
Yes. Solo travellers are very welcome, and every tour can be quoted for one person.
How do we confirm the booking?
Send an enquiry or message us on WhatsApp. We reply within 12 hours with a personal itinerary and quote; your booking is confirmed once you accept the quote in writing, and we explain the payment steps at that point.
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