Sri Lanka · The Pearl of the Indian Ocean

Ancient Rock Fortresses,
Temple of the Tooth & Tea Country

8 days through Colombo, Pinnawala, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy & Nuwara Eliya — a journey into Sri Lanka's deep Buddhist heritage, wildlife sanctuaries, and misty highland tea plantations.

7 Nights / 8 Days
Private Tour
8 Destinations
UNESCO Heritage
D1
Colombo
›
D2
Sigiriya
›
D3
Kandy
›
D4
Kandy
›
D5
Nuwara Eliya
›
D6
Nuwara Eliya
›
D7
Colombo
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D8
Depart
About This Tour
Overview

This 7-night journey explores the breathtaking diversity of Sri Lanka — the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean." Beginning at Bandaranaike International Airport, you'll visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, home to over 65 rescued elephants, then climb the 5th-century Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ancient Dambulla Cave Temple, experience authentic rural life in Habarana, and visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. Wander the lush Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, journey through misty tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya, trace Ramayana trails at Hakgala and Seetha Amman Temple, and discover the colonial charms of Colombo before your departure.

Duration
7 Nights / 8 Days
Tour Type
Multi Day · Private · Package
Region
Sri Lanka, South Asia
Unique Feature
Sigiriya Fortress, Temple of the Tooth, Ramayana Trail
Cultural
Buddhist Heritage · Ceylon Tea · Wildlife
Language
English
Top Experiences
Highlights
Sigiriya
The 5th-century "Fortress in the Sky" — a UNESCO wonder carved atop a 600-foot rock, with ancient frescoes and water gardens
Pinnawala
Over 65 rescued elephants, including babies — watch feeding time and the daily river bathing ritual at this famed orphanage
Kandy
The sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic — Sri Lanka's most venerated Buddhist shrine, set beside the serene Kandy Lake
Nuwara Eliya
"Little England" — misty valleys carpeted with tea plantations, colonial cottages, and the coolest climate in Sri Lanka
Dambulla
The magnificent Cave Temple dating to the 1st Century BC — 150 life-size Buddha statues and ancient ceiling frescoes
Colombo
The vibrant commercial capital — colonial architecture, bustling Pettah bazaar, Gangaramaya Temple, and the iconic Lotus Tower
What's Covered
Includes / Excludes

✓ Included

  • Hotel accommodation as per package (7 nights)
  • Daily breakfast at hotel; meals as per property inclusions
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers & sightseeing
  • Airport arrival & departure transfers at Colombo (CMB)
  • English-speaking guide throughout the tour
  • Village tour in Habarana with traditional chena experience
  • Cultural dance show in Kandy
  • Driver allowance, parking, tolls & transport taxes
  • Basic assistance for sightseeing schedule throughout

We will arrange and confirm your hotel stays as per the trip and budget — hotel options are not fixed and can be customised to your preference. Contact us for details

✗ Excluded

  • Airfare to / from Colombo
  • Lunch, dinner & drinks unless mentioned
  • Sigiriya, Dambulla, Temple of the Tooth & Botanical Garden entry fees
  • Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage entry fee
  • Camera fees, tips & personal expenses
  • Visa processing fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Anything not specifically mentioned in inclusions
Day by Day
Itinerary
DAY01
Airport → Pinnawala → Dambulla
Arrival, Elephant Orphanage, Transfer to Dambulla
🐘 Elephant Encounter Day
  • Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) — greeted by your English-speaking guide and driver
  • Proceed to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (approx. 55 miles from Colombo)
  • Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage — established in 1975 to house abandoned and wounded elephants. The herd has grown to over 65, including baby elephants born through the captive breeding programme. Best time to visit: feeding time from 09:30–10:00 hrs and 13:30–14:00 hrs, and bathing time from 10:00–10:30 hrs and 14:00–14:30 hrs when all elephants are taken to the river
  • Proceed to Dambulla after the visit
  • Check in to hotel; overnight stay in Dambulla
DAY02
Dambulla → Sigiriya → Habarana → Dambulla
Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Village Tour
🏛 UNESCO Heritage Day
  • Breakfast at hotel
  • Visit the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Ramayana sight) — a "UNESCO World Heritage Site" and the 5th-century "Fortress in the Sky." Also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that once guarded the entrance to the palace atop the 600-foot rock
  • On the summit: foundations of the Royal Palace, ancient water tanks, and guardhouses. Climb the stairway past the only surviving ancient Sinhala secular paintings — frescoes of 21 life-sized damsels still shining in their original colours
  • Don't miss the Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and caves within the enclosed area
  • Afternoon: a Village Tour in Habarana — experience authentic rural life and interact with locals. Walk through vegetable fields, rice paddies, and various crops farmed by villagers
  • Visit a Chena — the oldest form of cultivation in Sri Lanka, dating back 5,000 years. Learn about traditional farming techniques that ensured the environment remained unharmed
  • Return to Dambulla; overnight stay in Dambulla
DAY03
Dambulla → Matale → Kandy
Cave Temple, Spice Gardens, Cultural Show
🏯 Temple Trail Day
  • Breakfast at hotel
  • Visit Dambulla Cave Temple — a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high, dating to the First Century B.C. The caves sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile. When he regained the throne, he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples
  • In the First Cave: a recumbent image of the Buddha 47 ft long cut out of the rock. The frescoes on walls and ceiling are the oldest here, over-painted in the Kandy period
  • In the Second Cave (the finest and largest): 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures, with statues of Gods and Kings, and ceiling frescoes depicting great events in the life of the Buddha
  • Proceed to Matale — visit a Spice Garden to see the many types of spices Sri Lanka is famous for. You'll be introduced to different spices and shown how they are grown and processed
  • Continue to Kandy
  • Evening: witness a traditional Cultural Dance Show in Kandy
  • Overnight stay in Kandy
DAY04
Kandy → Peradeniya → Kandy
Temple of the Tooth, Royal Botanical Gardens
🪷 Sacred Relic Day
  • Breakfast at hotel
  • Kandy city tour — visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. When King Wimaladharmasuriya I became King in Kandy, he searched for the Tooth Relic and the Bowl Relic and found them kept at Delgomuwa Buddhist Temple, hidden in a grinding stone for over 44 years
  • The King brought the Sacred Tooth Relic to Kandy in a grand procession. The first temple was built by Wimaladharmasooriya I next to the Royal Palace. The Portuguese burned it down; a 3-storied building was erected by King Wimaladharmasooriya II. After another fire, a new 2-storied building was constructed by King Narendra Singhe (1707–1739 AD), who also painted 32 Jataka Stories on the outer walls
  • Visit Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden — 147 acres in extent, started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. Over 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers, with some rare and endemic flora from the tropical world
  • Explore the Spice Garden, Orchid House, and the 5 Palm Avenues — the earliest and tallest Royal Palm Avenue was planted in 1905. See the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world
  • Overnight stay in Kandy
DAY05
Kandy → Ramboda → Nuwara Eliya
Tea Country, Hanuman Temple, Waterfall
🍃 Tea Country Bound
  • Breakfast at hotel; depart Kandy for the hill country
  • En-route, visit a Tea Factory and Tea Garden — see how Ceylon tea is processed from leaf to cup, and walk through sprawling tea estates
  • Stop at Ramboda Waterfall — a spectacular cascade surrounded by lush greenery
  • Visit Hanuman Temple in Ramboda (Ramayana sight) — a significant site in the Ramayana trail, believed to be where Lord Hanuman rested while searching for Sita
  • Proceed to Nuwara Eliya — the "Little England" of Sri Lanka, set against beautiful backdrops of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations
  • Experience the cool, misty climate (often like an English spring day)
  • Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
DAY06
Nuwara Eliya
Gregory Lake, Hakgala Gardens, Seetha Temple
🦌 Ramayana Trail Day
  • Breakfast at hotel
  • Explore Nuwara Eliya city — all around you'll see evidence of British influence: houses like country cottages or Queen Anne-style mansions
  • Visit Gregory Lake — a beautiful man-made lake perfect for a scenic stroll or boat ride
  • Visit Victoria Park — a lovely place for a stroll or picnic, and also excellent for birding with some rare species
  • Visit Ashok Vatika at Hakgala Botanical Garden (Ramayana sight) — the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka, contiguous to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve, home to bears, monkeys and birds. Situated 5 km south of Nuwara Eliya, the drive through pine forests is delightful. The garden boasts thousands of flora species
  • Visit Seetha Amman Temple (Ramayana sight) — the famous temple marking the spot where Ravana is believed to have held Sita captive
  • Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
DAY07
Nuwara Eliya → Colombo
Return to the Capital
🏙 City Finale
  • Breakfast at hotel; drive to Colombo — Sri Lanka's business and commercial centre
  • Colombo city tour — visit Fort, the former British administrative centre and military garrison
  • Visit Gangaramaya Temple — one of Colombo's most important Buddhist temples, known for its eclectic mix of architectural styles
  • Explore Sea Street — the Goldsmith's quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area with a Hindu Temple featuring elaborate stone carvings
  • See Kayman's Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal (dating back to 1749)
  • Visit BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall) with the replica of Avukana Buddha, and the Independence Memorial
  • Colombo is a shopping paradise — enjoy a good bargain on quality clothes and fashion accessories
  • Overnight stay in Colombo
DAY08
Colombo → Airport
Departure — Onward Journey
  • Breakfast at hotel
  • Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your onward flight
  • Tour concludes. Carry the warmth of Sri Lanka with you.
Important Information
Visa & Entry Requirements

All foreign nationals require a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka. Apply online at the official Department of Immigration and Emigration website at least 2–3 days before departure.

ETA fees: USD 20 for SAARC countries (standard), USD 35–50 for other nationals (depending on processing speed). Tourist ETA is valid for 30 days from arrival with double-entry permitted.

Upon arrival, your passport (valid for at least 6 months) and ETA confirmation will be verified at immigration. A return/onward ticket may be requested.

Recommended vaccinations: No compulsory vaccinations for Sri Lanka, but Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Yellow Fever (if arriving from an endemic country) are advised. Consult your physician 4–6 weeks before travel.

Full Route
Tour Map
Sri Lanka Tour — Ancient Rock Fortresses, Temple of the Tooth & Tea Country  ·  Dambulla · Sigiriya · Kandy · Nuwara Eliya · Colombo  ·  7 Nights / 8 Days