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8-Day Sri Lanka Highlights

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Overview

Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is home to many beaches, lagoons, mountains and forests, with landscapes and scenery that will take your breath away.

This 8 day Sri Lanka itinerary will take you to Minneriya National Park to view the famous gathering of the wild elephant herds, one of the highlights of this trip! The gathering is documented as the largest known meeting place of Asian elephants in the world.

You will also enjoy a train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, described as one of prettiest train journeys in the world. End your adventure at Colombo, a must-see port city in Sri Lanka with a rich colonial heritage.
Outdoors & Nature
Sightseeing
Culture & Arts

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Sri Lanka and Sigiriya Lion Rock

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Arrive in Sri Lanka and Sigiriya Lion Rock

Welcome to your 8 day Sri Lanka itinerary! After being collected from the airport, you will head to Sigiriya Lion Rock, also known as "Lion Rock" because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress. Then, proceed to Minneriya National Park, dominated by the ancient Minneriya Tank where you will get to see a number of wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers and wading birds. Enjoy an evening at Oak Ray Elephant Lake with calming views of the lake.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Oak Ray Elephant Lake3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Sigiriya Lion RockOptional Activity

    Minneriya National Park SafariOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Sigiriya

    North Central Province

    Avudangawa

Day 2

Kandy and Spice Garden Tour

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Kandy and Spice Garden Tour

Drive in the morning to the World Heritage Site of Dambulla Cave Temple. Take a guided educational tour around the spice garden, introducing you to the wonderful world of spices and herbs at Iswara Ayurvedic Village. After, you'll drive to the city of Kandy. The city's heart is scenic Kandy Lake, which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth shrine. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional cultural dance show.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Oak Ray Regency Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Dambulla Cave TempleOptional Activity

    Iswara Ayurvedic Village Spice GardenOptional Activity

    Sri Dalada MaligawaOptional Activity

    Kandyan Cultural Dance ShowOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Avudangawa

    Dambulla

    Central Province

    Kandy

Day 3

The Charming City of Nuwara Eliya

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The Charming City of Nuwara Eliya

Today you will take a trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens where you can see beautifully kept flowers and vegetation native to Sri Lanka. In the afternoon, visit the Ramboda Waterfall viewpoint - the cascading water is a sight to behold. Continue to Nuwara Eliya, which is a city in the central province. Its name means "city on the plain" or "city of light". Tour around Lake Gregory which is surrounded by lush scenery and a fresh mountain breeze.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Oak Ray Summer Hill Breeze Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Peradeniya Royal Botanic GardensOptional Activity

    Ramboda Falls

    Gregory Lake

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Tea Bush Ramboda

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kandy

    Central Province

    Ramboda

    Nuwara Eliya

Day 4

Ella Town and Waterfalls

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Ella Town and Waterfalls

Experience the panoramic view from the highest mountain in Sri Lanka ‘Piduruthalagala Mountain’. Enjoy a scenic train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, which is a small and quaint mountain village. Climb Ravana Ella Caves, part of a network of caves said to be connected to the Ravana Ella Waterfall, to discover unseen history. Walk to the top of Little Adam's Peak to see the view and beautiful sunset that never ceases to amaze visitors.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Ella Gap Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Pidurutalagala

    Little Adam's Peak

    EllaOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Nuwara Eliya to Nanuoya

    Train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Nuwara Eliya

    Central Province

    Uva Province

    Ella

    Badulla

Day 5

Drive to Yala National Park

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Drive to Yala National Park

After breakfast, you'll take the road to the south of the country to Yala, passing through the wide Ravana Falls where you can see the water gushing down a concave rock. Yala combines a nature reserve with a national park and is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. It contains the world’s biggest concentration of leopards, as well as Asian elephants, sloth bears, sambas, jackals, spotted deer, and crocodiles.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Oak Ray Lake Tissa Resort3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ravana Falls

    Yala National ParkOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ella to Tissamaharama

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Badulla

    Uva Province

    Hambantota

    Southern Province

Day 6

Galle and Bentota Beach

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Galle and Bentota Beach

This morning after breakfast, you'll visit the UNESCO listed Dutch Fort in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast. Enjoy an optional river cruise at Madhu Ganga. After, visit a turtle hatchery to see how these beautiful creatures are getting a helping hand with a hatchery programme. Further south you'll reach Bentota which features a white sand beach. There are a plethora of water activities to indulge in or relax at the swimming pool or the beach.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Temple Tree Resort & Spa4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Galle Dutch Fort

    Sea Turtle HatcheryOptional Activity

    Madu River Boat SafariOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hambantota

    Galle

    Habaraduwa

    Southern Province

Day 7

Colombo Colonial Heritage City

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Colombo Colonial Heritage City

Proceed to the port city of Colombo. The city is a contrast itself, with mansions, lush gardens, temples, monuments and fine dining options. The imposing Colombo National Museum, dedicated to Sri Lankan history, borders sprawling Viharamahadevi Park and its giant Buddha. Go shopping in ODEL with boutiques filled with international brands and local art and fabrics. Take a walk around Marine Drive in the evening.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Ceylon City Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Independence Square

    Gangaramaya Temple

    Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct

    Galle Face Green

    ODEL Shopping Complex

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Southern Province

    Colombo

Day 8

Departure From Sri Lanka

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Departure From Sri Lanka

This is the last day of your 8 day Sri Lanka itinerary. After breakfast this morning you'll be transferred to Bandaranaike International Airport in time to catch your departing flight home.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Colombo to Bandaranaike International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Colombo

Included in Price

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 11 activities
  • 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 7 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits

Notes

You'll receive a local sim card and have bottles of water throughout your trip.
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