Colombo Trip Overview
Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is home to many beaches, lagoons, mountains and forests, with landscapes and scenery that will literally take your breath away. An exciting trip to Minneriya National Park to view the famous gathering of the wild elephant herds is one of the highlights of this trip. The gathering is documented as the largest known meeting place of Asian Elephants in the world. Enjoy a train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, it is described as one of prettiest train journeys in the world. End your adventure at Colombo, a must-see city in Sri Lanka, a port city, with a rich colonial heritage.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is home to many beaches, lagoons, mountains and forests, with landscapes and scenery that will literally take your breath away. An exciting trip to Minneriya National Park to view the famous gathering of the wild elephant herds is one of the highlights of this trip. The gathering is documented as the largest known meeting place of Asian Elephants in the world. Enjoy a train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, it is described as one of prettiest train journeys in the world. End your adventure at Colombo, a must-see city in Sri Lanka, a port city, with a rich colonial heritage.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sri Lanka and The Eighth Wonder ‘Sigiriya Lion Rock’
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Sigiriya Rock has a unique shape that is ill-fitting with the surrounding landscape as if it were dropped there. In the 5th century, King Kashyapa built a palace on the top of the rock with ramparts and moats surrounding it for defence.
When climbing the steps, you will notice colourful frescoes with unique paintings of women and a mirror wall, full of written verses from visitors. There are very interesting irrigational technologies that can still be found in the water gardens of the fortress.
The area around Sigiriya may have been inhabited since prehistoric times. There is clear evidence that the many rock shelters and caves in the vicinity were occupied by Buddhist monks and ascetics from as early as the 3rd century BCE.
The earliest evidence of human habitation in Sigiriya is the Aligala rock shelter to the east of Sigiriya Rock, indicating that the area was occupied nearly five thousand years ago during the Mesolithic Period.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Minneriya National Park, Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway, Minneriya 50150 Sri Lanka
Having previously been a recognised as a wildlife sanctuary, Minneriya was designated a national park in 1997 in an effort to protect the Minneriya reservoir and the wildlife in the area. The reservoir was built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD who was thought to be a Deity by countrymen.
The Minneriya National Park is a point of migration for elephants around the island, during the dry season there are some 200 elephants coming to the Minneriya reservoir.
In addition to the many elephants that can be seen, there are an estimated 160 species of birds, 25 species of reptile and 75 species of butterflies that can be spotted while driving around the park.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Oak Ray Elephant Lake, a 3-Star Hotel”
Day 2: Kandy and Spice Garden Tour
Stop At: Dambulla Royal Cave Temple, Kandy – Jaffna Highway, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka
Dambulla cave temple is the largest cave in Sri Lanka, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are more than 80 caves found here. The most important and accessible caves contain 153 statues and paintings related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are also 3 Sri Lankan king statues, four of gods and goddesses, including Vishnu and the Ganesha and a 2,100 square metre mural depicting Buddha’s first sermon.
Prehistoric Sri Lankans would have lived in these cave complexes before the arrival of Buddhism and 2700-year-old human skeleton burial sites were found here.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Ranweli Spice Garden, No. 99 Kaudupellella, Matale 21000 Sri Lanka
Ranweli Ayurvedic Village is situated in Matale, Sri Lanka. It took vision and determination to transfer this coconut and rubber plantation into an eco-tourism venture.
You are offered a guided educational tour around the spice garden, introducing you to the wonderful world of spices and herbs.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
The Temple of Tooth Relic, locally known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is in the very centre of Kandy. This is the final location of the sacred tooth of the Lord Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics as it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.
Sri Dalada Maligawa is in the centre of the city and is the most highly venerated religious place in Sri Lanka, and it attracts great respect from Buddhists all over the world. The magnificent temple was built by the late King Vimaladharmasooriya I in 1592 AD.
Monks of the two chapters of Malwattu and Asgiriya conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. The rituals are performed 3 times daily, at dawn, noon and in the evening. On Wednesdays, there is a symbolic bathing of the sacred relic with a herbal preparation from scented water and fragrant flowers called “Nanumura Mangalya”.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kandy, Kandy, Kandy District, Central Province
Kandy City Tour – Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and is also the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kandy Lake Club – Cultural Dance Show, 7 Sangamitta Mawatha, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is rich in history, culture and traditions which date back thousands of years. With all this history, it’s no surprise that this cultural and dance show is bursting with vibrant colour, energy and passion.
Kandyan dances are commonly known as Uda Rata Natum. There are many dances that serve different purposes, many are used as offerings or rituals to the gods.
The “Ves” dance is the most popular. It originated from an ancient purification ritual, the Kohomba Yakuma or Kohomba Kankariya. Then, there is Naiyandi, distinguished by the dancers in their special Naiyandi costume, who perform during the initial preparations of the Kohomba Kankariya festival, while the lighting of the lamps and the preparation of foods for the demons take place.
Lastly, there is the prestigious “Uddekki” dance. Its name comes from the “uddekki”, a small lacquered hand drum in the shape of an hourglass, believed to have been given to people by the gods.
As many as 12 different folk and traditional dances are performed by Kandy lake club dance troop within the span of one hour.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Hotel Topaz, a 4-Star Hotel”
Day 3: The charming city of Nuwara Eliya
Stop At: Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Road, Peradeniya 20400 Sri Lanka
Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the finest of its kind in Asia, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, couldn’t be better located. In the Mediterranean climate of Kandy, the gateway to the Central Highlands, the Gardens, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level and tightly bounded on three sides by a loop of River Mahaweli (Great sandy river), the largest river of Sri Lanka.
The Orchid House offers the visitor a captivating display of exotic blooms of Cattleya, Dendrobium, Arachnis, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Vanda and their hybrids. Around the Orchid House may be seen several hardy tropical orchids including the largest orchid in the world which produces flower spikes up to 2.5 m long and the Green Orchid (Coelogyne meyeriana).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Ramboda Waterfall, Pussellawa Sri Lanka
This unique waterfall is situated in the Pussellawa district in the city of Kandy. Ramboda Falls is the 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, hidden just off of the Ramboda Pass.
The falls form a ‘Y’ shape in the air, as two water sources become one, to form the splurging waters of the falls. The main source is the Kotmale Oya, a river which is part of the Mahaweli River, the largest in Sri Lanka. The area surrounding the waterfall is renowned for its lush greenery comprising of hilly mountains, ridges, plains and streams.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Blue Field Tea Factory, No. 54 Haig Road, Ramboda 20590 Sri Lanka
Guided tour to Tea Plantation and Tea Factory.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka
Gregory Lake was built under the period of British Governor Sir William Gregory in 1873. The area was originally a swamp before the governer authorised the building of a damn and the expansion of the town.
When it was built the lake was stocked with trout for fishing. Interestingly, in 1913, the water from the lake was channelled into a tunnel which flowed into a hydropower station. To this day, this method continues to supply electricity to the town.
Today, this is the most prominent attraction in Nuwara Eliya and visitors to the area generally spend time by the lake relaxing and enjoying the magnificent views. The lake is used as a place for numerous types of water sports which can also be enjoyed at any time of year.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
Nuwara Eliya City Tour – Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its name means “city on the plain (table land)” or “city of light”. The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. The city is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is known for its temperate, cool climate – the coolest area in Sri Lanka.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Daffodils Hotel, a 3-Star Hotel”
Day 4: Ella Town and Waterfalls
Stop At: Nanu Oya railway station, Avissawella – Hatton – Nuwara Eliya Hwy, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
The train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is described as one of prettiest train journeys around the world – and with good reason.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Little Adam’s Peak, Passara Road, Ella 90090 Sri Lanka
Situated in the hiking hotspot of Sri Lanka, Ella, Little Adam’s Peak is one of the most famous viewpoints of the area. Little Adam’s Peak is the perfect trek, an easy walk of only 45 minutes from Ella village without climbing any steps.
When you reach the top you are greeted with phenomenal views of tea plantations and spectacular mountain ranges. The well-maintained trail is marked the whole way and will lead you up to 1141 metres. There are multiple platforms, rocks, and viewpoints perfect for photos once you hit the top of Little Adam’s Peak.
You’ll walk through lush green tea plantations, past waterfalls and rice paddy fields while enjoying the scenery of the Sri Lankan countryside.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Ella, Ella, Uva Province
Ella Tour:-
Ella (Lit. “water fall”) is a small town in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka governed by an Urban Council. It is approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) east of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1,041 metres (3,415 ft) above sea level.[2] The area has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than surrounding lowlands, due to its elevation. The Ella Gap allows views across the southern plains of Sri Lanka.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Ella Gap Hotel, a 3-Star Hotel”
Day 5: Drive to Yala National Park
Stop At: Ravana Ella Falls, Ella-Wellawaya Road, Ella 90090 Sri Lanka
Hidden among the mountains of the Ravana Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ravana falls rain down from an oval concave rock, they are the widest falls in the country.
During peak season, the waterfalls form the shape of a drooping areca flower. However, this is a rare site as, during the dry season, the power of the falls is reduced dramatically.
The falls are named after King Ravana, from the Indian epic poem, Ramayana. Legend has it that King Ravana hid Princess Sita, who he had kidnapped, in the caves behind the waterfalls.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Yala National Park Sri Lanka
Stretching far across the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is the second-largest park on the island with around 130,000 hectares of land.
With lush green grasslands, tanks, forests and lagoons, the park attracts a great variety of animals throughout the year, with 44 species of mammal and over 200 species of birds frequenting its grounds.
During your trip around the park, you’ll have the opportunity to spot the largest concentration of leopards in the world, as well as one of the greatest herds of elephants, that can sometimes reach up to 200 elephants grazing around one area.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Oak-Ray Wild Yala, a 4-Star Hotel”
Day 6: Bentota the white sand serene beach
Stop At: Galle Fort, Church Street, Galle 80000 Sri Lanka
Galle Fort was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Behind the architecture lies a colourful history which our local guide can bring to life.
As you explore the fort, you’ll notice the thick-walled ramparts that withstood the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami but within its walls are some fascinating monuments each with its own story. Our tour is timed so that you’ll finish on the fort walls to take in the panoramic views including a breathtaking sunset.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Madu river boat safari, Madu river muwanna islands, Balapitiya 80500, Sri Lanka
A boat safari that will take you past historical island temples, shaded mangroves and maybe the occasional crocodile. Madu River is a wetland, near Balapitiya that consists of 28 islands and 2 main wetlands.
While travelling along the river, you will encounter these islands and vast expanses of wetlands with various bird species, water monitors, dragonflies and plants along the way. You’ll pass through the secretive passages created by the mangroves.
The mangroves within this fascinating ecosystem play a vital role in preventing erosion and assist in the growth of the plants that line the rivers.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Temple Tree Resort & Spa, a 4-Star Hotel”
Day 7: Colombo colonial heritage port city
Stop At: Independence Square, Independence Avenue, Colombo 00700 Sri Lanka
Independence Memorial Hall is located in the Independence Square at Colombo 7. This place was known as Torrington Square in the early days. This Hall was built for the commemoration of the independence from the British in 1948.
Every square inch of this monument is filled with lavish symbols of the island’s rich history and political freedom. At the entrance to the building is an imposing statue of D.S. Senanayake, who was Sri Lanka’s first prime minister, surrounded by four menacing stone lions with large eyes.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple, 61 Sri Jinaratana Road, Colombo Sri Lanka
Gangaramaya is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Colombo, started by the famous scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century. The temple displayed a mix of modern architecture such as Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese.
The temple is located on the famous and picturesque Beira Lake in the middle of the city of Colombo. Gangaramaya Temple was first established over 120 years ago and was originally built to be a small hermitage on some marshy land.
However, it has now grown into several large buildings to become known as an international place of worship, a centre for learning, and an assembly hall for monks while also hosting a museum, a library and a Relic chamber among others.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, Hospital Street Galle Fort, Colombo 00001 Sri Lanka
The Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct is one of the most attractive shopping centres in Sri Lanka. During the Dutch occupation of Sri Lanka, this building was a hospital – it is considered to be the oldest buildings in the Colombo Fort area.
It is now a heritage building and a shopping and dining precinct. The building was initially designed as a hospital for the soldiers and personnel of the Dutch East India Company. The hospital’s close proximity to the harbour also allowed it to serve Dutch seafarers.
Paintings from the era show that there was once had a canal running next to the hospital, along what is now Canal Row lane. This canal was filled in by British colonists after their capture of the city.
The courtyard in the centre sometimes plays host to live music, here you will find some great restaurants, shops, bars and a lively atmosphere.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Galle Face Green, Galle Road, Colombo Sri Lanka
Galle Face Green is a five-hectare ocean-side urban park and one of the largest open spaces in Colombo. It’s a wonderful place to partake in outdoor activities or some exercise, and it is one of the best spots in the city to watch the sun set over the west coast of Sri Lanka.
The park is rarely empty and gets particularly busy in the early evening as street food vendors take their place and locals come to feast on their snacks.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Berjaya Hotel, a 4-Star Hotel”
Day 8: Departure and airport drop off
Stop At: Bandaranayake, Bandaranayake, Galle District, Southern Province
After Breakfast this morning transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport. Colloquially known as Katunayake Airport and Colombo International Airport. Then you catch your international flight back home. We hope to welcome you again soon.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
