Colombo Trip Overview
This tour covers the majority of the sightseeing activities in Sri Lanka that covers wildlife, nature, culture and historical Sri Lanka.
You will also enjoy Cycling, a train journey in the hills to grab some wonderful memories during these 09 days tour
Additional Info
Duration: 9 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Day Trips & Excursions >> Rail Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
This tour covers the majority of the sightseeing activities in Sri Lanka that covers wildlife, nature, culture and historical Sri Lanka.
You will also enjoy Cycling, a train journey in the hills to grab some wonderful memories during these 09 days tour
Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVE / COLOMBO
Pass By: Colombo, Colombo, Western Province
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International airport, you will be warmly greeted by your very own chauffeur-guide & transferred to Colombo (Approx.1 hr. drive). On arrival at the hotel spend the day at leisure relaxing & enjoying the hotel facilities
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Spend overnight in Colombo. Your stay is on Bed & Breakfast basis at a home stay.
Day 2: COLOMBO/ SIGIRIYA
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
After breakfast, you will be driven to Sigiriya. In the afternoon climb Sigiriya Rock fortress
SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS – In the 5th century, King Kashyapa domesticated the Lions Rock, by building a palace atop its summit
& well designed for its defenses by having ramparts and moats built around it. The Rock itself has its unique identity due to its shape not found anywhere else on the island. The irrigational technologies of water gardens & archeological technologies of the large lion carved at the entrance are really precious & they are still existing. When climbing steps wise, you will see the colorful frescoes with unique paintings of women. Mirror wall is another attraction in Sigiriya that you can see verses written by the visitors of Sigiriya. The experiences, love and also irony were the main topics that have caused to their verses. Sigiriya commemorates some of the turbulence of Sri Lanka’s history thus it is considering as the 8th wonder of Asia & also claimed as a world heritage site.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Spend overnight in Sigiriya. Your stay is on Bed & Breakfast basis at a home stay.
Day 3: SIGIRIYA/ HIRIWADUNNA / SIGIRIYA
Stop At: Hiriwadunna, Sri Lanka
Today, you can do a village trekking tour in Hiriwadunna with authentic Sri Lankan lunch at village houses.
HIRIWADUNNA – This is a typical countryside experience with a jeep ride to the rural village of Hiriwadunna. The trek begins with a beautiful walk along to a man-made reservoir. The reservoir itself, the surrounding scrub jungle, marshland, and village are a hive of early morning or an evening activity. The amazing birdlife, butterflies and possible sightings of crocodile only add to the charm of seeing the villagers as they go about their early morning tasks of fishing, or washing clothes at the periphery of the lake. You will also experience a boat ride, bullock cart ride, rural vegetable cultivation, paddy fields and enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan lunch at a Village house.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Spend overnight in Sigiriya. Your stay is on Bed & Breakfast basis at home stay.
Day 4: SIGIRIYA / POLONNARUWA / MINNERIYA/ SIGIRIYA
Stop At: Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
After breakfast, you will be driven to Polonnaruwa (Approx. 1 hr. 30 mins. Drive). On arrival to Polonnaruwa, you can do a half day cycling excursion in Polonnaruwa kingdom.
POLONNARUWA – Polonnaruwa remains as one of the best planned archeological relic sites in the country, which is declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1982, its amazing ancient constructions, makes it an attractive city to visit. this is a well-preserved city with ancient dagobas, moonstones, beautiful parks, massive buildings and stunningly beautiful statues. The ruins of the Royal Palace, the majestic King’s Council Chamber, the Lotus Bath, the Lanka Thilaka Viharaya, Thuparama Dagoba, the Gal Viharaya (rock temple) – 3 splendid statues of the Buddha in upright, sedans, and recumbent postures, all carved from a large rock, Thivanka Image house with the best-known Buddhist frescoes of Sri Lanka, Hindu Shrines and the statue of one of Polonnaruwa’s greatest kings, Parakramabahu the great, are a few of this capital’s memorable sights. The Sea of Parakrama – a vast 12th-century man-made water reservoir dominates the city. Moreover, the monuments here are located in a more compact area, and their development is easier to follow.
On completion of cycling tour in Polonnaruwa, you will be transferred to Minneriya national park to do a game drive.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Minneriya National Park, Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway, 50150 Sri Lanka
MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK – The area has been originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary & a protected area due to the catchment of Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is of historical importance, having been built by King Mahasen in third century AD. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population thus the national park is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers, and wading birds. Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Tank, the park has plenty of scrubs, forest, and wetlands which are a home to approx. 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Spend overnight in Sigiriya. Your stay is on Bed & Breakfast basis at a home stay.
Day 5: SIGIRIYA / DAMBULLA / MATALE / KANDY
Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
DAMBULLA ROCK CAVE TEMPLE – This is one of the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. This complex contains five caves with over 2000 sq.m of painted walls and ceilings. Among those, paintings of Lord Buddha and events related to his life found in the world are highlighted. This emphasizes the artistic talents of our ancient people. This contains over 157 statues of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters. The statues of God Vishnu and God Ganesh also can be seen there. Because of all these artistic & archeological creations, Dambulla cave temple has been recommended as a world heritage site.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Matale Spice Centre, 504 A9, Matale, Sri Lanka
After the cave temple visit, you will drive to Kandy (Approx. 3hrs. drive). En route you can visit the spice garden in Matale followed by a traditional Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.
SPICE GARDENS – For centuries, spices have been one of the most celebrated exports in Sri Lanka. They have been used for medicines, cosmetics as well as to flavor foods. History says that the Greeks, Arabs & Malays had linked with Sri Lankan business field through spice trade. Cinnamon had been the most highlighted spice at that time. Other than cinnamon, ginger, pepper, vanilla and cardamom are some more samples. Spices provide ground for traditional Ayurveda. It is believed that Ayurveda is the science of a long life with a good physical & mental wee-being with natural remedies such as Fenugreek & cinnamon to control blood sugar, cloves as a treat for a toothache, ginger & peppermint to treat nausea, pepper as an anti-cancer property, etc. When you walk through the garden you can have an experience of an Ayurveda massage and other alternative therapies. You can buy lots of spices and herbs from the stall found at the end of your walk.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Kandy, Kandy, Kandy District, Central Province
On arrival to Kandy, you can do a city tour including Kandy temple,
upper lake drive, Gem Lapidary – with a selection of sapphires; diamonds; emeralds, pearls & other gems, a Wood Carving Center – with varieties of colorful; attractive & valuable crafts. Batik Factory – The ancient art of mixing colors using wax as the main component and Sri Lanka is one of the world’s leading exponents. Examples range from simple, single colored designs to multi-coloured masterpieces. Today Kandy is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city.
Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
KANDY CITY TOUR –Kandy, also Known as the hill capital or Hill country, is the last stronghold of Sinhalese kings after Portuguese, Dutch and British ruling periods. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. When you visit Kandy temple, you will witness the remains of royal palace – (Maha Wasala & Meda Wasala) where the queens stayed & now it is used as the national museum; & (Palle Wasala) where other close relatives lived & also audience hall. The Kandy Lake or the sea of milk (Kiri Samudraya), that build by king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe for thousands of years ago, well preserved up to date. There’s a folklore on that, as the small island at its center was used by the king’s helm, for bathing and was connected to the palace by a secret tunnel.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Spend overnight in Kandy. Your stay is on Bed & Breakfast basis at home stay.
Day 6: KANDY / NUWARA ELIYA
Stop At: Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Road, Peradeniya 20400 Sri Lanka
PERADENIYA BOTANICAL GARDENS – Peradeniya Royal botanical garden which locates near Mahaweli River is also call as Royal botanical gardens. Earlier this was under British, as a pleasure garden. Today it is renowned for bundles of varieties of plants including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. No need to bother for a map, just wander through the paths of green lawns. You will witness the flower arches which are waiting to welcome you! Don’t by-pass the giant Javan tree, which is a nice place to have a sit & take a snap! Suspension bridge is also a highlight in this garden & you can walk on it too. It’s not a surprise that this flourishing garden will leave sweet memories for you.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pass By: Kandy, Kandy, Kandy District, Central Province
After visiting the botanical garden, you will be driven to Peradeniya railway station for a scenic train journey to Nanu Oya railway station via Expo rail or Rajadhani Express.
PERADENIYA / NUWARA ELIYA TRAIN JOURNEY – This train journey is the most scenic train journey in Sri Lanka that goes through more natural wonders including waterfalls, tunnels, tea plantation and many more hill country attractions. You will be picked up from Nanu Oya railway station and transferred to Nuwara Eliya. The entire journey time will be approximately 4 hours. The train leaves Peradeniya at 1231 hrs. and reaches Nanu Oya at 1555 hrs. Lunch will be provided on board
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Spend overnight in Nuwara Eliya. Your stay is on Bed & Breakfast basis at a home stay.
Day 7: NUWARA ELIYA
Stop At: Mackwoods Tea Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive Queen Elizabeth Plaza, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
After breakfast, you will visit a tea plantation & a tea factory in Nuwara Eliya where you may also have an opportunity of tasting a factory freshly brewed cup of tea.
TEA PLANTATIONS TEA PLANTATIONS – It is not a secret that Nuwara Eliya is the heart of tea industry & tea had been a main export in Sri Lanka for by-gone decades. On your way, you will see acres & acres of greenery, tea plantations all around. Let’s walk to see the history of tea!! The 1st tea plant was brought to Sri Lanka from China in 1824 & it was planted at Peradeniya botanical garden. Time passed by, James Taylor – a Scottish planter gave birth to the 1st tea plantation in 1867 & named it as Loolkandura estate which exists up to date. While your visit in a tea plantation, step into a tea factory nearby & experience an instructive glimpse of the manufacture of Ceylon Tea. Be in alert!! Because you will forget that you are on earth, when you are inhaling the divine scent of tea there.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
NUWARA ELIYA CITY TOUR – The town of Nuwara Eliya enjoys spring-like weather throughout the year. A favorite retreat of the British during colonial times, the town is dotted with English country style houses and half-timbered bungalows. In this city tour, you can visit Victoria Park. It is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times because of the good opportunities it gives to see various species, and also you can visit Gregory Lake, which was constructed during the period of British Governor Sir William Gregory in 1873, as well as you can visit Golf courses in Nuwara Eliya Town.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Spend overnight in Nuwara Eliya. Your stay is on Bed & Breakfast basis at home stay.
Day 8: NUWARA ELIYA / NEGOMBO
Stop At: Devon Falls, Talawakele, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
After breakfast, you will be driven to Negombo. En route you visit St. Clare & Devon falls.
ST. CLAIR’S & DEVON WATERFALLS – St. Clair’s fall is one the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka. It is situated 3km west of the town of Talawakele & derives its name from a nearby tea estate. St. Clair’s fall is 80m high and the 20th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. Devon Falls (6km west of Talawakele) is named after a pioneer English coffee planter called Devon, whose plantation is situated nearby. The Waterfall is 97 meters high & ranked 19th highest in the Island. Altitude of Devon falls is 1,140m above sea level. You can stop for a cup of tea at The Mlesna Tea Castle with Tea Museum.
On completion, continue your drive to Negombo. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to take breaks for refreshments and photography.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight stay is on Bed & Breakfast basis at a home stay.
Day 9: NEGOMBO/ AIRPORT
Pass By: Katunayake, Katunayake, Negombo, Western Province
After breakfast, you will be driven to Airport for your flight back home
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
