Colombo Trip Overview
Experience the best of what Sri Lanka has to offer in this amazing journey capturing the most attractive sights in the emerald isle. For such a small country, Sri Lanka has a lot to offer in terms of culture, heritage, wildlife, and of course, beaches. The ancient Sigiriya Rock Fortress will dazzle you with its impressive size, and even more remarkable story. A climb to the top includes a number of wonders, from the “Mirror Wall” to the magnificent frescoes. The view from atop the monolith is unlike any other. The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy is the most sacred of places for Buddhists all over the world, for it is there that a fragment of a tooth recovered from the funeral pyre of the Buddha himself, is enshrined. Take one of the most scenic hillside train rides from Kandy to Nanu Oya near the garden city of Nuwara Eliya. This train ride will give you the opportunity to pass by tea plantations, mountainous terrain, waterfalls, and small villages.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Experience the best of what Sri Lanka has to offer in this amazing journey capturing the most attractive sights in the emerald isle. For such a small country, Sri Lanka has a lot to offer in terms of culture, heritage, wildlife, and of course, beaches. The ancient Sigiriya Rock Fortress will dazzle you with its impressive size, and even more remarkable story. A climb to the top includes a number of wonders, from the “Mirror Wall” to the magnificent frescoes. The view from atop the monolith is unlike any other. The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy is the most sacred of places for Buddhists all over the world, for it is there that a fragment of a tooth recovered from the funeral pyre of the Buddha himself, is enshrined. Take one of the most scenic hillside train rides from Kandy to Nanu Oya near the garden city of Nuwara Eliya. This train ride will give you the opportunity to pass by tea plantations, mountainous terrain, waterfalls, and small villages.
Itinerary
Day 1: Airport to Sigiriya
Stop At: Sigiriya, Sigiriya, Central Province
On your arrival at Bandaranayake International Airport, you will be received with a warm welcome to Sri Lanka. From here, you will be transferred to Sigiriya, which will entail a 4 to 5 hour road trip. On arrival, you will spend the night at a hotel close to Sigiriya. Recovering from a long flight is important as you prepare for a busy tour over the next few days, and so the first night will be spent relaxing and acclimatizing.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Sigiriya
Day 2: Sigiriya & kandy
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Day 2 is all about culture and heritage. After breakfast, your morning will include a tour to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a monolith converted into a secure fort by King Kashyapa, who reigned for 22 years. The highlights of Sigiriya include drawings of “Apsaras” or Celestial Nymphs, of which about 20 remain to this day. It is believed that the entire rock was covered in these drawings, making it the largest single work of art ever created. The mirror wall, visited from the 6th to the 14th century, reveal the comments of the impressions made by the damsels depicted on the wall. The dilapidated ruins of the king’s palace at the top of the rock capture the extent and grandeur of the palace, that once was.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Kandy, Kandy, Kandy District, Central Province
You will move on to Kandy, where more history and culture awaits. The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is the most sacred site for Buddhists over the world, as this is where the most important object in the Buddhist world, a tooth fragment recovered from the funeral pyre of the Buddha, is located. The relic itself is kept in a golden casket amid heavy security in the Inner Chamber of the temple. The temple complex is adorned with paintings and sculptures depicting the life of the Buddha. Kandy also offers the opportunity to see a few traditional Kandyan dances at one of the city’s cultural performance centers. A troupe of dancers in vibrant costumes, accompanied by drummers, will give you a spectacular display of Kandyan dancing – leaving you mesmerized.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight in Kandy
Day 3: Nuwara Eliya
Stop At: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
Day 3 is dedicated to the natural beauty of Sri Lanka. Following breakfast, the morning’s highlight will be the scenic hillside train ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya. Witness the beautiful landscape change and open up before you: from flat terrain to mountains, waterfalls, rivers and lakes. Tea Plantations are aplenty, as this area is famous for producing the world’s best tea. Nanu Oya, the final destination, is 5 miles (8km) from the picturesque town of Nuwara Eliya. Look out for a very nice view of the famous Adam’s Peak, about 1½km from the station. Your Overnight stay will be arranged at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Nuwara Eliya
Day 4: Nuwara Eliya to Yala
Stop At: Yala National Park, Yala National Park
Day 4 will start off straight after breakfast. You will be transferred to the Yala National Park. There will be a stop en route in Ella, to stop at the picturesque Ravana Falls. And thereafter continue to Yala. An evening Safari at Yala gives you the chance to see leopards as they come out of their daytime slumber. Leopards may be the star attraction at Yala, but elephants, sloth bears, deer, jackals, wild boar, and a few hundred varieties of birds can be found throughout the National Park.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight in Yala
Day 5: Yala to Mirissa
Stop At: Mirissa, Mirissa, Southern Province
Have breakfast at the hotel and proceed to Mirissa. It is the perfect place to get an organized whale and dolphin watching tour, which happens early in the morning. Wildlife Tours Sri Lanka provides you the opportunity to see these marine mammals up close in their natural habitat. Several species of dolphins, such as the Bottlenose and Spinner, and whale inhabit these waters. Sri Lanka’s coast has the largest colony of blue whales anywhere in the world. They can weigh up to 180 tonnes and as long as 30 metres – and Mirissa gives you the opportunity to see these giants of the ocean.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Mirissa
Day 6: Mirissa to Galle
Stop At: Galle, Galle, Galle District, Southern Province
You will be transferred to Galle after breakfast at the hotel. Galle is the largest city and considered the southern capital of Sri Lanka. The main attractions in Galle include: the 17th Century Dutch Fort (a World Heritage Site) with a culture and style of its own, beautiful and rustic houses and shops built in the Dutch colonial style and narrow lanes paved neatly with cobblestone dating back in time. Galle city itself is a bustling place and due to its location on the coast, it is a major hub for fishing, transport, and culture in Sri Lanka.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Galle
Day 7: Galle to Colombo
Stop At: Colombo, Colombo, Western Province
You will be then transferred to Colombo. The largest, busiest, and most populated in Sri Lanka, Colombo is a colourful city that grew from a small port town to being the most important centre for finance, trade, transport, education, and everything else in the country. A tour of Colombo city and shopping here should be taken up as shopping opportunities are aplenty – from street vendors to the more glitzy shopping malls – and bargains are to be had everywhere. Colombo city is a mix of colonial era and modern buildings, and rapid development over the past few years.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Colombo
Day 8: Colombo
Stop At: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Day 8: Colombo – Airport
On Day 8, you will be taken to the Bandaranaike International Airport when its time for your flight!
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: No accommadation
