Ancient Cities & Hill Country – 12-day private tour of Sri Lanka

Highlights

What you'll remember

• 01A jeep safari in Wilpattu
• 02Anuradhapura by tuk-tuk and Polonnaruwa by bicycle
• 03Sigiriya and the Dambulla cave temples
• 04A village tour at Heeloya
• 05The train from Nanu Oya over the Nine Arches Bridge
• 06Whale watching, surfing or diving in Weligama

Day by day

The itinerary

1. Day 1 · Airport → Wilpattu

   Met at arrivals, then north along the west coast to the edge of Wilpattu, Sri Lanka's largest national park.

   Approx. 4 hrs drive

   
2. Day 2 · Wilpattu → Anuradhapura → Sigiriya

   An early jeep safari in Wilpattu looking for leopards, sloth bears and elephants around its natural lakes. Then explore the great stupas and the sacred Bodhi tree of Anuradhapura by tuk-tuk, before driving on to Sigiriya.

   Safari approx. 4 hrs · approx. 3 hrs drive

   
3. Day 3 · Polonnaruwa by bicycle, Sigiriya

   Cycle between the palaces, moonstones and the great carved Buddhas of Gal Vihara in the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa. Climb Sigiriya Rock in the late afternoon, then unwind with a traditional Ayurvedic massage.

   Approx. 1 hr drive each way

   
4. Day 4 · Sigiriya → Dambulla → Kandy

   The painted cave temple of Dambulla, then on to Kandy. In the evening, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and a Kandyan dance performance.

   Approx. 3 hrs drive

   
5. Day 5 · Kandy

   A village tour at Heeloya in the foothills of the Knuckles range, to see traditional Kandyan village life. Then the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya.

   Local drives

   
6. Day 6 · Kandy → Nuwara Eliya

   Up into tea country by road, past Ramboda Falls and a tea factory. Then Gregory Lake and a stroll around the old colonial town known as Little England.

   Approx. 3 hrs drive

   
7. Day 7 · Nuwara Eliya → Ella

   Ride the scenic train from Nanu Oya to Demodara, crossing the Nine Arches Bridge, while your driver takes the bags and meets you at the station. In the afternoon, an easy hike up Little Adam's Peak.

   Train approx. 4 hrs

   
8. Day 8 · Ella → Weligama

   The Nine Arches Bridge in the morning light, then down from the hills to the south coast to relax on the beach.

   Approx. 4–4.5 hrs drive

   
9. Day 9 · Weligama

   A day by the sea, your way: whale and dolphin watching (November to April), a surf lesson in Weligama Bay, or scuba diving.

   Local drives

   
10. Day 10 · Weligama → Galle → Bentota

    Walk the ramparts and lanes of Galle Fort, then a boat safari on the Madu River and a turtle hatchery on the way to Bentota.

    Approx. 2 hrs drive

    
11. Day 11 · Bentota → Colombo

    A beach morning, then Colombo: the Seema Malaka and Gangaramaya temples, Independence Square and the Lotus Tower.

    Approx. 1.5 hrs drive

    
12. Day 12 · Colombo → Airport

    Explore the busy local market in Pettah, then transfer to the airport for your flight home.

    Approx. 45 min drive

    

What's in the price

The route

Your route at a glance