12-Day Sri Lanka Sightseeing Tour with Safari and Whale Watching

Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport by your friendly Sri Lanka tour guide, who will load your luggage into the vehicle as you ride to Dambulla for your first hotel stay.

Explore the site in Sigiriya, which includes five of the eight World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka.

Visit Sigiriya Rock, built by King Kasyapa, which is the most famous tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. On top of a massive 200-meter-high rock, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures, King Kassapa transformed his fortress into an ecological wonder by building royal pleasure gardens, water gardens, fountains, boulder gardens, and the Sigiri Apsaras.

Head to Kandy, a large city in central Sri Lanka. It is set on a plateau surrounded by mountains that are home to tea plantations and biodiverse rainforest.

Explore the heart of the city at scenic Kandy Lake, also known as Bogambara Lake.

Take the Kandy to Ella train trip, which is considered one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.

Take a leisurely hike up Little Adam's Peak. The great thing about hiking Little Adam's Peak is that you will get some of the best views in the world without tackling a challenging trail.

Try a safari tour of Udawalawe National Park, famous as an elephant reserve.

Bird lovers will have a wonderful opportunity to observe many different varieties of birds. The national park is also home to many other mammal species, such as the rusty-spotted cat and fishing cat. Jeeps specialized for optimized viewing will take gravel paths deep into the forest for the best viewing experience.

Venture into Sinharaja Rain Forest. This evergreen rain forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the few virgin rain forests left today. It is a staggering array of flora and fauna that places it among the world's top biodiversity areas. More than 130 bird species are found here, including many of the 33 species endemic to Sri Lanka. There is also an abundant reptile population and myriads of insect species, many yet to be classified. It is preferable to explore Sinharaja on foot, which makes for a truly authentic jungle experience.

Take a whale and dolphin watching boat trip from Mirissa Harbour. Blue whale watching is a seasonal activity.

Spot blue whales, Bryde's whales, sperm whales, fin whales, and sometimes killer whales, as well as common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. During the whale migration season, you may also see spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and striped dolphins.

Spend a full day at Unawatuna Beach to rest and relax.

Visit Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Galle Fort is also known as the Dutch Fort or the Ramparts of Galle, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649.

See the Galle International Cricket Stadium, situated near Galle Fort. It is considered one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world.

Examine the Galle Clock Tower, located within Galle Fort. The Clock Tower is a famous landmark and overlooks the central Moon Bastion on the former guard room site. The Clock Tower was constructed in 1883. Also see Galle Lighthouse, Sri Lanka's oldest light station, dating back to 1848.

Head out from the coastal town of Balapitiya to witness the sunset while riding a boat in Madu Ganga. This wetland spreads over 900 hectares, and most of it is covered with water. There are a total of 64 islands in Madu Ganga. This tour takes around 2 to 3 hours. During your boat ride, you can see a huge mangrove forest along the riverbanks. The boats ride under a short tunnel made out of mangroves. You can also see many birds and animals living in this aquatic environment.

Drop-off by your Sri Lankan tour guide at the international airport or a hotel in Colombo.