6-Day Sri Lanka Highlights Tour with Ella Train Ride and Yala Safari

• Meet your Sri Lankan tour guide and driver at your Colombo or Negombo hotel in the morning. Pick up can be arranged from Bandaranaike International Airport for morning arrivals only.

• Drive to Pinnewala in your air-conditioned vehicle (~3 hours). 

• Reach Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in time to see the orphaned baby elephants. 

• Have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the river, where the elephants can be seen bathing and playing.

• Proceed to Dambulla after lunch (~3 hours). 

• Climb up to the world-renowned cave temples and admire the fascinating interiors with vibrant décor and impressive Buddha statues. 

• Get back on the road to Sigiriya later in the evening– a short 30 minutes to 1-hour drive.

• Check-in, have dinner and stay overnight in Sigiriya.

• Beat the heat and crowds by visiting the Sigiriya Lion Rock in the morning after an early breakfast at the hotel. 

• Climb down and explore the Royal Water Gardens at the base and take stunning photos of the rock.

• Proceed for lunch, followed by the drive to Kandy.

• On route, you can visit a Spice & Herb Garden, the Nalanda Gedige (~3 to 5 hour drive depending on stopovers).

• Check-in, have dinner and stay overnight in Kandy.

• Early in the morning, start your day with a visit to the world-famous 'Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic'. 

• Proceed for a sightseeing tour of Kandy or go on a shopping spree. Kandy is well-known for gemstone shopping and Ceylon tea, batik textiles and local crafts, making for good souvenirs.

• After lunch, get back on the road for the drive to Nuwara Eliya. En-route, see tea plantations and spectacular views, including waterfalls (~4 - 6 hour drive).

• Reach 'Little England' in the evening and experience a transition in the landscape and weather, a welcome relief from the sweltering cities.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

• After breakfast at your hotel in the morning, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya.

• See Gregory lake, take a stroll in Victoria Park, visit the Post Office operating in a colonial Tudor Manor or the Hakgala Botanical Garden.

• Head to Nanu Oya Railway Station by noon to catch your train to Ella. After dropping you off at the station, your driver will travel to Ella with your luggage by road and wait for your arrival. Though it is only a short distance, the trail meanders through tea plantations, hills and nature at its best, giving you about 3 hours of uninterrupted picturesque views.

• Upon arrival in Ella, meet your driver outside the station.

• Drive towards Yala and reach by evening (~3 hours drive).

Overnight stay in Yala.

• Go for a game drive in Yala National Park early in the morning.

• Get back on the road to Mirissa after having breakfast (~3 hours).

• Reach Mirissa by afternoon.

• Enjoy the rest of the day at Mirissa Beach.

Overnight stay in Mirissa.

• Early in the morning, you could go on a Whale Watching tour. (Price not included in tour cost as it is optional)

• Spend some time on the beach or enjoy activities like diving and snorkelling till noon.

• After lunch, pack up and start your drive to Galle.

• Visit Galle Fort.

• Reach Colombo by evening for your drop-off at a hotel or place of your choice within the city.

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