Sri Lanka · Culture

6-Day Sri Lanka Nature and Sightseeing Tour with Kandy and Bentota

6 Days Round trip from Nuwara Eliya Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka
02 See abandoned and wounded elephants at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
03 Explore Nuwara Eliya's lush tea plantations, waterfalls, and Seetha Amman Temple
04 Relax on the breathtaking sandy beach of Bentota
05 Cruise through the Maduganga coastal wetland ecosystem on a Madu Ganga river safari
06 Enjoy a walking tour and sunset at the historic Galle Fort

Explore Sri Lanka's cultural, spiritual, and scenic highlights on this 6-day journey through Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Bentota, Galle, and Colombo. Visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and Seetha Amman Temple, and enjoy a cultural dance show in Kandy. Admire waterfalls, tea country landscapes, and the beaches of Bentota, then continue to the Sea Turtle Conservation Center, the Madu Ganga river safari, and Galle Fort. Your tour ends with a city experience in Colombo featuring landmarks such as Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Memorial Hall, and the Lotus Tower.

This secluded crescent-shaped beach is the perfect place to sit back and relax.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Bentota, Nuwara Eliya, Pinnawala, Kitulgala, Balapitiya

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and Kandy Cultural Show

Ayubowan!! Welcome to Sri Lanka. You will be met by representatives of Real Lanka at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Kandy, a drive of approximately 3 hours.
Stop at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on your way to Kandy. The orphanage was started in 1975 to house abandoned and wounded elephants, and it is now home to more than sixty elephants.
Pause for lunch at the spice garden.
Check in to the hotel.
After a couple of hours of rest, witness the cultural dance show in Kandy.
Return to the hotel, where dinner will be served.

Day 02

Kandy City Tour, Sacred Temple Visit and Transfer to Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Kandy with a chance to visit the Tooth of Relic Temple, the most sacred place for Buddhists in Sri Lanka.
Stop at the Bhaktha Hanuman Temple in Ramboda on your drive to Nuwara Eliya.
Witness the famous Ramboda Waterfall and the nearby sub-waterfalls. You can have lunch with a view of the waterfall.
Visit the tea factory, where you will gain insight into the manufacturing process as well as have an opportunity to taste and purchase different grades of Ceylon tea in the evening.
End your day at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 03

Seetha Amman Temple, Hakgala Botanical Gardens and Nuwara Eliya

Visit Seetha Amman Temple en route to the Hakgala Botanical Gardens. This prominent temple architecture will not fail to attract your attention. Ancient statues of Rama and Sita can be seen on one side of the temple. The temple today is a modern building with paintings, statues, and pillars decorated with sculptures, all depicting the tale of Rama and Sita.
Also explore Nuwara Eliya, the land of lush tea plantations, majestic peaks, and rising waterfalls.

Day 04

Transfer to Bentota via St. Clair's Falls, Devon Falls and Kitulgala

Proceed to Bentota.
Witness St. Clair's Falls and Devon Falls en route.
Go for the optional Kitulgala white water rafting.
Continue to Bentota and enjoy its breathtaking sandy beach, transforming your dreams and visions of a tropical paradise into an everyday reality. This secluded crescent-shaped beach is the perfect place to sit back and relax.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.

Day 05

Sea Turtle Conservation Center, Madu Ganga Safari and Galle Fort

After breakfast at the hotel, continue your journey to the more southern side of the country, the city of Galle.
Stop first at the Sea Turtle Conservation Center.
Try the famous Madu Ganga river safari in Balapitiya. The boat ride takes around two hours. Madu River is a relatively unspoiled lagoon, and the Maduganga estuary is a 915-hectare complex coastal wetland ecosystem that opens to the Indian Ocean.
Have lunch and proceed to Galle Fort, where you will undertake a walking tour. You can enjoy the sunset at Galle Fort.
End the day with a transfer to your hotel in Bentota.

Day 06

Colombo City Tour and Departure

Proceed to Colombo. A drive through the city takes you to the busy commercial areas and the tree-lined residential Cinnamon Gardens.
See the things to do in Colombo on a city tour: visit Gangaramaya Temple, admire the Red Mosque, take in the genuine vibe of Pettah Market Colombo, relax at Mount Lavinia Beach, take a walk on Galle Face Green, walk around Viharamahadevi Park, be mesmerized by the colourful Sri Kailawasanathan Temple, visit the Independence Memorial Hall or Colombo National Museum, or go up the Lotus Tower.
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight back.

Where this trip takes you

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, St. Clair's Falls, Galle Fort

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Nuwara Eliya 8 cities · 6 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

05 nights' accommodation at the hotels with breakfast and dinner. Lunches are served at outside restaurants.
Arrival and departure assistance at the airport, and transportation by A/C vehicle on a private basis with passenger insurance.
Services of an English-, Hindi-, or Tamil-speaking chauffeur guide.
Complimentary visits to spice gardens, a tea factory, and a gem gallery.
Free SIM card with data, water bottles, and Wi-Fi.
All government taxes are included.

What's Not Included

Airfares and visa charges.
Sightseeing entrance charges, unless specified.
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
Camera/video permits, tips, portage, and laundry.
Any expenses of a personal nature.
Early check-ins and late check-outs.
Anything not mentioned under inclusions.

Know before you go

Timezone: Sri Lanka observes the Indian Standard Timezone (IST). There are no daylight-saving time clock changes.
Hotel timings: Check-in is after 1400 hrs, and check-out is before 1200 hrs. Please inform in advance if there is a need for early check-ins and/or late check-outs.
Electrical adaptor: Sri Lanka uses electricity at 230V/50Hz and has electric outlets in a triangle configuration, so it is advisable to carry an international travel adaptor to avoid any inconvenience.
Currency: The official currency of Sri Lanka is the rupee (LKR). You can exchange major foreign currencies at the airport or bank.
Climate/weather: Sri Lanka has a tropical climate and is always warm. However, it is much cooler in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Ella; thus, warm clothes are recommended. Sri Lanka observes two monsoons: from May to September, rainfall affects the southwest part and the western side of the central mountains, while the northeast monsoon season affects the country from December to February, bringing rain to the north and northeast.
Temples and dress code: As a mark of respect, both genders should cover their shoulders and knees when entering a place of worship in Sri Lanka. You are also required to remove shoes and hats, and you are not allowed to take photos turning your back to the statue or standing in front of the statue.
For all travellers, a valid passport and visa are required. All visitors are encouraged to apply for visas through ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). A tourist visa is valid for three months; therefore, your passport should be valid for no less than six months after the holder's date of arrival.
Immunizations and health: No immunizations are needed. Dengue fever is common in the region, but there is no vaccination against it. Travellers need to take precautions against mosquito bites and visit the nearest hospital if they suspect infection. It is advisable to bring insect repellent and sun cream.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: Ever since the 4th century AD, when the Buddha's tooth was brought to Sri Lanka, hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess's hair, the relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka's most prized possession.
Sri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple: It is believed that Sri Hanumanji set his feet in these holy hills while searching for Sitaji. An 18 ft statue of Lord Hanuman towers at the entrance of this kovil in beautiful Nuwara Eliya.
Kandy: The cultural capital of Sri Lanka, a World Heritage Site, sits prettily in a valley surrounded by rings of mountains. Right in the heart of the city centre of Kandy is the man-made lake called Kiri Muhuda (Sinhala: the sea of milk), the one and only decorative lake in Sri Lanka. Kandy is most famous for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa). This beautiful city is gifted with scores of attractions that include Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy Lake, Bahirawakanda Temple for spiritual seekers, Udawattekele Sanctuary, Ceylon Tea Museum - a paradise for tea lovers, Wales Park - for a peaceful walk, and many more.
Nuwara Eliya: Nicknamed "Little England," it is one of the oldest cities in the country. All around Nuwara Eliya, you will see evidence of British influence, including red telephone boxes and well-tendered hedgerows. The town's high altitude affords visitors breathtaking vistas over the valleys, grasslands, and mountains. Many tourists come through the town to hike incredible peaks such as Adam's Peak. You will also see lush vegetation and impressive waterfalls. Nuwara Eliya is also one of the most significant tea plantation areas on the island.