Sri Lanka · Culture & Wildlife

8-Day Sri Lanka Cultural and Wildlife Tour with Sigiriya to Galle

8 Days Round trip from Katunayake Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Marvel at the unique rock fortress and heritage of Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre
02 Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and stroll around Kandy Lake
03 Explore the Peradeniya Botanical Garden and the famous Spice Garden of Kandy
04 Travel through Nuwara Eliya's breathtaking mountain scenery and tea country
05 See the famous Nine Arches Bridge, one of Sri Lanka's finest colonial-era railway landmarks
06 Go on a wildlife safari in Yala National Park to spot leopards, elephants, crocodiles, and birds
07 Take a magical speedboat ride on the Madu River and enjoy fish therapy
08 Watch the sunset from Galle Fort and relax on Galle's beautiful beaches

Experience the culture, wildlife, mountains, and beaches of Sri Lanka on this 8-day tour. Start in Colombo and travel to Sigiriya to visit the majestic rock fortress and heritage museum, then continue to Kandy to see the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Peradeniya Botanical Garden, the Spice Garden, and Kandy Lake. Travel on to Nuwara Eliya for its breathtaking mountain scenery and visit the famous Nine Arches Bridge in Ella before heading to Yala National Park for a wildlife safari. End your journey in Galle with its beaches, Sea Turtle Hatchery, Madu River, and historic fort, before returning to Colombo for shopping and departure.

Watch the sunset from Galle Fort, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 17th century by the Portuguese colonial rulers.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park, Katunayake

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Colombo and Transfer to Katunayake

Arrive at Colombo International Airport and meet your tour guide.
Take a short drive to your hotel in Katunayake.

Overnight stay in Katunayake.

Day 02

Sigiriya Heritage Museum and City Sightseeing

Have an early morning breakfast and depart for the Sigiriya Heritage Museum, near the town of Dambulla. This unique ancient rock fortress was once home to a royal palace, which was abandoned after the king's death. It was later used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.
Spend the entire day sightseeing in Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 03

Kandy's Sacred Temple, Gardens, and Lake

Have an early morning breakfast and depart for Kandy, a large city in central Sri Lanka surrounded by mountains, tea plantations, and biodiverse rainforests.
Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a Buddhist temple located within the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.
Spend time at the Peradeniya Botanical Garden, famous for its rich and varied collections of tropical woody plants.
Travel to the Spice Garden of Kandy, known across the globe for its rare collection of herbs and spices. The key attraction here is exploring the popular and rare herbs that are grown and processed with great care.
Stroll around Kandy Lake, also called Bogambara Lake, located in the heart of the city.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

Day 04

Journey to Nuwara Eliya

Travel from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, also known as "Little England" because of its cool climate and colonial-era bungalows. Nuwara Eliya offers a landscape far more dramatic than Britain's, with mist-shrouded mountains and terraced tea plantations surrounding the former hill station, while world-class brews are abundant.
Spend the day at your leisure.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 05

Ella and the Nine Arches Bridge

Drive to Ella, a small and laid-back town surrounded by the beautiful green tea country.
Visit the Nine Arches Bridge, also called the Bridge in the Sky. This viaduct bridge is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in Sri Lanka.

Overnight stay in Ella.

Day 06

Yala National Park Wildlife Safari

Travel to Yala National Park, a huge area of forest, grassland, and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean, and Sri Lanka's most famous wildlife park.
Go on a wildlife safari and spot leopards, elephants, and crocodiles.
Enjoy bird-watching here as well.

Overnight stay at a hotel in the national park.

Day 07

Galle Fort, Madu River, and Beach Time

Have an early morning breakfast and travel to Galle.
Visit the Sea Turtle Hatchery, a daycare for newborn turtles. The baby turtles are released into the ocean at the age of 4 days.
Go on a magical speedboat ride down the beautiful Madu River, a wetland estuary inhabited by 64 islands. You can also enjoy fish therapy as the fish playfully nibble your feet at the fish spa.
Watch the sunset from Galle Fort, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 17th century by the Portuguese colonial rulers.
Spend time at the beach in Galle and enjoy the shimmering blue waters, alluring waves, and phenomenal scenery.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Galle.

Day 08