11-Day Tour of Sri Lanka from Colombo
Highlights
Negombo, Bentota, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya National Park, Matale
Locations Covered
Negombo, Bentota, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya National Park, Matale
safari, cultural, historical
Group Tour
11 Days
Easy
Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, Georgian, German, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian
Languages
Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, Georgian, German, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian
Description
Embark on a long, wholesome journey to Sri Lanka, where you will explore the highlights of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Negombo and Polonnaruwa, among others. Marvel at Sri Lanka's World Heritage Sites of Dambulla Cave Temple, Temple of the Tooth (Kandy) and Sigiriya. Hop on for a safari adventure in the Minneriya National Park, visit an elephant orphanage and a turtle hatchery, and have two refreshing days at Bentota beach.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Airport – Negombo
- Meet the tour guide upon arrival in Sri Lanka and transfer to Negombo. Negombo is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in Western Province, 38 km (24 mi) from Colombo via the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway. Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in the country and the administrative centre of Negombo Division. Negombo has about 142,136 population within its divisional secretariat division. Negombo municipal boundary is fully extended throughout its Divisional Secretariat area. Negombo is known for its long sandy beaches and centuries-old fishing industry. Negombo has a large bilingual (Sinhala/Tamil) population with a clear Roman Catholic majority.
- See the following sites in Negombo:
- Main fish market (Each day, fishers take their oruvas (outrigger canoes) and go out in search of the fish for which Negombo is famous.)
- Negombo Beach
- Hamilton Canal
- Fish market
- Dutch Fort
- Negombo Beach Park
- Angurukaramulla Temple
- St Mary's Church
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
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Days 2: Negombo - Bentota
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Bentota and its breathtaking sandy beach pretty much transform your dreams and visions of a tropical paradise into an everyday reality.
- Indulge in water sports, visit a turtle hatchery and enjoy a safari on the Madu River.
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
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Days 3: Bentota
- Spend another day indulging in various activities in Bentota.
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
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Day 4: Bentota – Nuwara Eliya
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Head to Nuwara Eliya, a city in the tea country hills of central Sri Lanka. The naturally landscaped Hakgala Botanical Gardens displays roses and tree ferns and shelters monkeys and blue magpies. Nearby Seetha Amman Temple, a colourful Hindu shrine is decorated with religious figures. Densely forested Galway’s Land National Park is a sanctuary for endemic and migratory bird species, including bulbuls and flycatchers.
- See the following sites:
- Devon Waterfall
- St. Clair Waterfall
- Kithulgala River Rafting
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
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Day 5: Nuwara Eliya City Tour
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. While on your city tour, you will visit Nuwara Eliya. You can see the following:
- World's End
- Hanuman Kovil
- Victoria Park
- Gregory Lake
- Seethammann Kovil
- Haggala Botanical Garden
- Arvada Spa
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. While on your city tour, you will visit Nuwara Eliya. You can see the following:
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Day 6: Nuwara Eliya – Kandy
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Go to Kandy city, situated in the centre of Sri Lanka and it is the socio-cultural capital of the country. Settled in the middle of a glorious mountain, Kandy city is a delightful holiday destination for travellers who want to experience the natural beauty as well as the rich and bright culture of the island.
- Visit the tea factory and Ramboda Waterfall.
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
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Day 7: Kandy City Tour
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. While on your city tour, you will visit Kandy, where you can see the following:
- Temple of Tooth Relic
- Batik Factory
- Gem Museum
- Cultural Show
- Wood Carving workshop
- Royal Botanical Garden
- Kandy Viewpoint
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. While on your city tour, you will visit Kandy, where you can see the following:
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Day 8: Kandy - Matale - Sigiriya
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. En route to your destination, you can visit a spice garden in Matale to see many different types of spices Sri Lanka is famous for. Just 25 Km from the hill capital of Kandy, the Matale spice gardens are among the best on the island. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown, and farmers are grouped in a cooperative to ensure the fair prices you will also be to purchase spices. Gardens are open to visitors, a delightful place to stroll in fragrant greenery and learn about nutmeg, pepper vines, clove trees and curry, cinnamon and the precious cardamom, a relative of ginger. It grows in the shade of high jungle trees and can only be harvested by hand. Visitors may buy spices, traditional remedies and cosmetics, taste a herbal brew and, in some venues, enjoy the full flavours of Sri Lanka spices over lunch or have an Ayurveda massage based on natural products from the garden.
- See Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of rock approximately 180 m (590 ft.) high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle, the Cūḷavaṃsa, this area was a large forest, then after storms and landslides, it became a hill and was selected by King Kashyapa (AD 477–495) for his new capital. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock, he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure; Sīnhāgiri, the Lion Rock (an etymology similar to Sinhapura, the Sanskrit name of Singapore, the Lion City). The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning.
- Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple.
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
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Day 9: Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Go Poḷonnaruwa, also referred to as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains the ancient royal city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
- The second oldest of all Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first established as a military post by the Sinhalese kingdom. It was renamed Jananathamangalam by the Chola dynasty after their successful invasion of the country's then-capital, Anuradhapura, in the 10th century. The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site.
- Modern Polonnaruwa is undergoing a major development project known as the "Awakening of Polonnaruwa," championed by former President Maithripala Sirisena. It envisions the development of all sectors in Polonnaruwa, including roads, electricity, agriculture, education, health and the environment.
- Head to Habarana, a small city in the Anuradhapura District of Sri Lanka. The location has some mid-range and up hotels aimed at package tourists and is a departure point for other nearby locations of greater interest. Habarana is a popular tourist destination for safari lovers as it is the starting point for safaris in the nearby Habarana jungle and the Minnariya sanctuary, which is heavily populated by elephants. Elephant back riding is also an attraction in this small city. Habarana is situated nearby to the ancient rock fortress and castle/palace ruin of Sigiriya and is situated on the main road from Colombo to Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa. The population of the city is expected to be in the area of 5000–10,000. The area has some of the best hotels in the country, and the greenery and wildlife have added value, making the location attractive for tourists.
- Join this 2.5-hour tour for a lifetime opportunity to emerge in the nature and culture of a real Sri Lanka Village. Your guide cum driver will pick you up from the centrally located Habarana/Sigiriya/Dambulla hotel and drive by a tuk-tuk to Hiriwadunna village, a beautiful rural area in Habarana city. Tour starts with a bullock cart ride near the village pond, and there you will experience a boat ride to the next side of the rural village. After a short walk within the paddy fields and vegetable cultivation, you can reach the village house. At the village house, you can relax and taste a delicious Sri Lankan lunch. Then take a tuk-tuk ride to the tour start point, and after finishing the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel.
- Places covered: Polonnaruwa ancient City, Minneriya National Park and village safari.
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Go Poḷonnaruwa, also referred to as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains the ancient royal city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
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Day 10: Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. En route to your destination, you can visit one of the most important tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Volunteers and caretakers provide shelter and take care of orphaned, abandoned and injured elephants within the park. You can watch caretakers feed, bathe and help these gentle giants. You want to walk with the herd to the nearby river to watch the elephants bathe and play around in the water.
Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
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Day 11: Negombo - Airport
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
What To Bring
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
Adult | |
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1 to 3 | /person |
4 to 5 | /person |
6 to 10 | /person |
11 to 15 | /person |
16 to 20 | /person |
Child | |
1 to 1 | /person |
This is a group tour |