Sri Lanka Experience
Overview
A fuller circuit for travellers with a week to spend: the west coast, the cultural triangle, hill-country tea estates, a jeep safari at Yala, and Galle's Dutch colonial fort on the way back to the airport.
The pace is built to avoid back-to-back long drives — each stop gets at least a night, so a safari morning or a rock-fortress climb doesn't have to be squeezed around a transfer.
Gallery
Highlights
- Sigiriya rock fortress
- Dambulla cave temple
- Kandy Lake, bazaar and the Temple of the Tooth
- Tea estate visit near Nuwara Eliya
- Yala jeep safari — leopards, elephants, buffalo and sloth bears
- Galle's colonial fort and lighthouse
Included & excluded
- Accommodation with breakfast & dinner, DBL/TWIN room
- All road travel by private luxury vehicle per itinerary
- English-speaking chauffeur guide
- All applicable taxes and VAT
- Galle Fort visit & city tours
- 1 litre bottled water per person per day
- Yala National Park jeep safari
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone, beverages
- Entrance fees to sights in Sri Lanka
- Lunch on tour
- International flights & visa
Day by day
Arrival — Negombo
Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Negombo — a relaxed first stop with a Dutch and Portuguese colonial past, a working fish market, and some of the west coast's best beaches.
Negombo → Sigiriya
Travel inland to the cultural triangle to climb Sigiriya rock fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its frescoes and 200-metre citadel.
Sigiriya → Dambulla → Matale → Kandy
Visit the Dambulla cave temple before continuing through Matale to Kandy, the island's hill-country cultural capital.
Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
Drive through tea plantations to the cool climate of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka's “Little England.”
Nuwara Eliya → Yala National Park
Continue to Yala for a jeep safari in search of leopards, elephants, buffalo and sloth bears.
Yala → Galle
Head to the south coast to explore Galle's Dutch colonial fort, lighthouse and cafe-lined lanes.
Galle → Departure
A final morning in Galle before transfer to Colombo airport for departure.
Map
Frequently asked questions
Is one safari at Yala enough, or should we do two?
One is included in this itinerary; a second morning drive can be added for a better chance at a leopard sighting, at extra cost.
How much driving is involved over 7 days?
A moderate amount — most days combine a few hours on the road with a stop or two, rather than long transfer days; Sri Lanka's distances are short by international standards.
Does this itinerary suit a first trip to Sri Lanka?
Yes — it's built to cover the cultural triangle, hill country, a safari and the south coast in one week, a fairly complete first look at the island.