7 hand-picked day experiences, all departing from your accommodation
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Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most celebrated wildlife destination and holds the highest density of wild leopards of any national park in the world. You’ll board an open 4×4 jeep and head deep into the park’s most wildlife-rich zone, guided by an experienced naturalist who knows every trail and watering hole. Alongside leopards, expect sightings of wild elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, spotted deer, and over 200 bird species. Early morning departures give you the best chances of spotting animals at their most active.
Highlights:
If elephants are at the top of your Sri Lanka bucket list, Udawalawa National Park is where you need to be. Home to one of the largest and most reliably visible elephant populations in Asia, Udawalawa offers a different safari experience to Yala — vast open grasslands and reservoir shores where herds of wild elephants gather throughout the day, making sightings almost guaranteed. Your expert guide will also point out water buffalo, crocodiles, jackals, and a stunning variety of waterbirds as you navigate the park in a comfortable open jeep.
Highlights:
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is one of Sri Lanka’s most precious natural treasures — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the last viable remnant of the island’s primary tropical rainforest. This immersive full-day trek takes you deep into the forest with a specialist guide who will help you spot endemic birds, colourful butterflies, rare reptiles, and extraordinary plant life found nowhere else on earth. Sinharaja is home to over 60% of Sri Lanka’s endemic tree species and a birdwatcher’s paradise, with species like the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie and Green Billed Coucal found here. The forest feels primordial, alive, and completely unlike anything else on the island.
Highlights:
Koggala Lake is one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most scenic natural lakes, just a short drive from Unawatuna, and it hides a remarkable world few visitors take the time to explore. Your private boat weaves between a cluster of small islands — each with its own story: a spice island, a Buddhist temple island, a bird sanctuary island thick with nesting herons and cormorants, and even an island dedicated to traditional cinnamon cultivation. The pace is gentle and the scenery is beautiful, making this the perfect excursion for anyone who wants nature and culture without the exertion of a full safari.
Highlights:
The waters off Mirissa on Sri Lanka’s south coast are among the best in the world for whale watching — and one of the very few places on earth where blue whales, the largest animals ever to have lived, can be seen close to shore. Between November and April, the deep waters just south of Mirissa host blue whales, sperm whales, and pods of playful spinner dolphins that often put on spectacular shows alongside the boat. Your morning departs before dawn, heading out into the open ocean with a marine expert on board to help you spot and identify what you encounter. This is a bucket list experience at a price that’s hard to match anywhere in the world.
Highlights:
The Bentota River is one of Sri Lanka’s longest and most historically significant waterways, and a boat safari here reveals a side of the island most visitors never get to see. Starting from Bentota’s famous lagoon, your boat heads upstream through lush riverbanks, mangrove forests, and small fishing communities where traditional life continues unchanged. The river is home to monitor lizards, river crocodiles, purple herons, and a remarkable variety of fish. You’ll also pass colonial-era landmarks and local boat yards where traditional wooden fishing vessels are still hand-built using century-old methods.
Highlights:
Coastal culture, a leopard safari, ancient rock temples, and the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, all in two unforgettable days
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This two-day journey is Sri Lanka in miniature — packing the island’s most diverse and dramatic experiences into one perfectly paced itinerary. On Day 1 you’ll travel Sri Lanka’s stunning southern coastline, stopping at a turtle conservation farm, watching the famous stilt fishermen at work, visiting an ancient rock temple, standing beneath Sri Lanka’s tallest Buddha statue, and witnessing the explosive Hummanaya Blowhole before heading into Yala National Park for a thrilling afternoon jeep safari.
You’ll overnight in a comfortable 4-star hotel in Tissamaharama before Day 2 takes you up into the misty hills — through ancient cave carvings, a cascading waterfall, emerald tea plantations, and finally the legendary Nine Arch Bridge, with a scenic train journey through the heart of the hill country to finish.
7:30 AM — Depart from your accommodation
Your driver picks you up in a private, air-conditioned vehicle and your southern coastal adventure begins.
Morning — Turtle Conservation Farm
Your first stop is a sea turtle conservation and hatchery project on the southern coast, where rescued eggs are incubated and hatchlings are nursed back to health before being released into the ocean. You’ll see several species of sea turtle up close — an extraordinary and heartwarming experience.
Morning — The Stilt Fishermen of Koggala
One of Sri Lanka’s most iconic and photographed sights — traditional fishermen perched on wooden stilts driven into the shallow reef, casting their lines in a technique passed down through generations. Your guide will explain the history and tradition behind this remarkable coastal custom.
Mid-Morning — Weligama Rock Temple (Kustarajagala)
Carved into a granite boulder on the outskirts of Weligama, the Kustarajagala rock temple features a magnificent 3-metre standing Buddha figure carved directly from the rock face, believed to date back to the 3rd century BC. Surrounded by ancient frangipani trees and quiet forest, it’s a hidden gem that most visitors pass without knowing.
Late Morning — Dickwella Temple & Sri Lanka’s Tallest Buddha Statue
The Wewurukannala Vihara in Dickwella is home to a towering 50-metre seated Buddha statue — the tallest in Sri Lanka. Inside the temple complex, intricate paintings depicting Buddhist teachings and the cycle of rebirth line the walls from floor to ceiling. It’s visually stunning and deeply atmospheric.
Midday — Hummanaya Blowhole
Sri Lanka’s most powerful natural blowhole shoots seawater up to 23 metres into the air through a narrow cave in the rocks — depending on the tide and sea conditions, the effect can be spectacular and completely soaking. Your guide will help you time the best position for photos and safety.
Afternoon — Yala National Park Jeep Safari
The highlight of Day 1. You board an open 4×4 jeep and head into Block 1 of Yala National Park — the world’s highest-density leopard habitat. Your expert wildlife naturalist will navigate the trails in search of leopards, wild elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, spotted deer, and the park’s extraordinary birdlife. Allow at least two hours inside the park for the best experience.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama
After the day’s adventures, relax into your comfortable 4-star hotel close to the park entrance. Enjoy a hearty Sri Lankan dinner before an early night ahead of Day 2.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama (Dinner included)
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
After a full Sri Lankan breakfast at the hotel, your driver collects you and you head north into the mountains.
Morning — Buduruwagala Rock Temple
Deep in the jungle south of Wellawaya, the Buduruwagala rock temple is an extraordinary series of seven colossal Buddha and Bodhisattva figures carved directly into a vertical granite cliff face — all dating back to the 9th century. Standing before these ancient carvings in the forest silence is an experience that stays with you long after the trip ends.
Mid-Morning — Ravana Waterfall
One of Sri Lanka’s most photographed waterfalls, Ravana Falls plunges 25 metres over a wide rocky cliff face beside the main road to Ella. Named after the legendary King Ravana of the Ramayana epic, the site is steeped in mythology and surrounded by lush green forest. A wonderful stop for photos and a refreshing cool spray.
Late Morning — Little Adam’s Peak
A short, gentle hike up Little Adam’s Peak — a smaller and more accessible version of the famous Adam’s Peak — rewards you with panoramic 360-degree views over Ella Gap, the surrounding tea estates, and the distant plains far below. The hike takes approximately 45 minutes and is suitable for most fitness levels.
Midday — Tea Plantation Walk
Walk through the emerald rows of a working Ceylon tea estate, guided by a local tea planter who will explain the entire process of tea cultivation — from the delicate leaf-picking technique used by estate workers to the final stages of processing and drying. End the walk with a tasting of freshly brewed Ceylon tea in the estate’s viewing area.
Afternoon — Nine Arch Bridge
Arrive at one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic and photographed landmarks. Built entirely from stone, brick, and cement during the British colonial era — without a single piece of steel — the Nine Arch Bridge curves elegantly through the jungle canopy at Ella in a feat of engineering that looks almost impossibly beautiful. Your guide will position you at the best viewing spots, and if the timing aligns, you’ll watch a train pass across the bridge — a moment that never fails to impress.
Afternoon — Train Journey: Demodara to Ella
Board the train at Demodara station for the short but unforgettable scenic journey to Ella — passing through tunnels, across bridges, and through tea-carpeted hillsides. The Demodara loop, where the railway line passes through a tunnel and loops back beneath itself, is one of the great engineering curiosities of the Sri Lankan rail network.
Evening — Return to your accommodation
Your driver will collect you from Ella and return you to your base, bringing a truly packed and memorable two-day Sri Lanka experience to a close.
Includes: transport, hotel, safari jeep, all entrance tickets, dinner and breakfast
Wildlife, waterfalls, colonial history, sacred temples, and Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, all in three days
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This three-day tour is the ideal way to experience the breadth of Sri Lanka without rushing — moving naturally from the dramatic southern coastline, through untamed wildlife territory, up into the cool green hills, and arriving finally in Kandy, the island’s beating cultural heart. Day 1 takes you along a chain of extraordinary coastal stops before a thrilling afternoon jeep safari in Yala. Day 2 leads you north through ancient jungle carvings, a spectacular waterfall, and the emerald rows of a working tea estate to finish at the iconic Nine Arch Bridge.
Day 3 is devoted entirely to Kandy — its sacred temple, its magnificent royal botanical garden, a rescued elephant sanctuary, and the rich herbal traditions of the hill country. Three days, three distinct worlds, one unforgettable journey.
7:30 AM — Depart from your accommodation
Your private air-conditioned vehicle and driver collect you promptly and you set off along the southern coastal road as the day begins.
Morning — Turtle Conservation Farm
Your first stop is a sea turtle conservation hatchery on the southern coast, where staff rescue and incubate sea turtle eggs, nurse hatchlings to health, and release them into the ocean. You’ll come face to face with several species of these ancient ocean travellers — a moving and educational experience that sets a wonderful tone for the day.
Morning — The Stilt Fishermen of Koggala
One of Sri Lanka’s most iconic and photographed traditions — fishermen perched on thin wooden poles driven into the shallow reef, fishing in total stillness using methods passed down through generations. Your guide will explain the history behind this remarkable coastal practice and help you find the best vantage point.
Mid-Morning — Weligama Rock Temple (Kustarajagala)
Hidden in the trees just outside Weligama, Kustarajagala is an ancient boulder temple featuring a beautifully preserved 3-metre standing Buddha carved directly from solid granite — believed to date to the 3rd century BC. Quiet, atmospheric, and largely off the tourist trail, this is a genuinely special stop.
Late Morning — Dickwella Temple & Sri Lanka’s Tallest Buddha Statue
The Wewurukannala Vihara complex in Dickwella houses a breathtaking 50-metre seated Buddha — the tallest in Sri Lanka — visible for kilometres around. Inside the temple, floor-to-ceiling murals vividly depict the Buddhist teachings and the cycle of rebirth in extraordinary detail. Climb to the top of the statue for sweeping coastal views.
Midday — Hummanaya Blowhole
Sri Lanka’s most powerful natural blowhole fires seawater up to 23 metres skyward through a crack in the coastal rock — an entirely natural spectacle driven by ocean swells forcing into an underground cave. Depending on sea conditions, the display can be dramatic and completely drenching. Your guide will time your visit for the most impressive effect.
Afternoon — Yala National Park Open Jeep Safari
The centrepiece of Day 1. Board an open 4×4 safari jeep and head into Block 1 of Yala National Park — the most biodiverse and wildlife-dense section of this legendary reserve. Your experienced wildlife naturalist will guide you through the scrub forest and open plains in search of Sri Lanka’s iconic leopards, herds of wild elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, spotted deer, peacocks, and hundreds of bird species. Allow a minimum of two hours inside the park to maximise your wildlife encounters.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama — Dinner included
After an extraordinary day on the south coast, arrive at your well-appointed 4-star hotel near the Yala park entrance. Enjoy a delicious Sri Lankan dinner, relax by the pool, and prepare for Day 2 in the hills.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama · Dinner included
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
After a full Sri Lankan breakfast at the hotel, your driver picks you up and the journey north into the mountain country begins.
Morning — Buduruwagala Rock Temple
Set deep in the southern jungle, Buduruwagala is one of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable and least-visited archaeological sites — seven towering Mahayana Buddhist figures carved into a sheer granite cliff face in the 9th century, the largest standing over 15 metres tall. The walk through the forest to reach the carvings is itself a memorable experience, with the silence and scale of the place making a lasting impression.
Mid-Morning — Ravana Waterfall
Named after the mythical King Ravana of the Ramayana, Ravana Falls is one of Sri Lanka’s widest and most visually dramatic waterfalls — a broad curtain of white water tumbling 25 metres over terraced rock beside the mountain road to Ella. It’s a beautiful and refreshing stop, especially on a warm day, and one of the most photographed natural landmarks in the hill country.
Late Morning — Nine Arch Bridge
One of the most iconic images in all of Sri Lanka — the Nine Arch Bridge at Ella is a masterpiece of British colonial engineering, built entirely from stone, brick, and cement in 1921, curving gracefully through the jungle canopy without a single piece of steel. Your guide will take you to the best viewing points and, if the timing aligns, you’ll witness a train crossing the bridge — an image that never loses its magic.
Midday — Tea Factory & Plantation Walk
Walk through the orderly green rows of a working Ceylon tea estate alongside a local tea planter who will explain the entire arc of tea production — from the careful two-leaf-and-a-bud picking technique used by estate workers, through the withering, rolling, and oxidation stages, to the final dried tea ready for export. End with a tasting of fresh-brewed estate tea in the factory’s viewing lounge.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy — Dinner included
Your driver takes you onwards to Kandy — Sri Lanka’s last royal capital and cultural heart of the hill country. Check in to your centrally located 4-star hotel, enjoy dinner, and take an evening stroll around the beautiful Kandy Lake if energy allows.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy · Dinner included
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
Your final morning begins with a full breakfast before setting out to explore the extraordinary cultural landmarks of Kandy.
Morning — Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
The most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka and one of the most revered in the entire Buddhist world. The Temple of the Tooth Relic houses what is believed to be the left canine tooth of the Buddha, brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD and enshrined here since. Encircled by a moat and set against the backdrop of Kandy Lake, the temple complex is architecturally beautiful and spiritually profound. Your guide will explain the rituals, history, and the extraordinary significance of the relic to Sri Lankan Buddhism and royal tradition.
Mid-Morning — Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Just outside Kandy, the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya span over 60 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds along a bend of the Mahaweli River — Sri Lanka’s longest river. Originally a royal pleasure garden for the Kandyan kings and later developed by the British, the gardens are home to over 4,000 species of plants including a spectacular avenue of royal palms, a giant Java fig tree with branches spanning over 2,500 square metres, orchid collections, spice gardens, and towering bamboo groves. A genuinely beautiful and peaceful hour of exploration.
Midday — Kandy City
Take time to explore the heart of Kandy at your own pace — the bustling Kandy Market, the colourful streets of the city centre, the lakeside promenade, and the small shops selling traditional Kandyan crafts, batik, and gemstones for which this region is famous. Your guide will point out the best spots and share the history of this ancient royal city.
Afternoon — Elephant Orphanage
Visit a dedicated elephant sanctuary in the Kandy region where rescued and orphaned elephants — many brought in as injured or abandoned calves — are cared for, rehabilitated, and in some cases prepared for eventual release. Watch the elephants bathe, feed, and interact in their open riverside environment. Your guide will provide context on elephant conservation in Sri Lanka and the challenges facing wild elephant populations.
Afternoon — Herbal Garden
A fascinating and aromatic stop at a traditional Sri Lankan herbal garden, where practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine will walk you through the plants, roots, and spices used in Sri Lanka’s ancient healing tradition. Learn how everyday herbs like neem, turmeric, and gotu kola are used in traditional treatments, and browse a selection of natural herbal products to take home.
Late Afternoon — Return to your base accommodation
Your driver returns you to your starting point, bringing three remarkable and richly varied days in Sri Lanka to a memorable close.
Includes: transport, 2 x 4-star hotels, safari jeep, all tickets, dinner x2, breakfast x2, English-speaking guide
The complete southern and hill country loop with an Ella overnight and one of the world’s most scenic train journeys
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The 4 Day Tour takes everything that makes the 3-day itinerary great and adds an extraordinary extra layer, an overnight stay in Ella nestled in the hill country, and the legendary three-hour scenic train journey from Ella to Nanu Oya, considered one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. Day 1 sweeps you along the dramatic southern coastline and into Yala National Park for a wildlife safari. Day 2 takes you up into the hills through ancient rock carvings, a spectacular waterfall, and the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, ending with a relaxed evening in Ella. Day 3 begins on board a train winding through emerald tea estates and misty mountain tunnels before visiting a tea factory, and descending to the breathtaking Ramboda Waterfall.
Day 4 is devoted entirely to Kandy sacred temples, royal gardens, rescued elephants, and the rich cultural heritage of Sri Lanka’s last royal capital. Four days, four very different worlds.
7:30 AM — Depart from your accommodation
Your private air-conditioned vehicle and driver collect you at 7:30 AM and you set off along the southern coastal road.
Morning — Turtle Conservation Farm
Begin your southern journey at a sea turtle conservation hatchery where rescued eggs are incubated and hatchlings are nursed to health before being released into the Indian Ocean. You’ll encounter several species of sea turtle up close — green turtles, hawksbill, and leatherback — in an experience that is both heartwarming and genuinely educational.
Morning — The Stilt Fishermen of Koggala
Sri Lanka’s most iconic coastal tradition — fishermen in perfect stillness, balanced on thin wooden poles driven into the shallow reef, casting their lines using a technique unchanged for generations. A remarkable sight and one of Sri Lanka’s most photographed human subjects.
Mid-Morning — Weligama Rock Temple (Kustarajagala)
A little-visited but deeply impressive ancient rock temple just outside Weligama, featuring a beautifully preserved 3-metre standing Buddha carved directly from a granite boulder — believed to date back to the 3rd century BC. Quiet, shaded, and genuinely ancient-feeling.
Late Morning — Dickwella Temple & Sri Lanka’s Tallest Buddha Statue
The Wewurukannala Vihara in Dickwella is home to Sri Lanka’s tallest seated Buddha — a towering 50-metre figure visible for kilometres around. Inside, floor-to-ceiling paintings depict the Buddhist cycle of life and rebirth in vivid and intricate detail. Climb inside the statue itself for sweeping coastal views from the top.
Midday — Hummanaya Blowhole
Sri Lanka’s most dramatic natural blowhole sends seawater shooting up to 23 metres skyward through a crack in the coastal rock as ocean swells force into the underground cave below. One of the most spectacular natural spectacles on the south coast and great for photos — bring a change of shirt.
Afternoon — Yala National Park Open Jeep Safari
Board an open 4×4 jeep and head deep into Yala’s wildlife-rich Block 1 with an expert naturalist. Yala holds the world’s highest density of wild leopards, alongside herds of wild elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, spotted deer, peacocks, and over 200 bird species. With an afternoon inside the park, your chances of multiple wildlife encounters are excellent.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama — Dinner included
Rest and refresh at your comfortable hotel near the park entrance. Enjoy a Sri Lankan dinner and an early night ahead of the hills tomorrow.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama · Dinner included
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
After a full Sri Lankan breakfast your driver heads north and upward into the hill country.
Morning — Buduruwagala Rock Temple
Deep in the forest south of Wellawaya, seven towering Mahayana Buddhist figures — the tallest standing over 15 metres — are carved directly into a sheer granite cliff face dating to the 9th century. One of the most awe-inspiring and least-crowded archaeological sites in Sri Lanka. The forest walk to reach the carvings is itself memorable — listen for birds and watch for monitor lizards along the trail.
Mid-Morning — Ravana Waterfall
A broad and powerful curtain of white water dropping 25 metres over terraced rock, named after the legendary King Ravana of the Ramayana epic. Located right beside the mountain road to Ella, Ravana Falls is one of Sri Lanka’s most photographed natural landmarks and a wonderfully refreshing stop on a warm day.
Late Morning — Nine Arch Bridge
One of the most iconic images in all of Sri Lanka. The Nine Arch Bridge at Ella was built entirely from stone, brick, and cement by the British in 1921 — not a single piece of steel — and curves magnificently through the jungle canopy at a height of 24 metres. Your guide will position you at the best viewpoints, and with good timing you’ll watch an actual train roll across the top — an image that never loses its magic no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
Afternoon — Little Adam’s Peak
A gentle and rewarding hike up Little Adam’s Peak — the more accessible sibling of Sri Lanka’s famous Adam’s Peak — rewards you with extraordinary panoramic views across Ella Gap, the surrounding tea estates, and the distant southern plains far below. The trail takes around 45 minutes each way, winds through tea bushes, and passes several local viewpoint cafés perched on the hillside. Suitable for most fitness levels and absolutely worth every step.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Ella — Dinner included
Settle into your Ella hill country hotel for the night the first time on this itinerary you’ll wake up in the heart of the mountains. Enjoy dinner and, if the weather clears, a spectacular starry sky over the valley.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Ella · Dinner included
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
After breakfast at your Ella hotel, your driver takes you to the station for the centrepiece experience of the entire 4-day journey.
Morning — Scenic Train: Ella to Nanu Oya (3 Hours)
Board the train at Ella station for what is widely regarded as one of the most breathtaking railway journeys in the world — a three-hour ride through the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country. The train winds at a gentle pace through terraced tea estates, misty mountain tunnels, past plunging valleys and over high viaducts, with the landscape shifting constantly as you climb and descend through the clouds. Sit by the open door, feel the cool mountain air, and watch the emerald world roll past. This train journey is not a transport connection — it is an experience in its own right, and a defining highlight of any Sri Lanka trip.
Midday — Tea Factory & Plantation Walk, Nuwara Eliya
Arriving at Nanu Oya station (the gateway to Nuwara Eliya), you’ll be met by your driver and taken to a working tea estate for a guided walk through the plantation and factory. Watch estate workers plucking the tender two-leaf-and-a-bud with expert precision, follow the process through the withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying stages inside the factory, and end with a tasting of freshly brewed Ceylon tea in the estate’s viewing room. This is Ceylon tea at its absolute source.
Afternoon — Ramboda Waterfall
One of Sri Lanka’s most dramatic and lesser-visited waterfalls, Ramboda Falls plunges an extraordinary 109 metres in two cascading tiers down a sheer rock face in the Ramboda Pass — one of the highest and most scenic mountain passes in the entire hill country. The viewpoint offers a breathtaking perspective of the falls and the valley below, with the surrounding landscape of tea estates and jungle making this a truly spectacular stop.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy — Dinner included
Your driver brings you down from the hills into Kandy — Sri Lanka’s cultural capital and last royal city. Check in to your centrally located hotel, enjoy a well-earned dinner, and take an evening walk along the beautiful Kandy Lake if energy allows.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy · Dinner included
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
A final morning of exploration in one of Asia’s most historically and spiritually significant cities.
Morning — Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
The most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka and one of the most revered in the entire Buddhist world. The Temple of the Tooth Relic enshrines what is believed to be the left canine tooth of the Gautama Buddha, brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD and protected here ever since. The complex is architecturally beautiful — gilded rooftops, carved columns, a moat — and spiritually profound. Your guide will explain the significance of the relic, the daily rituals of the puja offerings, and the extraordinary history of the Kandyan royal dynasty that built and guarded this temple for centuries.
Mid-Morning — Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Sixty acres of impeccably landscaped botanical gardens set along a sweeping bend of Sri Lanka’s longest river, originally established as a royal pleasure garden for the Kandyan kings. Today the gardens are home to over 4,000 plant species — an avenue of soaring royal palms, a Java fig tree whose canopy spans over 2,500 square metres, orchid houses, spice gardens, bamboo groves, and an extraordinary collection of tropical flowering trees. One of the most beautiful and peaceful hours you’ll spend in Sri Lanka.
Midday — Kandy City
Take time to explore Kandy’s vibrant city centre — the bustling central market, the lakeside promenade, the gem and jewellery shops for which Kandy is renowned, and the colourful streets surrounding the temple complex. Your guide will share the history of this ancient royal city, the last to fall to British colonial rule in 1815, and point out landmarks and hidden corners that most visitors miss.
Afternoon — Elephant Orphanage
Visit a dedicated elephant sanctuary in the greater Kandy region where rescued and orphaned elephants — many brought in as injured or abandoned calves — are cared for in a natural riverside setting. Watch the elephants feed, bathe, and interact under the care of their mahouts. Your guide will explain the complexities of elephant conservation in Sri Lanka and the ongoing efforts to protect the island’s wild elephant population.
Afternoon — Herbal Garden
A fascinating final stop at a traditional Ayurvedic herbal garden, where practitioners will introduce you to the plants, spices, and roots at the heart of Sri Lanka’s ancient healing tradition. Learn how everyday ingredients like turmeric, neem, gotu kola, and cinnamon are used in traditional medicine, and browse a selection of natural herbal products to take home as gifts or souvenirs.
Late Afternoon — Return to your base accommodation
Your driver returns you to your starting point, bringing four rich and varied days of Sri Lanka to a memorable close.
Includes: transport, 3 x 4-star hotels, safari jeep, scenic train, all tickets, dinner x3, breakfast x3, English-speaking guide
Wildlife, waterfalls, the world’s greatest train ride, Sigiriya Lion Rock, Dambulla’s ancient caves, and the cultural heart of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s five-day signature journey
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The 5 Day Tour is GG Happy Tours’ most complete and balanced Sri Lanka itinerary — a journey that takes in the full sweep of the island’s natural beauty, wildlife, heritage, and culture at a comfortable, unhurried pace. It begins on the southern coast with a wildlife safari in Yala, moves through the dramatic hill country of Ella, follows the legendary scenic train through mist and tea estates to Nuwara Eliya, and then delivers its most spectacular day — a trip north to the ancient Dambulla Cave Temple and the extraordinary Sigiriya Lion Rock, one of the most awe-inspiring ancient monuments in Asia.
The final day is devoted to Kandy’s sacred temples, royal gardens, and elephant sanctuary. Five days, four very different regions, and a lifetime of memories.
7:30 AM — Depart from your accommodation
Your private air-conditioned vehicle and driver collect you to begin the journey along Sri Lanka’s spectacular southern coast.
Morning — Turtle Conservation Farm
Start your southern adventure at a sea turtle conservation hatchery where rescued eggs are incubated and hatchlings carefully nursed before release into the Indian Ocean. Several turtle species can be seen up close — an emotional and educational first stop that sets the tone for a day full of remarkable encounters.
Morning — The Stilt Fishermen of Koggala
One of Sri Lanka’s most photographed and enduring traditions — local fishermen balanced motionless on wooden poles driven into the reef, fishing in a technique passed down for generations. A uniquely Sri Lankan sight and a wonderful early-morning photo opportunity.
Mid-Morning — Weligama Rock Temple (Kustarajagala)
A little-visited but impressive ancient rock temple featuring a beautifully preserved 3-metre standing Buddha carved from a granite boulder, believed to date back to the 3rd century BC. Serene, shaded, and genuinely ancient in atmosphere.
Late Morning — Dickwella Temple & Sri Lanka’s Tallest Buddha Statue
The Wewurukannala Vihara’s 50-metre seated Buddha is visible for kilometres around and remains Sri Lanka’s tallest. Inside, vivid floor-to-ceiling murals depict the Buddhist cycle of existence in extraordinary detail.
Midday — Hummanaya Blowhole
Sri Lanka’s most powerful blowhole fires ocean water up to 23 metres skyward through a crack in the coastal rock — a spectacular natural performance driven purely by the force of incoming swells.
Afternoon — Yala National Park Open Jeep Safari
Board an open 4×4 jeep and head into Block 1 of Yala — the world’s highest-density leopard habitat. Your expert naturalist will guide you through the park in search of leopards, wild elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, spotted deer, and over 200 bird species. An afternoon safari gives you excellent time for multiple wildlife encounters.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama — Dinner included
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama · Dinner included
8:00 AM — Depart after breakfast
An early departure heads you north and upward into Sri Lanka’s extraordinary hill country.
Morning — Buduruwagala Rock Temple
Seven towering Mahayana Buddhist figures carved directly into a sheer granite cliff face in the 9th century, set deep in the jungle south of Wellawaya. The largest figure stands over 15 metres tall. Atmospheric, largely uncrowded, and genuinely impressive.
Mid-Morning — Ravana Waterfall
A wide and dramatic curtain of water plunging 25 metres over terraced rock, named after the legendary King Ravana of the Ramayana. One of Sri Lanka’s most photographed waterfalls — beautiful, refreshing, and mythologically significant.
Late Morning — Little Adam’s Peak
A gentle 45-minute hike through tea bushes to a summit offering panoramic 360-degree views across Ella Gap and the surrounding hill country. Suitable for all fitness levels and absolutely rewarding.
Afternoon — Nine Arch Bridge
Sri Lanka’s most iconic colonial-era landmark — a majestic nine-arch railway viaduct built entirely from stone, brick, and cement in 1921, curving through the jungle canopy at 24 metres above the valley floor. Time your visit to watch a train cross the top for one of Sri Lanka’s great travel photographs.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Ella — Dinner included
Rest in your hill country hotel surrounded by the cool, quiet air of the mountains.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Ella · Dinner included
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
Head to Ella station for the experience that defines this tour for many travellers.
Morning — Scenic Train: Ella to Nanu Oya (3 Hours)
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. For three unhurried hours the train winds through the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country — past terraced tea estates glowing vivid green, through mountain tunnels emerging into cloud, over high viaducts with valley views dropping hundreds of metres below, and through small highland stations where vendors climb aboard with fresh snacks and tea. Sit by an open door, breathe in the cool mountain air, and let the scenery do the rest. This is not transport — it is an experience.
Midday — Nuwara Eliya & Tea Factory Tour
Arriving at Nanu Oya, the gateway to Nuwara Eliya — Sri Lanka’s celebrated “Little England” at nearly 2,000 metres above sea level — you’ll visit a working tea estate for a guided tour through the factory and plantation. Watch experienced estate workers plucking the tender two-leaf-and-a-bud with extraordinary precision, follow the production process from leaf to dried tea, and end with a tasting of freshly brewed high-grown Ceylon tea.
Afternoon — Tea Plantation Walk & Ramboda Waterfall
Stroll through the manicured rows of a hillside tea plantation before descending through the dramatic Ramboda Pass to one of Sri Lanka’s most spectacular waterfalls — Ramboda Falls, plunging 109 metres in two cascading tiers down a sheer cliff face surrounded by jungle and tea estates.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy — Dinner included
Arrive in Kandy — Sri Lanka’s cultural capital — and after dinner, attend the spectacular Kandy Cultural Dance Show.
Evening — Kandy Cultural Dance Show
One of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated performing arts traditions — a vibrant, colourful evening performance featuring the ancient Kandyan dance forms: the graceful ves dance of the temple dancers, acrobatic fire walking and fire-eating, and the thunderous rhythm of traditional Kandyan drums. Performed by classically trained artists in elaborate traditional costume, it’s a spectacular and deeply authentic cultural experience that has been performed in Kandy for centuries. A truly memorable way to end Day 3.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy · Dinner included
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
Today is the most ambitious and rewarding day of the entire five-day journey — a day trip north from Kandy to two of the most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia.
Morning — Dambulla Cave Temple
The Dambulla Royal Cave Temple complex is one of the best-preserved ancient temple sites in Asia — a series of five magnificent cave temples carved into a massive granite outcrop, containing over 150 Buddha statues, murals covering 2,100 square metres of cave walls and ceilings, and religious artefacts spanning nearly 2,000 years of continuous worship. The paintings inside are vivid, detailed, and extraordinarily well-preserved, depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha and the history of Sri Lanka. Originally established in the 1st century BC by King Vattagamani Abhaya, the complex has been continuously venerated and expanded by successive Sinhalese kings ever since. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, it is one of the most remarkable and atmospheric religious sites in the entire country.
Midday — Sigiriya Lion Rock
The defining experience of the 5 Day Tour and one of the most breathtaking ancient monuments in all of Asia. Sigiriya — “Lion Rock” — is a colossal volcanic rock plug rising vertically 200 metres above the surrounding jungle plains, on top of which a visionary 5th century king named Kashyapa built an entire fortified palace complex, complete with water gardens, frescoed galleries, and a summit plateau with panoramic views stretching to the horizon in every direction.
The climb to the top is one of the great adventure experiences in Sri Lanka — ascending via staircases carved into the rock face, through a dramatic gateway framed by the enormous paws and feet of a lion carved from brick and plaster, and past the famous Sigiriya frescoes — hauntingly beautiful paintings of heavenly maidens preserved on a sheltered rock face, considered among the finest examples of ancient Sri Lankan art.
From the summit, the view is unlike anything else in the country — a 360-degree panorama across the ancient Cultural Triangle, the distant mountains of the hill country, and the flat jungle plains of the north stretching to the horizon. UNESCO has recognised Sigiriya as a World Heritage Site, and historians frequently rank it as one of the Eight Wonders of Asia. This is a moment that stays with travellers for a lifetime.
Important note: The climb involves approximately 1,200 steps and takes 45–90 minutes each way. It is manageable for most reasonably fit travellers. Your guide will pace the ascent comfortably.
Evening — Return to Kandy — 4-Star Hotel — Dinner included
Your driver brings you back to Kandy for your second night, with a full Sri Lankan dinner waiting after an extraordinary day.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy · Dinner included
7:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
A final morning exploring the sacred and cultural landmarks of Kandy before your journey home.
Morning — Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
The most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka — a beautiful lakeside temple complex enshrining the left canine tooth of the Buddha, brought to the island in the 4th century AD. Your guide will explain the temple’s extraordinary history, the significance of the relic to Sri Lankan Buddhism and nationhood, and the rituals of the daily puja ceremonies performed here three times a day.
Mid-Morning — Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Sixty acres of stunning gardens along the Mahaweli River, home to 4,000 plant species including a famous royal palm avenue, a Java fig tree whose canopy spans over 2,500 square metres, tropical orchid collections, spice gardens, and towering bamboo groves. Originally a royal pleasure garden for the Kandyan kings.
Midday — Elephant Orphanage
A riverside elephant sanctuary in the greater Kandy region caring for rescued and orphaned elephants — many brought in as injured calves. Watch the elephants feed, bathe, and move freely in their natural environment under the careful supervision of their mahouts.
Afternoon — Herbal Garden
A traditional Ayurvedic herbal garden where practitioners introduce you to the plants, spices, and roots at the heart of Sri Lanka’s ancient healing tradition — turmeric, neem, gotu kola, cinnamon, and dozens more. Browse a curated selection of natural herbal products to take home.
Late Afternoon — Return to your base accommodation
Your driver returns you to your starting point as five remarkable, richly varied days across Sri Lanka come to a close.
Includes: transport, 4 x 4-star hotels, safari jeep, scenic train, Kandy dance show, all tickets, dinner x4, breakfast x4, guide
From the ancient kingdoms of the north to the wild southern shore, the complete Sri Lanka experience, north to south
Starting fom
per person
The 6 Night / 7 Day Tour is GG Happy Tours’ most popular and most complete itinerary — a full north-to-south sweep of the island that takes in four distinct regions, six different 4-star hotels, and more than 25 of Sri Lanka’s most extraordinary attractions. The journey begins in Sri Lanka’s ancient Cultural Triangle spending two nights based near Sigiriya to explore both the legendary Lion Rock and the medieval royal capital of Polonnaruwa before moving south through the spice gardens of Matale, the sacred temples of Kandy, the misty tea estates of Nuwara Eliya, the dramatic scenery of Ella, and finishing with a Yala wildlife safari and a free afternoon on the beach of your choice.
This is Sri Lanka as it was meant to be experienced deeply, unhurriedly, and in full.
Morning — Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Begin this extraordinary seven-day journey at one of Sri Lanka’s most loved and celebrated wildlife sanctuaries — the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975 on the banks of the Maha Oya River. Home to the world’s largest herd of captive elephants, Pinnawala cares for orphaned, injured, and abandoned elephants of all ages — from tiny newborn calves to towering elderly bulls. The highlight of a visit to Pinnawala is the twice-daily river bathing — when the entire herd of elephants is led down to the river to bathe, swim, and play in the shallows in a chaotic, joyful spectacle that never loses its magic. Your guide will explain the history and mission of the orphanage, introduce you to some of the resident elephants by name, and help you find the best spots to observe and photograph this remarkable scene. It is an experience that is simultaneously heartwarming and genuinely impressive at scale — unlike any other elephant encounter in Sri Lanka.
Afternoon — Travel to Sigiriya Area
Your driver takes you northeast into the heart of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle — the region surrounding the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, dominated by the extraordinary rock fortress of Sigiriya rising from the flat jungle plains.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Sigiriya Area — Dinner included
Settle into your comfortable hotel for the first of two nights in this remarkable region. From your hotel, the rock silhouette of Sigiriya is often visible on the horizon at dusk.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Sigiriya Area · Dinner included
Morning — Sigiriya Lion Rock
The centrepiece of this entire tour. Sigiriya is a colossal volcanic rock plug rising 200 metres above the surrounding jungle — on top of which a visionary 5th century king named Kashyapa built an entire fortified royal palace complex, complete with landscaped water gardens, frescoed rock galleries, and a summit plateau with panoramic views stretching to every horizon. The story of Sigiriya is one of ambition, genius, and tragedy — Kashyapa chose this impossible location to build his capital after seizing the throne from his father, and spent decades turning the bare rock into one of the ancient world’s most sophisticated royal residences before his kingdom ultimately fell.
The climb begins through beautifully preserved water gardens — a feat of ancient hydraulic engineering that still functions today — ascending via staircases carved directly into the rock face, through a dramatic gateway framed by the enormous paws and feet of a lion carved from brick and plaster (the body of the lion, which once stood complete, gave the rock its name). Halfway up the ascent, the Sigiriya frescoes are preserved in a sheltered gallery — hauntingly beautiful paintings of heavenly maidens in vivid natural pigments, considered among the finest surviving examples of ancient Sri Lankan art.
The summit rewards every step — a 360-degree panorama across the Cultural Triangle, the distant blue line of the hill country, and the vast flat jungle plains stretching to the horizon in every direction. UNESCO has recognised Sigiriya as a World Heritage Site. Historians rank it as one of the Eight Wonders of Asia. There is nowhere else quite like it on earth.
Note: The climb involves approximately 1,200 steps and takes 45–90 minutes each way. Manageable for most reasonably fit travellers. Your guide will pace the ascent comfortably.
Afternoon — Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
From Sigiriya, your driver takes you east to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa — Sri Lanka’s second great medieval capital, which flourished between the 11th and 13th centuries as one of the most sophisticated urban centres in the ancient world. The ruins of Polonnaruwa are exceptionally well preserved and spread across a vast parkland setting — a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the remnants of a royal palace complex, a sacred quadrangle of religious monuments, massive irrigation reservoirs that still feed the surrounding farmland today, and the extraordinary Gal Vihara rock temple, where four enormous Buddha figures — including a 14-metre reclining Buddha of startling serene beauty — are carved directly from a single face of granite. Your guide will bring the history of this ancient city to life as you explore its most remarkable corners.
Evening — Return to hotel — Dinner included
Return to your Sigiriya area hotel for a second comfortable night, with the evening free to reflect on two of the most extraordinary ancient sites in Asia.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Sigiriya Area · Dinner included
8:30 AM — Depart after breakfast
Head to Ella station for the experience that defines this tour for many travellers.
Morning — Scenic Train: Ella to Nanu Oya (3 Hours)
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. For three unhurried hours the train winds through the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country — past terraced tea estates glowing vivid green, through mountain tunnels emerging into cloud, over high viaducts with valley views dropping hundreds of metres below, and through small highland stations where vendors climb aboard with fresh snacks and tea. Sit by an open door, breathe in the cool mountain air, and let the scenery do the rest. This is not transport — it is an experience.
Midday — Nuwara Eliya & Tea Factory Tour
Arriving at Nanu Oya, the gateway to Nuwara Eliya — Sri Lanka’s celebrated “Little England” at nearly 2,000 metres above sea level — you’ll visit a working tea estate for a guided tour through the factory and plantation. Watch experienced estate workers plucking the tender two-leaf-and-a-bud with extraordinary precision, follow the production process from leaf to dried tea, and end with a tasting of freshly brewed high-grown Ceylon tea.
Afternoon — Tea Plantation Walk & Ramboda Waterfall
Stroll through the manicured rows of a hillside tea plantation before descending through the dramatic Ramboda Pass to one of Sri Lanka’s most spectacular waterfalls — Ramboda Falls, plunging 109 metres in two cascading tiers down a sheer cliff face surrounded by jungle and tea estates.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy — Dinner included
Arrive in Kandy — Sri Lanka’s cultural capital — and after dinner, attend the spectacular Kandy Cultural Dance Show.
Evening — Kandy Cultural Dance Show
One of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated performing arts traditions — a vibrant, colourful evening performance featuring the ancient Kandyan dance forms: the graceful ves dance of the temple dancers, acrobatic fire walking and fire-eating, and the thunderous rhythm of traditional Kandyan drums. Performed by classically trained artists in elaborate traditional costume, it’s a spectacular and deeply authentic cultural experience that has been performed in Kandy for centuries. A truly memorable way to end Day 3.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy · Dinner included
Morning — Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
The most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka — a magnificent temple complex set beside Kandy Lake, enshrining what is believed to be the left canine tooth of the Gautama Buddha, brought to Sri Lanka from India in the 4th century AD and protected by the island’s kings ever since. The complex is architecturally beautiful — gilded rooftops, intricate carved columns, a moat, and a series of halls leading to the inner shrine — and spiritually profound. Your guide will explain the extraordinary significance of the relic to Sri Lankan Buddhism and nationhood, the history of the Kandyan kingdom that guarded it, and the daily rituals of the puja offerings that draw thousands of devotees every morning, midday, and evening.
Mid-Morning — Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Sixty acres of world-class botanical gardens along a bend in Sri Lanka’s longest river, originally established as a royal pleasure garden for the Kandyan kings and developed into one of Asia’s finest botanical collections by the British. Home to 4,000 plant species — a famous avenue of soaring royal palms, a Java fig tree whose single canopy spans an astonishing 2,500 square metres, orchid collections, bamboo groves, spice gardens, and magnificent tropical flowering trees. A beautifully peaceful hour of exploration.
Afternoon — Kandy City
Take time to explore Kandy’s vibrant and characterful city centre at a relaxed pace — the bustling central market, the lakeside promenade, the gem and jewellery shops for which Kandy’s region is famous, and the streets surrounding the temple complex where traditional crafts, batik, and wooden carvings are sold.
Evening — Kandy Cultural Dance Show — Dinner included
A vibrant and spectacular evening of traditional Kandyan performing arts — one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated cultural traditions. The performance features the graceful ves dance of the temple dancers, the acrobatic kandyan fire dance, fire-walking, fire-eating, and the thunderous rhythms of traditional Kandyan drums, all performed by classically trained artists in elaborate and colourful traditional costume. The show is both deeply authentic and genuinely thrilling — a perfect cultural capstone to two days in Kandy.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Kandy · Dinner included
Morning — Tea Factory & Plantation, Nuwara Eliya
Head up into the high hill country to Sri Lanka’s tea heartland — the region around Nuwara Eliya, known as “Little England” for its cool climate and colonial-era architecture, sitting nearly 2,000 metres above sea level. Visit a working tea estate for a guided walk through the plantation and factory, watching estate workers pluck the tender two-leaf-and-a-bud with expert precision before following the production process through withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying. End with a tasting of freshly brewed high-grown Ceylon tea — some of the finest in the world — in the factory’s viewing room.
Afternoon — Scenic Train: Nuwara Eliya to Ella
Board the train for one of the most beautiful and celebrated railway journeys on earth. For several hours the train winds through the very heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country — through emerald tea estates, into mountain tunnels that emerge into cloud, past deep valleys with views dropping hundreds of metres below, and over high viaducts above the jungle canopy. Sit by an open door, feel the cool mountain air on your face, and watch an extraordinary landscape scroll past at the unhurried pace of a mountain train. This is the journey that defines Sri Lanka’s hill country for most travellers — and rightly so.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Ella — Dinner included
Arrive in Ella as the mountain light softens and the valley below fills with mist. Check in to your hill country hotel and enjoy dinner in the cool mountain air.
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Ella · Dinner included
Morning — Little Adam’s Peak
A gentle 45-minute hike through tea bushes to the summit of Little Adam’s Peak — a smaller and fully accessible version of Sri Lanka’s famous sacred mountain — rewards you with sweeping 360-degree views across Ella Gap, the surrounding tea estate hills, and the flat southern plains far below. One of the finest viewpoints in the hill country and a wonderful start to the day.
Mid-Morning — Nine Arch Bridge
Sri Lanka’s most photographed colonial-era landmark — a graceful nine-arch railway viaduct built entirely from stone, brick, and cement in 1921 without a single piece of steel, curving through the jungle canopy at 24 metres above the valley floor. Your guide will position you at the perfect viewpoints and, with good timing, you’ll watch a train pass across the top — one of the great travel photographs of Sri Lanka.
Late Morning — Ravana Waterfall
Named after the legendary King Ravana of the Ramayana epic, Ravana Falls plunges 25 metres over terraced rock in a wide, dramatic curtain of white water beside the mountain road south from Ella. One of Sri Lanka’s most famous waterfalls and a beautifully refreshing final stop before heading south.
Afternoon — Journey to Tissamaharama
Your driver takes you down from the hills and south to Tissamaharama — the small town that serves as the gateway to Yala National Park — in preparation for tomorrow’s safari.
Evening — Check in: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama — Dinner included
Overnight: 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama · Dinner included
Morning — Yala National Park Open Jeep Safari
The final morning delivers one of the great wildlife experiences anywhere in Asia. Board an open 4×4 jeep and head into Block 1 of Yala National Park — the world’s most biodiverse national park per square kilometre and home to the highest density of wild leopards on earth. Your expert wildlife naturalist will guide you through the park’s scrub forest, open grasslands, and lagoon shorelines in search of leopards, wild elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, spotted deer, peacocks, and the park’s extraordinary birdlife. A morning safari gives you excellent time for multiple wildlife encounters before the heat of midday.
Afternoon — Beach of Your Choice
The perfect ending to seven extraordinary days. After the safari, your driver takes you to whichever beach destination you prefer for a free afternoon of rest, swimming, and reflection on the remarkable journey you’ve just completed. Choose from Unawatuna — one of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful and sheltered bays; Mirissa — a laid-back crescent of golden sand with excellent restaurants; or Weligama — a wide surf beach with a relaxed local atmosphere. The choice is entirely yours.
Evening — Tour Complete
Your driver returns you to your base accommodation as the 6 Night / 7 Day Island Arc comes to a close.
Includes: transport, 6 x 4-star hotel nights, safari jeep, scenic train, Kandy dance show, all tickets, dinner x6, breakfast x6, guide
Seven days exploring the wonders of the island. Seven nights on the southern coast to breathe it all in. One perfect Sri Lanka journey.
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per person
The 13 Night / 14 Day Tour is the most complete and generous Sri Lanka experience GG Happy Tours offers — and it works in two beautifully balanced halves. The first seven days follow the same extraordinary north-to-south island arc as our flagship 6 Night / 7 Day Tour: ancient Cultural Triangle kingdoms, the sacred city of Kandy, the world-famous scenic train through the hill country, the dramatic landscapes of Ella, and a wildlife safari in Yala.
Then, where other tours end, this one keeps going — with seven full nights at a 4-star beach hotel on Sri Lanka’s stunning southern coast, giving you the time and freedom to swim, explore, relax, and truly absorb everything you’ve seen. The package concludes with a comfortable airport transfer on Day 14, so your entire Sri Lanka journey — from first pickup to final farewell — is completely taken care of.
The full day-by-day itinerary for Days 1–7 is identical to the 6 Night / 7 Day Tour. Please refer to that section for complete stop-by-stop descriptions.
Day 1 — Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage → 4-Star Hotel, Sigiriya Area
Day 2 — Sigiriya Lion Rock + Ancient City of Polonnaruwa → Same Hotel
Day 3 — Spice & Herbal Garden + Matale Hindu Temple → 4-Star Hotel, Kandy
Day 4 — Temple of the Tooth + Botanical Gardens + Kandy Dance Show → Same Hotel
Day 5 — Tea Factory + Nuwara Eliya → Scenic Train → 4-Star Hotel, Ella
Day 6 — Little Adam’s Peak + Nine Arch Bridge + Ravana Waterfall → 4-Star Hotel, Tissamaharama
Day 7 — Yala National Park Jeep Safari → Beach of Your Choice → Beach Hotel Check-in
After seven extraordinary days crossing Sri Lanka from north to south — ancient cities, sacred temples, misty hill country, a legendary train journey, and a wildlife safari — Day 8 asks absolutely nothing of you except to arrive, check in, and breathe.
Your 4-star beach hotel on the southern coast is your home for the next seven nights. Depending on your preference, this will be in the Unawatuna, Mirissa, or Weligama area — all within a short drive of each other, all on the same stunning stretch of Sri Lanka’s palm-fringed southern coastline. Take a long swim, enjoy lunch on the terrace, and spend the afternoon doing exactly what seven days of sightseeing deserves — absolutely nothing at all.
Breakfast and all subsequent mornings at the hotel are included for the full seven nights.
Overnight: 4-Star Beach Hotel, Southern Coast · Breakfast included from Day 9
These five days belong entirely to you. There is no schedule, no pickup time, no itinerary. GG Happy Tours will be available throughout your beach stay if you’d like to arrange optional activities or need any assistance — but the days are yours to fill however you wish.
Here are some ways our guests choose to spend their beach days:
Simply relax on the beach
Sri Lanka’s southern coast is one of the most beautiful in Asia — shallow, warm, blue water, white sand, swaying palms, and a row of relaxed beach bars and restaurants a few steps from the water. Some guests spend all five days here and consider it the highlight of the trip.
Snorkelling & Diving
The reefs off Unawatuna and the nearby Jungle Beach are excellent for snorkelling, with vibrant coral gardens and a remarkable diversity of fish. For diving, the wreck of the SS Rangoon sits just off Unawatuna and is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular recreational dives. Both beginner and certified dive experiences can be arranged locally.
Whale Watching at Mirissa (November–April)
Just 30 minutes along the coast, Mirissa is one of the world’s finest whale watching destinations — a short morning boat trip into the deep waters south of the headland offers a very real chance of encounters with blue whales, sperm whales, and pods of spinner dolphins. If you’re visiting between November and April, this is absolutely worth a morning of your beach stay. Ask us to arrange it when you enquire.
Explore Galle Fort
Sri Lanka’s most beautiful and best-preserved colonial landmark is just 20–30 minutes from most southern beach hotels. The Dutch-built Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a walled colonial city of cobblestone streets, boutique shops, art galleries, coffee houses, and stunning ocean-facing ramparts. It deserves a full half-day of easy wandering and is one of the most pleasurable places in Sri Lanka to simply stroll and explore.
Koggala Lake River Safari
A gentle private boat safari through the scenic island maze of Koggala Lake — past a cinnamon island, a bird sanctuary, a Buddhist temple island, and a stretch of mangrove channel — is an easy and rewarding half-morning excursion available right on the doorstep of your beach hotel.
Ayurvedic Spa & Wellness
The southern coast has a strong tradition of Ayurvedic medicine and treatment. Many hotels offer in-house Ayurvedic treatments — from herbal oil massages and steam baths to full multi-day Panchakarma programmes. After a week of travelling, a day of Ayurvedic treatment is one of the most deeply restorative things you can do with a free day in Sri Lanka.
Local Food & Restaurants
The southern coast has an exceptionally vibrant food scene — from tiny local rice-and-curry spots where lunch costs almost nothing, to excellent seafood restaurants serving the morning’s catch with a view of the ocean. Spend an evening walking the beachfront strip trying the different restaurants, or ask your hotel to recommend a favourite local place off the tourist trail.
Do Absolutely Nothing
A fully valid choice, and one that many guests embrace wholeheartedly after seven days of adventure. Your hotel pool, your beach chair, your book, and a fresh coconut. Sri Lanka has earned it.
Enjoy one last full breakfast at your beach hotel — a final Sri Lankan spread of hoppers, fresh fruit, coconut sambol, and strong Ceylon tea — before your driver arrives at your scheduled departure time to transfer you comfortably to Bandaranaike International Airport.
Your GG Happy Tours journey ends as it began — in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, taken care of from door to door.
Airport transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport included.
Phase 1 — Island Arc (Days 1–7)
Phase 2 — Beach Stay (Days 8–14)
Optional extras available at preferential rates:
Snorkelling · Scuba diving · Whale watching · Glass-bottom boat · Galle Fort visit · River safari · Ayurvedic spa treatments
Includes: transport, 6 x 4-star hotel nights, safari jeep, scenic train, Kandy dance show, all tickets, dinner x6, breakfast x6, guide
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