Sri Lanka Tour Package

About Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka packs beaches, hill country, wildlife and old cities into a short drive from each other. The south coast has the beaches and the Dutch fort at Galle. The train up to Ella and Nuwara Eliya runs through tea estates most of the way, and it is one of the best rail journeys anywhere.

Inland, Kandy has the Temple of the Tooth and evening dance performances. Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Anuradhapura cover the older history, and Yala or Udawalawe national parks are where you go for elephants and leopards. Flights from India are short, food is close to South Indian cooking and a private car with a driver is the normal way to travel, which keeps the whole trip simple.

We plan the trip around your dates and your group size. Tell us when you want to travel and our team sends you a plan and a quotation. Nothing is booked until you approve it.

Best places to see

• Sigiriya Rock FortressA palace and fortress on top of a rock, reached by about twelve hundred steps past the fresco gallery and the lion paws. Climb at first light before the sun is high.
• Temple of the Tooth, KandyThe country most revered Buddhist shrine, beside Kandy lake. Time your visit for one of the three daily puja ceremonies.
• Nuwara Eliya and the tea estatesCool hill country with colonial bungalows, a working tea factory tour and Gregory lake. Mornings are misty and cold enough for a jacket.
• Ella and the Nine Arch BridgeA stone railway viaduct in the forest, plus Little Adams Peak and Ravana waterfall. The train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella is the reason to come.
• Yala or Udawalawe safariJeep safaris for elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and, at Yala, a real chance of leopards. Early morning drives see the most.
• Galle FortA walled Dutch colonial town on the sea, with ramparts you can walk at sunset, a lighthouse and small shops inside.
• Dambulla Cave TemplesFive caves cut into a rock face, filled with painted ceilings and rows of Buddha statues. Usually combined with Sigiriya on the same day.
• Bentota and MirissaBentota for calm water and river safaris, Mirissa for whale watching between December and April.

Suggested itinerary

• Day 1 Arrive at Colombo, drive to Negombo or Sigiriya, check in and rest.
• Day 2 Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the morning, Dambulla cave temples in the afternoon, optional village tour.
• Day 3 Drive to Kandy with a spice garden stop, Temple of the Tooth and a cultural dance show in the evening.
• Day 4 Train from Nanu Oya to Ella through the tea estates, tea factory visit and overnight in the hills.
• Day 5 Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adams Peak, then drive to Yala or Udawalawe.
• Day 6 Morning jeep safari, then drive to Galle, walk the fort ramparts at sunset.
• Day 7 Beach morning at Bentota or Unawatuna, drive to Colombo and fly home.

What is included

Best season

December to April suits the south and west coasts and the hill country, and is also the whale watching season at Mirissa. May to September suits the east coast around Trincomalee and Pasikudah. The hills are cool all year, so pack a jacket whatever month you travel.

Good to know

• Indians need an electronic travel authorisation before flying, applied for online, and our team files it for you along with the document checklist.
• The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee. Cards work in cities and hotels, but carry cash for markets, small towns and temple donations.
• A tourist SIM at Colombo airport is cheap and gives good data cover, which helps on the long drives.
• Temples require covered shoulders and knees and shoes off, and photographs with your back to a Buddha statue are taken badly. Tattoos of the Buddha can cause trouble at immigration.
• Roads are winding and average speeds are low. We keep drives to about four hours a day and build in stops.
• Food is rice and curry based and close to South Indian cooking, so vegetarian travellers manage easily. Ask for mild if you are careful with chilli.
• Carry motion sickness tablets for the hill roads and cash in small notes for the train.

Planning and cost

Flights, hotels, transfers, sightseeing and visa help are arranged together by our team. Every plan is made for your dates and your group, so the cost is quoted after we know what you want. Price on request.