10 Day Private Sri Lanka Tour Kandy Ella Yala and Galle

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Coastal Arrival & Negombo Lagoon Discovery⌄

   Experience the energetic morning atmosphere of Sri Lanka’s coastal fishing industry. Accompanied by your guide, stroll through the bustling market where local fishermen unload daily catches, auction fresh seafood, and lay out fish to dry along the sandy beach.

   Discover Negombo's colonial history at the ramparts of the 17th-century Dutch Fort. Your guide will share stories of the maritime spice trade while you admire the preserved stone gateway and historical fortifications by the waterfront.

   Cruise through the tranquil waters of the Negombo Lagoon aboard a local boat. Glide past rich mangrove ecosystems, spot native water birds, and observe local fishermen utilizing traditional catamarans.

   Meals: Lunch

   Overnight: A 3-star hotel

2. 2Ancient Caves, Village Culture & Jungle Night Safari⌄

   Explore a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five expansive rock caves carved into a granite cliff. Marvel at intricate ancient wall murals and over 150 Buddha statues while learning about the temple’s royal history.

   Immerse yourself in authentic rural Sri Lankan life with a guided village tour. Take a ride on a bullock cart, cross a local lake on a traditional canoe, and enjoy a live cooking demonstration followed by an authentic home-cooked buffet lunch served on banana leaves.

   Take an evening jeep tour through the jungle outskirts of Sigiriya. Search for nocturnal wildlife like night birds, wild elephants, and slender loris with an experienced tracker.

   Meals: Lunch

   Overnight: A 3-Star hotel

3. 3Medieval Kingdoms & Elephant Gathering Safari⌄

   Tour the preserved stone ruins, royal palaces, stupas, and Gal Vihara rock-cut Buddha statues of the ancient Polonnaruwa kingdom.

   Drive through Minneriya National Park in an open-top 4x4 jeep. Spot herds of wild Asian elephants, deer, monkeys, and birds around the central reservoir.

   Overnight: A 3-star hotel

4. 4Spice Trails, Sacred Heritage & Kandyan Culture⌄

   Take a walk through a spice garden to learn how cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, and cocoa are grown and processed.

   Visit a traditional cottage workshop to watch local artisans convert coconut husks into durable coir rope, mats, and handicrafts using time-tested hand techniques.

   Visit Sri Lanka’s sacred Buddhist site housing the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Tour the golden-roofed shrines, view stone carvings, and observe daily worship rituals (puja).

   Watch an evening performance featuring Kandyan drumming, folk dances, traditional costumes, and a fire-walking demonstration.

   Meals: Lunch

   Overnight: A 3-star hotel

5. 5Royal Gardens, Tea Country & Scenic Nuwara Eliya⌄

   Walk through historic gardens known for their orchid collection, giant bamboo groves, double-coconut palms, and palm avenues.

   Tour a working hill-country tea estate and factory to see how Ceylon tea is picked and processed. Sample fresh tea at the end of the tour.

   Drive past colonial-era bungalows, the Tudor-style Post Office, Gregory Lake, and public parks in "Little England."

   Overnight: A 3-Star hotel

6. 6Iconic Hill Country Train, Nine Arch & Secret Waterfalls⌄

   Ride the hill country train past mountain passes, tea estates, waterfalls, and mountain villages.

   Walk through forest paths to reach the stone railway viaduct built during the British colonial era. Watch blue trains cross over the valley.

   Hike off the main trail to a secluded forest waterfall where you can relax or swim.

   Overnight: A 3-Star hotel

7. 7Cascade Valleys & Ancient Rock Sculptures⌄

   Stop at a wide mountain cascade dropping down steep rock faces along the road.

   Visit a 10th-century rock temple in a forest setting. View seven Mahayana Buddhist figures carved into a rock wall, including a 51-foot standing Buddha statue.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: A 3-star hotel

8. 8Deep Yala Wildlife & Leopard Tracking Safari⌄

   Look for wild leopards, sloth bears, elephants, and crocodiles on a 4x4 safari through Yala National Park. Choose between a full-day safari with a picnic lunch or separate morning and evening drives.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: A 3-star hotel

9. 9Elephant Rescue, Colonial Forts & Southern Coast⌄

   Watch orphaned baby elephants during their milk-feeding time from an outdoor viewing platform.

   Walk along the ramparts of UNESCO-listed Galle Fort and explore colonial buildings, shops, cafes, and the white lighthouse.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: A 3-Star Hotel

10. 10Metropolitan Highlights & Departure⌄

    Visit a central Colombo temple featuring mixed architectural styles and a museum collection of statues, antique cars, and artifacts.

    View the red-and-white patterned brick exterior of this historic landmark in the Pettah district.

    Tour Sri Lanka’s largest museum housed in a colonial building to see royal regalia, ancient weapons, and stone sculptures.

    Walk around the stone pavilion built for Sri Lanka's independence, featuring Kandyan stone pillars and surrounding gardens.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Overnight: A 3-star hotel