Tour overview

This 11-day trip for travellers aged 18 to 35 combines Sri Lanka's ancient sites, misty tea country, wildlife and beaches in one sociable, great-value journey. Groups have up to 16 travellers, with a leader throughout. You stay ten nights: mostly in twin-share hotels, plus a night in a permanent tent with basic private bathroom near Udawalawe National Park and two nights in multi-share hostels. A few breakfasts are included, along with a home-cooked lunch with Ceylon tea in Ella and a dinner on safari night, leaving plenty of freedom to try kottu, hoppers and fresh curries.

After a welcome meeting in Negombo, you head inland to Dambulla in the Cultural Triangle. Early the next morning you walk to Sigiriya, the Lion Rock, a 200m rock fortress with ancient frescoes and views over the jungle, then continue to Kandy, the last royal capital, with a free day to see the Temple of the Tooth and explore the lakeside town.

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One of the world's most scenic train journeys carries you from Kandy up through tea plantations and misty hills to Ella. Here you hike one of the shortest and most popular stages of the Pekoe Trail, a long-distance path through the tea country, and share a home-cooked lunch and a cup of Ceylon tea with a local family. There is time to visit the Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak.

Travelling south, you take a 4WD safari through Udawalawe National Park, one of the best places in Asia to see wild elephants, along with water buffalo, crocodiles and birds, and spend the night in a permanent tent. Two days in Hiriketiya, a horseshoe bay popular with surfers, are all about the beach, before a walking tour of Galle Fort, the UNESCO-listed Dutch colonial town, on the way to Colombo.

The physical rating is medium, with an early climb, a day hike and simple accommodation. This trip suits sociable young travellers who want to see the best of Sri Lanka in under two weeks. Pack modest clothing for the temples, where shoulders and knees should be covered. Departures run year-round, with the south coast best from November to April.

Trip highlights

  • Sigiriya's Lion Rock (Day 3)
  • The scenic train to Ella (Day 5)
  • Hiking the Pekoe Trail (Day 6)
  • An elephant safari in Udawalawe (Day 7)
  • Beach days in Hiriketiya (Days 8–9)
  • Galle Fort (Day 10)

Your route

9 stops from Negombo to Colombo

11-day route: Negombo – Dambulla – Sigiriya – Kandy – Ella – Udawalawe – Hiriketiya – Galle – Colombo
  1. Negombo Day 1
  2. Dambulla Day 2
  3. Sigiriya Day 3
  4. Kandy Days 3–4
  5. Ella Days 5–6
  6. Udawalawe National Park Day 7
  7. Hiriketiya Days 8–9
  8. Galle Day 10
  9. Colombo Days 10–11

Why choose this tour

Culture, tea country, wildlife and beaches in a sociable group. Great value, with the famous Kandy to Ella train included.

Best suited to

  • Travellers aged 18 to 35
  • Solo travellers looking for a social group
  • First-time visitors to Sri Lanka
  • Travellers on a budget
A train in the hills near Ella

Day-by-day itinerary

11 days from Negombo, Sri Lanka to Colombo, Sri Lanka

  1. Day 1 · Negombo Arrive in Negombo

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Dambulla Dambulla

    Drive into the Cultural Triangle.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Sigiriya, Kandy Sigiriya to Kandy

    Climb Lion Rock, then to Kandy.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Temple of the Tooth Kandy

    A free day in the old royal capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  5. Day 5 · Ella Ella

    The scenic train through tea country.

    Hotel
    Hotel or hostel
  6. Day 6 · Ella Pekoe Trail

    A hike and a home-cooked lunch.

    Hotel
    Hotel or hostel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Udawalawe National Park Udawalawe

    A 4WD safari among elephants.

    Hotel
    Permanent tent
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Hiriketiya Hiriketiya

    Travel to the south coast.

    Hotel
    Hotel or hostel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Hiriketiya Hiriketiya

    A day on the beach.

    Hotel
    Hotel or hostel
  10. Day 10 · Galle Fort, Colombo Galle to Colombo

    A walking tour, then Colombo.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  11. Day 11 · Colombo Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Elephants on the grassland

Where you stay

  • Negombo (1 night) Hotel
  • Dambulla (1 night) Hotel
  • Kandy (2 nights) Hotel
  • Ella (2 nights) Hotel or hostel
  • Udawalawe (1 night) Permanent tent with basic private bathroom
  • Hiriketiya (2 nights) Hotel or hostel
  • Colombo (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 10 nights in hotels, hostels and a permanent tent
  • Meals 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner
  • Private transport and the Kandy to Ella train
  • Sigiriya Lion Rock fortress
  • Pekoe Trail hike and home-cooked lunch
  • 4WD safari in Udawalawe National Park
  • Galle Fort walking tour
  • Leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Sri Lanka electronic travel authorisation
  • Meals not included 4 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
A woman picking tea

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You are over 35 — this trip is for 18 to 35-year-olds
  • You want comfort — some nights are in hostels and a tent
  • You want many meals included
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–3, 6–8 and 11 · Lunch: Day 6 · Dinner: Day 7
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Sri Lanka
Hiriketiya bay

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £660 per person, twin share, tour only. 102 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Who is this trip for?

Travellers aged 18 to 35.

What is the accommodation like?

Mostly twin-share hotels, two nights in multi-share hostels and a night in a permanent tent.

Will I see elephants?

Udawalawe is one of the best places in Asia to see wild elephants.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors need an electronic travel authorisation for Sri Lanka, applied for online.

Is the train included?

Yes, the scenic train from Kandy to Ella is included.

How many people travel together?

Up to 16 travellers aged 18 to 35, with a leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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