Tour overview

This 14-day journey explores Sri Lanka in depth, staying in some of the best hotels on the island. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than twelve, by private vehicle and a scenic train ride. You stay thirteen nights in upscale hotels, including two at the historic Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya, with breakfast daily and a number of lunches and dinners.

After the fish market at Negombo you base yourself at Dambulla for the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, then climb Sigiriya and visit the Dambulla cave temples. In Kandy a botanist guides you round the Royal Botanical Gardens and you visit the Temple of the Tooth.

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A morning train climbs into the tea country of Nuwara Eliya, where you hike to the Single Tree Hill viewpoint. You then head south through Ella for two nights near Yala National Park, with safaris in search of leopards and elephants, before two nights in Galle's fortified old town and a final evening in Colombo.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits travellers who want the whole of Sri Lanka in comfort.

Trip highlights

  • Anuradhapura (Day 3)
  • Polonnaruwa (Day 4)
  • Sigiriya and Dambulla (Day 5)
  • The train to tea country (Day 7)
  • Safaris in Yala (Days 9–10)
  • Galle Fort (Days 11–12)

Your route

15 stops from Negombo to Colombo

14-day route: Negombo – Dambulla – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Yala – Galle – Colombo
  1. Negombo Day 1
  2. Sigiriya Day 2
  3. Dambulla Days 2–4
  4. Anuradhapura Day 3
  5. Polonnaruwa Day 4
  6. Matale Day 5
  7. Kandy Days 5–6
  8. Peradeniya Day 6
  9. Nanu Oya Day 7
  10. Nuwara Eliya Days 7–8
  11. Ella Day 9
  12. Kataragama Day 9
  13. Yala Days 9–10
  14. Galle Days 11–12
  15. Colombo Days 13–14

Why choose this tour

The whole island in upscale hotels. Two nights at the Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya.

Best suited to

  • Travellers who value comfort
  • Culture and wildlife lovers
  • First-time visitors to Sri Lanka
  • Solo travellers and couples
The ruins of Polonnaruwa

Day-by-day itinerary

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

  1. Day 1 · Negombo Negombo

    Welcome to Sri Lanka.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Beach Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Negombo fish market, Dambulla Dambulla

    A morning market.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Lake Dambulla
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Anuradhapura Anuradhapura

    An ancient capital.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Lake Dambulla
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Polonnaruwa Polonnaruwa

    Ruins and statues.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Lake Dambulla
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya, Kandy Kandy

    Caves and Lion Rock.

    Hotel
    Hotel Suisse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Royal Botanical Gardens, Temple of the Tooth Kandy

    Gardens and a sacred relic.

    Hotel
    Hotel Suisse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Kandy, Nanu Oya, Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya

    By train to tea country.

    Hotel
    The Grand Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Single Tree Hill Nuwara Eliya

    A viewpoint hike.

    Hotel
    The Grand Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  9. Day 9 · Ella, Kataragama, Yala Yala

    South to Yala.

    Hotel
    Chaarya Resort & Spa
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Yala National Park Yala

    A safari.

    Hotel
    Chaarya Resort & Spa
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Galle Galle

    To the coast.

    Hotel
    Le Grand Galle
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Galle Fort Galle

    A free morning.

    Hotel
    Le Grand Galle
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  13. Day 13 · Colombo Colombo

    The capital.

    Hotel
    The Kingsbury Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  14. Day 14 · Colombo Colombo

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Buddha statues inside the Dambulla cave temple, Sri Lanka

Where you stay

  • Negombo (1 night) Jetwing Beach Hotel
  • Dambulla (3 nights) Jetwing Lake Dambulla
  • Kandy (2 nights) Hotel Suisse
  • Nuwara Eliya (2 nights) The Grand Hotel
  • Yala (2 nights) Chaarya Resort & Spa
  • Galle (2 nights) Le Grand Galle
  • Colombo (1 night) The Kingsbury Hotel

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

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 13 nights in upscale hotels
  • Meals 13 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Private transport and the Kandy to Nanu Oya train
  • Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla
  • Botanical gardens tour with a botanist
  • Safaris in Yala National Park
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights
  • Sri Lanka ETA
  • Meals not included 9 lunches and 8 dinners
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a budget trip
  • You want a beach holiday
  • You dislike early starts
  • You want international flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–14 · Lunch: Days 6, 8 and 13 · Dinner: Days 1–2, 9–10 and 12
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Sri Lanka
Kandy Lake and the Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,137 per person, twin share, tour only. 234 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.

Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka?

UK citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Sri Lanka, applied for online before travel.

Is the train ride guaranteed?

It depends on ticket availability; otherwise you travel by private vehicle.

Will I see leopards in Yala?

There is a good chance, but sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Is the Sigiriya climb hard?

It involves around 1,200 steps; you can go at your own pace.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available.

How many people travel together?

No more than twelve travellers, with a tour 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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