Tour overview

This 13-day journey explores Sri Lanka's ancient cities, hill country and wildlife at a relaxed pace, in handpicked hotels. A tour director escorts the group. You stay twelve nights in hotels including Jetwing and Cinnamon properties, with breakfast daily and most dinners.

After a tuk-tuk tour of Colombo you spend three nights near Dambulla, experiencing village life in Hiriwadunna, exploring the sacred city of Anuradhapura and climbing Sigiriya.

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You visit Kandy and take the train into the tea country at Nuwara Eliya, then spend two nights in Yala with morning and evening game drives, before relaxing at Jetwing Lighthouse in Galle.

The physical rating is low. This journey suits travellers who want Sri Lanka in comfort with time to relax.

Trip highlights

  • Colombo by tuk-tuk (Day 2)
  • Village life in Hiriwadunna (Day 3)
  • Anuradhapura (Day 4)
  • Sigiriya (Day 5)
  • The train to Nuwara Eliya (Day 8)
  • Yala game drives (Day 10)

Your route

13 stops from Colombo to Galle

13-day route: Colombo – Hiriwadunna – Anuradhapura – Sigiriya – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Yala – Galle – Colombo
  1. Colombo Days 1–2
  2. Hiriwadunna Day 3
  3. Dambulla Days 3–5
  4. Anuradhapura Day 4
  5. Sigiriya Rock Fortress Day 5
  6. Polonnaruwa Day 5
  7. Kandy Days 6–7
  8. Nuwara Eliya Day 8
  9. Kataragama Day 9
  10. Yala National Park Days 9–10
  11. Weligama Day 11
  12. Galle Days 11–12
  13. Galle Day 13

Why choose this tour

Sri Lanka in handpicked hotels. Two nights in Yala.

Best suited to

  • Travellers who value comfort
  • Wildlife lovers
  • History lovers
  • Couples and solo travellers
A Sri Lankan leopard on a branch

Day-by-day itinerary

13 days from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Colombo, Sri Lanka

  1. Day 1 · Colombo Colombo

    A welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    Cinnamon Lakeside
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Colombo Colombo

    A tuk-tuk tour.

    Hotel
    Cinnamon Lakeside
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Hiriwadunna, Dambulla Hiriwadunna

    Village life.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Lake
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Anuradhapura Anuradhapura

    Ancient stupas.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Lake
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Sigiriya Sigiriya

    The Lion Rock.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Lake
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Kandy Kandy

    Into the hills.

    Hotel
    Cinnamon Citadel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Yatiwawala, Kandy Kandy

    Cultural Kandy.

    Hotel
    Cinnamon Citadel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Hill-country train, Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya

    Tea country.

    Hotel
    The Grand Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Yala National Park Yala

    To the lowlands.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Yala
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Yala National Park Yala

    Game drives.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Yala
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Galle Galle

    Along the coast.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Lighthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Galle Galle

    A day at leisure.

    Hotel
    Jetwing Lighthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  13. Day 13 · Colombo Colombo

    The journey ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Kandy Lake and the Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka

Where you stay

  • Colombo (2 nights) Cinnamon Lakeside
  • Dambulla (3 nights) Jetwing Lake
  • Kandy (2 nights) Cinnamon Citadel
  • Nuwara Eliya (1 night) The Grand Hotel
  • Yala (2 nights) Jetwing Yala
  • Galle (2 nights) Jetwing Lighthouse

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

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 12 nights in handpicked hotels
  • Meals 12 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 10 dinners
  • Coach travel and the hill-country train
  • Colombo tuk-tuk tour and Hiriwadunna village visit
  • Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Kandy
  • Yala game drives
  • Tour director throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 7 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Sri Lanka travel authorisation
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Buddhist monks walking in Sri Lanka

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a budget trip
  • You want an active holiday
  • You want a beach-only holiday
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–13 · Lunch: Days 3, 7 and 9–10 · Dinner: Days 1, 3–10 and 12
A waterfall near Nuwara Eliya

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,948 per person, twin share, tour only. 13 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?

Yes, UK citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, applied for online before travel.

Will I see leopards in Yala?

Yala has one of the world's highest leopard densities, but sightings cannot be guaranteed.

How busy is the pace?

Relaxed, with several late starts and a free day in Galle.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast daily and most dinners.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available.

Who looks after the group?

A tour director escorts the group throughout.

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
From £2,948
See dates & prices