Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Activities
Start & End Location
Price
USD 712USD 3,822
32% OFF TODAYThis deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Sri Lanka is the rising star of Asia, and trust us, it's got it all! Our 12-day group tour itinerary show's you the best of this green and luscious gem of the Indian Ocean. Head up to the misty mountain tops to hike the hill country and explore tea plantations before travelling down to the sun drenched beaches and national parks where we’ll search for wild elephants. Spot dolphins, visit ancient temples, play cricket on the beach and have the adventure of a lifetime with your new One Life travel family. The smells of spices, tea and traditional foods will bring your senses alive as you adventure through this island nation.
Fully guided with a legendary company guide and a local Sri Lankan guide, you will be well taken care of and have all your questions answered. The tour includes accommodation in hotels and hostels as well as the most stunning train journey in the world, an expert guide, meals, transport, and more.
It was absolutely beautiful and the experience specifically in Sri Lanka was amazing. There was a ton of adaptability that allowed everyone's voice to feel heard while still staying to the roots of the country's significance.
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
I will never forget my experience on this tour. I’ve witnessed so many incredible and life changing experiences, from seeing the Taj Mahal to watching the sun set on golden beaches Goa, from cycling through the early morning chaos of Jaipur to hiking up through the peaceful forest on Ella Rock to reach breathtaking views, from stargazing in the desert to picking tea in the mountains, from monkeys to elephants, from samosas to dosas to hoppers, from masala chai to fresh green tea, this tour has been a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and tastes, and I’ve made so many incredible friends along the way, who I’m sure will be friends for life.
Countryside and village visits
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We booked the Classic Ceylon Sri Lanka Tour for our honeymoon. The tour agent was Aitken Spence Travels. Day 1: Arriving at Colombo airport, we were greeted by our guide/driver named Rane (guide and driver are the same person throughout the tour). Our first stop was the Ramada Hotel in Columbo, where we checked in. You can take advantage of the afternoon to explore the city or relax at the hotel. We have reviewed each hotel separately in this thread if you want to learn more about each hotel review in detail. Our guide agrees on a time for you to be picked up the next morni g, which was ours at 8am. to start on time. Colombo is a busy city so traffic can be very busy. Day 2: Drive from Colombo to Dambulla, which is approximately a 4-hour drive away. Your guide will make a rest stop for a drink if you wish. Once we reach Dambulla we visit the Temple of the Rock. This fascinating temple is built on the side of a rock with some historical monuments of Buddhas and paintings. Once we had visited the temple, we stopped for lunch at one of the various Sri Lankan tourist restaurants. The food is in keeping with the country and there are usually rice, potatoes, various meats and salads on the menu. We were never disappointed. Lunch is not included in the tour price so it is extra, but at approx 600 rupees it is very reasonable in terms of cost. Some days we didn't fancy lunch and you can skip this if you want. Your driver will be very accommodating. We were then taken to our hotel which would be home for the next 3 nights: Amaara Forest Hotel (review available separately). The following days consisted of: Day 3 - Drive from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa to visit the 2nd Heritage of the Capital City. This is an amazing experience that offers a fantastic insight into Sri Lankan history. After this we reached Minneriya to the national park. The opportunity to see elephants in the wild is something not to be missed. There are also wild buffaloes, monkeys, birds, and many more animals to witness. We also visited a silk shop where silk was made, and we were dressed in traditional Sri Lankan clothing, where you can take photos of each other. The ladies at this store were wonderful and we bought a few items. The woodcarving factory is also a good stop, where you can watch how they make traditional Raksha masks and other items. We really wanted to buy a pair of these and the factory store on site had plenty to choose from at reasonable prices. Day 4 - Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion Rock). This spectacular rock of approximately 200 m high has impressive views. The only way to achieve this is through lots of steep steps so you will need to wear some good trainers as flip flops will wreck your feet. It can get quite busy on the stairs for the first part as there are historical paintings to see a third of the way which causes the delay, but it picks up soon after. Don't let this delay put you off, I almost decided not to bother you, but the wife talked me into it and I'm glad I did. When you get to about 2/3 of this way, this is where the Lions entrance is. At one point this one had a huge rock lion face on it which is sadly gone. From this point you can reach the top and the view of Sri Lanka can be seen for miles. Word of advice to all of you, there are people who offer to "show" you the rock, they will expect payment for their services, so you politely say no or agree to a cost up front. Also when on the stairs there will be men offering to help him up (at one point taking my wife's hand and escorting her down the stairs which I soon said no to) in all fairness once I say no they will leave you alone, so don't do it. Don't let this discourage you, but be prepared. This day you also have a tour of a rural town in a carriage and a boat ride. You may be offered lunch here which is a great experience and at 600 rupees well worth it. A local lady prepares dinner in her cabin in the woods, and there is a good choice to have. You won't get a chance to experience this again so totally recommend it. Day 5 - Kandy. The journey from the hotel above to here is around 2.5 hours, but it breaks down to an intermediate stop at Spice Garden, where you can see how various spices grow and are shown how to make curry mixes from scratch. The day also included a visit to a gem museum. Generally these places have a room or two showing the history of the gems etc but then a shop at the end. We found the gem shop too expensive for what we wanted to get out of our souvenir shopping, so we didn't buy anything. Again, you don't have to buy anything if you just want to look around. After you transfer to another hotel, we stopped at Earls Regent in Kandy. Day 6 - We visit the Botanical Garden which is a lovely relaxing day where you can walk slowly and take in the surroundings. After this, you can have lunch or return to the hotel to relax. Day 7: We visit a tea plantation on this day where you can see the process from tea leaf picking to the final product. We were allowed to pick tea leaves in the hills as well as visit the shop on site to pick up some reasonably priced local tea/souvenirs. From this point, you can return to the final hotel of the tour to rest in Nuwara Eliya. You can, if you wish, take a walk in the area near the hotel. Day 8 _ This is the route back to the airport, which takes around 7 hours in total, but is broken down by the different sights offering opportunities for waterfalls and a few breaks at local cafes and restaurants. As a guide, we leave at 8:30 am and arrive at the airport at 3:30 pm. Overall the tour was amazing but very tiring. It's not a relaxing vacation, so if you can get a second week in a row somewhere, you can relax. We went to the Maldives which is a 1 hour flight to Male airport. Some final points:
We were advised to tip the driver between $5-10 per person per day as an example, but you can tip what you feel was worth. Your guide will offer to take you to other places that are not listed on the tour and will be charged. If you don't want to do this, just say no thanks and they won't accept you. We almost fell for this and arrived at a spa which we were told would cost 5,000 rupees each for an hour which works out to a total of �40 so not a huge cost but we really didn't want a spa visit So we politely said we weren't interested. On the last day you will also be asked if you want to go rafting, which we didn't do as the last thing we wanted was to get wet en route to the airport. Overall, a worthwhile trip to an amazing country.
It is not often after a two week holiday, I am not ready to leave and get home. I went by myself and I could have repeated the holiday easily. George our guide was incredible, full of charm, humour & wit he was totally unflappable and his knowledge of his country was encyclopaedic encompassing politics, economics, flora, fauna, religion and animals. He worked tirelessly to ensure we all made the most of our time. Sri Lanka is an amazing country and the fun, laughter and camaraderie we all experienced will live with me for a long time.
Bicycle toursRafting
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Sinharaja, Hik
Colombo, Negombo, Sinharaja, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Chilaw, Wilpattu National Park, Anaradhapura, Minneriya National Park, Polonnaruwa, Kandy
12% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Looking back at our photos now we've returned to the UK we can't believe the amount we saw and the amazing experiences we had on this tour. Sri Lanka is an amazing beautiful country with some much going on - we only scratched the surface. Our tour leader Cham worked so hard to make sure that we had everything we needed, resolving our problems and sorting out food for our fussy son! His knowledge about Sri Lankan history and wildlife was immense. He even found the best place to buy genuine Sri Lanka cricket shirts for the sporty members of our group. The only thing we'd change was the pace of the second half of the Sri Lanka leg of the trip. The first half gave us time to chill and bond as a group, as well as hang out in the pool at Giritale and play cricket. The second half we moved every night and covered a massive distance, though interesting, this was quite tiring (especially for the kids), so we'd suggest that a two night stop in the middle of this element would resolve this issue easily. This was clear in the notes, however, as was the high chance of not getting the train. The pace did slow considerably for the Maldives element, with a lot of time on our boats travelling between reefs. The snorkelling was quite frankly mind-blowing, and even the more nervous swimmers loved it. The crew were fantastic, and the food was delicious. The guide knew his stuff, and made sure we had great snorkelling experiences. Our only criticism of this part of the trip was that splitting the group when we'd got to know each other and were getting on really well was disappointing. There were larger boats, and we'd have preferred to be on a single boat given how long we spent travelling separately. The crew did what they could to mitigate this by tying the boats together when we moored for snorkels, meals and overnight and that was great. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip, and with a few very small tweaks it'd be perfect!
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This is the ultimate 25-day adventure through India and Sri Lanka, packed with culture, coastline, and incredible connections. Wander through the buzzing streets of Delhi, marvel at Rajasthan’s palaces, and soak up the sun in Goa’s beach towns. Explore ancient ruins in Hampi, drift through Kerala’s dreamy backwaters, and sip your way through lush tea and spice gardens. Then, hop over to Sri Lanka to hike misty highlands, visit local homestays, and toast to new friendships at hidden bars. From historic wonders to laid-back coastal vibes, this journey is all about unforgettable moments in two of the world’s most vibrant destinations.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Two incredible countries, one epic adventure. India and Sri Lanka are a perfect match — think rich history, vibrant cultures, mouthwatering cuisine, and landscapes that range from misty highlands to sun-drenched beaches. Kick things off in Delhi before checking off bucket-list icons like the Taj Mahal and Amber Fort. Get a taste of local life with homestays and village visits, explore the buzzing cities of Mumbai and Negombo, and trade cityscapes for rolling tea plantations in Ooty and Nuwara Eliya. And of course, there’s plenty of time to unwind — whether it’s on Goa’s golden beaches or soaking up the coastal vibes in Hikkaduwa. Adventure, culture, and a crew of like-minded travellers — what more could you ask for?
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Trip was amazing. We covered all the places as per the itinerary. Our guide is very humble and great person, explained about all the places in detail. Worth visiting the coutnry with Aitken & Spence.
Evanjalin FernandoTravel Expert in Maldives & Sri Lanka
Oshadhi PereraTravel Expert in Maldives & Sri Lanka
Anu SethTravel Expert in India & Sri Lanka
