Sri Lanka Highlights

4.5Based on
6 daysDuration
Group TourJoin a group of travelers
30 peopleMaximum group size
6 - 99 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Easy
Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Highlights

Kandy: This beautiful city is home to the outstanding Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and its associated palaces and gardens.

Galle:Travel back in time while exploring the historical streets of this well-preserved fortified Dutch colonial city.

Itinerary

Sri Lanka Highlights is your gateway to the island’s wonders. In just six easy-paced days, this art and architecture tour takes you from bustling Colombo and Seeduwa to the cultural treasures of Kandy and beyond. Experience lakeside cities, historic temples, ancient citadels, spice gardens, and lush tea plantations. Carefully curated accommodations and smooth transport make this journey especially suitable for mature travelers seeking a comprehensive yet comfortable introduction to Sri Lanka’s rich landscapes and heritage. The tour’s unique asset: a well-rounded immersion into the island’s top historic, cultural, and natural attractions within a short time frame.

day 1 - Arrival Colombo – Seeduwa (30km – 0.5 Hrs)

Upon arrival at Colombo Airport our representative will meet and greet you before guiding you to the transfer to your hotel in Seeduwa. Settle in your room before spending the rest of this first day at leisure.
Overnight in Seeduwa.

day 2 - Seeduwa – Pinnawala – Kandy (120km – 3.5 Hrs)

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Pinnawala and visit The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Experience firsthand the love and respect that Sri Lankans have for these animals. The orphanage was the first of its kind in the world, a unique reserve where abandoned and disabled elephants get care and protection from expert naturalists, but also enjoy a healthy social life and freedom. It is home to about 60 elephants, including babies found orphaned in the wild. Then accompany the herd to the nearby river and see them taking their daily bath. Many travellers have counted this experience as among the most memorable of their travels in Sri Lanka. Then transfer from Pinnawala to Kandy drive around the Kandy Lake, explore the town bazaar, an arts & crafts centre, as well as a gem museum and lapidary. Continue to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Experience an ancient Kandyan legacy engraved around its crown jewel, the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. Then, proceed to witness a cultural show. Enjoy the beat of traditional music and drumming amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka. After the show return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight in Kandy.

day 3 - Kandy – Peradeniya – Tea Plantation – Nuwara Eliya (95km – 2.5 Hrs)

After breakfast at the hotel transfer from Kandy to Peradeniya botanical garden. First developed as a pleasure garden under royalty and later harmonized by the British, the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya (today bundled with the most welcoming facilities located just 4 miles off Kandy) is a flourishing national asset in the Wonder of Asia. Walk into this 147-acre bliss of an experience, passing well-tended lawns, pavilions & an octagon conservatory to be greeted by the vast expanse of a magnificently landscaped lush green turf which will encourage you for an exhilarating break. Towards the north of the entrance rests a cafeteria that one might come across before stepping into some of the highlights (the orchid house & giant Javan fig tree) of this place which overflow in grace. Next, arrive and visit a Tea Plantation. Savour Sri Lanka’s most famous product with a visit to a tea plantation and factory. Observe the tea production process from the picking of the leaves to their grading and selection, and finally the manufacture of dried tea leaves. Cap off this experience with a tasting of genuine Ceylon tea in the factory. Continue to Nuwara Eliya, the picturesque lakeside town known as the ‘tea capital’ and as 'Little England'. This is where the British introduced tea production to Sri Lanka. Admire the tidy bungalows with rose lawns, Victoria Park,  the racecourse, and the 18-hole golf course that is considered one of the best in South Asia. Other attractions near this charming relic of the empire include the evocatively named Lovers’ Leap waterfall and Sri Lanka’s highest mountain, the 2,500-metre Pidurutalagala, which overlooks the town.
Overnight at Nuwara Eliya.

day 4 - Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Yala – Tissamaharama (180km – 5 Hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel drive to Ella and explore the area. Marvel at the breathtaking Ella Gap, offering sweeping views of lush valleys and distant mountains. Explore the iconic Nine Arches Bridge, a stunning feat of engineering surrounded by dense greenery and tea plantations. From Ella transfer to Yala and proceed to your hotel in Tissamaharama. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure and dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Tissamaharama.

day 5 - Tissamaharama – Yala – Galle – Mount Lavinia (300km – 5 Hrs)

After Breakfast at the hotel transfer to Yala and enjoy a morning Safari at Yala National Park. As your jeep rumble through the giant gates of Yala, you are not only stepping into the most visited national park in the country but also the lands of a civilization which thrived during the reign of Sri Lankan kings. You name it, and Yala has it! Its usual inmates cover herds of elephant, sloth bear, spotted dear, jackal, extensively populated birdlife as well as the highest density of leopards in the world that garnish the park to be one of the finest destinations in the country. Feel the rough track as your jeep thunders over rocks and swish passing narrow bends for an exhilarating experience blended with the cries of wilderness under the tropical sun. Next, transfer to Galle and upon arrival explore the area. Walk the Dutch-haunted streets listening to the creaks of wooden saloon doors and observe how European architecture mingles with South Asian traditions today flooding cultural enthusiasts on a global scale. Its original ramparts and bastions preserved up to date showcase evidence of a heritage preserved for more than 3 1/2 centuries. Then transfer to Mount Lavinia and check in to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring the area.
Overnight at Mount Lavinia.

day 6 - Mount Lavinia – Departure Colombo (15 Km – 0.5 Hrs)

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Colombo Airport for your departure flight.

Sri Lanka Highlights

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What's Included

Accommodation
Superior Hotel Category = The Gateway Hotel or similar 4*Superior Hotel Category = Amaya Hills or similar 4*Superior Hotel Category = Grand Hotel or similar 4*Superior Hotel Category = Chhaya Wild or similar 4*Superior Hotel Category = Mount Lavinia or similar 4*5 night's accommodation
Meals
5 Breakfasts5 Dinners
Transport
Operated with English-speaking driver- guideShared transport throughout the tour
Others
Arrival/ Departure transfers from and to Colombo AirportAll entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage visit, Tooth Relic and cultural show in Kandy, Peradeniya botanical garden, Tea Plantation and factory, Safari in Yala National ParkMeet & Greet on day 1

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

Read what other travelers have to say about Sri Lanka Highlights

4.5

based on 2 reviews
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patrick mountainVerified Traveler
4.0 out of 5
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PsatchVerified Traveler
5.0 out of 5

Excellent

We thoroughly enjoyed our Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour, booked through Wendy Wu Tours Australia, and delivered through Aitken Spence Travel Services of Columbo, Sri Lanka. The hotels selected for our accommodation were generally of a high standard with good facilities and diligent staff. The restaurants selected for food provision were excellent and generally provided a great selection of Sri Lankan and European style dishes, catering to the diverse needs of our group. The sites visited, provided a great cross section of the best tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, and satisfied our desire to see what this beautiful destination has to offer. The services provided by our tour guide, Harsha Karunaratne, were of the highest standards. Harsha was very professional, diligent and caring, going far beyond reasonable expectations to ensure that each member of our tour group received the best Sri Lankan experience possible. Harsha's team consisting of Kumara (Security and Valet) and Bundoo (Bus Driver and Porter) were just wonderful. Negotiating Sri Lanka's back roads and busy city roads requires skill and attention to safety at all times, and Bundoo pulled it off brilliantly. Kumara made sure all the guests on the tour stayed safe and provided a great sense of fun and community during our travels. Harsha and his team's attention to detail was fantastic and helped make our stay in Sri Lanka exceptional.

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4.67/5
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Emmanuel

Smooth, Scenic, and Superbly Organized I joined a 6-Day Marangu Route hike with Kilisa Tours, and the whole experience was seamless. The accommodations in the mountain huts were cozy, and the support staff made sure we were always comfortable. Our guide shared fascinating stories about the mountain s history and wildlife. Everything ran perfectly on schedule, and the company s attention to detail was impressive. I ve done many treks before, but Kilisa Tours stands out for their genuine care and world-class service. Couldn t have asked for more!
1 week ago