Highlights
Hill Country - Discover the dramatic beauty and lush tea plantations of the Central Highlands Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Sigiriya - Wander through the ancient capital, painted cave temples and climb the dramatic 'Sky Fortress' Yala National Park - Jeep safari in search of leopard, elephant, sambar deer and other wildlife Upgraded Range - Immerse yourself in friendly and stunning Sri Lanka with our hand-picked selection of Premium hotels
Itinerary
Sri Lanka’s vivid landscapes and timeless heritage shine on the Upgraded - Discover Sri Lanka tour. Over 13 days, travelers are treated to a curated journey across the island’s highlights, from the dramatic Lion Rock fortress of Sigiriya to the golden beaches and lush highland tea plantations.
Travel in style, as premium hotel stays add a touch of luxury to each stop. Explore ancient capitals like Polonnaruwa and the cave temples of Dambulla, then climb Sigiriya’s ancient Sky Fortress for panoramic views. In the Central Highlands, wander through rolling tea estates and take in the breathtaking beauty of Sri Lanka’s hill country.
No visit would be complete without a wildlife adventure—head out on a jeep safari in Yala National Park in search of leopards, elephants, and sambar deer. The spiritual heart of the country awaits in Kandy at the Temple of the Tooth, a revered Buddhist site set beside a tranquil lake.
This easy-paced tour is ideal for seasoned travelers seeking both comfort and culture. What sets this trip apart is the upgraded range of premium hotels, offering a superior level of relaxation after each day’s discoveries. For those who want to immerse themselves in Sri Lanka’s best while enjoying elevated comfort, this tour package is the ultimate way to experience the island’s magic.
day 1Join trip in Negombo
Our tour starts today in Negombo. Nestled on Sri Lanka's west coast, Negombo is a lively town known for its golden sand beaches, bustling fish markets and vibrant mix of cultures. With its Dutch colonial architecture, flavourful seafood, and proximity to the capital, Negombo offers a perfect blend of relaxation and cultural exploration. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to head to the beach or make use of the hotel facilities which include a swimming pool and gardens overlooking the Indian Ocean. Head down to the water to catch the sunset and spot locals bringing in the day's catch. For those arriving on time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting, followed by a cocktail on the beach to celebrate the start of our journey and to meet your fellow travellers. For those that wish, the leader will arrange to have dinner together, most likely at the hotel's great restaurant. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) airport, which is a drive of around 30 minutes from our hotel. As part of our Upgraded range, we also offer a complimentary transfer to those who have made pre-tour accommodation arrangements, regardless of your arrival day. For a welcome and relaxing introduction to Sri Lanka the Jetwing Blue is a 5-star hotel located on the golden beaches of Negombo, overlooking the India Ocean. Open spaces and minimalist design define the style. Facilities include a large pool, bar, restaurant, gym and spa. The 5-star Jetwing Beach sister hotel with the same facilities is located next door and on occasions we will be accommodated here instead.
day 2Visit Negombo fish market. Drive to Dambulla
day 3Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock at sunrise
day 4Visit to ancient city of Polonnaruwa
day 5Morning visit Dambulla’s cave temples. Drive to Kandy. Discover the Temple of the Tooth
day 6Visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Scenic highlands drive to Nuwara Eliya
day 7Morning trek in Horton Plains National Park. Afternoon visit to tea plantation and factory
day 8Drive to Ella and see the Nine Arch Bridge. Continue to our permanent tented camp. Pooja ceremony at Kataragama Shrine
day 9Game drive in Yala National Park. Late afternoon walking tour of Galle Fort
day 10Late morning drive to tranquil coastal town of Bentota
day 11Free time to relax on Bentota’s quiet beaches. Optional afternoon traditional mask painting workshop
day 12Drive to Colombo. Late afternoon city tour by jeep followed by street food dinner experience
day 13Trip ends in Colombo
What's Included
Customer Reviews
George was an excellent leader and worked hard for the group. Accommodation was generally excellent though the last hotel in Colombo was a bit of a disappointment.
Great trip with an interesting itinerary, combining culture and nature, an excellent tour leader, mostly wonderful hotels, delicious food and a group of lovely travelers. I highly recommend it.
The Sri Lanka upgraded tour gave us a good experience of some of what Sri Lanka has to offer as a destination. The standard of hotels were very high, all with good rooms, food and amenities. The overall tour took us to temples, a night in a tent in the national park and a safari. Our guide was accommodating to everyone’s needs and was cheerful, friendly and had good knowledge. I would definitely recommend the trip.
Thank you to all concerned for a great trip Food and beer prices need doubling as service charge 10% and VAT 18%. Night under canvas listening to animal noises ruined by local very loud party until 2am Lion Rock. the walk into the rock itself is not easy as very uneven ground and lots of steps. definitely need walking poles if at all unsure on balance. Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. Lots of staff but very slow service in bars and restaurants. 2 nights in Galle with own time to explore old town would have been much preferred to 2 nights at Bentota. Jeep ride around Colombo started well, but monsoon rain meant that we were all drenched, and commentary stopped. street food was just picked up from 3 men standing in side street. I had images of a street food market. the food itself in a cardboard box was just rice with a small amount of chicken, and a sweet sauce and chilli sauce, finally eaten in our hotel room. A sad end to a great trip
We had a fantastic trip with Mimi as our tour leader. The quality of the hotels was great (particularly at Kandalama and Galle) and Mimi was a great guide providing the right amount of information needed and answering questions comprehensively. We loved the itinerary but would have welcomed an extra day in both Nuwara Eliya and Galle to give a bit more relaxation time and also a change to see more of these places. We loved all the extra stops now mentioned in the trip notes and felt well looked after throughout. Thank you so much for a great trip.
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