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12-Day History and Culture in Sri Lanka

Customisable Itinerary
5.0 • 5 travellers have booked with Zain N.

Trip Overview

Spend time in Sri Lanka on an itinerary of 12 days filled with fun and adventure on this beautiful paradisiacal island.

Start your trip in the historical and culturally rich city of Sigiriya, where you will see Asia’s largest elephant gathering. Then, take in the panoramic views from Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress and take a journey on one of the most famous train rides in the world.

A visit to Yala National Park will see you come in close contact with some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful wildlife, such as leopards, elephants and crocodiles. Head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle, a Dutch colonial city, and finally end your trip in Negombo where you will take a scenic boat ride through the Muthurajawela wetlands.
Sightseeing
Outdoors & Nature
Hiking & Trekking
Food & Drink
Adventure
Culture & Arts

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Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Sri Lanka

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Arrival in Sri Lanka

After landing at Bandaranaike International Airport, a private driver will transfer you to Negombo for your overnight stay where you can recharge for your upcoming adventure. If you wish you can simply stay at your hotel and relax or if you aren't too tired, you can venture out to Negombo and stroll around this coastal city, perhaps having dinner at one of the local restaurants near the waterfront.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Amagi Aria4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in NegomboOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Bandaranaike International Airport to Negombo

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Negombo

Day 2

Negombo to Sigiriya

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Negombo to Sigiriya

Begin your Sri Lankan adventure with a journey to the ancient city of Sigiriya. Home to the famous Lion's Rock, Sigiriya was a thriving capital in 5 BC and was later abandoned as the kingdoms moved towards the southern parts of Sri Lanka. Proceed on a late afternoon safari to spot Asia's largest elephant gathering. The Minneriya national park has 24 species of mammals and over 170 species of birds.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Sigiriana Resort by Thilanka4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Minneriya National Park Safari

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Negombo to Sigiriya SA

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Negombo

    North Central Province

    Dambulla

Day 3

Polonnaruwa Ancient Ruins and Sigiriya Rock Hike

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Polonnaruwa Ancient Ruins and Sigiriya Rock Hike

After breakfast drive to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. This splendid 11th Century medieval capital was once a thriving commercial and religious centre and has many archaeological treasures that still give a good idea of how the city looked in its heyday. Proceed to climb the Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress later in the afternoon. The climb to the summit takes approximately 60-90 minutes and the terraced top has breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views of the vicinity.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Sigiriana Resort by Thilanka4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Polonnaruwa Ancient City TourOptional Activity

    Sigiriya Lion RockOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Sigiriya SA to Sigiriya SA

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Dambulla

    Polonnaruwa

    Sigiriya

Day 4

Sigiriya to Kandy and City Tour

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Sigiriya to Kandy and City Tour

En route to Kandy visit a Spice Garden for an introduction to indigenous Ayurveda plants and spices. Go on a city tour of Kandy which include visits to the gem museum, a wood carving factory and Kandy Lake. In the evening, you will experience an entertaining Kandyan cultural dance show. These traditional dances are often performed as offerings or rituals to the gods.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rivendell Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Matale Spice Garden: AU$ 62 per person

    Kandy City Tour

    Kandyan Cultural Dance Show: AU$ 31 per person

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Sigiriya SA to Kandy

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Dambulla

    Matale

    Kandy

    Gurudeniya

Day 5

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and Tea Plantation

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Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and Tea Plantation

After breakfast, you will visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy and witness the daily morning veneration ceremony as well as the amazing paintings and ancient architecture. Enroute to Nuwara Eliya, stop to see the breathtaking waterfalls such as Ramboda Falls and Lover's Leap Falls before your hotel check-in. Later get to know the full process of tea production at a tea factory, walk through a lush strawberry farm and take a scenic afternoon walk at the famous Gregory Lake.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Oak Ray Summer Hill Breeze Hotel3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Sri Dalada MaligawaOptional Activity

    Ramboda Falls: AU$ 31 per person

    Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden: AU$ 31 per person

    Nuwara Eliya: AU$ 31 per person

    Gregory Lake: AU$ 31 per person

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Gurudeniya

    Kandy

    Central Province

    Nuwara Eliya

Day 6

Train Ride to Ella and Ella Rock Hike

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Train Ride to Ella and Ella Rock Hike

The train journey to Ella is known as one of the most scenic train rides in the world. You will be sweeping through lush green meadows, beautiful tea plantations and picturesque misty mountains. Visit the magnificent Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, built under the British rule, built using only stone bricks and cement due to lack of steel resources. Take a hike to Ella Rock late afternoon. The panoramic views it provides with mist and cloud covering the area is a mesmerizing experience.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    88th - Ella

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Nine Arches Bridge: AU$ 31 per person

    Ella Rock Hike: AU$ 31 per person

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Nanuoya to Ella

    Private Driver from Ella to Ella

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Nuwara Eliya

    Uva Province

    Ambagollapathana

Day 7

Ella to Yala

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Ella to Yala

Take a morning hike to Little Adam's Peak. From the summit, you will be treated to panoramic views of the surrounding countryside below. Then, experience zip-lining on Sri Lanka's first-ever zip-line, located amidst the luscious green estates of Ella. You'll be transferred to Yala later in the day. Lying in the deep down south of the Island, combining a strict nature reserve with a national park, Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Oak Ray Wild Yala4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Little Adam's Peak: AU$ 31 per person

    Flying Ravana Mega ZiplineOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ella to Yala

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ambagollapathana

    Uva Province

    Tissamaharama

Day 8

Yala National Park and Bentota Turtle Hatchery

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Yala National Park and Bentota Turtle Hatchery

Visit Yala National Park early in the morning with a packed breakfast, home to the highest density of leopards in the world and the second-largest National Park in Sri Lanka. You will go on a jeep safari at the Yala National Park and get close to exotic birds and different species of beasts including leopards, wild elephants, deer, snakes and crocodiles. Head to Bentota later in the day and experience a river excursion on the Madu River and visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Coco Royal Beach Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Yala National ParkOptional Activity

    Madu River Boat SafariOptional Activity

    Kosgoda Sea Turtle HatcheryOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Yala to Bentota

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tissamaharama

    Southern Province

    Kosgoda

    Wadduwa

Day 9

Explore Galle

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Explore Galle

Explore the beauty of historic Galle. Built by the Dutch, beginning in 1663, Galle's core is the Fort, a walled enclave surrounded on three sides by the ocean. A Unesco World Heritage Site, this historic city is a delight to explore on foot, an endlessly exotic old trading port blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Wandering its rambling lanes you'll pass stylish cafes, quirky boutiques and impeccably restored hotels.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Coco Royal Beach Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Galle City Tour: AU$ 52 per person

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Bentota to Bentota

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Wadduwa

    Galle

Day 10

Colombo City Tour

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Colombo City Tour

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Colombo, which is the capital and the main business hub of Sri Lanka. Here you can visit historical sites and many other places of interest such as Gangaramaya Temple, the picturesque Viharamahadevi Park and the stunning Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque. You could also try different mouth-watering street food on offer in Colombo and experience typical life in the capital.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Wonder Hotel Colombo4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Colombo City Tour

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Bentota to Colombo

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Wadduwa

    Colombo

Day 11

Negombo and Muthurajawela Wetlands

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Negombo and Muthurajawela Wetlands

Proceed to Negombo after breakfast at your hotel. Visit the busy Negombo fish market called 'Lellama' and watch the boats returning with their catch of fresh fish, crab, lobster, prawns, and squid. Later in the afternoon, you will set off on a boat ride to the Muthurajawela wetlands where you will journey through mangroves and spot many flora and fauna species that are also indigenous to the region.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Amagi Aria4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Negombo Fishing Village

    Muthurajawela WetlandsOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Colombo to Negombo

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Colombo

    Negombo

    Bopitiya

Day 12

Sri Lanka Itinerary of 12 Days is Over!

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Sri Lanka Itinerary of 12 Days is Over!

After breakfast at your hotel, you will pack your bags full of fond memories this paradisiacal island and prepare for your departure. An airport transfer will be scheduled according to your onboarding flight times. This marks the end of your Sri Lanka itinerary of 12 days.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Negombo to Bandaranaike International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Negombo

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What’s included?

  • 11 nights accommodation
  • 14 activities
  • 11 breakfasts and 11 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

What’s not included?

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entrance fees
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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