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9-Day Nature's Best in Sri Lanka

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

Trip Overview

Spend 8 exciting days filled with fun and adventure on this beautiful paradise island on a private tour in Sri Lanka.

Travel to the historical and culturally rich city of Sigiriya and then proceed on a jeep safari to witness the majestic gathering of elephants among many other mammals including leopards, reptiles and birds in the Minneriya National Park. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple which has absolutely stunning Buddha statues and paintings, some of Sri Lanka's most important and evocative religious art which were painted over 2000 years ago.

On your way to Kandy, drop by a Spice Garden to learn about traditional Ayurveda practices and indigenous herbs and plants of Sri Lanka. Experience the typical Kandyan culture and visit local industries including gems, batik and wood carving.

Travel to Nuwara Eliya and stop and admire the beauty of waterfalls and tea plantations on your way. Visit a tea factory and learn the process of what makes Ceylon Tea one of the best in the world. Visit the Nuwara Eliya and enjoy the view of English-styled cottages and buildings.

Take one of the world's best scenic train trips to Ella, visit the Nine Arch Bridge, trek to Little Adam's Peak and the Ella Rock in the misty mountains. Go on a wild jeep safari in the Yala National Park which is the home to the largest density of leopards in the world and witness many species of flora and fauna.

Visit the city of Bentota and go on a boat ride on the Madu River and spot many endemic species living in a very special ecological system prevalent in the mangrove forests. Then, visit the Galle Fort which is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site before finishing your private tour of Sri Lanka!
Outdoors & Nature
Sightseeing
Culture & Arts
Hiking & Trekking
Adventure
Food & Drink

Customise this trip for a perfect match

Private, Personalised TravelNo generic group tours. Just the activities you love, and nothing you don't.
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Itinerary

Day 1

Airport to Negombo

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Airport to Negombo

After a meet and greet with your chauffeur-guide, you will be transferred to your hotel in Negombo.

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    Accommodation

    Goldi Sands Hotel3.5 star

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Bandaranaike International Airport to Negombo

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Dinner

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    Destinations

    Negombo

Day 2

Negombo to Kandy

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Negombo to Kandy

Journey to the ancient city of Sigiriya. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, the largest cave in Sri Lanka, en-route to Kandy. History records that Dambulla was inhabited from as early as the 7th to 3rd century BC and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Go 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 and out of the 25 species of reptiles recorded in the park 8 are endemic.

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    Accommodation

    Sigiriana Resort by Thilanka4 star

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    Activities

    Dambulla Cave TempleOptional Activity

    Minneriya National Park SafariOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Negombo to Sigiriya SA

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    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

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    Destinations

    Negombo

    Dambulla

    North Central Province

Day 3

Sigriya & Private Tour Sri Lank's Kandy

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Sigriya & Private Tour Sri Lank's Kandy

Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress after breakfast. The climb to the summit takes approximately 60-90 minutes and the terraced top has breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views of the vicinity. Go on a city tour of Kandy for one of the best private tours in Sri Lanka, which includes a visit to the spice garden, the Gem Museum, Wood Carving Factory and the Kandy Lake followed by an entertaining Kandyan Cultural Dance Show performance later in the evening.

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    Accommodation

    Hotel ThiLanka 4 star

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    Activities

    Sigiriya Lion RockOptional Activity

    Highland Spice Garden: AU$ 73 per person

    Kandy City Tour: AU$ 73 per person

    Kandyan Cultural Dance Show: AU$ 73 per person

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    Transportations

    Private Driver from Sigiriya SA to Kandy

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    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

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    Destinations

    Dambulla

    Sigiriya

    Central Province

    Kandy

Day 4

Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

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Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast, you will visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy and witness the daily morning veneration ceremony. After breakfast drive to Nuwara Eliya en-route, stop to see the breathtaking waterfalls such as Ramboda Falls and Lover's Leap Falls before hotel check-in. Later, get to know the full process of tea at a tea factory, walk through a lush Strawberry Farm and take a scenic afternoon walk at the famous Gregory Lake.

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    Accommodation

    Heaven Seven Nuwara Eliya4 star

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    Activities

    Sri Dalada Maligawa: AU$ 73 per person

    Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden: AU$ 73 per person

    Nuwara Eliya: AU$ 73 per person

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    Transportations

    Private Driver from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

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    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

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    Destinations

    Kandy

    Central Province

    Nuwara Eliya

Day 5

Train Ride to Ella

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Train Ride to Ella

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

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    Accommodation

    88th - Ella

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Nine Arch Bridge: AU$ 73 per person

    Ella Rock Hike: AU$ 73 per person

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Nanuoya to Ella

    Private Driver from Ella Railway Station to Ella

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    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

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    Destinations

    Nuwara Eliya

    Ambagollapathana

    Demodara

    Uva Province

Day 6

Ella to Yala

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Ella to Yala

Located in the deep south territory of Sri Lanka, Yala is the second-largest national park in the country, home to many endemic species and boasts one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. En-route to Yala, experience Sri Lanka's first ever zip line, located amidst the luscious green estates of Ella. The two-wire zip-line stretches for more than half a kilometre, slides at 80kmph and offers a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful hills of the island.

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    Accommodation

    Oak Ray Wild Yala4 star

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    Activities

    Flying Ravana Mega ZiplineOptional Activity: AU$ 53 per person

    Ravana Falls

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    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ella to Yala

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    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

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    Destinations

    Ambagollapathana

    Uva Province

    Tissamaharama

Day 7

Yala Jeep Safari & Transfer to Bentota

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Yala Jeep Safari & Transfer to Bentota

Visit Yala National Park early in the morning with a packed breakfast. 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, wild boars, sambars, snakes and crocodiles. Later in the afternoon, you can experience a boat ride on the Madu River which is dotted with small islands and the banks which are covered with lush mangrove forests that are home to dozens of incredible animal species.

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    Accommodation

    Coco Royal Beach Hotel4 star

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    Activities

    Yala National ParkOptional Activity: AU$ 125 per person

    Madu River Boat Safari: AU$ 94 per person

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    Transportations

    Private Driver from Yala to Bentota

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    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

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    Destinations

    Tissamaharama

    Southern Province

    Wadduwa

Day 8

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.

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    Accommodation

    Coco Royal Beach Hotel4 star

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    Activities

    Galle: AU$ 94 per person

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Waskaduwa to Waskaduwa

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    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

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    Destinations

    Wadduwa

    Galle

Day 9

Bentota Airport

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Bentota Airport

After breakfast, you will pack your bags full of fond memories of the paradise island and prepare for your departure. Airport transfer will be scheduled according to the flight times.

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    Transportations

    Private Driver from Waskaduwa to Bandaranaike International Airport

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    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Wadduwa

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What’s included?

  • 8 nights accommodation
  • 10 activities
  • 8 breakfasts and 8 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