7-Day Classic Sri Lanka Highlights Round Tour

Transfer to the coastal town of Negombo. Check in to your hotel and unwind after your flight. In the late afternoon, visit the bustling Lellama fish market to watch the catch come ashore, walk the banks of the Dutch Canal built in colonial times, and finish with sunset on Negombo beach.

• Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and drive toward Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle. Visit the UNESCO-listed Dambulla Cave Temple complex, exploring five natural caves filled with ancient Buddha statues and intricate murals.
• Afternoon: In the late afternoon, climb the 5th-century Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress. Marvel at the ancient water gardens, royal palace ruins at the summit, and panoramic views of the surrounding jungle at sunset.
• Overnight: Sigiriya / Dambulla
• Midday: Enjoy an authentic Dambulla village tour – a bullock-cart ride through paddy fields, a catamaran crossing of the village lake, and a clay-pot village lunch served on banana leaves.

• Morning: Depart for Kandy, the island's hill capital. En route, stop at a Matale Spice Garden to learn about Ceylon spices, herbal remedies, and traditional Ayurveda.
• Afternoon: Arrive in Kandy and visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa). In the evening, witness a lively traditional Kandyan cultural dance performance accompanied by traditional drumming.
• Overnight: Kandy
• Also today: Visit a licensed Ceylon gem museum and lapidary, a batik and silk handloom workshop, and walk the Kandy temple loop around the lake.

• Morning: Stroll through the lush Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. Begin the scenic drive into the central highlands, passing winding mountain roads and cascading waterfalls like Ramboda Falls.
• Afternoon: Tour a working Ceylon Tea factory and estate to observe the harvesting and leaf-processing stages, followed by a fresh tea-tasting session. Explore Nuwara Eliya ("Little England"), known for its colonial architecture and Gregory Lake.
• Overnight: Nuwara Eliya
• En route: Stop at the roaring Ramboda Falls and climb to the hilltop Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple overlooking the Ramboda valley.

• Morning: Board the world-famous hill country blue train from Nanu Oya Station to Ella. Enjoy breathtaking views of misty tea plantations, mountain passes, and rural villages along the way.
• Afternoon: Arrive in Ella and take an easy hike up Little Adam’s Peak for 360-degree mountain views. Afterwards, walk down to photograph the colonial-era Demodara Nine Arch Bridge.
• Overnight: Ella
• Also today: Visit the Sita Amman Kovil at Seetha Eliya en route, and pause at the Ella Gap viewpoint for sweeping views to the southern plains.

• Morning: Descend from the highlands toward the southern plains of Tissamaharama. Check in to your safari resort and prepare for your wildlife expedition.
• Afternoon: Board a modified 4x4 safari jeep for an afternoon game drive in Yala National Park. Track Sri Lankan leopards, wild Asian elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and exotic bird species with your expert tracker.
• Overnight: Tissamaharama / Yala

• Morning: Drive along the scenic southern coastal highway. Stop at a local turtle conservation center in Kosgoda and observe traditional stilt fishermen.
• Afternoon: Take a guided walking tour through the cobblestone streets of the UNESCO World Heritage Galle Dutch Fort, exploring its ramparts, lighthouse, and boutique shops.
• Evening: Transfer via the Southern Expressway directly to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) for your departure flight.
• Also today: Explore Galle’s old Dutch merchant houses and the 1755 Dutch Reformed Church, then stop near Hikkaduwa for a traditional moonstone mine and gem-cutting demonstration and an optional natural fish therapy foot spa.