Insurance

Full vehicle / passenger insurance by Sri Lanka Insurance Coperation Ltd. Medical / Travel Insurance is the responsibility of the client(s).

Meals

Breakfasts

Guide

Experienced, English speaking driver/guide with required guiding permit. French, German, Russian, Italian, Japanese speaking guides can be booked for small surcharge.

Transport

Private transportation by a/c luxury limousine or Japanese Mini Van with driver / guide

Optional

Wi-Fi Free Baby Seat Free Wheelchair Free Baby Cot (below 3 years)

Others

Driver Accommodation & Meals 24/7 Customer Hotline Train Tickets

Accommodation

Accommodation at selected 3* Hotels in double room (sharing)

Not included:

Others

Entrance Fees Safari Vehicles Transportation surcharge for Solo Travelers (US$ 280)

Flights

International flights are not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 2: Limousine Transfer From Sri Lanka’S International Airport To Your Hotel In Colombo.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Limousine Transfer From Sri Lanka’S International Airport To Your Hotel In Colombo.

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city, cosmopolitan and filled with many-starred international hotels, shopping centers and surprisingly westernized, yet with its own unmistakable Sri Lankan character.

Colombo, the commercial and political heart of Sri Lanka is a fascinating mix of old and new, with a central cluster of high-rise office blocks and hotels overshadowing red-tiled colonial-era buildings and sprawling street markets which overflow with high piled fruit and vegetables, colourful silks and cottons, and deliciously fragrant spices.

The colourful street markets, colonial-era buildings, museums and galleries, churches, mosques and temples of Colombo can easily be explored with your driver/guide.

Overnight in Colombo
Day 2 Day 2: Colombo City Tour By Air-Conditioned Limousine With Personal Driver/Guide.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Colombo City Tour By Air-Conditioned Limousine With Personal Driver/Guide.

Galle Face Green Promenade:

A half-kilometre long stretch in Colombo that runs between the scenic Indian Ocean and the Galle Road. Galle Face Green Promenade is not only an important landmark but also a favored picnic spot amongst locals and foreign visitors alike.

Cinnamon Gardens:

Once home to cinnamon trees spread over vast acreage, the Cinnamon Gardens now showcase important buildings like the National Museum, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Town Hall of Colombo and the Independence Hall.

Old Parliament Building:

Built in the neo-baroque style of architecture, the Old Parliament Building is one of the major attractions of Colombo. The beautiful architecture and the history associated with the building is fascinating.

Mount Lavinia:

Mount Lavinia is a coastal town 12 km from the center of Colombo City. The city’s name is built up around the original residence of Sir Thomas Maitland who was the Governor General of Ceylon from 1805-1811. At a welcoming party held in his honour on his arrival in the island he set his eyes upon Lovina, a local mestizo dancer, whose father was the Headman of the troupe. Sir Thomas was smitten by her smile and charms and soon found himself obsessed by her and took every measure possible to see more of her. Legend says she was smuggled into his mansion through a secret tunnel that led from her father’s well into a wine cellar in the house.

Today Mount Lavinia, is a city bustling with life and well known for its beach activities and chilled out dining locations along the beach.

Overnight in Colombo
Day 3 Day 3: Train Journey To Kandy, Sri Lanka’S Cultural Capital
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Train Journey To Kandy, Sri Lanka’S Cultural Capital

In the morning your driver will take you to the Colombo Railway Station where you will embark on your first train trip from Colombo to Kandy. The journey is by observation carriage and the tickets will be provided by your driver.

Kandy is Sri Lanka’s cultural capital the gateway to the cultural triangle, mountain ranges and tea plantations. The clarity of the air and its verdant, hilly outlook around the sacred lake make it a pleasant escape from the heat of the coasts.

Overnight in Kandy
Day 4 Day 4: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage & Royal Botanical Gardens
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage & Royal Botanical Gardens

Time for some special highlights of Sri Lanka. After breakfast your driver will take you to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the largest elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka, accounting for around fifty elephants at any given time. The orphanage is open all day but it is best to time your visit with the twice daily feeding and bathing. At 9.15am and 4.15pm, the baby elephants are taken into the stalls where they are tethered and then bottle fed with milk, providing endless photo opportunities. This might be a crowd pleaser but it’s not the highlight; what really steals the show is the bathing.

In the afternoon visit the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kandy.

Established in 1816, these gardens are located about 6.5km before Kandy on the side of the Colombo-Kandy highway. Initially planted with Coffee and Cinnamon, now includes beautiful Sri Lankan and overseas species. No vehicle is allowed entry to this 147-acre garden. It is bounded on three sides by a loop of the Mahaweli River.

The Avenue of Royal Palms, Bamboo-fringed riverside drive, Bat drive, Spice garden, Orchard house, Cactus house and a Glasshouse of anthuriums, begonias, African Violets and other species and the giant Javan fig tree found on the great lawn attract locals as well as visitors from overseas. It covers an area of 1600 sqm. Keep your eyes open for an oxen driven lawn mover.

Overnight in Kandy
Day 5 Day 5: Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Dambulla Cave Temple
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Dambulla Cave Temple

No holiday in Sri Lanka is complete without a visit to the Sigiriya Rock. Sigiriya is a sixth century fortress perched on a 200 metre high rock and one the most dramatic of Sri Lanka’s historical sites. Don’t rush through all this magnificence. Be prepared to spend at least one whole day, walking around the Sigiriya gardens, the newly laid out herbal garden. Walk to the northern corner of the western moat and look to the south down the moat, and see how it had been made in line with the summit of a far away hill.

On your way back you can visit the Dambulla Cave Temples, an UNESCO world heritage site (optional). Dambulla and its five cave temples are filed with Buddhist murals and many Buddha statues. Visitors must remove their shoes and approach the shrines bare-foot. The first cave is filled with the 47-foot-long recumbent image of the meditating Buddha.

Overnight in Kandy
Day 6 Day 6: Scenic Train Journey Through Tea Plantation To Ella
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Scenic Train Journey Through Tea Plantation To Ella

Your second Sri Lanka train trip from Kandy to Ella is considered by many as one of the most beautiful train trips in the world. The train journey from Kandy - Ella takes seven hours and provides you with amazing landscapes of green tea plantations and spectacular mountain views. An unforgettable railway experience that will leave you breathless and wanting more. Your 1st class observation carriage provides a wide view of the beautiful scenery that will have you snapping photos at every turn.

Overnight in Ella
Day 7 Day 7: Ella Walking Tour Or Optional Nuwara Eliya Sightseeing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Ella Walking Tour Or Optional Nuwara Eliya Sightseeing

Ella is a beautiful small village in Sri Lanka’s hill country with little more than a handful of shops, hotels and guesthouses, but it has an almost perfect climate and occupies a very scenic vantage point, with views on a fine day stretching right across the South Coast of Sri Lanka. If it is too quiet for you, your driver/guide can take you to Nuwara Eliya, the home of the famous Ceylon Tea. Nuwara Eliya was found by a group of British officers during the earlier part of the 19th century, who as the story goes, had gotten lost while elephant hunting. The city is surrounded by a seemingly endless array of tea plantations and its outskirts are like a journey into the past. Colonial villas, rose gardens, a 18 hole golf course and country-club-styled hotels are the perfect background for this unique hill station.

Overnight in Ella
Day 8 Day 8-11: Wildlife, National Parks And Top Beaches
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8-11: Wildlife, National Parks And Top Beaches

On your way to Tangalle on Sri Lanka’s South Coast you can arrange with the driver stop at the Yala National Park for an afternoon Jeep Safari. Yala is one of the best parks in the world to observe and photograph leopards in the wild. There are about 35 leopards in the park which probably is the highest density than anywhere in the world. Otherwise proceed directly to Tangalle.

The couple of protective bays has made Tangalle a popular port from the ancient times to date and, today, is an important fishing town, as well as a perfect place for those who desire a quiet, relaxed holiday with sun, sand, surf and snorkeling. Recommended day trips are to Mirissa Beach for Surfing and Whale Watching and/or the Udawalawe National Park.

Overnight in Tangalle
Day 9 Day 12: South Coast Train Journey & Return Transfer
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: South Coast Train Journey & Return Transfer

Depending on your next destination (you can book a beach extension with us) and/or your departure time, the driver can drop you off at the Matara Railway Station for your last train ride from Matara to Galle, a journey along the fantastic beaches and villages on Sri Lanka’s South Coast. The driver will meet you again at the Galle railway station with your luggage. Please note that seat reservations are not available on the daytime trains here, but if you stay clear of the early morning commuter trains it will be another beautiful train journey.

The Sri Lanka by Train Boutique Tour ends once you have reached your next destination and/or the airport

12 days tour

Scenic Sri Lanka Train Tour 2024

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Scenic Sri Lanka Train Tour 2024

Day 2: Limousine Transfer From Sri Lanka’S International Airport To Your Hotel In Colombo.

Day 2: Colombo City Tour By Air-Conditioned Limousine With Personal Driver/Guide.

Day 3: Train Journey To Kandy, Sri Lanka’S Cultural Capital

Day 4: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage & Royal Botanical Gardens

Day 5: Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Dambulla Cave Temple

Day 6: Scenic Train Journey Through Tea Plantation To Ella

Day 7: Ella Walking Tour Or Optional Nuwara Eliya Sightseeing

Day 8-11: Wildlife, National Parks And Top Beaches

Day 12: South Coast Train Journey & Return Transfer

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