12 days tour

’The Original’ Sri Lanka Island Tour 2024

$ 1,299 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $1,299.00

’The Original’ Sri Lanka Island Tour 2024

This tour includes:

Others

Driver Accommodation & Meals 24/7 Customer Hotline

Guide

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

Optional

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

Accommodation

Selected 3* hotels as shown in the tour itinerary.

Meals

Breakfast and dinner (half-board) at the hotels as shown in the tour itinerary.

Transport

Transport by fully insured a/c vehicle (limousine or mini bus).

Not included:

Insurance

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

Others

Entrance Fees Safari Vehicles Transportation surcharge for Solo Travelers (US$ 380)

Flights

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip ’The Original’ Sri Lanka Island Tour 2024

  • Day 1 Airport - Wilpattu National Park - Anuradhapura
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Airport - Wilpattu National Park - Anuradhapura

      After meeting you at the airport or your hotel on Sri Lanka’s West Coast, we’ll drive to Anuradhapura, visiting the Wilpattu National Park on the way. The Wilpattu wildlife sanctuary is located close to the historical city of Anuradhapura and was declared a National Park in 1938. Home to a population of roughly 50 wild leopards, it is also important for resident and migratory water-birds due to the natural lakes. The history of the park is also of interest with ancient ruins pointing to a queen named “Kuweni” (considered to be the mother of the Sinhala race) who is said to have lived in a place known as Kalli Villu. Historical evidence also shows the fact that Prince Saliya, son of King Dutugemunu lived in Wilpattu over 2,000 years ago.  

      Overnight at the Gamodh Citadel Resort or Miridiya Lake Resort, Anuradhapura

  • Day 2 Anuradhapura - Trincomalee - Kanniya Hot Wells
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Anuradhapura - Trincomalee - Kanniya Hot Wells

      Anuradhapura is the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. This city is the repository of several priceless treasures of Buddhism and as a World Heritage site definetly a MUST to every visitor to Sri Lanka. One is the dagoba of Thuparama, an immense spire-topped dome that is believed to enshrine the collarbone of the Buddha, himself. The base of the temple is surrounded by a frieze of elephants in bas relief. Another remarkable treasure in Anuradhapura is the sacred Bo Tree said to have been grown from a branch of the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. As the story goes, a sapling of the ficus religioso that sheltered the Buddha was brought from the Magadha Kingdom of ancient India to Sri Lanka in a golden bowl 2,250 years ago and planted on this spot in Sri Lanka, bowl and all. It is said to be the oldest authenticated tree in the world.  Later we proceed to Trincomalee on the East Coast. Trincomalee is an important port city since ancient times. Set on a peninsula, Fort Frederick was built initially by the Portuguese and captured in 1639 by the Dutch. Within its grounds, the grand Koneswaram Temple stands on Swami Rock cliff, a popular vantage point for blue-whale watching. The holy complex contains ornate shrines and a massive statue of Shiva. Nearby Gokanna Temple has panoramic views over the city and the coastline.  In the late afternoon you will visit Kanniya Hot Wells. The seven hot water wells in Kenniya revolve around myth and legend of Ramayana. It is believed the springs appeared after King Ravana struck the ground seven times with his sword. The water in each well varies in heat and sometimes bubbles up like a pot of boiling water. The water is believed to contain healing properties which cure skin ailments and arthritis. Overnight at the Anantamaa Hotel or JKAB Beach Resort, Trincomalee

  • Day 3 Whale Watching - Snorkeling - Beach
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Whale Watching - Snorkeling - Beach

      Just off the coast of Sri Lanka swims the majestic blue whale, the largest creature on earth. Nowhere in the wold is it possible to see these ocean giants so close to shore.  Depending on the conditions, this gives you the opportunity to watch blue whales along with sperm whales, orcas, playful spinner and bottlenose dolphins, turtles and whale sharks in their natural environment. Whale Watching can be done from the shore or on-board an excursion boat.  In the afternoon it’s time to enjoy a truly tropical beach. Nilaveli is facing the Pigeon Island Marine National Park and is perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving. Bright corals and colorful fish swarms can be seen directly through the crystal clear waters. 

      Overnight at the Anantamaa Hotel or JKAB Beach Resort, Trincomalee

  • Day 4 Sightseeing - Snorkeling - Beach
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Sightseeing - Snorkeling - Beach

      Free Day to relax on the beach and/or enjoy some Trincomalee Sightseeing. 

      Overnight at the Anantamaa Hotel or JKAB Beach Resort, Trincomalee

  • Day 5 Trincomalee - Sigiriya Rock Fortress - Optional Elephant Ride Or Jeep Safari
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Trincomalee - Sigiriya Rock Fortress - Optional Elephant Ride Or Jeep Safari

      Climb the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle’, where you will have a chance to gaze over the stunning views of Central Sri Lanka. Sigiriya (sometimes called Lion’s Rock) is the ruins of an ancient palace in a 200m high rock fortress, overlooking the beautiful plains of North-Central Sri Lanka. Built for an exiled Indian prince, the breathtaking ruins are one of Sri Lanka’s main tourist attractions and date back to AD 477. Despite its age, Sigiriya still retains much of its former beauty and features some of the finest examples of ancient art in the form of wall paintings, as well as a network of attractive gardens and reservoirs, and Sigiriya’s namesake – a gigantic pair of lion’s paws cut into the rock. With its fascinating history and unerring beauty, Sigiriya is often referred to as the 8th wonder of the world and the UNESCO-sponsored Central Cultural Fund has even restored Sigiriya’s 5th century Water Gardens, so that you can get a glimpse of what Sigiriya might have been like thousands of years ago. 

      Optional Elephant Ride or Jeep Safari At the Minneriya National Park. Large numbers of Sri Lankan elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. The Minneriya tank contributes to sustain a large herd. Elephants gathered here is numbering around 150-200. Some reports account number of elephants to as high as 700. They migrate here from Wasgamuwa National Park and benefit from food and shelter of the park’s forest. 

      Overnight at the Kassapa Lions Rock Hotel or Wewa Addara Hotel, Sigiriya.

  • Day 6 Sigiriya - Kandy - Temple Of The Sacred Tooth Relic - Royal Botanical Gardens
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Sigiriya - Kandy - Temple Of The Sacred Tooth Relic - Royal Botanical Gardens

      Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.

      Established in 1816, the Royal Botanical 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 at Thilanka Hotel or Casamara Hotel, Kandy

  • Day 7 Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Tea Plantations
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Tea Plantations

      Nuwara Eliya or City of Light is the tea capital of Sri Lanka at an altitude of 1889 m and is the most visited hill station of the island.

      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 British governor at the time, Sir Edward Barnes, was told about this little town and subsequently decided to take residence there, soon creating a health resort, which soon became internationally renown.

      Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by a seemingly endless array of tea plantations populated by tea pickers who are almost exclusively Indian Tamils, who are distinct from the Ceylonese Tamils who live in the Northeast of the country. 

      Overnight at Heaven Seven Hotel or Glenfall Reach Hotel, Nuwara Eliya

  • Day 8 Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Optional By Scenic Train Journey
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Optional By Scenic Train Journey

      This hill country part of the tour can be undertaken with your car or by a train journey from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. Your driver will follow with the car and pick you up again at Ella’s Railway Station. 

      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.

      Overnight at Red Rock Hotel or Flower Garden Hotel, Ella

  • Day 9 Ella - Yala National Park
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Ella - Yala National Park

      Sri Lanka is one of the best places in Asia for seeing wildlife. The island’s isolation from the mainland, the heavy rainfall of the two diagonally blowing monsoons, and the country’s wide range of altitudes have given Sri Lanka a variation in climate and biodiversity normally found only across an entire continent.

      The top draw is the Sri Lankan leopard, a sub-species endemic to the country; in certain areas of the park, the average leopard density is as high as one cat to every square kilometre. During the fruiting of the palu trees in June and July, sloth bears are often observed.

      Other animals you might spot include sambar (a large deer), spotted deer, buffalo, wild pig, stripe-necked and ruddy mongooses, langur monkey, toque monkey, golden jackal and Indian palm civet.

      The combination of freshwater, marine, scrub and woodland areas ensures a high diversity of birds. Indeed, the park hosts 220 different types, and serious twitchers have recorded 100 species in a single day.

      Overnight at Hibiscus Garden Hotel or Okrin Hotel, Yala

  • Day 10 Yala - Unawatuna - Galle - Turtle Hatchery - Bentota
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Yala - Unawatuna - Galle - Turtle Hatchery - Bentota

      Unawatuna is a beautiful and quiet beach resort just 5 km south of Galle.

      While Unawatuna offers many hotels and guesthouses for all travelers, it is still an uncrowded, authentic Sri Lankan beach resort.

      The name Unawatuna derives its name from the Singhalese words, Onna-wetuna, which translates into "there it fell". Over a period of time, Onna-wetuna became Unawatuna.

      A golden beach which is protected by coral reefs, safe swimming, wreck & reef diving and some surf points making Unawatuna a more and more popular travel destination.

      Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and southeast Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle Fort is a world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European invaders. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the St. Mary’s Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests. 

      Facing the Indian Ocean, a tropical lagoon and a major river, Bentota Beach offers water sports possibilities nowhere else to be found in Sri Lanka.

      Apart from swimming, body-surfing or diving in the sea, you can jet-ski, windsurf, parasail or enjoy a romantic river safari on the river and lagoon. Being one of the most established beach resorts in Sri Lanka, Bentota is known for its professional touristic infrastructure. 

      The many star-class hotels are often build in fantastic locations and even if you don’t stay there drop in for a tea and enjoy the scenery.

      Overnight at Coco Royal Beach Hotel or Joes Bentota, Bentota

  • Day 11 Bentota - Colombo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Bentota - 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.

      The suburb Mount Lavinia is well known for its beach since the colonial time. The sea is a safe and popular bathing spot. Its clean sandy beaches are jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean with softest sand and the calm and clear water.


  • Day 12 Colombo - Airport - Or Your Next Destination In Sri Lanka
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Colombo - Airport - Or Your Next Destination In Sri Lanka

      Transfer to the airport or you next destination on Sri Lanka’s west coast.

      End of Tour.

+9
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but you’re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Personal

You’ll be just with your guide or pilot. Examples of these activities are paragliding, sky diving, personal mountain climbing, etc.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 1 / Max: 99

Experience allowed to all ages.

Select a country to define if the visa is required

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to