Essential Sri Lanka
Discover the very best of Sri Lanka on this immersive five-day private guided tour, starting from Colombo and taking you through some of the island’s most iconic destinations, including the cultural city of Kandy, the scenic hills of Ella, the wildlife-rich Yala National Park, the historic Galle Fort, and the beautiful beaches of Hikkaduwa. With a dedicated private guide and driver, you can relax and fully enjoy each destination without worrying about navigating the roads or arranging logistics. This all-inclusive experience takes care of your accommodations, transportation, and daily breakfasts, allowing you to focus entirely on exploring, sightseeing, and creating unforgettable memories. From lush landscapes and wildlife encounters to cultural heritage and pristine beaches, this tour offers a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and authentic Sri Lankan experiences.
Group Discount Available
$560.00 / Adult
$280.00 / Children under 7 years
- ✅ Accommodation, entrance tickets included
- ✅ Private & Group Tours
- ✅ Comfortable A/C Transport
Need help with booking? Send Us A Message
Number of cities covered by this tour
- Ella
- Kandy
- Nuwara Eliya
- Yala
- Hikkaduwa
- Galle
Transport Mode
- Private Vehicle (Van/Car)
Accommodation Options
- 3-4 star BB
- 5 star BB + $75 pp per day (optional)
- Boutique BB (150 pp) per day
Pickup Details
Please mention the name of your hotel if you want us to pick you from a hotel in the area. If the pick-up is from the Airport, please let us know the flight number and the arrival time. If you are arriving to Sri Lanka by a cruise, please let us know the cruise name and the time we can expect you for the pick-up.
Day 01 - Negombo
We will receive you from the Colombo airport and transfer to hotel in Negombo. Negombo is the nearest main city to the Airport. We have choosen this option as you may be arriving Sri Lanka after a long flight. Definitely you will require proper rest before starting the tour around Sri Lanka.
Beautiful Negombo beach is ideal for evening relaxation. You hotel in located on the beach and you do not require extra effort or extra time to go to beach.
Overnight stay in Negombo
Day 02 - Kandy
1. Spice and Herbal Garden
See typical plants and spices of the tropical island, enjoy your herbal tea and learn more about traditional Ayurveda.
Admission Ticket Included
2. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
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. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple.
Admission Ticket Included
3. Cultural Dance Show
Held in Kandy town, this cultural show depicts various forms of Kandyan dancing which was once native to the area but has now spread to different regions of the island. Originated from a dance performed by Indian shamans who came to the island, Kandyan dancing plays an important role in Sri Lankan culture and is a much-anticipated event during perahera processions. During the show, you will see several dances which depict the graceful movements of birds and animals, which trace their origins back to the ancient ritual known as the Kohomba Kapkariya.
Admission Ticket Included
Overnight stay in Kandy
Day 2 Activities
- Spice and Herbal Garden
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Cultural Dance Show
Day 03 - Ella
1. Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden
We will be leaving Kandy around 8.00 am and reach the Tea Estate and the tea factory as the first attraction of the day. This is an ideal place to witness the tea making process with the live tea plucking and the factory process. You will be offered a complementary cup of tea to taste the real Ceylon tea.
Admission Ticket Included
2. Ramboda Waterfall
Ramboda Falls is 109 m high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass. It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale Oya. Altitude of the falls is 945 m above sea level.
Admission Ticket Included
3. Nanu Oya rail station
Nuwara Eliya / Nanu Oya / Ella After breakfast we leaving for the Nanu Oya rail station, we wil take the train to Ella, Ella is a beautiful small sleepy town on the southern edge of Sri Lanka’s Hill Country. It’s situated in the middle of beautiful countryside, with small vegetable plots in the valleys, tea plantations on the hill slopes and forests on the tops. You can enjoy the picturesque scenery in the hill country. We stay overnight in Ella.
Admission Ticket Included
Overnight stay in Kandy
Day 3 Activities
- Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden
- Ramboda Waterfall
- Nanu Oya rail station
Day 04 - Yala
1. Nine Arches Bridge
We will give you the most beautiful train ride in the world “Nanu Oya to Ella”. After the train journey you can visit Nine Arch Bridge. The Nine Arch Bridge in Ella is on the Demodara loop and spans 91 meters at a height of 24m. The beautiful nine arches make it a very picturesque spot especially as it is located in a dense jungle and agricultural setting. Behind the railway, a forest is booming and below, tea leaves are being cultivated.
Admission Ticket Included
2. Little Adam's Peak View Point
Little Adams Peak whether considering the word ‘Little’,it is named after the sacred Adams Peak (Sri Pada –where the foot print of Lord Buddha is preserved) regarding the similarity between the two mountains. Therefore the mountain was called as Little Adams Peak. “Punchi Sri Pada” is another name for this peak. It is 1141 m in height. Little Adam’s Peak attracts many travelers who come to Sri Lanka. Gradually with an easy hike up to the mountain of Little Adams Peak you can consummation a worth panoramic view. You have to walk through lush green tea plantations, waterfalls and paddy fields while enjoying the scenerie
Admission Ticket Included
3. Ravana Ella Falls
Ravana Ella can be spotted on Ella -Wellawaya main road. Kirinidi Oya is the water course for this beautiful cascading waterfall. Many of the Sri Lankan waterfall can be spotted in middle of the jungle, with some lengthy routes. But since this falls is located just next to the main road, everybody can reach this without any trouble. So this becomes very popular sightseeing spot for photography. Ravana ella is related to the famous Indian epic Ramayana. According to the story king Ravana captured the prince Seetha and kept her hidden in a cave which is located behind the Ravana falls.
Admission Ticket Included
4. Yala National Park
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s second largest wildlife park, is a semi-arid haven of dry woodlands and grasslands divided into five blocks. A jeep safari here offers thrilling encounters with elephants, leopards, and diverse wildlife, with 32 mammal species, 125 bird species, and many reptiles. Two rivers enrich its ecosystem, and entrance fees include a tracker for your adventure.
Admission Ticket Included
Overnight stay in Yala
Day 4 Activities
- Nine Arches Bridge
- Little Adam's Peak View Point
- Ravana Ella Falls
- Yala National Park
Day 05 - Hikkaduwa
1. Dondra Head Lighthouse
Dondra Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Dondra Head, Dondra, the southernmost point in Sri Lanka and is Sri Lanka’s tallest lighthouse, and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. Dondra Head lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Admission Ticket Included
2. Mirissa Beach
Sri Lanka has been known by many names over the centuries. During the years under the British occupation is was known as Ceylon and many years before that it was called Serendib, a word now used to describe utter tranquility and relaxation. It is said that Marco Polo visited this tear shaped Island in the 14th century and described it as ” undoubtedly the finest island in the world.” Mirissa, Sri Lanka Mirissa and its breathtaking sandy beach pretty much transforms your dreams and visions of a tropical paradise into an everyday reality.
Admission Ticket Included
3. Coconut Tree Hill
Coconut Tree Hill is presumably the most well-known place in Mirissa. You can watch the infinite sea and Mirissa bay area from the top of this amazing place. It takes you 10-15 min walk up the street from Mirissa Beach.
Admission Ticket Included
4. Jungle Beach
You need to do a hike through Rumassala jungle to reach this beautiful beach but you will feel it’s worth it. The beach is very beautiful, untouched and serene and an ideal place to swim in calm water. You might see a few nice fish and sea creatures there. Although there are showers, a small restaurant as well as toilets at the beach, there are no changing rooms. You will really enjoy a day out at Jungle Beach. Such a peaceful and quiet little beach, which offers not only great swimming, is a nice break from the crowded and merry Unawatuna Beach.
Admission Ticket Included
5. Galle Dutch Fort
Galle Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1588 and later fortified by the Dutch, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic coastal fortress showcases a blend of European and South Asian architecture and today thrives with a vibrant, multi-ethnic community.
Admission Ticket Included
Overnight stay in Trincomalee
Day 5 Activities
- Dondra Head Lighthouse
- Mirissa Beach
- Coconut Tree Hill
- Jungle Beach
- Galle Dutch Fort
Day 06 - Negombo
1. Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project
The Turtle Care Centre at Kosgoda beach is one of 18 turtle hatcheries along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The centre is located in the South Western coastal village of Kosgoda and was establised in 1981. It is also very popular as all five species of turtles that visit Sri Lanka nest in Kosgoda. This is not so with many of the other hatcheries around the island whose beaches host only some of the species.
Admission Ticket Included
2. Madu River Safari by Buddhi
Madu River is located in the south of Sri Lanka near Galle. The water of the river is dotted with small islands and the banks are all covered with lush mangrove forests that are home to dozens of incredible animal species. Enjoy hundreds of vibrant tropical birds and a few crocodiles if you’re lucky enough. These creatures are pretty rare and don’t like crowds.
Admission Ticket Included
3. Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple
Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, started by the famous scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century.
Admission Ticket Included
4. Wolvendaal Church
In 1736 Governor of Ceylon, Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff, sought approval from the Dutch East India Company to demolish the existing church within the Colombo Fort and construct a new one on the same site. However, the VOC refused this request, and it wasn’t until the arrival of Governor Julius Valentyn Stein van Gollenesse in 1743 that the impasse was overcome
Admission Ticket Included
5. Independence Square
Independence Square is a popular stopping place on a city tour so visitors can walk around the structure or relax in the shade of the avenue of mango trees. Close to the Square is the Arcade, a modern shopping mall housed in former colonial government buildings brightened with a fountain, covered ponds, and more statues of lions.
Admission Ticket Included
6. Colombo National Museum
National Museum of Colombo, also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum is one of two museums in Colombo. It is the largest museum in Sri Lanka. It is maintained by the Department of National Museum of the central government.
Admission Ticket Included
7. Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, also known as the Red Mosque, is one of Colombo’s oldest mosques. The Arabs arrived for the first time in Sri Lanka for trade in the 7th century AD. As olden day Ceylon was a hub for trade and was right in the middle of the spice and silk routes; they maintained a constant presence in Sri Lanka since that time by either migrating or intermarrying with the locals.
Admission Ticket Included
8. Negambo or Airport
We will drive to drop you at the Airport or your hotel in Colombo. If you are planning to stay and spend some more days near Bentota, Galle etc we can drop you at the place given by you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Here you will find answers to the most commonly asked questions about our tours, services, and travel in Sri Lanka, designed to help you plan your journey with confidence.
We focus on offering personalized travel experiences that combine cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, wildlife, and authentic local interactions, ensuring you see the best of Sri Lanka in comfort.
While last-minute bookings are sometimes possible, we recommend reserving your tour in advance to secure the best itinerary, accommodations, and guides.
Light cotton clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses), insect repellent, and swimwear are recommended. For temple visits, modest attire covering shoulders and knees is required.
Absolutely. We arrange airport pickups, drop-offs, and can recommend or book accommodations that match your preferences and budget.
Yes, Sri Lanka is generally safe for travelers. We ensure secure transportation, trusted guides, and 24/7 support during your trip.