Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is home to many beaches, lagoons, mountains and forests, with landscapes and scenery that will take your breath away.
This 8 day Sri Lanka itinerary will take you to Minneriya National Park to view the famous gathering of the wild elephant herds, one of the highlights of this trip! The gathering is documented as the largest known meeting place of Asian elephants in the world.
You will also enjoy a train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, described as one of prettiest train journeys in the world. End your adventure at Colombo, a must-see port city in Sri Lanka with a rich colonial heritage.Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is home to many beaches, lagoons, mountains and forests, with landscapes and scenery that will take your breath away.
This 8 day Sri Lanka itinerary will take you to Minneriya National Park to view the famous gathering of the wild elephant herds, one of the highlights of this trip! The gathering is documented as the largest known meeting place of Asian elephants in the world.
You will also enjoy a train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, described as one of prettiest train journeys in the world. End your adventure at Colombo, a must-see port city in Sri Lanka with a rich colonial heritage.
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Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Sri Lanka and Sigiriya Lion Rock
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Welcome to your 8 day Sri Lanka itinerary! After being collected from the airport, you will head to Sigiriya Lion Rock, also known as "Lion Rock" because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress. Then, proceed to Minneriya National Park, dominated by the ancient Minneriya Tank where you will get to see a number of wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers and wading birds. Enjoy an evening at Oak Ray Elephant Lake with calming views of the lake.
Accommodation
Oak Ray Elephant Lake★3 star
Activities
Sigiriya Lion RockOptional Activity
Minneriya National Park SafariOptional Activity
Transportations
Private Driver
Meals
Dinner
Destinations
Sigiriya
North Central Province
Avudangawa
Day 2
Kandy and Spice Garden Tour
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Drive in the morning to the World Heritage Site of Dambulla Cave Temple. Take a guided educational tour around the spice garden, introducing you to the wonderful world of spices and herbs at Iswara Ayurvedic Village. After, you'll drive to the city of Kandy. The city's heart is scenic Kandy Lake, which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth shrine. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional cultural dance show.
Accommodation
Oak Ray Regency Hotel★3 star
Activities
Dambulla Cave TempleOptional Activity
Iswara Ayurvedic Village Spice GardenOptional Activity
Sri Dalada MaligawaOptional Activity
Kandyan Cultural Dance ShowOptional Activity
Transportations
Private Driver
Meals
Breakfast and dinner
Destinations
Avudangawa
Dambulla
Central Province
Kandy
Day 3
The Charming City of Nuwara Eliya
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Today you will take a trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens where you can see beautifully kept flowers and vegetation native to Sri Lanka. In the afternoon, visit the Ramboda Waterfall viewpoint - the cascading water is a sight to behold. Continue to Nuwara Eliya, which is a city in the central province. Its name means "city on the plain" or "city of light". Tour around Lake Gregory which is surrounded by lush scenery and a fresh mountain breeze.
Accommodation
Oak Ray Summer Hill Breeze Hotel★3 star
Activities
Peradeniya Royal Botanic GardensOptional Activity
Ramboda Falls
Gregory Lake
Restaurants
Tea Bush Ramboda
Transportations
Private Driver
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Kandy
Central Province
Ramboda
Nuwara Eliya
Day 4
Ella Town and Waterfalls
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Experience the panoramic view from the highest mountain in Sri Lanka ‘Piduruthalagala Mountain’. Enjoy a scenic train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, which is a small and quaint mountain village. Climb Ravana Ella Caves, part of a network of caves said to be connected to the Ravana Ella Waterfall, to discover unseen history. Walk to the top of Little Adam's Peak to see the view and beautiful sunset that never ceases to amaze visitors.
Accommodation
Ella Gap Hotel★3 star
Activities
Pidurutalagala
Little Adam's Peak
EllaOptional Activity
Transportations
Private Driver from Nuwara Eliya to Nanuoya
Train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
Meals
Breakfast and dinner
Destinations
Nuwara Eliya
Central Province
Uva Province
Ella
Badulla
Day 5
Drive to Yala National Park
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After breakfast, you'll take the road to the south of the country to Yala, passing through the wide Ravana Falls where you can see the water gushing down a concave rock. Yala combines a nature reserve with a national park and is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. It contains the world’s biggest concentration of leopards, as well as Asian elephants, sloth bears, sambas, jackals, spotted deer, and crocodiles.
Accommodation
Oak Ray Lake Tissa Resort★3 star
Activities
Ravana Falls
Yala National ParkOptional Activity
Transportations
Private Driver from Ella to Tissamaharama
Meals
Breakfast and dinner
Destinations
Badulla
Uva Province
Hambantota
Southern Province
Day 6
Galle and Bentota Beach
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This morning after breakfast, you'll visit the UNESCO listed Dutch Fort in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast. Enjoy an optional river cruise at Madhu Ganga. After, visit a turtle hatchery to see how these beautiful creatures are getting a helping hand with a hatchery programme. Further south you'll reach Bentota which features a white sand beach. There are a plethora of water activities to indulge in or relax at the swimming pool or the beach.
Accommodation
Temple Tree Resort & Spa★4 star
Activities
Galle Dutch Fort
Sea Turtle HatcheryOptional Activity
Madu River Boat SafariOptional Activity
Transportations
Private Driver
Meals
Breakfast and dinner
Destinations
Hambantota
Galle
Habaraduwa
Southern Province
Day 7
Colombo Colonial Heritage City
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Proceed to the port city of Colombo. The city is a contrast itself, with mansions, lush gardens, temples, monuments and fine dining options. The imposing Colombo National Museum, dedicated to Sri Lankan history, borders sprawling Viharamahadevi Park and its giant Buddha. Go shopping in ODEL with boutiques filled with international brands and local art and fabrics. Take a walk around Marine Drive in the evening.
Accommodation
Ceylon City Hotel★3 star
Activities
Independence Square
Gangaramaya Temple
Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct
Galle Face Green
ODEL Shopping Complex
Transportations
Private Driver
Meals
Breakfast and dinner
Destinations
Southern Province
Colombo
Day 8
Departure From Sri Lanka
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This is the last day of your 8 day Sri Lanka itinerary. After breakfast this morning you'll be transferred to Bandaranaike International Airport in time to catch your departing flight home.
Transportations
Private Driver from Colombo to Bandaranaike International Airport
Meals
Breakfast
Destinations
Colombo
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What’s included?
7 nights accommodation
11 activities
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 7 dinners
Airport transfer
Entrance fees
Ground transportation
Licensed English speaking guides
What’s not included?
Alcohol beverages
Domestic flights
Entry visas / airport departure tax
Gratuities
International flights
Laundry
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Trekking permits
Notes
You'll receive a local sim card and have bottles of water throughout your trip.
Starting From
AU$ 3,536/ per traveller sharing
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Benefits of this trip
Sri Lanka in 8 days
4-star, 3-star accommodation
24/7 in-destination support from your local designer
