Lakpura

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Discovering Serendib (16 Days)

A 16-day private tour across Sri Lanka's ancient cities, hill country, wildlife parks and southern beaches.

Discovering Serendib (16 Days) - two women smiling while holding flowers in airport terminal Discovering Serendib (16 Days) - two travelers posing on ancient stone steps between weathered pillars Discovering Serendib (16 Days) - herd of elephants grazing in grassy savanna landscape Discovering Serendib (16 Days) - four people standing outside colonial-era building with flags Discovering Serendib (16 Days) - hikers overlook verdant valley and distant mountains Discovering Serendib (16 Days) - local woman harvesting tea leaves on a hillside plantation

About this experience

This 16-day private tour runs the full length of Sri Lanka's visitor circuit: the west coast, the Cultural Triangle, the central hills around Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, the hill country towns of Haputale and Ella, the southern wildlife and coast at Yala and Unawatuna, and a final loop through Galle and Colombo. The route moves from beach to ancient cities, up into tea country, back down to a wildlife park, and finishes on the south coast before returning to Colombo for departure.

Along the way you climb Sigiriya rock fortress, explore the cave temples of Dambulla, walk the ruins of Polonnaruwa, go on safari in Minneriya and Yala national parks, ride the scenic hill-country train from Kandy, visit tea factories and temples around Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, hike at Ella and Haputale, and spend several days on the beach at Unawatuna with a day trip into Galle Fort. The tour closes with a river excursion on the Madu Ganga and sightseeing in Colombo.

The tour is run privately with a chauffeur guide throughout, who handles transfers and logistics so you can set your own pace at each stop. It is conducted in English and suits travellers of any age.

Mewan
Your service advisor

Mewan Manager

Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Mewan directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.

What’s included

Included

  • Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all chauffeur accommodation.
  • Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.
  • All prevailing taxes and service charges.

Not included

  • International / Domestic Airfare.
  • Any expenses of personal nature.
  • Entrance fees.

Tour route

Day-by-day waypoints across Sri Lanka. Each marker is where you spend the night; lines trace the daily drive.

Day-by-day itinerary

Download itinerary (PDF)
1 Airport > Negombo

Day 1 — Airport > Negombo

The tour begins on the west coast at Negombo, known for its beaches and long-standing fishing industry.

Negombo Beach

Sandy beaches on the Western Coast where you can relax or try water sports such as diving.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph
Fish Industry

Watch Negombo's centuries-old fishing trade in action along the coast.

Shipwreck Diving

Dive near a 50-year-old shipwreck just off the coast, now home to many varieties of fish.

2 Negombo > Dambulla

Day 2 — Negombo > Dambulla

Travel inland to Dambulla to visit its historic cave temple complex.

Golden Temple of Dambulla

Cave temples dating back to the 1st century BC, with ancient murals depicting the life of the Buddha and hundreds of Buddha and deity figurines across five main caves, including the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery.

Lankapic · CC BY 2.5
Golden Buddha Statue

A giant golden Buddha statue stands a short distance outside the cave complex.

3 Sigiriya > Polonnaruwa > Minneriya > Sigiriya

Day 3 — Sigiriya > Polonnaruwa > Minneriya > Sigiriya

A day combining the ruined city of Polonnaruwa, a safari at Minneriya National Park, and a visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

Polonnaruwa

Walk through the ruins of Sri Lanka's second ancient capital, which flourished from the 10th to 13th century AD, taking in the Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0
Minneriya National Park Safari

A safari through Minneriya National Park, known for the Great Elephant Gathering of over 150 elephants during the dry season between May and October, along with other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Stuart Pinkney · CC BY 2.0
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Home to around 70 elephants that have been displaced or lost from their natural habitat, making it the largest captive herd of elephants in the world.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0
4 Sigiriya > Matale > Kandy

Day 4 — Sigiriya > Matale > Kandy

Climb Sigiriya rock fortress before heading through Matale's spice country to Kandy, with an evening cultural show.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Climb the 5th-century rock fortress built by King Kasyapa, entering through the lion's-paw gateway, viewing the famous frescoes, and walking the terraced gardens, cisterns and tunnels leading to the palace.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0
Euphoria Spice and Herbal Garden

A spice and herb garden near Matale offering a guided tour on Sri Lankan spices, herbs and Ayurveda.

Kandy Cultural Show

An hour-long show of traditional Sri Lankan dance, including fire dancers, sword dancers and Kandyan dancers performing to drumming.

Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0
5 Kandy

Day 5 — Kandy

A day exploring Kandy's temples and the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Embekke Temple

Known for its detailed wood carving.

Cherubino · CC BY-SA 3.0
Gadaladeniya Temple

A historic temple with notable paintings and sculptures.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph
Lankatilaka Temple

A temple notable for its architecture, advanced for its era.

BluesyPete · CC BY-SA 3.0
Degaldoruwa Cave Temple

A cave temple with restored interior paintings covering its walls.

A.Savin · FAL
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

An internationally known temple with a cream and gold interior.

A.Savin · FAL
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

Gardens established in the early 19th century with over 4,000 plant species, including orchids, spices and medicinal plants, a cannonball tree, a suspension bridge and hedge mazes.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0
6 Kandy > Nuwara Eliya

Day 6 — Kandy > Nuwara Eliya

Travel to the hill station of Nuwara Eliya, taking in its colonial character, a tea factory, and a scenic train ride through the hills.

Nuwara Eliya Town

A former British hill resort town with cottages, villas and mansions, an old red-brick post office, Queen Victoria Park and Lake Gregory.

Abdul malik77 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tea Factory Visit

See how Ceylon Tea is produced, a tradition introduced by James Taylor who established commercial tea planting at Loolecondera estate in 1852.

Scenic Train Ride to the Hill Country

The train journey through the hill country passes tea plantations, misty mountain villages, woodlands and waterfalls.

7 Nuwara Eliya > Horton Plains > Nuwara Eliya

Day 7 — Nuwara Eliya > Horton Plains > Nuwara Eliya

A day trip to Horton Plains National Park for its grasslands, cloud forest and viewpoints.

Horton Plains National Park

Montane grasslands and cloud forest in Ohiya with endemic fauna and sites of archaeological interest.

Faslan at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
World's End

A precipice offering wide views over the surrounding country.

Faslan at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Baker's Falls

A waterfall within the park known for its cooling spray.

A.Savin · FAL
8 Nuwara Eliya > Haputale > Ella

Day 8 — Nuwara Eliya > Haputale > Ella

Travel via Haputale to see its viewpoints and colonial-era landmarks before continuing to Ella.

Lipton's Seat

A noted observation point giving views over the Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern Provinces.

Kapidis (talk). The original uploader was Kapidis at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0
Adisham Bungalow

A Tudor-style mansion built in the early 1900s.

St Andrews Church

A neo-gothic church with a graveyard holding the graves of British tea planters.

9 Ella > Yala

Day 9 — Ella > Yala

Explore Ella's landmarks on the way to Yala.

Little Adam's Peak

A walk through tea fields and rocky terrain to views from Little Adam's Peak.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph
Nine Arches Bridge

A historic railway bridge with a story behind its construction.

Deitel55 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Demodara Railway Station

A railway station known for its unique loop-over track design.

A.Savin · FAL
10 Yala > Unawatuna

Day 10 — Yala > Unawatuna

A safari in Yala National Park on the way to the south coast.

Yala National Park Safari

The island's second-largest national park, on the southeastern coast, known for Sri Lankan leopards, wild water buffalo, sloth bears, elephants and a wide range of other wildlife.

Ranmith Welikala · CC BY-SA 4.0
11 Unawatuna

Day 11 — Unawatuna

A day trip to the old city of Galle.

Galle Fort

One of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia, built under Portuguese and Dutch rule, with cobblestoned streets bearing Dutch names.

Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maritime Museum

A museum covering the area's maritime history.

Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0
Galle National Museum

A museum on the history of Galle.

Galle Lighthouse

A lighthouse within the fort area.

A.Savin · FAL
12 Unawatuna

Day 12 — Unawatuna (days 12–14)

Three days free to enjoy the beach at Unawatuna, regarded as one of Sri Lanka's best, with opportunities for water sports and turtle watching.

Unawatuna Beach

A beach known for its sand and sea breeze, with sunset views and luxury hotels along the shore.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0
Turtle Watching

Turtles come to nest on the beach.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph
Water Sports

Activities such as jet-skiing and windsurfing are available on the beach.

15 Galle > Balapitiya > Colombo

Day 15 — Galle > Balapitiya > Colombo

A boat trip on the Madu River en route to Colombo, followed by sightseeing in the capital and a stop to see stilt fishermen.

Madu River Boat Ride

A boat trip through mangrove channels, past basking crocodiles and water monitors, with a stop at a cinnamon-harvesting island and a fish massage.

SUPindia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colombo Sightseeing

See the Old Lighthouse, Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple and the National Museum, along with Independence Square and shopping areas.

Stilt Fishermen

Watch fishermen practising traditional stilt fishing along the coast of Koggala, a craft passed down through generations.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0
16 Colombo > BIA

Day 16 — Colombo > BIA

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for departure.

Please note

  • Public transportation nearby
  • Infant seats available
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Not recommended for people with heart conditions
  • Entrance tickets are not included in the price.

Cancellation policy

  • More than 24 hours notice: full refund
  • Less than 24 hours notice: no refund

To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation email or message us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The tour is private to your group: your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking chauffeur guide for all 16 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo airport (CMB) and day 16 ends at Colombo > BIA. Every stop in between is reached by road in the same vehicle, so there is no other transport to arrange.

Are hotels included?

The base price covers the vehicle and chauffeur guide. In the booking box you can add hotels for all 15 nights at Budget (3★), Standard (4★) or Luxury (5★ and boutique) level, on half board. Hotels we hold contracts with for your dates are named in the price; for any other night our team books a hotel of the same class after you pay.

What vehicle will we travel in?

It depends on your group: a car for 1–2 guests, a van for 3–5, a large van for 6–8 and a bus for 9–15. Choose the number of guests in the booking box and the price updates to match.

Are entrance fees included?

Not in the base price. Set Tickets to Included in the booking box to add the entrance fees and safari jeeps for the sights on this itinerary; the booking box lists exactly which ones are covered.

Can we have a national guide?

Yes. A chauffeur guide is always included, and you can add a government-licensed national guide who travels with you for the whole tour. Choose it under Guide in the booking box; the vehicle is sized for the extra seat.

Can we change the itinerary or the dates?

Yes. Every tour is private, so it can start on any date you choose. To change stops, add nights or combine it with another tour, write to us in the booking notes or plan your own trip at lakpura.com/plan-your-trip.

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