Explore, Relax and Rejuvenate (12 Days)

About this experience

This 12-day private tour crosses Sri Lanka from the west coast through the ancient cities of the Cultural Triangle, into the cool central highlands, down to wildlife country and the south coast, before finishing in Colombo. It combines archaeological sites, a hill-country tea region, a national park safari and a stretch of beach time at Hikkaduwa, with a chauffeur-guide driving throughout.

Travellers get a mix of history, nature and relaxation: ruined cities and cave temples in the first days, Sigiriya and a spice garden en route to Kandy, tea estates and Horton Plains around Nuwara Eliya, a walk through Ella's countryside, a Yala safari, and several days based in Hikkaduwa for Galle, the Madu River, a turtle hatchery and the Lunuganga Estate. The tour closes with a city tour of Colombo before departure.

The route is run end to end by Lakpura's own chauffeur-guides in an air-conditioned vehicle, with pickup on arrival at the airport and drop-off at the end of the final day.

Your service advisor

Chathum Executive

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

Email WhatsApp

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

Hotel Accommodation.
Entry Visa Fees
International / Domestic Airfare.
Any expenses of personal nature.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.

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 Negombo

Day 1 — Negombo

On arrival at the airport in Katunayake you are met by your chauffeur guide and driven to Negombo, a fishing port with a history shaped by Dutch rule.

Negombo

A tourist hub with cafes, restaurants and a fishing port with a profound history from the Dutch period. It also offers a range of water sports.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

2 Anuradhapura

Day 2 — Anuradhapura

The drive to Anuradhapura takes in another ancient capital on the way, giving a sense of the ruined cities that define Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle.

Panduwasnuwara Kingdom

Ruins of a city that briefly served as the capital in the 12th century, including pagodas, image houses, meeting halls and a citadel. The restored former temple of the tooth relic lies just outside the citadel walls, near the old palace site.

Sacred City of Anuradhapura

The ruined city that was Sri Lanka's capital for over a millennium until the 10th century AD, with pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds spread across a vast area. Landmarks include the Jetavanarama stupa, once one of the tallest structures in the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of the Abhayagiri Monastery.

3 Dambulla

Day 3 — Dambulla

Dambulla sits at the centre of the Cultural Triangle, and the day covers the ruined royal city of Polonnaruwa along with the cave temples of Dambulla.

The Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

Ruins of Sri Lanka's second major capital, which flourished from the 10th to the 13th century AD. Key monuments include Gal Vihara, the Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue associated with King Parakramabahu.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Dambulla Cave Temple

Caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla dating back to the 1st century BC, with 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 and the Cave of the Great King. A giant golden Buddha statue stands a short distance outside the cave complex.

Lankapic · CC BY 2.5

4 Kandy

Day 4 — Kandy

The journey to the hill capital takes in Sigiriya and a spice garden, with a cultural show in Kandy in the evening.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

The 5th-century AD rock fortress where King Kasyapa ruled, entered through the paws of the lion that gives the site its name. The climb passes the famous ancient murals, terraced gardens, still-working cisterns and tunnels leading to the palace ruins at the summit.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Matale Spice Tour

A guided visit to a spice and herbal garden in Matale, Sri Lanka's spice-growing centre, covering coriander, chilli, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and other crops. The tour also touches on their use in Ayurvedic medicine.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Kandy Cultural Show

An hour-long show of traditional Kandyan dancing and drumming, including fire dances and sword dances alongside the Kandyan dancers.

Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0

5 Nuwara Eliya

Day 5 — Nuwara Eliya (days 5–6)

These two days cover the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic on the way out of Kandy, then tea country, a city tour and a trek in Horton Plains around Nuwara Eliya.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kandy built in the 16th century to house and protect the Buddha's sacred tooth, with painted halls, carved pillars and golden statues.

A.Savin · FAL

Tea Factory Visit

A visit to a working tea factory to see tea pluckers at work on the hillsides, followed by a guided look at fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading, ending with a tea tasting.

Cosy City Tour

A walk through Nuwara Eliya, the hill town favoured as a holiday resort by the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries, taking in its cottages and mansions, the old red-brick post office, Queen Victoria Park and the shores of Lake Gregory.

Horton Plains National Park

A visit to the montane grasslands and cloud forest of Horton Plains in Ohiya, including the views from World's End and the spray of Baker's Falls, with a chance to spot endemic wildlife.

Faslan at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

7 Yala

Day 7 — Yala

The drive south to Yala passes through Ella, a hill town set among tea estates and forest reserves.

Marvellous of Ella

A walk through Ella's tea fields and rocky stretches to views of Little Adam's Peak, across the Nine Arches Bridge, and on to the Demodara Railway Station with its loop-over track.

Dan arndt · CC BY-SA 4.0

8 Hikkaduwa

Day 8 — Hikkaduwa (days 8–10)

On the way south a safari introduces the wildlife of Yala, before three days based in Hikkaduwa take in Galle, the Madu River, a turtle hatchery and the Lunuganga Estate.

Yala National Park

A safari in Sri Lanka's second-largest national park, on the southeastern coast, with chances to see Sri Lankan leopards, wild water buffalo, sloth bears and herds of elephants, alongside many other mammals, birds and reptiles.

Ranmith Welikala · CC BY-SA 4.0

Old Colonial City of Galle

A visit to Galle, once a Portuguese and Dutch headquarters, including the Galle Fort, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia, the Maritime Museum, the Galle National Museum, the lighthouse and the fort's cobblestoned streets.

Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0

Madu River Safari

A two-hour boat ride through the mangroves of the Madu River, passing basking crocodiles and water monitors, a small island where cinnamon is harvested, and a fish massage stop, with waterbirds along the way.

SUPindia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Turtle Hatchery

A visit to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery on the southwestern coast, which cares for the eggs and hatchlings of the five endangered sea turtle species that nest on Sri Lanka's shores, as well as injured adult turtles.

Lunuganga Estate

A tour of the country home and gardens of architect Sir Geoffrey Bawa, showcasing the design style for which he is known.

Eco2004 · CC BY-SA 4.0

11 Colombo

Day 11 — Colombo

The final day is spent touring Colombo before departure from the airport.

City Tour in Colombo

A tour of Sri Lanka's capital, taking in the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, the Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple and the National Museum, with time for shopping at Independence Square or the Race Course area.

Gihanud2001 · CC0

Departure

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

Please note

Infant seats available

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
No public transportation nearby
Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with back problems
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
Entrance tickets are not included in the price.
Colombo International Airport

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 11 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Negombo and day 11 ends at Colombo. 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 10 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.