Heritage and Beach (14 Days)

About this experience

This fourteen-day tour links Colombo, the hill country around Nuwara Eliya, the Cultural Triangle, and the east-coast beaches of Trincomalee, covering the main contrasts of Sri Lanka in a single private itinerary. Travel is by private air-conditioned vehicle with a Lakpura chauffeur guide throughout, moving from colonial Colombo landmarks to tea country, ancient rock fortresses and cave temples, before finishing with several days by the sea.

Along the way you take in Colombo's historic buildings, the montane grasslands of Horton Plains, a working tea estate, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the cave temples of Dambulla, the rock fortress of Sigiriya, a safari in Minneriya National Park, and the ruins of Polonnaruwa, before unwinding on Trincomalee's beaches.

The tour is privately guided and run at your own pace, with the chauffeur guide handling logistics and providing context at each site. Hotel accommodation, entrance fees, flights and personal expenses are arranged separately from the tour transport.

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.

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 (Except for Credit Card Charges).

Not included

Hotel Accommodation.
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 Colombo

Day 1 — Airport → Colombo

On arrival at Colombo International Airport you are met by your chauffeur guide and driven to Colombo to check in and relax.

2 Nuwara Eliya

Day 2 — Colombo → Nuwara Eliya

Before heading up to the hill country, the day takes in Colombo's historic landmarks.

Old Lighthouse, Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple and National Museum

A tour of Colombo's historic monuments, including the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple and the National Museum.

3 Nuwara Eliya

Day 3 — Nuwara Eliya

The day is spent exploring the plains above Nuwara Eliya.

Horton Plains National Park

A visit to Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya, known for its montane grasslands and cloud forests.

Faslan at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

4 Nuwara Eliya

Day 4 — Nuwara Eliya

A free day to enjoy Nuwara Eliya's cool climate and scenery.

Nuwara Eliya

Time at leisure to enjoy the cool air and green surroundings of the town.

Abdul malik77 · CC BY-SA 4.0

5 Kandy

Day 5 — Nuwara Eliya → Kandy

The drive to Kandy includes a tea estate tour, a waterfall stop and an evening cultural show.

Tea Estate

A guided tour of a tea estate covering the varieties, processing methods and qualities of tea.

Adbar · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ramboda Falls

A visit to Ramboda Falls, the 11th tallest waterfall in the country.

A.Savin · FAL

Kandy Cultural Show

An evening cultural show offering a look at some of Sri Lanka's traditions.

Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0

6 Kandy

Day 6 — Kandy

The day centres on Kandy's most revered religious site.

Temple of the Tooth Relic

A visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century to house and protect Lord Buddha's sacred tooth.

A.Savin · FAL

7 Sigiriya

Day 7 — Kandy → Matale → Dambulla → Sigiriya

En route to Sigiriya the day stops for a spice garden tour and a visit to a cave temple complex.

Spice Garden

A guided tour of a spice and herbal garden in Matale, learning about spices such as coriander, chilli, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg and their uses.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Golden Temple of Dambulla

A visit to the historic cave temples of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC.

Lankapic · CC BY 2.5

8 Sigiriya

Day 8 — Sigiriya → Minneriya → Sigiriya

The day combines a climb up Sigiriya rock with village life and a wildlife safari.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

A climb up the 5th-century AD rock fortress of Sigiriya, once ruled by King Kasyapa.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Sigiriya Village

A visit to a local village near Sigiriya for an authentic look at Sri Lankan village life.

Minneriya National Park Safari

A safari ride through Minneriya National Park.

Stuart Pinkney · CC BY 2.0

9 Trincomalee

Day 9 — Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → Trincomalee

On the way to the coast the day takes in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and a historic temple.

Polonnaruwa

A visit to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, the second major capital of Sri Lanka.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Historic Temple

A visit to an ancient temple praised by Indian poet-saints and noted figures, with murals describing its history.

10 Trincomalee

Day 10 — Trincomalee (days 10–11)

Two days at leisure on the coast in Trincomalee.

Trincomalee Beach

Time spent enjoying the beach and hotel facilities.

Kondephy · CC BY-SA 4.0

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 back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
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 10 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo airport (CMB) and day 10 ends at Trincomalee (days 10–11). 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 9 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.