Relaxation and Adventure (12 Days)

About this experience

This twelve-day tour runs from the west coast to the hill country, on to the Cultural Triangle, across to the east coast at Trincomalee and back to Colombo, giving a broad sweep of Sri Lanka's landscapes and historic sites. Travel is by private air-conditioned vehicle with a chauffeur guide throughout, so the route links beach, hill country, ancient cities and coast without the traveller needing to arrange separate transport.

Highlights include the temples and tea country around Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, the Cultural Triangle sites of Dambulla and Sigiriya, a safari at Minneriya National Park, the ruins of Polonnaruwa, and an extended stay on the east coast at Trincomalee with time for Nilaveli Beach, Pigeon Island and the Koneswaram Temple. The tour closes with a tour of Colombo before departure.

It suits travellers who want a mix of cultural sightseeing, wildlife and beach time in one trip, with the pace set by longer stays in Kandy and Trincomalee rather than a different town each night.

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.

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 Negombo

Day 1 — Negombo

On arrival at Colombo Airport you are met by your chauffeur guide and driven to Negombo, a beachside town known for its fishing harbour and golden beaches, to rest after the flight.

Negombo

A beachside resort town valued for its proximity to Colombo and the airport, with a vibrant fishing harbour, golden beaches and water sports.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

2 Kandy

Day 2 — Kandy (days 2–4)

Three days based in the hill country capital combine elephant welfare, temples, tea and a side trip up to Nuwara Eliya.

Millennium Elephant Foundation

A foundation funding the care, medical treatment and mahout salaries of sick and displaced elephants, including a Mobile Veterinary Unit that travels the country.

Cultural Show

An hour-long Kandyan cultural show featuring fire dancers, sword dancers and Kandyan dancers performing to drumming.

Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0

Temple Run Tour

A visit to the carved Embekke Temple, the Gadaladeniya and Lankatilaka temples, the painted Degaldoruwa Cave Temple, and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic with its cream and gold interiors.

Tea Factory Visit

A tour showing how tea is picked and processed, covering fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading, followed by a tea tasting.

Nuwara Eliya

A highland town once the main hill station for the British, with cottages and mansions, the old red-brick post office, Queen Victoria Park and the shores of Lake Gregory.

Abdul malik77 · CC BY-SA 4.0

5 Dambulla

Day 5 — Dambulla (days 5–6)

Two days around Dambulla take in a spice garden, the ancient cave temple, Sigiriya rock fortress, a village experience and a safari at Minneriya.

Matale Spice Tour

A visit to a spice and herbal garden in Matale, covering Sri Lankan spices, fragrant herbs and Ayurvedic medicine.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Dambulla Cave Temple

The Golden Temple caves dating to the 1st century BC, with murals of the Buddha's life, hundreds of Buddha and deity figures across five main caves, and a giant golden Buddha statue outside.

Lankapic · CC BY 2.5

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

The 5th-century rock fortress of King Kasyapa, entered through the lion's paws, with its famous murals, terraced gardens, working cisterns and palace ruins at the summit.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Local Village Experience in Sigiriya

An oxen cart ride, a catamaran safari on a calm lake, a walk through paddy fields, a traditional cooking demonstration and a home-cooked lunch served on lotus leaves.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Minneriya National Park

A safari through the park, with a chance to see elephants gathering in large numbers during the dry season between May and October, alongside other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Stuart Pinkney · CC BY 2.0

7 Trincomalee

Day 7 — Trincomalee (days 7–10)

Four days on the east coast, reached via the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, combine beach time at Nilaveli with temples, a fort, hot springs and Pigeon Island.

The Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

The ruins of Sri Lanka's second major capital, flourishing from the 10th to 13th century, including Gal Vihara, the Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Nilaveli Beach

A beach regarded as one of the finest in Sri Lanka, with swaying palms and clear blue sea.

Anton 17 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Koneswaram Temple

An ancient temple with a cave shrine dating to 1580 BC and a main temple developed around 400 BC, with murals depicting its history and a statue of King Ravana.

Shamli071 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fort Frederick

A fort originally built by the Portuguese in 1624, later dismantled and rebuilt by the Dutch, incorporating stones from the destroyed Koneswaram temple.

AntanO · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pigeon Island

A national park of a smaller and larger pigeon island surrounded by coral reef, home to breeding rock pigeons and varied coral and marine life.

AntanO · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kanniya Hot Springs

Natural hot springs at Kinniya for a relaxing soak.

K.shayanthan · CC BY-SA 4.0

11 Colombo

Day 11 — Colombo

The return to Colombo brings a city tour of its landmarks and shopping districts before departure.

Colombo City Tour

A tour of the capital's landmarks, including the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple and the National Museum, along with boutique shops and malls.

Gihanud2001 · CC0

Departure

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.
Pick-up can be arranged in Colombo as well (From any hotel within 05 km from the Galleface Green)

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.