Temples and Wilderness from Colombo (2 Days)

About this experience

This short two-day tour links the temple country of the deep south with Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka's best-known wildlife reserves. From Colombo, a private vehicle takes you via two distinctive Buddhist temples near Matara before settling in near Yala for a safari the next morning, then returns via Matara to Colombo.

The first day is given over to religious architecture and art: two temples with Buddha statues over 100 feet tall, painted tunnel passages, murals, and sculpted scenes. The second day shifts to nature and local life, with a safari in search of leopards, elephants, sloth bears and birdlife, a stop at a hot spring, and a visit to a family-run snake farm near Matara before the drive back to Colombo.

Travel throughout is in a private vehicle with a chauffeur guide, giving flexibility to stop at each site along the way. Accommodation, meals and entrance fees are arranged separately, so travellers can choose lodging to suit their budget.

Your service advisor

Mahesh Consultant

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

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What’s included

Included

Transport in a Private Vehicle, Fuel, Parking & Highway tolls.
Service of English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.
All prevailing taxes and service charges.

Not included

Hotel Accommodation and Meals.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.
Expenses of personal nature.
Visa and Related Expenses.
Tips & Portages.

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 Yala

Day 1 — Colombo → Yala

Leaving Colombo with your chauffeur guide, the day's drive to Yala is broken by visits to two distinctive Buddhist temples in the south.

Weherahena Poorwarama Raja Maha Viharaya

Set about 6 kilometres off Matara town, this is known as the first tunnel temple in the world. It holds a 130-foot Buddha image built in the style of the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras, along with a pagoda, a sacred bo-tree and a Samadhi Buddha statue, and its walls carry murals depicting the Jataka tales of Ummagga Jathaka and Umandawa.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Wewurukannala Raja Maha Viharaya

Located 1.5 kilometres from Dikwella towards Beliatta, this temple is dominated by a 160-foot seated Buddha statue, the largest in Sri Lanka, dating from the late 18th century. It also contains the Tunnel of Hell, with life-sized figures of demons and sinners undergoing torment, while the temple walls depict scenes from the Buddha's life in comic-strip style.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

2 Colombo

Day 2 — Yala → Matara → Colombo

The second day begins with a safari in Yala National Park before the return drive to Colombo, with stops at a hot spring and a snake farm along the way.

Yala National Park

Sri Lanka's second-largest national park, on the southeastern coast, is known for its leopards, wild water buffalo, sloth bears and large elephant herds, alongside a wide range of other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.

Ranmith Welikala · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mandunagala Hot Springs

After the safari and checkout, the route continues to Mandunagala to visit its hot springs.

Matara Snake Farm

Run for three generations by the Bandara family, this farm offers the chance to learn about Sri Lanka's snakes and, for those willing, a close encounter with some of them. The family also practises Ayurvedic snake medicine.

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 people with heart conditions
Comfortable clothes and hats recommended
We pickup from your Hotel in Colombo area

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 2 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo and day 2 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 1 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.