Reclining Buddha | Polonaruwa | Sri Lanka
FROM: USD $2,985 pp

PRIVATE TOUR: Experience the best of Sri Lanka. Colourful Colombo, ancient cities, Buddhist temples, colonial relics, spice and flower gardens, tea plantations, abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery in the National Parks, topped off with some blissful beach time in Kalutara!

Inclusions
Itinerary
Prices & Dates
COVID Safe Guide

Trip Highlights

Dambadeniya - Exquisite 13th century city
Polonnaruwa - 11th century city, world heritage site
Sigiriya - 5th century fortress ruins
Dambulla - Magnificent Rock Temple
Dehiwela - Zoological gardens
Colombo - Explore the Fort, Gangaramaya Temple and National Museum
Yala and Bundala National Park
Galle - Colonial town and fort
Anuradhapura - Sri Lankan birthplace of Buddhism
Kandy - Temple of the Tooth, Botanical Garden and Ceylon Tea Museum
Matale - Spice gardens
Picturesque Horton Plains
Kelaniya - Famous Buddhist Temple
Buduruwagala - Ancient Mahayana Buddhist rock sculptures
Nuwara Eliya - Tea plantation and Hakgala Gardens
Kalutara - Laid back, beautiful palm fringed beach resort

Included

Breakfast daily and 1 dinner
Tea Plantation and tasting - Nuwara Eliya region
Touring - Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Udawalawe NP, Yala NP, Bundala NP Galle and Colombo
Escorted by a licensed English speaking chauffeur guide
An airport arrival transfer day 1 and a departure transfer day 15
14 nights STANDARD hotels. SUPERIOR and DELUXE hotel options are also available upon request. Accommodation rating – See Trip Notes for details
4x4 Jeep safari to Horton Plains. Game drives in Yala NP and Bundala NP
Entrance and park fees to all included sites
Specialist local guides at some sites
All transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned tourism vehicles

Not Included

International flights and visa
Tipping - An entirely personal gesture

Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Sri Lanka

Welcome to Sri Lanka and the start of your holiday! On arrival in Colombo there's an included transfer to the hotel. Tonight, we enjoy a Sri Lankan dinner.
Overnight: Colombo  |  Dinner

Day 2

Sightseeing in Colombo

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Colombo including the Fort which was once a colonial stronghold, and Galle Face Green, a seaside expanse popular for informal cricket games. We will also visit the noisy oriental Pettah bazaar, Gangaramaya Temple, the Cinnamon Gardens and Independence Square. End the day with a tour of the National Museum (closed Friday).
Overnight: Colombo  |  Breakfast

Day 3

Buddhist Temple & Zoological Gardens

At Kelaniya, we explore the Raja Maha Vihara, a temple graced by Buddha on one of his three visits to Sri Lanka. The day continues with a visit to the beautiful zoological gardens at Dehiwela.
Overnight: Colombo  |  Breakfast

Day 4

Temple ruins and rock fortress

Colombo - Dambadeniya - Anuradhapura. En route to Anuradhapura, we pay a visit 13th century Dambadeniya, once a royal capital. Its principal surviving ruins are the Dalada Maligawa Temple and the Dagoba, locally revered thanks to some corporeal relics of Buddha it is said to contain. Explore Panduvas Nuwara which features a well-preserved walled citadel, Padeniya, Arankele and the rock fortress of Yapahuwa.
Overnight: Anuradhapura  |  Breakfast

Day 5

Anuradhapura

Today we take in the site of Anuradhapura, the fascinating ancient city and one of Sri Lanka’s most important archaeological sites. It contains vast artificial lakes, temples and statues including the Samadhi Buddha, dagobas (solid hemispheres topped with spires), royal baths and museums. Gaze at the holy Sri Maha Bodhi tree under which Prince Siddharta attained enlightenment, and it is also the oldest historically documented tree on earth. Later, we take a trip to Mihintale.
Overnight: Anuradhapura  |  Breakfast

Day 6

Dambulla & Polonnaruwa

Anuradhapura - Dambulla - Polonnaruwa - Giritale. En route to Giritale we make a stop to see the stunning Aukana Buddha statue and the impressive Dambulla cave temple, which contains beautiful images and statues of Buddha. We then explore ancient Polonnaruwa, an 11th century city of compact size. Here we discover the ruins of the Royal Palace and Gal Vihara, which boasts four enormous Buddha figures.
Overnight: Giritale  |  Breakfast

Day 7

Sigiriya & spice gardens

Giritale - Sigiriya - Kandy. Today sees you exploring the mighty Sigiriya, an elevated and mysterious 5th century fortress. The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle, it can be seen for miles. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. At Matale, we visit an exotic spice garden before arriving in Kandy for the evening.
Overnight: Kandy  |  Breakfast

Day 8

Kandy & Temples of Embekke

Today we see the ruined temples of Embekke, Gadaladeniya, Lankatilleke and the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Back in Kandy, a scenic lakeside city, we visit the lake, bazaar, gem museum and lapidary. There'll also be a stop made at the Ceylon Tea Museum, housed in a beautifully refurbished old building with lots of vintage tea-processing machinery. Tonight, we enjoy a tour to the Temple of the Tooth and later take in a traditional cultural dance show
Overnight: Kandy  |  Breakfast

Days 9-10

Nuwara Eliya & tea plantations

Kandy - Nuwara Eliya. Departing Kandy, we head further into Sri Lanka’s hill country, surrounded by tea plantations. Situated at 1,990m, Nuwara Eliya is one of the highest towns in the region, here we take a sightseeing tour and wander through Hakgala Gardens. On day 10, we take a jeep ride to scenic Horton Plains National Park. Located on a high windswept saddle, Horton Plains offers hikers stunning panoramic views. We hike to Bakers Fall passing the Gem Pit Pool, the Chimney Pool, and the Leg of Mutton Pool before returning to Nuwara Eliya.
Overnight: Nuwara Eliya  |  Breakfast x 2

Day 11

Buddhist rock sculptures & Yala NP

Nuwara Eliya - Yala National Park. Continuing to famous Yala National Park, stopping en route at Mahayana Buddhist rock sculptures, Buduruwagala. This evening, we enjoy a jeep safari in Yala National Park, the largest national park in Sri Lanka. The reserve is home to many rare species including elephants, wild boar, buffalo, leopard, crocodile and diverse bird life.

Note: Yala NP is usually closed sometime between Sept - early Oct due to drought. The length of this closure varies from year to year.
Overnight: Yala National Park  |  Breakfast

Day 12

Bundala NP & Galle

Yala National Park - Kalutara. This morning, we sightsee Bundala National Park - a bird sanctuary. Explore 17th century Galle Fort and stroll down its narrow streets filled with churches and colonial buildings. Continue to Kalutara, an ideal tropical beach location with its sparkling blue seas and lush fringe of palm trees, all bathed in warm golden sunshine.
Overnight: Kalutara  |  Breakfast

Days 13-14

Beach time in Kalutara

With two days at leisure on Sri Lanka’s tropical palm-fringed coast – soak up the sun, splash in the ocean or join an optional excursion to Ratnapura, home of Sri Lanka’s famous gem trade. There are around 200 gem pits in Ratnapura and many lapidaries where the mined stones are dressed, cut and polished (you’ll tour some pits, a lapidary and the museum).
Overnight: Kalutara  |  Breakfast x 2

Day 15

Colombo

Kalutara - Colombo. Today you'll travel via the coast road to Colombo and there's an included onward transfer to the airport to meet your onward flight. Consider spending some more time exploring Sri Lanka's beautiful tropical coastline or simply relax and soak up the sun with a good book. Extend your stay by a day, a week or even two! We offer a variety of properties for you to choose from. Browse our best places to visit, Sri Lanka's best beaches or wildlife in Sri Lanka pages for suggestions on what to see and do. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please let us know so we can accommodate your request.

For information about visas, top travel tips, best time to travel and much more, take a look through our travel guide.
Breakfast

Combine Sri Lanka with neighbouring India!

Just a short hop away from Sri Lanka is India, perfect for a multi country holiday. Consider extending your trip and discover the wonders of India on one of our many exciting group tours or private journeys. From the fertile Himalayan foothills and the regal palaces of legendary Rajasthan, to the beautiful marble Taj Mahal and the palm fringed beaches of Goa, India cannot fail to captivate you!

Prices & Dates

Prices shown are per person when there are 2 persons sharing a room, based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults. The 'Single Room' price is applicable when a single room is required. If travelling solo, an additional ‘1-person’ supplement will apply.

Read More
Dates
Twin / Share
Single Room
USD $2985
USD $4015
USD $3445
USD $4665

In Brief

Range
Trip Type
Starts
Colombo
Ends
Colombo
Departs
Any day of the year
Hotel Rating
Our rating: Standard
Tour Guide
Yes - for all included sightseeing
Meals
Breakfast: 14, Dinner: 1
Visiting
Colombo, Anuradhapura, Giritale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park, Kalutara, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Bundala National Park
Countries
Cannon pointing towards the sea in Colombo
Iconic rock sitting among lush vegetation in Sigiriya
Leopard staring in to the camera in Yala National Park
Sunset and a palm tree in Kalutara

Extra Tour Info

The Cultural Triangle
Our guide to visiting Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle
Updated
1st June 2020

Combined tour of India & Sri Lanka. Excellent sites & scenery. Quality accommodation but somewhat isolated such that evening meals were at hotel without opportunity to eat in restaurants elsewhere.

Would prefer that On the Go Tours booked flight from Delhi to Colombo as part of trip, even if price advised at time of booking. Guide changed for final day into Colombo (personal reasons). Did not stop at gem mine & museum in Ratnapura as expected, per itinerary, & city tour of Colombo was on way to hotel & brief.

Robyn Wootton
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