Things to do in Sri Lanka
Safaris14 optionsColombo Airport Taxi41 optionsColombo City Tour14 optionsDay Trips from Colombo6 optionsSafaris7 optionsKandy to Sigiriya Day Trip5 optionsUdawalawe National Park Tours27 optionsKandy City Tour6 optionsSafaris13 optionsColombo Tuk Tuk Tour17 optionsGalle Fort Tours31 optionsColombo Food Tour10 options
The unmissables
Most booked
Udawalawe National Park Private Safari: See Elephants★ 4.97 (1,814) · 4h
Top rated
Sri Lanka: Private Driver & Custom Tour with Flexible Pickup★ 4.97 (1,185) · 3d–14d
Best value
Mirissa Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruiser★ 4.81 (1,458) · 4h
Recommended (7)
Colombo: Tuk Tuk City Tour with Street Food & Entry Fees★ 4.89 (860) · 4hUS$ 28View ›
Sri Lanka Cooking Class with Granny: Learn to Make Curry★ 4.98 (747) · 3h 30mUS$ 25View ›
Ella: Halpewatte Tea Factory Tour & Tasting★ 4.77 (718) · 1hUS$ 10View ›
Sigiriya: Organic Cooking Class & Garden Meal with Pickup★ 4.97 (717) · 2h 30mUS$ 55View ›
Kandy cooking class: Learn Sri Lankan dishes from scratch★ 4.97 (713) · 3hUS$ 25View ›
Colombo: Private Tuk-Tuk City Tour with Entry Fees & Tea★ 4.90 (694) · 3h–4hUS$ 18View ›
Yala: Leopard Safari Full Day & Local Guide with Meals★ 4.86 (663) · 12hUS$ 12.88View ›Top rated (10)
Private Anuradhapura Day Tour: Ancient Buddhist MonumentsA private guided tour of Anuradhapura covers the ancient city's major Buddhist monuments—the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya, Jethawanaramaya, and six other sites—over four to five hours with a professional English-speaking guide, private transportation, bottled water and hotel pickup included. Old Town entrance fees are payable on-site by cash or card.Is it for me?Your guide navigates the major Buddhist monuments while your private vehicle lets you pause, linger, and explore at your own pace instead of keeping to a group schedule.
Sigiriya: Sri Lankan Cooking Class with Sajee & Suzy, Lunch IncludedYou’ll chop, stir, and laugh alongside Sajeeva & Suzy in their Sigiriya kitchen as you learn to cook classic Sri Lankan dishes like coconut sambol and dhal curry. Expect hands-on guidance with local spices, stories from your hosts, and a shared meal at the end—plus a few new friends and flavors you’ll remember long after.
7-Day Private Car & Driver Tour Sri Lanka: Sigiriya to GalleA seven-day private car tour of Sri Lanka starting in Negombo, with your own English-speaking guide and driver, air-conditioned transport, and a fixed itinerary covering Sigiriya, Kandy, tea plantations, national parks and Galle Fort. Entry fees, meals, accommodation and safari vehicles are separate; the driver's accommodation can be added at checkout. Pickup is included; the pace is set by the stops, not by you hunting for transport.Is it for me?Choose this seven-day loop if you're short on time—it hits the tea plantations, Sigiriya, wildlife parks, and colonial forts in one route without backtracking, so you see both culture and nature across the country in a single trip.
Sri Lanka Tours: 1 to 14 Days with Private Chauffeur GuideA private guided tour across Sri Lanka lasting anywhere from one day to two weeks, with an English-speaking chauffeur guide who drives and narrates, picking the route and pacing to suit you. Pickup is included; bottled water comes with every day. Children from age one travel welcome, and the itinerary spans tea plantations, historical sites, landscapes and beaches without a fixed schedule—you choose the length and the guide adapts to it.Is it for me?Book a longer duration if you want to move slowly through the island and spend real time at each stop—the guide stays with you and adjusts the pace. A single day works if you're short on time and want a focused taste of one region or a few key sites without the commitment of a longer tour.
10-day Sri Lanka tour: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella and Galle FortA 10-day guided tour of Sri Lanka with private transportation and a certified English-speaking driver, covering Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, Yala National Park, and Galle Fort. Airport pickup is included; entrance fees and meals are booked separately. The itinerary moves through central highlands, cultural sites, wildlife reserves and southern beaches over the course of the journey.Is it for me?The 10-day commitment allows the full arc from central highlands to wildlife reserves to southern beaches without rushing any region—each area gets time to settle in. If you have fewer days, a shorter itinerary would cut either the wildlife safari or the beach stops; if you have more, the operator can extend with additional activities. The private driver means you move on your own schedule rather than waiting for group departures, which matters when climbing at dawn or catching the train at a set time.
Udawalawe: Private Jeep Safari with Hotel Pickup & Local GuideYou’ll feel the raw pulse of Sri Lanka on this private jeep safari through Udawalawe. Watch herds of elephants wander by, laugh with your local guide as you spot monkeys or jackals, and soak up those quiet moments when nature takes over completely. Includes hotel pickup so you can just focus on what’s right in front of you.
Kandy City Tour: Temple, Gardens & Craft WorkshopsA private guided city tour of Kandy covers the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, and up to six additional sites you select—temples, museums, cultural centers, gem workshops, batik studios, and wood carving ateliers. The eight-hour tour includes private transportation by car or tuk tuk, a local English-speaking guide, water, and an umbrella; half-day options are available for shorter stays. You choose which attractions matter most to your day, and the guide adjusts the route to fit.Is it for me?Book the eight-hour tour if you want to build your own itinerary instead of following a fixed route—the flexibility means you spend time on what matters to you and skip what doesn't. Choose the half-day option if you're in Kandy for only part of a day or prefer a shorter outing. The tuk tuk is best if you want to feel the city's pace and energy; the car works better if you value comfort and want to move quickly between stops.
Ella: Private Cooking Class with Vegan & Gluten-Free MenuYou’ll cook alongside a local host in Ella’s countryside, learning vegan or gluten-free Sri Lankan classics by hand—from sticky rice snacks to curries and hoppers. Taste as you go, share stories around the table, and leave with recipes (and maybe turmeric-stained fingers). It’s less about perfection than feeling welcome—and you’ll remember those flavors long after.
Negombo city tour with private driver: Explore at your own paceA private Negombo city tour with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle lets you set the pace through the Dutch Fort, St. Mary's Church, the fish market, city centre, fishery harbour and Angurukaramulla Temple. Hotel pickup is included, and the tour runs four hours. You choose how long to spend at each stop.Is it for me?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary comfortably without translation or a language barrier. This works well if you want to ask questions as they arise and understand the history and culture as you move through each stop.
Galle Cooking Class: Learn Traditional Sri Lankan CurriesA cooking class in Galle where you learn to prepare six traditional Sri Lankan curries (including fish or chicken), rice, coconut sambol, papadam and a traditional dessert alongside a local chef. The class runs about three and a half hours, includes pickup, and ends with lunch and dinner you've cooked yourself.Is it for me?The class asks for a morning of hands-on work in the kitchen — you're standing, chopping, stirring and tasting for the full three and a half hours. It suits someone who wants to learn by doing rather than by watching, and who's comfortable with the pace of a working kitchen.
Lowest price (10)
Yala: Leopard Safari Morning Tour & Breakfast PickupYou’ll set out before sunrise with a small group and an experienced local driver in Yala, searching for wild leopards while birds call through the misty air. Enjoy breakfast and fresh fruit as you spot elephants or maybe even sloth bears along the way. Expect real moments — muddy tracks, quick laughter, maybe a glimpse you’ll remember long after.
Kandy City Tour by Tuk Tuk: Temple & Lake in 5–10 HoursA guided tuk tuk tour of Kandy covers the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy Lake, Udawattakele Forest Reserve, and Peradeniya Botanic Gardens over five to ten hours, with a local English-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. The tuk tuk's size lets you explore narrow streets, local neighborhoods, and panoramic hilltop locations that group tours skip. You choose how long to stay at each stop and which sites matter most to your day.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to move through Kandy's narrow streets and hilltop locations that larger group buses cannot access, and if a flexible five to ten hour window suits your schedule better than a fixed itinerary. The tuk tuk's size and the guide's local knowledge mean you see neighborhoods and viewpoints most visitors miss, and you set the pace at each stop.
Yala: Leopard Safari & Wildlife Day Trip with PickupYou’ll ride through Yala’s wild landscapes at dawn or dusk with a local safari driver who knows where to find leopards and elephants. Feel the quiet tension as animals appear out of nowhere, share laughs with your guide, and return with a new sense of awe for Sri Lanka’s wildlife.
Negombo Motorcycle Rental: Self-Ride Scooters & Island FreedomYou rent a scooter with full insurance and helmets included, convert your license in under an hour for $20, and ride freely across Sri Lanka's forests, beaches, and mountains on your own schedule. The bike handles luggage, the company covers roadside emergencies, and at $8 a day you're paying less than a guided tour while keeping all the freedom.Is it for me?This is for travelers who want to move at their own pace without a guide or fixed schedule — the scooter and insurance take the logistics off your hands, leaving you free to chase waterfalls, explore villages, and sleep where you choose.
Yala: Early Morning Leopard Safari & Wildlife Jeep TourYou’ll wake up before dawn for a real chance at spotting Yala’s famous leopards—with an expert local guide leading your private jeep deep into the park before crowds arrive. Expect close-up wildlife moments (elephants, deer, maybe even sloth bears), breakfast surrounded by birdsong, and stories from someone who knows every trail by heart.
Kandy Heritage City Tour by Tuk Tuk: Temple & GardensA guided tuk tuk tour of Kandy combines the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic—a UNESCO World Heritage site—with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy Lake and cultural performances, all arranged with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. The tour runs five to eight hours depending on which stops you choose; smaller groups travel in eco-friendly tuk tuks with bottled water provided throughout.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Royal Botanical Gardens in a single outing without committing a full day—the tuk tuk groups stay small enough that you're not stuck waiting between stops.
Ella: Tea Plantation Tour with Tea Plucking & Sky Café ViewsYou’ll step straight into Ella’s living tea culture—starting with a small Ganesh ritual, then learning real tea plucking alongside local women in the fields. Taste several Ceylon teas at their hilltop Sky Café while soaking up mountain views you’ll remember long after you leave.
Kandy City Tour in a TukTuk: 10 Hours of Temples & TeaA full-day tuktuk tour of Kandy, Sri Lanka, with a live English-speaking guide and hotel pickup, visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Embekka Dewalaya, a working tea factory, Royal Botanical Gardens, and ending with a cultural dance show at Kandy Lake Club. The tour runs ten hours and includes fuel; food and drinks are separate.Is it for me?The ten-hour commitment means you're out for most of the day, so plan accordingly if you have evening plans or want to explore Kandy's markets and restaurants on your own. The tuktuk pace and fixed itinerary work well if you prefer a structured route with a guide handling the stops; if you want to linger at one site or skip ahead, a private driver or self-guided walk would give you more flexibility.
Kandy Tuk Tuk City Tour: Temple, Lake & Local MarketsA full-day private tuk tuk tour of Kandy with an English-speaking guide covers the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Peradeniya Gardens, Kandy Lake, the local market and a tea museum, with water and umbrella provided; temple entry and museum tickets are paid separately at each site. The tour suits travelers arriving in Kandy for the first time and wanting to move through the city's key stops without arranging transport or navigation themselves. Children from age 6 are welcome, and the tuk tuk is wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?A full day in Kandy works best if you're arriving for the first time and want to see the temple, gardens, market and lake without navigating the city yourself or arranging separate transport between stops. The tuk tuk moves you through the streets quickly enough that you can fit all the main attractions into one day, but not so fast that you're just passing through each one.
Yala National Park Safari: Early Leopard Search & Local BreakfastYou’ll wake before dawn for a real Yala National Park safari with a local guide who knows every track. Spot leopards if you’re lucky, share a Sri Lankan breakfast by the lake, and catch glimpses of wild elephants and birds as the sun rises—moments you’ll remember long after you’ve left Sri Lanka.
