12-Day Sri Lanka Tour: Ancient Temples, Tea Country & Wildlife

Anuradhapura to Galle: Ancient capitals, mountain trains and national parks in one arc

A 12-day private tour of Sri Lanka with a licensed chauffeur guide, starting from your airport or hotel and traveling through the country's central highlands and southern coast. You visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites (Anuradhapura, Sigiriya Rock and Polonnaruwa) climb to Little Adam's Peak for sunset views, ride the scenic train through tea plantations to Ella, explore Yala and Udawalawe national parks for wildlife, and end at the colonial fort in Galle. The guide speaks English throughout, and the vehicle is air-conditioned with all fuel, insurance and highway tolls covered.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Anuradhapura Tour

• Travel to Anuradhapura (5 hours)
• Visit Ancient Sacred City of Anuradhapura
• Overnight stay at Black & White Hotel or Magosa Lake Resort

Day 2: Polonnaruwa and Ayurveda Massage

• Travel to Polonnaruwa (3.5 hours)
• Explore Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
• Enjoy Ayurveda & Herb Massage
• Travel to Sigiriya (2 hours)
• Overnight stay at Fresco Water Villa Sigiriya or similar

Day 3: Sigiriya Rock and Village Tour

• Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock
• Join Sigiriya Village Tour with tuk tuk and boat ride
• Sigiriya City Tour
• Overnight stay at Fresco Water Villa Sigiriya or similar

Day 4: Dambulla and Kandy Exploration

• Travel to Dambulla (1 hour)
• Visit Dambulla Cave Temple
• Travel to Kandy (3 hours)
• Visit spice garden, wood carving and batik factories
• Visit Royal Botanical Gardens
• Overnight stay at Senani Hotel Kandy or similar

Day 5: Kandy Temple and Cultural Show

• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
• Kandy City Tour
• Attend Kandy Cultural Show
• Overnight stay at Senani Hotel Kandy or similar

Day 6: Choose Adams Peak, Rafting or Ramboda

• Option 1: Hike Adams Peak
• Option 2: White Water Rafting on Kelani River
• Option 3: Travel to Ramboda (3 hours) and explore
• Overnight stay at Adams Peak or Ramboda hotels

Day 7: Ella and Nuwara Eliya Tour

• Visit Tea Factory and Plantation
• Train ride from Ella to Nanuoya (3 hours)
• Nuwara Eliya City Tour
• Explore Ella City
• Overnight stay at Ella hotels

Day 8: Ella Hiking and Sightseeing

• Hike Little Adam's Peak
• Visit Nine Arch Bridge
• Ella Full City Tour
• Overnight stay at Ella hotels

Day 9: Yala National Park and Waterfalls

• Visit Ravana Waterfalls
• Travel to Yala (3.5 hours)
• Explore Yala National Park
• Overnight stay at Yala hotels

Day 10: Udawalawe and Galle Tour

• Travel to Udawalawe (2 hours)
• Visit Udawalawe National Park
• Travel to Galle (3 hours)
• Explore Galle City
• Overnight stay at Galle hotels

Day 11: Whale Watching and Beach Relaxation

• Travel to Mirissa (1 hour)
• Whale Watching tour
• Travel to Unawatuna (1 hour)
• Relax at Unawatuna Beach
• Overnight stay at Galle hotels

Day 12: Departure or Transfer

• Travel to Airport or chosen destination

The experience

Anuradhapura opens the tour as Sri Lanka's first ancient capital, a UNESCO site ruled by 126 kings over 1,500 years and now home to major Buddhist monasteries and archaeological remains. From there the route moves east to Polonnaruwa, the second royal city, then to Sigiriya Rock (a 15th-century palace ruin crowned by frescoes and a colossal rock-carved Buddha), where you also spend a morning in a rural village doing cooking demonstrations and tasting traditional Sri Lankan lunch. A separate day option lets you choose between hiking Adam's Peak (2,243 meters) or relaxing in the misty hill town of Ramboda with waterfalls and tea estates.

The central highlands bring you through Dambulla Cave Temple, built nearly 2,000 years ago with over 150 Buddha images and a 14-meter carved figure, then to Kandy for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (housed in the former royal palace and considered one of Buddhism's holiest sites) plus an evening cultural show with traditional dancing and fire-walking. A tea factory tour and the three-hour train ride from Ella to Nanuoya through tunnels and tea plantations form the heart of the hill country section. Ella itself sits at 1,041 meters and serves as a base for the Little Adam's Peak hike and the Nine Arch Bridge, a colonial-era stone railway viaduct built without steel.

The final stretch moves south to Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's second-largest and most visited, where you look for elephants, leopards and water birds across 979 square kilometers. Udawalawe National Park follows, then Galle, the walled coastal fort city with 500 years of Portuguese, Dutch and British architecture. A whale-watching boat trip from nearby Mirissa and time on Unawatuna Beach's turquoise water close the tour before the drive back to the airport or your final destination. Entrance fees to temples, parks and activities are separate. Meals and the Ayurveda massage are also not included.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for all 12 days.
• fully licensed English-speaking chauffeur guide.
• pickup from your airport or hotel.
• parking fees, fuel, insurance, all taxes and highway tolls.
• overnight accommodation at selected hotels in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy, the hill country, Ella and Galle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Bhathiya Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving at a Sri Lankan airport or staying in a hotel without your own transport: pickup is included and the private vehicle means you travel on your own schedule across all 12 days. The fixed itinerary covers the major UNESCO sites, national parks and scenic train ride, so you don't need to arrange separate transfers or piece together regional hops. The guide handles navigation and context at each stop.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and why does it matter in Kandy?

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, or Sri Dalada Maligawa, sits in Kandy's royal palace complex and houses the relic of Buddha's tooth. Since ancient times, whoever held the relic was believed to hold the governance of the country, making it one of Buddhism's most sacred sites and a UNESCO World Heritage landmark.

Can I choose between Adam's Peak and Ramboda on day six, or is one included?

You select which one suits you at checkout. Adam's Peak is a 2,243-meter mountain with a sacred footprint near the summit, best for hiking and views. Ramboda is a cooler hill town with waterfalls and tea plantations, better for relaxation. Both nights are covered by the tour.

What is the train ride from Ella like, and how long does it take?

The train runs from Ella to Nanuoya over three hours through tea plantations, tunnels and waterfalls in the hill country. It is considered one of the world's most scenic train rides and passes through some of Sri Lanka's most dramatic mountain terrain.

Does the tour include entry to Yala National Park and the other archaeological sites?

No. Entrance fees to Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Yala National Park, Udawalawe and other attractions are separate. Your tour covers the private vehicle, guide, fuel, insurance and transport between sites.

What wildlife might I see at Yala National Park?

Yala is known for Sri Lankan elephants, leopards, sloth bears and a variety of water birds. The park covers 979 square kilometers across five blocks, with two open to visitors, and was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 to protect these species.

Is lunch included during the tour, or do I arrange my own meals?

Lunch and dinner are not included. You arrange and pay for your own meals throughout the 12 days. The Sigiriya village tour does include a traditional Sri Lankan lunch as part of that activity, but entrance to that village experience is separate.