14-Day Private Tour in Sri Lanka: Sigiriya to Colombo

Sigiriya's palace frescoes, Kandy's sacred tooth temple, and a descent through tea country to the coast

A 14-day private guided tour of Sri Lanka starting from Negombo airport, with an English-speaking guide, private air-conditioned transport and hotel stays included. The itinerary moves through Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Pidurangala mountain, an elephant safari in Habarana, snorkeling at Pigeon Island, the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Mahiyangana, Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the hill stations of Nuwara Eliya and Ella, and ends with a Colombo city tour before airport drop-off. Hotel accommodations, transport between stops and WiFi on board are arranged. You choose meals and any water sports separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, Negombo tour, drive to Sigiriya

• Pick up from Bandaranayaka Airport
• City tour in Negombo
• Drive to Sigiriya

Day 2: Explore Sigiriya Rock Fortress and hike

• Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Hike Pidurangala mountain

Day 3: Elephant safari and travel to Trincomalee

• Habarana Elephant Safari
• Travel to Trincomalee

Day 4: Relax at Nilaveli Beach and snorkeling

• Enjoy Nilaveli Beach
• Snorkel at Pigeon Island

Day 5: Visit Marble Beach and local sites

• Visit Marble Beach
• See Kinniya Bridge
• Visit Hot Water Wells
• Visit Lanka Patuna Temple

Day 6: Water sports at Pasikuda Beach

• Enjoy water sports at Pasikuda Beach

Day 7: Explore Polonnaruwa Heritage City

• Tour Polonnaruwa Ancient City

Day 8: Visit Mahiyangana Temple and reservoir

• Visit Mahiyangana Temple
• Visit Sorabora Wewa reservoir

Day 9: Travel to Kandy via 18 bend road

• Travel to Kandy
• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Day 10: Enjoy Nuwara Eliya hill country

• Visit Victoria Park
• Visit Haggala Botanical Garden
• View tea estates and waterfalls

Day 11: Travel to Ella via scenic route

• Travel via Welimada, Ettampitiya, Hali-Ela, Demodara
• Visit Nine Arches Bridge
• Experience Flying Ravana Zipline

Day 12: Sightseeing around Bandarawela and Haputale

• Visit Adisham Bungalow
• Experience Haputale climate
• Visit Lipton Seat early morning

Day 13: Descend to Colombo via Ratnapura

• Visit Ratnapura gem city
• Travel to Colombo

Day 14: Colombo city tour and departure

• Colombo City Tour
• Shopping and activities
• Drop off at Bandaranayaka Airport

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport throughout the 14 days.
• an English-speaking guide.
• hotel accommodation at 2- or 3-star properties in each location.
• WiFi on board.
• airport pickup and drop-off at Bandaranayaka International Airport.

Times

• Every day No fixed time

Before you book

Group Private

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Ages Adult (20 to 70 years) · Senior (71 and older) · Youth (13 to 19 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Pets welcome Public transport nearby

Operated by Green Leaf Holidays

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

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The experience

The tour picks you up at Bandaranayaka International Airport and moves into Negombo first, a coastal town known for its long sandy beaches and fishing heritage, before driving inland to Sigiriya. Day two takes you up the rock fortress itself (a UNESCO site where King Kashyapa built his palace in the 5th century and covered the rock face with colored frescoes), then on a scenic hike up Pidurangala mountain. From there you travel to Habarana for an elephant safari through the jungle and Minneriya sanctuary, then north to Trincomalee, where you spend three nights swimming at Nilaveli Beach, snorkeling around Pigeon Island, and visiting Marble Beach and its white sands.

The route then swings inland and south through Pasikuda Beach (known for calm, clear water and year-round swimming), and into the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a World Heritage Site with archaeological ruins from Sri Lanka's medieval kingdom. A stop at Mahiyangana Temple, believed to be where Gautama Buddha first visited the island, follows before you climb toward Kandy on the famous 18-bend road. In Kandy you visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, where Buddha's left canine tooth is enshrined and housed in a UNESCO World Heritage site. The next stretch takes you into the hill country: Nuwara Eliya for its cool climate, botanical gardens and views of tea estates and waterfalls, then Ella, where you can see the Nine Arches Bridge and take the Flying Ravana Zipline over 500 meters. A final inland loop through Haputale and Bandarawela, the coldest region in Sri Lanka, passes Adisham Bungalow and Lipton Seat before descending to Ratnapura, the gem-trading center, and finishing in Colombo for a city tour that includes the National Museum before your airport drop-off.

Your guide speaks English throughout, and the vehicle is air-conditioned with WiFi on board. Hotel stays are 2- or 3-star properties in each location, and the same private driver handles all transport, so the route holds together without you managing pickups or timing between towns. Meals and any paid activities like water sports are separate choices you make along the way.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 19 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Sigiriya Rock Fortress and why does the tour spend time there?

Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a 5th-century palace built atop a massive rock by King Kashyapa, decorated with colorful frescoes across its face, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour includes a climb to the top and a separate scenic hike up nearby Pidurangala mountain.

Does the tour include meals and accommodation?

Hotel stays are included at 2- or 3-star properties in each town along the route. Meals are not included, so you choose where and what to eat at each stop.

What happens during the beach portion of the tour?

You spend three nights in Trincomalee swimming at Nilaveli Beach, snorkeling around Pigeon Island, and visiting Marble Beach and its white sands. Later stops include Pasikuda Beach, known for calm, clear water and water sports opportunities.

How does the tour handle getting between cities over 14 days?

A private driver in an air-conditioned vehicle handles all transport between stops. The same guide and driver stay with you throughout, so you don't arrange pickups or coordinate timing between towns.

What is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy?

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Buddha's left canine tooth is enshrined. It is one of the most visited religious sites in Sri Lanka and a major stop on the tour.

Does the tour include the Colombo National Museum?

Yes, the final day includes a Colombo city tour that covers the National Museum along with shopping and other city attractions before your drop-off at the airport.