3-day Udawalawe Safari, Ella & Sigiriya tour with guide

Safari, train through the hills, and two ancient temples in three days

A 3-day private tour starting with a morning safari in Udawalawe National Park, then a scenic train ride from Ella to Kandy through tea plantations, and ending at Sigiriya Lion's Rock and Dambulla Cave Temple. The tour includes pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, a live guide in English or German, and stays in middle-class hotels. You climb, ride, walk through caves and watch traditional dance and evening temple ceremony.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Safari & Ella

• Pick up and drive to Udawalawe
• Enjoy Udawalawe morning safari
• Visit Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home
• Visit Rawana Waterfall
• Lunch break
• Climb Mini Adams Peak
• Visit Nine Arch Bridge
• Overnight stay in Ella hotel

Day 2: Train Ride and Kandy Culture

• Train ride from Ella to Nanu Oya
• Visit tea plantation and factory
• Visit Ramboda Waterfall
• Check in to hotel and relax
• Attend Kandy traditional dancing show
• Visit Kandy Temple of the Tooth
• Overnight stay in Kandy hotel

Day 3: Sigiriya and Dambulla Temples

• Visit colourful Hindu temple in Mathale
• Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock
• Lunch break
• Explore Dambulla Cave Temple

The experience

Day one starts at 4:30 am with pickup for a three-hour jeep safari through Udawalawe National Park, where you track elephants and exotic birds across grasslands and forest. After the safari, you visit the Elephant Transit Home to watch baby elephants being fed and learn about their care, then move on to Ravana Falls (an 80-foot cascade) and the Nine Arch Bridge, a brick-and-stone structure spanning a gorge. The day ends with a climb up Mini Adams Peak, about 1,141 meters high, for views over tea plantations and valleys. You stay overnight in Ella.

Day two is built around a three-hour train journey from Ella to Nanu Oya through misty mountains and tea estates, with views of the Nine Arch Bridge from the tracks. In between, you visit a local tea plantation and factory to learn the tea-making process, see Ramboda Waterfall (over 100 meters high), and tour Nuwara Eliya's colonial landmarks. The evening in Kandy includes a traditional dancing show and an evening ceremony at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, where Buddhist monks perform rituals by lamplight. You stay overnight in Kandy.

Day three takes you to Sigiriya Lion's Rock, an ancient fortress rising from jungle, where you climb past frescoes and the iconic lion paw entrance to views of the surrounding landscape. After lunch there, you visit a colorful Hindu temple, then explore Dambulla Cave Temple, a complex of five caves carved into rocky hills and filled with ancient murals, statues and Buddhist relics. The tour ends at Dambulla. Transport is air-conditioned throughout, and bottled water is provided. Train tickets are pre-booked but subject to availability.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for all three days.
• pickup at your location.
• live guide in English or German.
• entry fees to Udawalawe National Park, Elephant Transit Home, Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave Temple and Kandy Temple.
• train ticket from Ella to Nanu Oya.
• visits to tea plantation and factory, Ravana Falls and Ramboda Waterfall.
• traditional dance show and evening temple ceremony in Kandy.
• overnight stays in middle-class hotels in Ella and Kandy.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• all taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 60 years) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tony Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a dedicated private guide and vehicle for all three days combining safari, train travel, and cultural sites, with a 4:30 am start on day one to catch wildlife when animals are most active.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What time does the tour start on the first day?

Pickup is at 4:30 am to reach Udawalawe National Park for the morning safari, when wildlife is most active.

Is the train ride from Ella to Nanu Oya included in the tour?

Yes, the three-hour scenic train journey through tea plantations and mountains is included on day two. Seats are pre-booked but subject to availability.

What is the Elephant Transit Home and what do you do there?

The Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe is a sanctuary for orphaned and injured elephants. You observe baby elephants being fed and learn from the guide about their care and rehabilitation.

Do I need to be fit to climb Sigiriya Lion's Rock?

Sigiriya involves climbing to the summit, so moderate physical fitness is recommended. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

What happens at the Kandy Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the evening?

You attend an evening ceremony where Buddhist monks perform traditional rituals and offerings to the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha, with chanting and incense creating a spiritual atmosphere.

Are meals included in the tour?

Lunch breaks are included on each day. Beverages during meals can be added at checkout. Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses are not covered.