5-Day Sri Lanka Tour: Temple of Tooth & Sigiriya

Five days to move through Sri Lanka at your own pace, with a driver who knows the route.

A 5-day guided tour of Sri Lanka starting from Colombo, visiting Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea plantations, Gregory Lake, Bentota Beach, and Colombo's landmarks. The tour includes private air-conditioned transport with an English-speaking driver, hotel pickup, fuel, tolls, and parking. You choose your vehicle type at checkout. Many stops are optional. Add Pidurangala Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple, or the Madu River Safari if you want more, or skip ahead to rest. Specialized guides are available at major sites for an additional fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Sigiriya and Optional Sites

• Pickup and travel to Sigiriya
• Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Optional visit to Pidurangala Rock
• Optional visit to Dambulla Cave Temple
• Return to accommodation

Day 2: Discover Kandy and Cultural Highlights

• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
• Stroll around Kandy Lake
• Visit Royal Botanical Gardens
• Visit Kandy View Point
• Attend Cultural Dance Show at Kandy Lake Club
• Optional visit to Kandy City Center

Day 3: Experience Nuwara Eliya’s Scenic Beauty

• Visit tea factory and sample tea
• Walk through tea plantations
• Visit Sri Hanuman Baktha Temple
• Optional visit to Nuwara Eliya Golf Grounds
• Relax at Gregory Lake
• Walk in Victoria Park
• Visit Seetha Amman Temple

Day 4: Relax and Adventure in Bentota

• Relax at Bentota Beach
• Visit turtle hatchery
• Take Madu River Safari
• Enjoy water sports activities

Day 5: Explore Colombo’s Landmarks and Markets

• Visit Lotus Tower observation deck
• Visit Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre
• Explore BMICH and gardens
• Visit National Art Gallery
• Visit Old Parliament building
• Visit Gangaramaya Temple
• Visit Colombo City Centre
• Visit One Galle Face mall
• Optional visit to Pettah Market
• Drop off at pick-up point or airport

The experience

You arrive in Colombo and get picked up from your hotel or airport. The tour starts the next morning heading to Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the centerpiece of day one. You walk through the ancient fortress, climb to the top for views across the plains, and see the frescoes painted onto the rock face. If you want more that day, you can add Pidurangala Rock (a quieter climb with a different angle on Sigiriya), or the Dambulla Cave Temple, five caves filled with Buddha statues and murals. The choice is yours. The driver and vehicle stay with you either way.

Day two takes you to Kandy and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the most important Buddhist site in Sri Lanka. After the temple, you walk around Kandy Lake, then move through the Royal Botanical Gardens: orchids, palms, and open space to breathe. The afternoon brings you to the Kandy View Point for city panoramas, and the evening ends with a cultural dance show at Kandy Lake Club, traditional Sri Lankan performance with live music. If shopping appeals, Kandy City Center is optional.

Days three and four shift to the highlands and coast. In Nuwara Eliya you visit a tea factory to see how Ceylon tea is made, walk through the plantations, and pick leaves yourself if you want to try. Gregory Lake offers a quiet break by the water. The Sri Hanuman Baktha Temple and Victoria Park are stops along the way. Then you descend to Bentota Beach on day four: time to swim, relax, or join the Madu River Safari through mangrove forests where you spot birds and monitor lizards. A turtle hatchery shows you sea turtle conservation work. Water sports like jet skiing are available if you choose them.

Your final day is Colombo. The Lotus Tower gives you the city from above. You move through the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, the National Art Gallery, the Old Parliament building, and Gangaramaya Temple: a mix of modern and colonial architecture with spiritual weight. Shopping and dining happen at Colombo City Centre or One Galle Face. The Pettah Market, a dense bazaar of vendors and street food, is optional. The driver takes you back to your pickup point or the airport at the end.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport with an English-speaking driver for all five days.
• hotel or airport pickup.
• fuel, highway tolls, and parking fees.
• driver meals and refreshments.
• comfortable seating cushions and umbrellas.
• GST (Goods and Services Tax).

Options for this experience

4 options

Air-Conditioned VanUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeA van suited to families or small groups, offering space and comfort. Pickup is included.

Air-Conditioned Private CarUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeA car for 2 passengers, suited to small groups, offering comfort and space. Pickup is included.

Air-Conditioned High Roof VanUp to 9 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeA high roof van suited to small to medium groups, giving extra headroom and a comfortable ride. Pickup is included.

Air-Conditioned Mini CoachUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeA mini coach suited to larger groups, offering ample space and superior comfort. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

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 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Travco Adventures

Is this one for you?Choose the vehicle size that fits your group at checkout: a private car for two, a van for a family, or a mini coach for a larger party. The flexible itinerary means you can rest when you need to or add optional stops like Pidurangala Rock or the Madu River Safari without changing your booking. The driver adapts to your pace.

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Top questions

What is Sigiriya Rock and why is it the main stop on day one?

Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built into a massive rock face in central Sri Lanka, famous for its ancient frescoes, carved gardens, and the views from the summit. It's the centerpiece of day one because the climb and the site itself take most of the morning and early afternoon, and the views and history make it one of Sri Lanka's most visited landmarks.

Can I skip stops or add extra ones if I want a different pace?

Yes. Many stops are optional. You can add Pidurangala Rock or Dambulla Cave Temple on day one, visit Kandy City Center on day two, or try the Madu River Safari on day four. You can also rest at your hotel instead of doing every stop. The driver and vehicle stay with you. The itinerary is flexible.

What does the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic actually contain?

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy holds a sacred relic of the Buddha's tooth and is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Sri Lanka. The temple combines stunning architecture with spiritual significance, and the surrounding area includes Kandy Lake and the Royal Botanical Gardens, making it a full morning or afternoon of exploration.

Is accommodation included, and what about meals?

Accommodation is not included in the tour price. You book your own hotel and the driver picks you up from there each morning. Meals are not included either, though the driver can recommend restaurants. Driver room costs are covered by most hotels at no charge. If your hotel charges, it's typically LKR 3,000 per night.

What vehicle options are available, and how many people can travel?

You choose your vehicle at checkout: an air-conditioned private car, high-roof van, standard van, or mini coach. The private car suits couples or small groups. The vans and coach fit larger parties. All include an English-speaking driver, air conditioning, fuel, tolls, and parking throughout the five days.

Are entry tickets to temples and attractions included?

Entry tickets are not included in the tour price. You pay separately at each site: Sigiriya Rock, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea factories, and other attractions. Specialized guides at major sites are available for an additional fee if you want deeper historical or cultural detail.