7-day Sri Lanka private tour with driver: Sigiriya to Mirissa
Lion Rock, tea fields, leopard safaris and colonial trains across seven days
A 7-day private tour of Sri Lanka with a dedicated driver and fully customizable itinerary, starting in Colombo and moving through Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala and Mirissa. You climb Sigiriya's ancient fortress, visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, ride the scenic Kandy-Ella train through tea country, spot leopards and elephants on safari, and explore beaches and whale-watching spots on the south coast. The route and pace adjust to your interests.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Explore Sigiriya and Surroundings
- Climb Lion Rock Fortress
- View Sigiriya Frescoes
- See Mirror Wall graffiti
- Walk Water, Boulder, Terraced Gardens
- Visit Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park
- Hike Pidurangala Rock at sunrise or sunset
- Tour Dambulla Cave Temple
Day 2: Discover Kandy City Highlights
- Visit Temple of the Tooth Relic
- Explore Royal Botanical Gardens
- Walk around Kandy Lake
- Watch Kandyan Cultural Dance Show
- Enjoy Kandy Viewpoint panorama
- Walk Udawattakele Forest Sanctuary
- Visit Kandy City and Gem Museums
- See Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue
Day 3: Tour Nuwara Eliya Attractions
- Relax at Gregory Lake
- Visit Hakgala Botanical Garden
- See Nuwara Eliya Racecourse and Golf Club
- Explore Nuwara Eliya Town and Market
- Visit Post Office building
- Tour Tea Plantations and Factories
- Visit Seetha Amman Temple
- Walk Victoria Park gardens
Day 4: Experience Ella's Natural Beauty
- Visit Nine Arch Bridge
- Hike Little Adam’s Peak
- Hike Ella Rock
- See Ravana Falls
- Take Ella Train Journey
- Taste tea at plantations and factories
- View Ella Gap at sunrise
Day 5: Wildlife Safari in Yala National Park
- Go on Leopard Safari
- Spot wild elephants
- Observe other wildlife species
- Bird watching in park
- Visit Yala Beach and Patanangala Rock
- Tour Sithulpawwa Rock Temple
Day 6: Explore Mirissa and Nearby Beaches
- Visit Galle Fort
- Relax at Unawatuna Beach
- Whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa
- Surf at Weligama Beach
- Visit Kosgoda or Rekawa Turtle Hatcheries
- Enjoy Hikkaduwa Beach
- See Matara and Dondra Lighthouse
Day 7: Sightseeing in Colombo City
- Walk Galle Face Green promenade
- Visit Gangaramaya Temple
- See Red Mosque in Pettah
- Tour Colombo National Museum
- Shop at Pettah Market
- View Old Parliament Building and Colombo Fort
- Visit Independence Square and Arcade
- See Colombo Port City and Lotus Tower
What’s included
- Private transportation with a dedicated driver for seven days.
- admission fees to all attractions.
- air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
- government fees and parking fees.
- hotel pickup.
- a driver fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French and three additional languages.
- Every day 08:00
Information
Private 7-day Sri Lanka tour with your own driver visiting Sigiriya's rock fortress, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, tea plantations.
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The experience
The tour centers on a private vehicle and driver for all seven days, which means you move at your own rhythm and stop where you want. You're not locked into group timing or a fixed schedule. If the Nine Arch Bridge near Ella deserves an extra hour, or if you want to skip a site entirely, the itinerary shifts with you. The driver handles navigation and logistics. You decide what matters.
The route moves through Sri Lanka's three main regions. You start with Sigiriya's Lion Rock Fortress, where you climb to the summit past ancient frescoes and polished mirror walls, then explore the water gardens and terraced landscaping built in the 5th century. From there, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Royal Botanical Gardens anchor the central highlands, followed by the cooler hill country around Nuwara Eliya: tea plantations, colonial architecture, and Gregory Lake. The Kandy-Ella train ride is one of the world's most scenic railway journeys, cutting through tea fields and mountain valleys. Near Ella, Little Adam's Peak and Ella Rock offer short hikes with panoramic views, and tea factories let you taste and learn how Ceylon tea is made.
Yala National Park brings wildlife into focus: leopard safaris, herds of wild elephants, sloth bears, over 200 bird species, and the ancient Sithulpawwa Rock Temple inside the park boundaries. The final stretch moves to the south coast: Mirissa for whale and dolphin watching, Galle Fort's UNESCO-listed 16th-century walls and cobbled streets, Unawatuna Beach for swimming, and turtle hatcheries where you see conservation work firsthand. You end in Colombo, where Galle Face Green, the Gangaramaya Temple, and the Pettah Market round out the cultural stops.
Private transportation, admission fees, an air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board, and all government and parking fees are included. The driver speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and three additional languages. Hotel pickup is part of the booking. Meals and gratuities are separate. The tour is wheelchair accessible throughout, and the operator can arrange specialized infant seats if you're traveling with small children.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Polish.
What is Sigiriya Rock and why do people climb it?
Sigiriya's Lion Rock Fortress is a 5th-century palace built on a massive rock outcrop in central Sri Lanka. You climb to the summit to see panoramic views across the surrounding plains, explore the palace ruins, and walk past the Sigiriya Frescoes: beautiful ancient paintings of celestial maidens on the rock walls. The Mirror Wall, polished and carved with graffiti from centuries past, and the water gardens below showcase advanced landscaping from the same era.
Can I see leopards and elephants in Yala National Park?
Yala is home to the elusive Sri Lankan leopard, which is the park's main wildlife draw, and herds of wild elephants roam freely throughout. You'll also see sloth bears, wild buffalo, sambar deer, crocodiles, and jackals. The park hosts over 200 bird species, and the Sithulpawwa Rock Temple, an ancient Buddhist monastery, sits within the park boundaries.
Is the Kandy-Ella train ride included in this tour?
The scenic Kandy-Ella train journey is listed as an option near both Kandy and Ella in the itinerary, and it's one of the world's most beautiful train rides, cutting through tea plantations and mountain valleys. Whether you take it depends on your interests and how you customize the route with your driver.
What beaches and water activities are on the south coast stops?
Mirissa is known as the world's best spot for whale and dolphin watching. Unawatuna Beach is a lively swimming and snorkeling destination, Weligama offers surfing lessons, and Hikkaduwa has coral reefs and diving. The Kosgoda and Rekawa turtle hatcheries let you see sea turtle conservation and baby turtles, and Madu River Safari near Balapitiya explores mangroves and birdlife by boat.
How does the private driver format work across seven days?
You have the same driver and air-conditioned vehicle for all seven days, which means continuity and the freedom to adjust stops and timing as you go. The driver handles all navigation, parking, and logistics. Hotel pickup is included, and the vehicle has WiFi on board. You move at your own pace rather than following a group schedule.
What's included in the tour price?
Private transportation, admission fees to attractions, the air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board, government fees, fuel surcharge, and parking fees are all included. Meals and gratuities are not included. If you're bringing extra luggage, let the operator know in advance so they can arrange appropriate vehicle space.
Operated by Fly Sri Lanka Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 7 days ago
7-day Sri Lanka private tour with driver: Sigiriya to Mirissa
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from US$ 996 per group
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