7-day Sri Lanka tour from Colombo: Sigiriya, Ella, Mirissa

A jeep safari in Minneriya National Park sits in the middle of your week, not at the end.

A 7-day guided tour from Colombo covering eight destinations across Sri Lanka: Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Mirissa, Sinharaja Rainforest, and Galle Fort. You travel by private vehicle with an English-speaking driver, stay in 3–4 star hotels each night, and eat lunch daily. The itinerary is fully customizable. Add or remove stops to match your interests. Entry fees to attractions are separate. Only a deposit is required to book, with the balance due at the end of the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Visit Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Safari

• Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Explore Dambulla Cave Temple
• Enjoy Wild Elephant Safari at Minneriya Park
• Tour Matale Spice and Herbal Garden
• Experience bullock cart ride and local lunch in Sigiriya

Day 2: Kandy City and Tea Factory Tour

• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
• Climb Ambuluwawa Tower
• Tour Ishini Gem Museum & Mine
• Watch wood carving demonstrations in Kandy
• Visit Gadaladeniya Temple
• Tour Mackwoods Tea Factory in Nuwara Eliya
• Breakfast at hotel

Day 3: Nuwara Eliya and Train to Ella

• Visit Hakgala Botanical Garden
• Relax at Gregory Lake
• Take scenic train from Nanu Oya to Ella
• Breakfast at hotel

Day 4: Ella Highlights and Transfer to Mirissa

• Hike Little Adam’s Peak
• Visit Nine Arch Bridge
• See Kithal Ella Waterfall
• Visit Ravana Ella Waterfall
• Breakfast at hotel

Day 5: Snorkeling and Coastal Views in Mirissa

• Snorkel with sea turtles in Mirissa
• Visit Coconut Tree Hill viewpoint
• Explore Parrot Rock island
• Breakfast at hotel

Day 6: Sinharaja Forest and Galle Tour

• Guided walk in Sinharaja Rainforest
• Visit Galle Dutch Fort
• Enjoy Madu River Safari
• Visit Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project
• Breakfast at hotel

Day 7: Colombo City Tour and Departure

• Visit Lotus Tower in Colombo
• Explore Gangaramaya Temple
• Shop at Pettah Market
• Breakfast at hotel

The experience

Sigiriya Rock Fortress opens the tour: a 5th-century UNESCO site built atop a massive rock, with ancient frescoes, a mirror wall, and gardens that reward the climb with panoramic views. From there you move to Dambulla Cave Temple, a 1st-century complex holding over 150 Buddha statues and murals inside caves, then into Minneriya National Park for a jeep safari where wild elephants gather, especially in the dry season. A stop at a spice garden shows how cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom grow in Sri Lanka's traditional Ayurveda heritage.

The second half of the week takes you uphill into the tea country. You visit Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a UNESCO site housing a tooth relic of the Buddha, then climb Ambuluwawa Tower at over 3,500 feet for views across mountains and forests. A train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella carries you through misty tea plantations and winding tracks. A slow, scenic journey that is the route itself. In Ella you hike Little Adam's Peak, cross the Nine Arch Bridge (the "Bridge in the Sky"), and see Kithal Ella Waterfall. The coast comes next: snorkeling in Mirissa where sea turtles swim in clear water, then Parrot Rock and Coconut Tree Hill for sunrise or sunset photos.

Day six moves inland to Sinharaja Rainforest, a UNESCO site entered from Lankagama with guided jungle trails, waterfalls, and rare birds. You then visit Galle Fort, a Dutch-built UNESCO fortress with cobblestone streets and colonial buildings overlooking the ocean, followed by a Madu River safari through mangroves and islands where you spot birds, monkeys, and water monitors. The final day offers a Colombo city tour if time allows: the Lotus Tower for panoramic views, Gangaramaya Temple with its Buddhist art collection, and Pettah Market's spice stalls and street food. Your driver speaks English throughout, meals and accommodation are included nightly, and you can adjust the stops before you depart.

What’s included

• Passenger insurance and vehicle.
• English-speaking chauffeur driver throughout.
• lunch each day.
• nightly accommodation in 3–4 star hotels.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00, 05:00 and 06:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 to 75 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Top Guide Sri Lanka

Is this one for you?Book this if you want one English-speaking driver guiding you through the week's history and culture across all stops, rather than coordinating separate guides at each location.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What is Sigiriya Rock Fortress and why do people climb it?

Sigiriya Rock Fortress, also called Lion Rock, is a 5th-century UNESCO World Heritage site built by King Kasyapa atop a massive rock formation. The climb takes you past ancient frescoes and a mirror wall to the summit, where panoramic views of the surrounding landscape reward the effort. The site showcases remarkable ancient engineering and artistry from over 1,500 years ago.

Does the tour include the scenic train ride to Ella?

Yes. The train journey from Nanu Oya to Ella is part of the itinerary and carries you through Sri Lanka's hill country, passing lush tea plantations, misty mountains, and charming villages. The slow climb on winding tracks across iconic bridges and tunnels is famous for its views and is a memorable part of the week.

Can I snorkel and see sea turtles in Mirissa?

Yes. Mirissa includes a snorkeling experience where you swim alongside sea turtles in their natural habitat in crystal-clear waters on Sri Lanka's south coast. The day also covers Parrot Rock, a small island just offshore with panoramic coastline views, and Coconut Tree Hill, a cliffside viewpoint lined with palms.

What happens on the final day of the tour?

The last day starts in Bentota City. If you have time, you can join a Colombo city tour visiting the Lotus Tower (Sri Lanka's tallest structure with observation deck views), Gangaramaya Temple (a blend of modern and traditional Buddhist architecture), and Pettah Market (a vibrant bazaar of spices, textiles, and street food). The tour ends with drop-off at your hotel or airport.

Is the itinerary fixed, or can I change the stops?

The tour is fully customizable. You can add or remove destinations to match your interests before the tour begins. After booking, the operator shares all details about entry fees and hotel costs so you can plan which sites to visit.

What is included in the price, and what costs extra?

Included are the vehicle, English-speaking driver, all meals (lunch daily), accommodation in 3–4 star hotels, passenger insurance, and all taxes and handling charges. Entry fees to attractions (Sigiriya, Dambulla, temples, gardens, train ticket, snorkeling, Galle Fort, and others) are separate and paid on-site. Only a deposit is required to confirm your booking. The remaining tour cost is due at the end of the week.