7-day Sri Lanka tour from Negombo: Sigiriya, Kandy, Bentota

A week moving between rock fortresses, temple towns, and coastal villages without arranging the logistics yourself

A 7-day private tour of Sri Lanka starting and ending in Negombo, covering Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, Galle Fort, and the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project. The package includes accommodations, private transport with an English-speaking driver, and all taxes and insurance. You purchase admission tickets at each site. The itinerary is customizable.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Negombo Beach

• Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport
• Relax at Negombo Beach
• Stay overnight at star class hotel

Day 2: Negombo to Sigiriya Exploration

• Travel from Negombo to Sigiriya
• Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Enjoy traditional bullock cart ride in Habarana
• Experience authentic Sri Lankan lunch and tea
• Stay overnight at star class hotel

Day 3: Wildlife and Rock Climbing

• Visit Minneriya National Park
• Climb Pidurangala Rock
• Stay overnight at star class hotel

Day 4: Sigiriya to Kandy via Dambulla

• Visit spice garden near Dambulla
• Explore Dambulla Golden Temple
• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy
• Watch Kandy cultural show with fire walking
• Stay overnight at star class hotel

Day 5: Kandy to Bentota via Kitulgala

• Stroll Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
• Tour Giragama Tea Plantation
• Experience white water rafting on Kelani River
• Stay overnight at star class hotel

Day 6: Bentota and Galle Sightseeing

• Visit Galle Fort
• Take speed-boat ride on Madu River
• Visit Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project
• Stay overnight at star class hotel

Day 7: Bentota to Colombo and Departure

• Visit Independence Memorial Monument
• Visit Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall
• Visit Gangaramaya Temple
• Depart from Colombo

The experience

The route moves through Sri Lanka's interior and coast over seven days, starting from Negombo (a beach town near the airport known for fresh seafood and old churches), then inland to Sigiriya, where a 160-meter rock formation rises above the plains. King Kasyapa built his palace on top in the 5th century and decorated the sides with frescoes. The Mirror Wall still carries verses from the 8th century onward, written by visitors on subjects ranging from love to daily life. From there the tour reaches Kandy, home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a Buddhist temple in the former royal palace complex that has shaped local politics for centuries because the relic is believed to confer governance of the country.

Along the way you stop at a spice garden to see how Sri Lanka earned its reputation in ancient trade routes, visit the Dambulla Golden Temple (the largest cave temple complex on the island, spread across five caves with statues and paintings), and take a bullock cart ride through rural villages and paddy fields near Habarana, where you eat lunch cooked in traditional style. Near Bentota, white water rafting on the Kelani River covers five major rapids and four minor ones over roughly 5 kilometers. The tour also includes the Peradeniya Gardens, one of the largest in Asia with 4,000 plant species, and a tea estate where you can watch the processing from leaf to finished product.

The coastal leg takes you to Galle Fort, built first by the Portuguese in 1588 and fortified by the Dutch from the 17th century onward, and a speedboat ride down the Madu River: a 900-hectare wetland estuary with 64 islands and one of the last pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Centre, established in 1981, is one of 18 hatcheries along the southern coast and the only one where all five turtle species that visit Sri Lanka nest. The final day includes Colombo's Gangaramaya Temple and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall before returning to the airport.

What’s included

• Private transport with an English-speaking driver for all seven days.
• accommodations at star-class hotels each night.
• all taxes, fees, handling charges, local insurance and passenger insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

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 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Hellow Travel

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you prefer a dedicated driver and pre-arranged hotels so you can focus on visiting Sigiriya, Kandy, the beaches, and coastal towns at your own pace rather than coordinating logistics yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What is Sigiriya Rock Fortress and why is it on this tour?

Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a 5th-century palace built by King Kasyapa on top of a 160-meter rock formation, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rock towers above the surrounding plains, and the palace sides are decorated with frescoes similar to those in India's Ajanta caves. The Mirror Wall carries centuries of visitor inscriptions dating back to the 8th century.

Do I need to book entrance tickets in advance, or are they included?

Admission tickets are not included in the package price. You purchase them at each venue as you visit. This gives you flexibility at each site and means the operator does not need to pre-book on your behalf.

What happens on the day I arrive and depart?

Day one takes you from the airport to Negombo, a coastal town near Bandaranaike International Airport, where you stay overnight. On the final day, you travel from Bentota to Colombo to visit Gangaramaya Temple and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall before heading to the airport for departure.

Is the itinerary fixed, or can I change it?

The itinerary is customizable, so you can work with the operator to adjust the stops, timing or activities to suit your interests before you book.

Who drives the tour, and what language do they speak?

An English-speaking chauffeur driver accompanies you throughout the seven days, handling all transport between sites and hotels.

What is included in the price besides hotels and transport?

The package includes all taxes, fees and handling charges, private tour operation, local insurance and passenger insurance. Meals, entrance fees and activity costs like the white water rafting are separate.