Sri Lanka 7-day tour: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella train, Yala safari

Seven days across Sri Lanka's highlands, coasts and wildlife, with a guide who knows the stops

A 7-day guided tour of Sri Lanka starting from Colombo, visiting Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple, Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea gardens and factories, a scenic train ride from Nanuoya to Ella, Yala National Park on jeep safari, the stilt fishermen of Weligama, and Galle Fort. A live English-speaking guide leads all stops. Hotel pickup is included and children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Sigiriya visit

• Pickup from airport
• Proceed to Sigiriya
• Birdwatching at Sigiriya Sanctuary
• Dinner and overnight stay in Habarana

Day 2: Sigiriya and Kandy sightseeing

• Breakfast
• Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Visit Dambulla Cave Temple
• Optional Habarana Village tour
• Dinner and overnight stay in Kandy

Day 3: Kandy cultural tour

• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
• Visit Gem Museum
• Tour tea garden and estate
• Dinner and overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya

Day 4: Nuwara Eliya and train journey

• Visit Gregory Lake
• Nuwara Eliya city tour
• Train journey from Nanuoya to Ella
• Visit Ella area and Rawana Falls
• Proceed to Yala
• Dinner and overnight stay in Yala

Day 5: Yala safari and Galle visit

• Early morning Yala National Park jeep safari
• Visit stilt fishermen in Weligama
• Tour Galle Dutch Fort
• Dinner and overnight stay in Galle

Day 6: Galle to Colombo via attractions

• Breakfast
• Visit Tsunami Museum en route to Colombo
• Visit Turtle Hatchery
• Dinner and overnight stay in Colombo

Day 7: Colombo city tour and departure

• Visit Gangaramaya Temple
• Tour Fort and Pettah areas
• Visit Independence Square
• Relax at Galle Face Green
• Transfer to airport

The experience

The tour opens with airport pickup and a drive to Sigiriya, where you spend the first morning watching birds around the sanctuary's tanks before climbing the rock fortress itself. From there you move to Dambulla Cave Temple, then settle into Kandy for the night. The next day centers on Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and a visit to a gem museum, followed by the drive to Nuwaraeliya and a stop at Gregory Lake in the tea country's heart.

Day four is the train journey: a seven-hour ride from Nanuoya station to Ella that moves through green tea plantations and mountain views, considered one of the world's most beautiful train routes. You arrive in Ella, visit Rawana Falls, and continue to Yala National Park for the night. Early the next morning a jeep safari takes you through Yala's forest, grassland and lagoons to spot leopards, elephants and crocodiles, then you drive to Galle to see the stilt fishermen of Weligama before reaching Galle Fort, a Dutch stronghold from the 17th century with centuries of layered history.

The final two days bring you back toward Colombo. On day six you visit a turtle hatchery where you can help release hatchlings into the sea, then drive to Colombo. The last day is a city tour: Gangaramaya Temple on Beira Lake, the Fort and Pettah areas, Galle Face Green overlooking the Indian Ocean, and Independence Square with its independence museum. Your guide handles timing and entry at each stop. You move through the itinerary without building the logistics yourself.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Colombo airport.
• a live English-speaking guide for all seven days.
• accommodation at each overnight stop.
• entry to Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, tea gardens and factories, Galle Fort, the turtle hatchery, and Colombo's temples and monuments.
• the train ticket from Nanuoya to Ella.
• the Yala National Park jeep safari.
• transport between all stops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

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

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Lanka Tour Host (Pvt) Ltd

Is this one for you?Book this if you're flying into Colombo without your own transport: a driver and guide stay with you for all seven days, handling airport pickups and moving you between the highlands, coasts and national park.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What's included in the 7-day tour from Colombo?

The tour includes hotel pickup from Colombo airport, a live English-speaking guide for all seven days, accommodation at each stop, entry to Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, tea gardens and factories, the train ticket from Nanuoya to Ella, the Yala National Park jeep safari, Galle Fort, and the turtle hatchery. Meals are not listed as included, so confirm what you'll arrange separately when you book.

Is the train journey from Nanuoya to Ella really seven hours long?

Yes, the train ride from Nanuoya to Ella takes seven hours and is one of the highlights of the tour. It passes through tea plantations and mountain scenery and is widely considered one of the world's most beautiful train journeys. Train observation tickets depend on the dates you travel, so availability is confirmed at booking.

What wildlife might I see on the Yala National Park jeep safari?

Yala National Park is home to leopards, elephants, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species across its forest, grassland and lagoons. The jeep safari happens early in the morning, which is when wildlife is most active. You'll also see ancient Buddhist sites within the park, including the monastery at Sithulpawwa and rock paintings in nearby caves.

How does the tour handle getting between regions without a rental car?

The guide and driver manage all transport between stops: airport pickup, drives between cities, the train journey, and the jeep safari in Yala are all arranged as part of the tour. You don't need to rent a car or arrange your own transfers. You move as a group from one region to the next.

What happens on the final day in Colombo?

The last day is a Colombo city tour visiting Gangaramaya Temple on Beira Lake, the historic Fort and Pettah areas, Galle Face Green (a waterfront promenade overlooking the Indian Ocean), and Independence Square, which houses a museum about Sri Lanka's independence. After the tour you're transferred to the airport.