7-Day Sri Lanka Tour: Sigiriya, Kandy, Yala & Beaches

Ancient rock fortresses, tea plantations, leopard safaris and beach rest in one week

A 7-day guided tour of Sri Lanka that moves through the island's main landmarks: Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Pidurangala hike, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth and Royal Botanical Gardens, Nuwara Eliya's tea country, a jeep safari at Yala National Park for leopards and elephants, and two days on the southern beaches at Bentota. Your guide speaks English, German or Russian. A private air-conditioned vehicle picks you up at the airport and handles all transport, permits and paperwork throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Sigiriya and surroundings

• Welcome at the airport
• Transfer to Sigiriya
• Visit Dambulla Cave Temple
• Hike Pidurangala Rock
• Visit Royal Gardens
• Walk in local village

Day 2: Discover Kandy's culture and nature

• Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Kandy city tour
• Visit Temple of the Tooth Relic
• Stroll Royal Botanical Gardens
• Watch Kandyan dance performance

Day 3: Experience Nuwara Eliya's charm

• Visit Royal Botanic Garden
• Tea plucking experience
• Visit tea factory
• Horse ride in greenery

Day 4: Wildlife safari at Yala National Park

• Visit Ella
• Jeep safari at Yala National Park

Day 5: Relax and explore Bentota beaches

• Explore Galle Royal Dutch Fort
• Relax on the beach

Day 6: Boat safari and turtle visit in Bentota

• Boat safari at Madu River
• Optional visit to turtle conservation center

Day 7: Departure from Sri Lanka

• Drive to airport after breakfast

The experience

The itinerary starts at Sigiriya, where you hike Pidurangala Rock for views of the ancient fortress, visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, and walk through local villages. Day two moves to Kandy, the cultural center: the Royal Botanical Gardens, a traditional Kandyan dance performance, and the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Nuwara Eliya follows on day three: a hill station with tea plantations where you pluck tea leaves and tour a factory, a sharp contrast to the lowland heat you left behind.

Day four takes you to Yala National Park for a jeep safari hunting leopards, elephants and other wildlife across the sanctuary's landscape. The final two days settle into Bentota's beaches: you explore the Galle Fort, take a boat ride on the Madu River, and can visit a turtle conservation center. Accommodations are in family-run hotels throughout. The tour wraps with a drive back to the airport after breakfast on day seven.

Transportation, vehicle insurance, all permits, bottled water and a first aid kit are included. Food, entrance fees to sites, and tips for the guide are separate. The guide can arrange meals and parking if you ask in advance.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver and guide for all seven days.
• airport pickup and drop-off.
• all transportation between sites.
• vehicle insurance.
• permits and paperwork for national parks and protected sites.
• bottled water throughout the trip.
• first aid medical kit.
• accommodations in family-run hotels each night.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, German and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by D & S Travels

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, German or Russian, so choose the language that matches your comfort: the commentary and logistics flow in whichever one you book. The seven-day pace gives you time at each stop without rushing: a full day for Sigiriya and villages, a day in Kandy's gardens and temples, a day in the tea hills, a safari day, and two beach days, which is what separates this from the faster 5-day versions of the same route.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, German and Russian.

What is Sigiriya Rock and why do we hike Pidurangala instead of climbing it directly?

Sigiriya Rock is an ancient fortress built on a massive rock outcrop in central Sri Lanka, dating back over 1,500 years. The itinerary takes you up Pidurangala Rock nearby, which offers a full view of Sigiriya's architecture and landscape without the separate entrance fee and climb to the fortress itself. You visit the fortress site on day two from Kandy instead.

Will I see leopards and elephants on the Yala safari, or is that not guaranteed?

Yala National Park is home to leopards, elephants and many other wildlife species, and the jeep safari is built around finding them. Sightings depend on the season, time of day and animal movement, so they are not guaranteed, but Yala is one of Sri Lanka's best wildlife reserves for both species.

How much time do we spend on the beach at Bentota, and what is there to do besides swim?

You have two full days at Bentota. Beyond swimming and relaxing on the beach, the itinerary includes a visit to Galle Fort (a historic Dutch colonial fortress), a boat safari on the Madu River, and an optional visit to a turtle conservation center where sea turtles nest along the coast.

Is the guide the same person for all seven days, or does it change?

The tour includes a dedicated guide and driver throughout the seven days in a private vehicle. Your guide speaks English, German or Russian and handles all commentary, logistics and local knowledge for the full journey.

What is the tea plucking experience like, and do we learn how tea is processed?

On day three in Nuwara Eliya, you pluck tea leaves yourself in the plantations and then visit a tea factory to see how the leaves are processed, dried and prepared for sale. It is a hands-on introduction to Sri Lanka's tea industry in the hill country.