8-Day Sri Lanka Tour from Negombo: Sigiriya, Kandy & Galle Fort

Rock fortresses, temple relics, river rafting and colonial-era forts across eight days

This 8-day tour of Sri Lanka departs from Negombo and moves through the island's cultural and natural landmarks: the 200-meter rock fortress at Sigiriya, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, tea plantations and waterfalls in Nuwara Eliya, white-water rafting on the Kelani River, Galle Fort on the southwest coast, and a speedboat ride through the Madu River wetlands. The package includes seven nights in star-class hotels, all meals, private vehicle transport with an English-speaking driver, and airport pickup and drop-off. Admission tickets are purchased at each venue.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Negombo exploration

• Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport
• Explore Negombo town and beaches
• Relax at star class hotel

Day 2: Travel to Sigiriya and village tour

• Travel from Negombo to Sigiriya
• Enjoy welcome detox juice
• Take Tuk Tuk village tour
• Ride traditional catamaran at lotus lake
• Visit paddy fields and local villages
• Tour traditional mud house
• Enjoy Sri Lankan buffet lunch
• Relax at star class hotel

Day 3: Wildlife and rock exploration

• Visit Minneriya National Park
• Climb Pidurangala rock formation
• Relax at star class hotel

Day 4: Spice garden and Kandy cultural sites

• Visit Sri Lankan spice garden
• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
• Attend Kandy cultural show with fire walking
• Relax at star class hotel

Day 5: Gardens and waterfalls in Nuwara Eliya

• Visit Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
• Travel to Nuwara Eliya
• Visit Ramboda Falls
• Visit Gregory Lake
• Relax at star class hotel

Day 6: Waterfalls and rafting adventure

• Visit St. Clair's Falls
• Visit Devon Falls
• Experience white water rafting on Kelani River
• Relax at star class hotel

Day 7: Galle and Bentota sightseeing

• Visit Galle Fort
• Explore Unawatuna area
• Take speed-boat ride on Madu River
• Learn about turtles and conservation
• Relax at star class hotel

Day 8: Colombo city tour and departure

• Visit Arcade Independence Square
• Visit Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall
• Visit Gangaramaya Temple
• Explore Colombo Fort area
• Depart from airport

The experience

The tour begins at Negombo, a coastal town near the airport known for its churches and beaches, then moves inland to Sigiriya. On the way, you'll take a 15-minute tuk-tuk ride through local villages to a red lotus lake, then travel by traditional Sri Lankan catamaran with a life jacket, passing paddy fields and local communities before reaching a mud house and enjoying a Sri Lankan buffet of fresh organic food. This section is built around meeting the people and rhythms of rural Sri Lanka rather than rushing through landmarks.

The next days center on the central highlands. You'll visit Minneriya National Park and Pidurangala rock formation near Sigiriya, then travel to Kandy to see the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and watch a Kandy cultural show that includes fire walking across hot charcoal. From Kandy, the route climbs to Nuwara Eliya (called Little England for its cooler climate and colonial architecture) passing through the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, Ramboda Falls (109 meters high), and Gregory Lake in the heart of tea country. The descent toward the coast includes a five-kilometer white-water rafting run on the Kelani River with five major rapids and four minor ones, suitable for anyone over ten years old with safety gear and instruction provided.

The final stretch moves along the southern coast. You'll explore Galle Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1588 and fortified by the Dutch from 1649 onward, then take a speedboat through the Madu River wetlands: a 900-hectare estuary with 770 hectares of water and 64 islands, protected as a Ramsar wetland site. The tour ends with a drive back to Colombo and the airport. Throughout, a private vehicle and English-speaking driver handle transport, and the itinerary includes seven nights in star-class hotels with meals, driver accommodation, and all taxes and insurance.

What’s included

• Seven nights in star-class hotels with the selected meal plan.
• private vehicle transport throughout the eight days.
• English-speaking chauffeur driver.
• airport pickup and drop-off.
• all meals as per itinerary.
• driver accommodation and meals.
• local insurance and passenger insurance.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges. Admission tickets to attractions are purchased at each venue.

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 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Hellow Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're covering multiple regions (cultural sites, tea country, and coast) in one trip and prefer a private vehicle with a dedicated driver over coordinating between group tours or public transport schedules.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What is Sigiriya and what do you actually do there on this tour?

Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress in the Matale District, a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters high with historical and archaeological significance. On this tour, you visit the site itself and also explore the surrounding area, including Pidurangala, a larger but steeper rock formation a few kilometers north that offers views of what the landscape around Sigiriya looked like before it was cleared for royal construction.

Does this tour include the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy?

Yes. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, also called Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy's royal palace complex and is included on day four. You'll also attend a Kandy cultural show that evening, which features traditional Sri Lankan dances and a fire-walking performance where artists walk barefoot across hot charcoal.

What is the white-water rafting section like and who can do it?

The rafting takes place on the Kelani River in Kitulgala and covers five kilometers with five major rapids and four minor ones. It's suitable for anyone over ten years old. The operator provides modern rafts, life jackets, and a comprehensive safety briefing from white-water rafting instructors before you start.

How much of the tour is spent on beaches and water activities?

Negombo at the start and Bentota at the end are both beach towns. In Bentota, you take a speedboat ride through the Madu River wetlands, a 900-hectare estuary with 64 islands and pristine mangrove forest, designated a Ramsar wetland site. Negombo itself offers kite surfing and other beach activities, though the main tour focus is on inland cultural and natural sites.

What meals are included and how does the food work on this tour?

Meals are included as per the itinerary (breakfast, lunch, and dinner on days when specified). One highlight is a Sri Lankan buffet of fresh organic local food served during the village tour near Sigiriya. The driver's meals and accommodation are also covered by the operator, so there are no separate arrangements to make for the person driving you.