8-Day Sri Lanka Tour: Sigiriya, Yala, Ella & Mirissa

Eight days linking five regions: a rock fortress, tea plantations, a national park, and the southern coast

An 8-day guided tour of Sri Lanka visiting Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Yala National Park and Mirissa, with overnight stays in each region, an English-speaking chauffeur guide, breakfast daily, and air-conditioned transport throughout. The itinerary chains five distinct landscapes (ancient temples, highland tea country, wildlife reserves and coastal towns) in a single journey, starting from the airport and ending in Negombo.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Airport to Sigiriya exploration

• Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock
• Hike Pidurangala Rock
• Enjoy Ayurvedic spa massage

Day 2: Sigiriya to Kandy sightseeing

• Visit Dambulla Cave Temple
• Tour Herbal & Spice Garden
• Explore Temple of the Tooth
• Shop in Kandy markets
• Watch Kandyan Cultural Dance

Day 3: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya tour

• Visit Royal Botanical Garden
• Tour Tea Factory
• Explore gem museum
• See Nuwara Eliya Red Post Office

Day 4: Nuwara Eliya to Ella hiking

• Hike Little Adam's Peak
• Visit Nine Arches Bridge
• Walk Ella City

Day 5: Ella to Yala wildlife

• Safari in Yala National Park
• Boat ride on Tissa Lake

Day 6: Yala to Mirissa coastal visit

• Visit Parrot Rock
• Relax at Secret Beach Mirissa

Day 7: Mirissa marine and nature

• Whale watching tour
• Surf at Mirissa Beach
• Visit Coconut Tree Hills

Day 8: Mirissa to Colombo and Negombo

• Visit Sea Turtle Hatchery
• Boat ride Madu River Mangroves
• Colombo City Tour

The experience

The route moves through Sri Lanka's interior and coast over eight days, beginning with pickup from the airport and a drive to Sigiriya, where you climb the 1,200 steps of Lion Rock to see ancient frescoes and the Lion's Paw entrance, then descend to an Ayurvedic spa treatment. From there the tour heads to Kandy to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Dambulla Cave Temple (a complex of five caves holding over 150 Buddha statues) before moving into the highlands.

The highland leg takes you through Nuwara Eliya's tea factories, where you taste Ceylon tea fresh from processing, and the Royal Botanical Garden with its 4,000 plant species. In Ella, you hike Little Adam's Peak for views of the Ella Gap and walk past the Nine Arches Bridge, a brick railway viaduct framed by tea plantations. Yala National Park follows, with a wildlife reserve where elephants, leopards, crocodiles and deer move through forests and grasslands. Tissa Lake offers boat rides through the same landscape. The final stretch reaches Mirissa on the southern coast, where whale watching runs November to April, and Secret Beach sits tucked in a cove lined with coconut palms.

The last day loops back through Kosgoda's sea turtle hatchery and the Madu River mangrove boat ride before ending in Colombo and Negombo. Throughout, you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with the same English-speaking guide, stay in hotels with free Wi-Fi, receive breakfast each morning, and have access to 24-hour customer service. Water bottles are provided daily, and highway charges are covered.

What’s included

• Overnight stays in five hotels across Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala and Mirissa.
• breakfast each morning.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing.
• an English-speaking chauffeur guide.
• free Wi-Fi at every hotel.
• one water bottle per person per day.
• 24-hour customer service.
• and highway charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

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 levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Ceylon Memories Tours & Travels

Is this one for you?Choose this itinerary if you want one guide shepherding you through five distinct landscapes (highlands, temples, tea country, wildlife and coast) rather than reorienting to new guides at each stop.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What is Sigiriya Lion Rock and why do people climb it on this tour?

Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress rising from the central plains and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The climb covers 1,200 steps to the summit, where you see ancient frescoes, the famous Lion's Paw entrance carved into the rock, and panoramic views across the central plains from the top.

Does this tour include entrance fees to the temples and national park?

Entrance tickets to sites like Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave Temple, Yala National Park and other attractions are not included in the tour price and are paid separately at each location.

What wildlife might I see in Yala National Park?

Yala National Park is home to elephants, leopards, crocodiles, bears, deer and numerous bird species. The reserve spans dense forests, open grasslands and coastal areas, so wildlife viewing depends on the season and time of day you enter the park.

Is whale watching guaranteed in Mirissa, and when is the best season?

Whale watching in Mirissa runs from November to April, when blue whales and other marine life are most active in the waters off the southern coast. Tours are run by licensed operators, but sightings depend on sea conditions and wildlife presence on the day.

What is included in the daily cost, and what do I need to pay separately?

The tour includes all hotel stays with free Wi-Fi, breakfast each day, the air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, water bottles daily and highway charges. You pay separately for entrance tickets to attractions, activity tickets (like boat rides or wildlife tours), airfare and visa fees.