Sri Lanka 11-day tour: Ancient sites, wildlife, beaches
One loop through Sri Lanka's ancient kingdoms, wildlife parks and southern coast
An 11-day guided tour of Sri Lanka departing from Colombo with a private vehicle, driver-guide and 10 nights of accommodation at your chosen hotel level. The itinerary moves through the island's UNESCO heritage sites (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya), then descends through Kandy and the central highlands to Yala National Park for safari, Mirissa for whale and dolphin watching, and finishes at the fortified old town of Galle. Lunch, bottled water, coffee and tea are included throughout.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Anuradhapura
- Pick up from Bandaranaike Airport
- Drive to Anuradhapura
- Check in hotel in Anuradhapura
Day 2: Anuradhapura city tour
- Visit Ruwanwelisaya
- Visit Thuparamaya
- Visit Lovamahapaya
- Visit Minitale mountain peak
Day 3: Polonnaruwa sightseeing and safari
- Travel to Polonnaruwa after breakfast
- Visit Polonnaruwa Archaeological site
- Enjoy jeep safari in evening
- Travel to Sigiriya and check in hotel
Day 4: Sigiriya rock and rural experience
- Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Take Bullock cart ride
- Have Ayurvedic massage
- Overnight stay in Sigiriya hotel
Day 5: Dambulla, Matale and Kandy
- Visit Dambulla cave temple
- Visit Muthmariamman Hindu Temple
- Visit Spice Garden
- Travel to Kandy and check in hotel
Day 6: Kandy city and cultural tour
- Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
- Visit Gem Museum
- Visit Kandy View Point and Lake
- Shopping excursion in Kandy
Day 7: Travel to Ella via Nuwara Eliya
- Travel to Nuwara Eliya
- Train journey from Nanu Oya to Ella
- Check in hotel in Ella
Day 8: Safari at Yala National Park
- Travel to Tissamaharama near Yala
- Enjoy safari in Yala National Park
- Overnight stay in Tissamaharama hotel
Day 9: Relax and whale watching in Mirissa
- Travel to Mirissa
- Relax on the beach
- Whale and dolphin watching tour
- Overnight stay in Mirissa hotel
Day 10: Whale watching in Mirissa
- Whale and dolphin watching tour
- Relax in Mirissa
Day 11: Galle visit and departure
- Visit Galle Old Town
- Visit Meethiyagoda Moonstone Factory
- Transfer to Bandaranaike Airport or chosen drop-off
What’s included
- Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver-guide and free Wi-Fi.
- 10 nights accommodation at your choice of hotel level.
- lunch daily.
- bottled water, coffee and tea.
- Ayurvedic massage and bullock cart ride in Sigiriya.
- jeep safari at Yala National Park.
- whale and dolphin watching tour in Mirissa.
- passenger insurance cover and local vehicle insurance.
- English-speaking tour guide.
- airport and port pickup and drop-off.
- Every day 07:00
Information
Eleven-day guided tour of Sri Lanka starting in Colombo, visiting UNESCO sites in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, climbing Sigiriya Rock.
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The experience
You arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport and are picked up for the drive to Anuradhapura, where you spend your first two nights. The next day is devoted to the ancient capital itself: Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya and the sacred Bo tree, then an evening visit to Minitale, the mountain peak where Buddhism is believed to have arrived in Sri Lanka. From there you travel to Polonnaruwa, the second ancient kingdom, to walk the archaeological sites (Vatadage, Nissanka Lata, Mandapaya), and take a jeep safari before heading to Sigiriya for the night.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress dominates the next morning: you climb the 600-foot black rock to the Sky Palace at its summit, then descend for a bullock cart ride through rural villages and an Ayurvedic massage. The route then turns west toward Kandy, stopping at the Dambulla cave temple complex (153 Buddha statues across five caves) and a spice garden. In Kandy you visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens (60 hectares with over 4,000 plant species) and walk around Kandy Lake. From Nanu Oya you board one of the world's most scenic train journeys to Ella, a village in the central highlands where you spend the night.
The route then heads south to Tissamaharama for a safari at Yala National Park, the second largest in Sri Lanka and home to leopards, elephants and aquatic birds across nearly 130,000 hectares. Two nights follow in Mirissa on the coast, where whale and dolphin watching tours depart around 7 am and run 3.5 to 4 hours. The warm waters support blue whales, sperm whales, fin whales and several dolphin species, with the best season from November to April. Your final stop is Galle, where you tour the old town and its 17th-century Dutch fortifications (a UNESCO site and the largest remaining European fortress in Asia) before transfer to the airport or your chosen drop-off point.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 15 years); Child (5 to 13 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.
What is Sigiriya Rock and why is it worth climbing?
Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a 600-foot black rock built over 1,600 years ago as an ancient palace, now one of the most exquisite examples of Sri Lankan art and architecture. The climb is strenuous but leads to the Sky Palace at the summit, and the site was abandoned for nearly 1,500 years before being rediscovered.
When is the best time to see whales and dolphins in Mirissa?
Whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa runs from November through April, when the warm, calm waters attract blue whales, sperm whales, fin whales, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Tours typically depart around 7 am and last 3.5 to 4 hours.
What are the main sites you visit in Anuradhapura?
Anuradhapura, one of Sri Lanka's ancient capitals and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is visited for its well-preserved ruins including Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, and the sacred Bo tree: an offspring of the tree where Buddha found enlightenment. You also visit Minitale, a nearby mountain peak believed to be where Buddhism first arrived in Sri Lanka.
Does the tour include entry fees to national parks and temples?
Entry admission and national park fees are not included in the tour price and are paid separately. All other meals, transport, accommodation, guide services and most inclusions are covered.
Can you choose your hotel level for the 10 nights?
Yes, you select your accommodation level at checkout: Budget Hotel, Standard Hotel, or 5-star Luxury Hotel. The price varies depending on which option you choose, and the same level applies throughout the 10 nights.
Is the train journey from Nanu Oya to Ella included?
Yes, the scenic train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella is part of the tour itinerary and is included in the price. This route is considered one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.
Operated by Lanka Safe Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 14 days ago
Sri Lanka 11-day tour: Ancient sites, wildlife, beaches
11d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 1,666.67 per person
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