Sri Lanka 12-Day Private Tour: Safari & Sightseeing

Your chauffeur stays with you for all twelve days, not a guide who changes at each stop.

A 12-day private tour of Sri Lanka with dedicated chauffeur-driver, A/C transport, and 11 nights accommodation at government-approved hotels. The itinerary moves through Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and botanical gardens, the hill station of Ella with its Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adams Peak, Yala National Park safari, and the southern beaches of Mirissa and Bentota. Airport pickup is included. Lunch, entrance tickets and activities are booked separately. Children from age 5 are welcome. Infant seats and wheelchair access are available.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Sigiriya

• Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport
• Meet THE VISIT LANKA representative
• Drive to Sigiriya
• Visit Dambulla Cave Temple (time permitting)
• Dinner and overnight at Sigiriya

Day 2: Explore Anuradhapura city

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Anuradhapura
• Visit Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Jetavanarama
• Visit Kuttam Pokuna bathing pools
• Dinner and overnight at Sigiriya

Day 3: Visit Polonnaruwa ancient city

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Polonnaruwa
• Explore Polonnaruwa archaeological sites
• Lunch at local restaurant (optional)
• Dinner and overnight at Sigiriya

Day 4: Climb Sigiriya Rock and travel to Kandy

• Breakfast at hotel
• Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Visit spice garden en route to Kandy
• Drive to Kandy
• Dinner and overnight at Kandy

Day 5: Visit Kandy city and cultural show

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
• Visit Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya
• Attend traditional Sri Lankan dance show
• Dinner and overnight at Kandy

Day 6: Travel from Kandy to Ella

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Nuwara Eliya, view waterfalls and tea plantations
• Train ride to Ella (if available) or drive by car
• Dinner and overnight at Ella

Day 7: Explore Ella surroundings

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Nine Arch Bridge via jungle path or tuk tuk
• Climb Little Adams Peak
• Lunch in Ella town
• Dinner and overnight at Ella

Day 8: Travel to Tissamaharama and safari

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Tissamaharama, visit Rawana Falls
• Lunch at hotel
• Afternoon safari tour in Yala National Park
• Dinner and overnight at Tissamaharama

Day 9: Travel from Tissamaharama to Mirissa

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Mirissa beach
• Enjoy beach and water activities
• Dinner and overnight at Mirissa

Day 10: Whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa

• Early morning whale and dolphin watching tour
• Relax at Mirissa beach
• Dinner and overnight at Mirissa

Day 11: Visit Galle and travel to Bentota

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Galle city and Galle Fort
• Drive to Bentota
• Visit Turtle Conservation and Hatchery
• Boat ride on Madu River with fish massage
• Dinner and overnight at Bentota

Day 12: Departure and airport transfer

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Bandaranaike International Airport
• End of tour

The experience

The vehicle arrives at Bandaranaike International Airport to collect you, and the same certified chauffeur drives you for all twelve days. You travel in an air-conditioned car or van depending on group size, with bottled water, sanitizer and regular cleaning throughout. The operator provides no separate guide. The chauffeur is trained to share information about the sites and handle logistics, so you move at your own pace without a scheduled group.

The route follows Sri Lanka's cultural triangle and southern coast in sequence. Days one through three take you from the airport through Sigiriya Rock Fortress (a 200-metre column you can climb), the Dambulla Cave Temple if timing allows, and the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, where you walk among stupas, monasteries and pools built over two thousand years ago. Day four brings you to Kandy, stopping at a spice garden on the way. Days five and six cover Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, and a traditional Sri Lankan dance performance in the evening. The journey then climbs toward Ella, passing waterfalls and tea plantations, with an optional train ride if one is running at your arrival time.

Days seven and eight explore Ella's hill-country landmarks: the Nine Arch Bridge (a colonial-era railway viaduct), Little Adams Peak (a 1,141-metre climb taking two to three hours), and Rawana Falls on the drive south. Day nine takes you to Tissamaharama for a Yala National Park safari, where blue whales, sperm whales, dolphins and whale sharks are visible during the November-to-April season. The final three days move to Mirissa Beach for whale and dolphin watching, then to Galle Fort (a UNESCO site fortified by the Portuguese and Dutch), Bentota Beach, and a visit to a turtle conservation hatchery and Madu River boat ride before the airport transfer on day twelve.

What’s included

• Airport pickup and drop-off.
• private A/C transport in a car or van for all twelve days with the same chauffeur-driver.
• 11 nights hotel accommodation at government-approved hotels (Budget, Standard or Luxury tier at checkout).
• bottled water during travel.
• sanitizer and regular vehicle sanitization.
• specialized infant seats if needed.
• wheelchair accessibility at hotels.

Options for this experience

3 options

Bronze PackageGuide in English · 07:00Stays are in guest houses and homestays only, and every place has hot water and air conditioning but no swimming pool. Every room is fitted with all necessary amenities for guests, and room sizes depend on the group: 1 guest gets a single room, while 5 guests get 1 double room plus 1 triple room. Travel is in a luxury car, van or bus, and pickup is included.

Silver PackageGuide in English · 07:00Hotels in this option provide all necessary amenities. Room sizes vary with group size, from a single room for 1 guest up to 1 double room plus 1 triple room for 5 guests. Accommodation is in 3-star hotels, and pickup is included.

Gold packageGuide in English · 07:00Good-quality rooms with solid amenities are provided in this option. Room sizes depend on the number of guests, from a single room for 1 guest to 1 double room plus 1 triple room for 5 guests. Stays are in a mix of 3-star and 4-star hotels, and pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (5 to 13 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 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ceyva Tours Sri Lanka

Is this one for you?The same driver for twelve days means no handovers, no waiting for a guide to arrive, and someone who knows your preferences by day three. Choose this if you want the flexibility to linger at a site or move on without a fixed group schedule, and if having one familiar person handle navigation and logistics matters more to you than a specialist guide at each stop.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 13 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens on the first day when I land at the airport?

A VISIT LANKA representative meets you at the exit and drives you directly to Sigiriya. If your arrival time allows, you visit the Dambulla Cave Temple that day. Otherwise it is scheduled later in the tour.

Do I climb Sigiriya Rock myself, or is it optional?

Sigiriya Rock is included in the itinerary on day four, and you have the opportunity to climb to the top of the 200-metre fortress. The climb is part of the planned route, though your chauffeur can advise on timing and difficulty.

What is the whale watching like in Mirissa, and when is the best time to go?

The whale and dolphin watching tour runs early in the morning for three to five hours from Mirissa Beach. November to April is the best season. You may see blue whales, sperm whales, fin whales, dolphins and whale sharks. The tour is included in the itinerary on day ten, though entrance and boat fees are separate.

Can I take the train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella, or will I be driven?

If a train is running at the time you arrive at the station, you can take the train to Ella. If no train is available, your chauffeur drives you by car instead.

Are meals included in the twelve days?

Breakfast is provided at your hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included. Your chauffeur can recommend authentic Sri Lankan restaurants, and you arrange and pay for meals separately.

What kind of accommodation will I stay in?

You choose between Budget, Standard or Luxury hotel options when you book. All accommodations are government-approved and safe-certified. You stay eleven nights across the route: Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Kandy, Ella, Tissamaharama, Mirissa and Bentota.