7-Day Sri Lanka Sightseeing Tour: Private Car, Guide & All Hotels

Sigiriya, tea plantations, leopards and beaches in one arc

A 7-day private tour of Sri Lanka with driver-guide, air-conditioned vehicle, accommodations at 3-star hotels (upgradeable to 4-star, 5-star or boutique), meals, and a live English-speaking guide. The itinerary moves from Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple through the tea estates and train ride near Ella, into Yala National Park for a jeep safari, then down to Galle Fort and Bentota's beaches before ending in Colombo. Entrance fees to attractions vary by site (starting from USD 5) and are not included; international airfares and travel insurance are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — UNESCO world heritage -Dambulla

• Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Explore Dambulla Cave Temples
• Optional visit to Pinnawala
• Overnight stay at hotel
• Dinner at hotel

Day 2 — Kandy City Tour

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Dambulla Cave Temple en route
• Tour Kandy city including Temple of the Tooth
• Visit Spice Garden and Gem Museum
• Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
• Enjoy cultural dance performance
• Overnight stay at hotel

Day 3 — Tea Plantation - Nuwara Eliya

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Ramboda Waterfall
• Explore tea plantations and learn tea-making
• Tour Nuwara Eliya city and parks
• Overnight stay at hotel

Day 4 — World famous Train Ride - Ella

• Breakfast at hotel
• Travel to Ella by train or car
• Enjoy scenic train ride
• Visit Nine Arch Bridge
• Walk Ella Rock
• Explore Ella village
• Overnight stay at hotel

Day 5 — Jeep Safari - Yala National Park

• Breakfast at hotel
• Jungle safari in Yala National Park
• Visit Elephant Transit
• Visit Galle Fort
• Visit Bentota town
• Overnight stay at hotel
• Dinner at hotel

Day 6 — Beach Vacation - Bentota

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit turtle hatchery
• Boat ride through Madu river mangroves
• Enjoy water sports activities
• Watch sunset at beach
• Overnight stay at hotel
• Dinner at hotel

Day 7 — Colombo - Departure

• Breakfast at hotel
• Travel to Colombo
• City tour including Gangarama Temple
• Visit shopping malls
• Optional visit to pubs and nightclubs
• Proceed to Katunayaka International Airport

The Experience

Sigiriya Rock Fortress opens the tour—a UNESCO site built by King Kashyapa with 150-plus Buddha statues inside the Dambulla Cave Temple complex nearby. From there the route climbs into the central highlands, passing Ramboda Falls (a three-tiered cascade over 100 meters) on the way to Nuwara Eliya, where you walk through tea plantations and taste Ceylon tea at altitude. The famous train ride from Nanuyo to Ella carries you past misty mountains, waterfalls and villages; you walk the Nine Arch Bridge and climb Ella Rock in the same afternoon.

Yala National Park comes next—a jeep safari where leopards, elephants, spotted deer and peacocks move through dense jungle and coastal lagoons. The Elephant Transit lets you watch the animals up close. After that intensity, Galle Fort's cobblestone streets and ramparts facing the Indian Ocean offer colonial history and sunset walks, then Bentota Beach for water sports, river safaris through mangroves and a turtle hatchery. The final day loops through Colombo's temples and colonial buildings before the airport run.

Your driver-guide speaks English throughout, the air-conditioned car waits each morning, and overnight stays are at 3-star hotels with the option to upgrade. Meals, government taxes, 24-hour emergency support and a water bottle each day are included. Accommodations follow the itinerary's sequence—one night in the Dambulla area, then Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala, Bentota and Colombo. Children from age 1 travel with you; the tour is wheelchair accessible with accessible vehicles and surfaces throughout.

What’s included

• All seven nights in 3-star hotels (with the option to upgrade to 4-star, 5-star or boutique properties).
• air-conditioned private car and driver-guide for the full itinerary.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
• 500 ml water bottle per person daily.
• government taxes and 24-hour emergency support.
• pickup included.
• children welcome from age 1.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats available

Operated by Dizha LK Travel - Sri Lanka

Is this one for you?Seven days is long enough to move through four distinct regions—the ancient heartland, the tea country, the wildlife zone and the coast—without rushing any of them, but short enough to fit a single trip. If you want to see leopards and beaches in the same week without building the logistics yourself, the fixed itinerary and included transport make that possible.

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Top questions

What is Sigiriya Rock Fortress and why is it the first stop?

Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage site built by King Kashyapa in ancient Sri Lanka, a dramatic fortress rising from the landscape. It opens the tour because it is one of the country's most memorable single attractions and sets the tone for the archaeological and cultural sites that follow.

Do I ride the famous Sri Lanka train on this tour?

Yes. On day four, you take the world-famous train from Nanuyo to Ella, passing through misty mountains, waterfalls and lush forests. You also walk the Nine Arch Bridge and climb Ella Rock the same day.

What wildlife will I see on the Yala National Park jeep safari?

Yala is known for a high density of leopards, elephants, spotted deer, waterfowl and peacocks. The safari includes a stop at the Elephant Transit, where you can watch the animals from close range inside the jeep.

Are entrance fees to attractions included in the tour price?

Entrance fees are not included and vary by site, starting from USD 5. Your guide will let you know the cost at each stop so you can decide which attractions to enter.

Can I upgrade my hotel accommodations?

Yes. The tour includes 3-star hotels, but you can choose 4-star, 5-star or boutique hotels instead at checkout, depending on your preference and budget.

Is a guide included, and what language do they speak?

A live English-speaking driver-guide is included for all seven days. They drive the air-conditioned car, navigate the route and provide context at each stop.