Cultural Tours · 15 days
Two weeks to see Sri Lanka in full: the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya at sunrise, sacred Kandy, the tea hills of Nuwara Eliya and Haputale, Ella’s bridges and waterfalls, two safaris, whales off Mirissa and the colonial streets of Galle.
The 15-day, 14-night Grand Island Discovery is the complete Sri Lanka circuit — every region, every landscape, at a pace that lets each one sink in. It begins gently on the coast at Negombo before three nights in the Cultural Triangle, giving you time for both of the island’s great ruined capitals, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, as well as a sunrise climb of Sigiriya.
From Kandy the journey rises through tea country to Nuwara Eliya, then rides the scenic railway to the ridge-top town of Haputale and on to Ella, with Lipton’s Seat and the Nine Arch Bridge along the way. Two contrasting safaris follow — leopards in Yala, elephant herds in Udawalawe — before the south coast: whale watching from Mirissa, the Dutch fort at Galle, a beach night at Bentota and a final evening of shopping and city sights in Colombo.
Whale watching runs from November to April; outside the season we replace it with another experience of your choice.
Customize your itinerary according to your preferences. Choose the destinations, activities, accommodation and duration that suit you best — add a safari, swap a beach, extend your stay or upgrade your hotels, and we will re-plan the route around you. Plan your perfect Sri Lankan holiday or send us an enquiry for a free quote.
Price on request
Private · departs any day
15 places on this journey, in the order you'll see them.
Our representative welcomes you at Bandaranaike International Airport for the short transfer to Negombo. Check in, relax after your flight and enjoy dinner by the sea.
Visit the bustling Negombo fish market in the morning, then drive to Sigiriya. Spend the afternoon exploring a local village for traditional Sri Lankan experiences, and hike Pidurangala Rock for sunset views over the Lion Rock.
Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock early, while the air is cool and the light soft. Later, explore the sacred city of Anuradhapura — its colossal stupas, the Sri Maha Bodhi tree and ancient monasteries — before returning to Sigiriya for the night.
Spend the day in Polonnaruwa, the medieval royal capital, cycling or walking between the Royal Palace, the Vatadage and the great rock-cut Buddhas of Gal Vihara. Return to Sigiriya for dinner.
Visit the golden Dambulla Cave Temple on the way to Kandy, then spend the evening at a Kandyan cultural dance performance.
Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, then enjoy a walk around Kandy Lake or free time in town.
Climb Ambuluwawa Tower for a panorama of the central mountains, then visit a tea factory and walk the tea fields on the road to Nuwara Eliya. Check in and relax in the cool mountain air.
After a walk through Nuwara Eliya, board the train at Nanu Oya for a scenic ride to Haputale. Explore the ridge-top town and its sweeping mountain views before checking in.
Drive up through the Dambatenne tea estate to Lipton’s Seat, where Sir Thomas Lipton surveyed his plantations, then continue to Ella and walk to the Nine Arch Bridge. Check in and relax.
Stop at Ravana Falls and the ancient rock carvings of Buduruwagala as you descend from the hills to the dry zone. Check in near Yala National Park and relax before an early start.
Set out at dawn on a jeep safari in Yala, Sri Lanka’s best park for leopards, then drive west to Udawalawe and check in for a relaxed evening.
A morning safari in Udawalawe brings you close to its large herds of wild elephants. Afterwards, continue to the south coast and check in at Mirissa.
Head out on a whale-watching tour from Mirissa (November to April), then explore the Dutch fort at Galle and visit a turtle hatchery. Continue along the coast to Bentota for a beachside evening.
Drive up the coast to Colombo, check in and set out on a city tour — Galle Face Green, the Pettah bazaars, colonial landmarks and the best of the capital’s shopping — before a farewell dinner.
After breakfast, transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your onward flight.
Every journey is private and built around you, so the price depends on your travel dates, group size, the hotel class you choose (from comfortable 2-star to luxury 5-star) and any experiences you add. Send us an enquiry and we will reply with a detailed, no-obligation quote — usually within 24 hours.
Choose a package (or ask us to design one), and we will send a quote and a draft itinerary. Once you are happy, we confirm your hotels and ask for a deposit to secure them; the balance is due before or on arrival, as stated on your confirmation.
Yes — every package is a starting point. Add or drop destinations, swap a safari park, extend your beach days, upgrade hotels or change the overall length; we re-plan the route and travel times so the journey still flows.
Our packages include accommodation, breakfast and dinner daily, a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide, airport transfers, fuel, tolls and parking, plus the experiences listed under “What’s included” on each tour. Flights, visas, entrance tickets unless listed, lunches, drinks and tips are not included.
Cancellation terms depend on how close to travel you cancel and on the hotels booked; they are set out clearly in your quote before you pay anything. We always recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation.
Other private journeys you might like.
Five days, four unforgettable chapters: climb the Lion Rock at Sigiriya, walk into Dambulla’s golden cave temples, feel the drums of Kandy and finish on the palm-fringed south-west coast at Bentota and Galle Fort.
Sigiriya · Dambulla · Kandy · Bentota · Galle
Leopards in Yala, blue whales off Mirissa, the blue train through tea country and sunset from Pidurangala Rock — eight days that pack Sri Lanka’s wildest moments into one beautifully paced private journey.
Sigiriya · Dambulla · Kandy · Nuwara Eliya · Ella · Yala National Park · Mirissa · Galle · Colombo
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Sigiriya · Dambulla · Kandy · Nuwara Eliya · Ella · Udawalawe National Park · Mirissa · Galle · Bentota
