Highlights
- Tour the beautiful and sacred city of Kandy, the gateway to Sri Lanka's highlands
- Trek the forest trails of the Udawattakele Royal Forest Sanctuary in Kandy
- Ride the world-famous train to Nuwara Eliya for colorful flowers and flavorful teas
- Hike to "World's End" in the UNESCO-listed Horton Plains National Park
- Explore the colonial-era Dutch Fort in the historic coastal city of Galle
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Colombo, Explore Colombo | Colombo |
| Day 2 | Scenic Train to Kandy, Tour the Sacred City of Kandy | Kandy |
| Day 3 | Climb the Fairy-Tale Tower of Ambuluwawa, Udawattakele Sanctuary Trek | Kandy |
| Day 4 | Scenic Train to Nanuoya, Transfer to Nuwara Eliya, Explore | Nuwara Eliya |
| Day 5 | Visit Horton Plains National Park, Tea Plantation & Factory Tour | Nuwara Eliya |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Yala National Park via Elephant Sanctuary, Afternoon Safari | Yala National Park |
| Day 7 | Morning Safari in Yala National Park | Yala National Park |
| Day 8 | Transfer to Galle, Guided Tour of Galle & the Japanese Peace Pagoda | Galle |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Colombo, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Colombo, Explore Colombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka, a small island nation off the southern tip of India known as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean." Upon arrival in the capital of Colombo, a driver will take you to your hotel in the city. Settle in, then head out to explore. Don't miss the highlights like Independence Square, the famous Red Mosque, Colombo Fort, and the Old Parliament. For some quiet amid the hustle and bustle, head to the oceanfront Galle Face Green, a favorite hangout spot for locals and tourists alike.
Visit the National Museum and Zoological Gardens or walk through the city's commercial center, where grand colonial-era buildings stand alongside modern hotels and office structures. Explore the vibrant markets and bazaars in Pettah, then dine on Sri Lankan specialties at a local restaurant before relaxing at your hotel.
Day 2: Scenic Train to Kandy, Tour the Sacred City of Kandy
This morning, head to Sri Lanka's depot to catch a scenic, four-hour train journey through the central highlands to the city of Kandy, the gateway to Sri Lanka's gorgeous Hill Country. The area is surrounded by mountains, and rolling hills blanketed with Sri Lanka's famous green tea fields. There's much history in town, like the Sacred City of Kandy, an ancient Buddhist site that was the last capital of the Sinhala Kingdom (543 BCE-1815 CE).
After settling into your hotel, hit the ground running on a guided city tour, starting at the Royal Palace. Admire the distinctive Kandyan architecture, with intricately carved wooden paths, elegant tiled floors, and expansive verandas overlooking the serene Lake Kandy. Nearby is the Dalada Maligwa (Temple of the Tooth), a popular pilgrimage site that purportedly contains the left canine tooth of Lord Buddha. Then, walk through the city's lively streets to get to the Canbuy Gem Museum, home to a vast collection of gemstones, including sapphires, rubies, and topaz.
You'll visit local batik factories to learn about the ancient art of dying traditional motifs and contemporary designs on cloth. End the tour at Bahirawakanda, home to one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, which is 88 feet (26 m) tall. From the temple's hilltop location, you can also take in panoramic views of the surrounding hills and cityscape below. If you're not too tired, opt for a cultural show in the evening featuring traditional dances, energetic, acrobatic performances, and stunts like plate-spinning and a dramatic fire walk.
Day 3: Climb the Fairy-Tale Tower of Ambuluwawa, Udawattakele Sanctuary Trek
You'll need a hearty breakfast this morning to fuel you up, as today is the day you'll climb toward the clouds with a visit to fairy-tale Ambuluwawa, a mountaintop tower in the ancient town of Gampola. A 25-minute tuk-tuk ride will whisk you through the beautiful, biodiverse landscapes of evergreen forests and flowering creeper vines to reach this whimsical landmark, which sits at 3,567 feet (1,087 m) above sea level. If you can brave the dizzying heights, a 157-foot (48 m) ascent up a narrow spiral staircase takes you to the top of the tower for sweeping countryside views.
In the afternoon, return to Kandy to trek through the Udawattakele Royal Forest Sanctuary, a forest reserve on a hill ridge in the middle of the city with an old royal bathing pool at the entrance. Wander the peaceful trails scattered throughout the 257 acres (104 ha), watching for rare species of plants, birds, and animals. Visit the tranquil Water Pond, explore the Senkanda Cave, and, if you have the energy, take in the views from the highest point, Kodimale.
Day 4: Scenic Train to Nanuoya, Transfer to Nuwara Eliya, Explore
One of the most popular ways to explore Sri Lanka's gorgeous tea country is by train, so today, you set off on a three-hour journey to the charming village of Nanuoya. The famously scenic route meanders through lush mountains and narrow tunnels, with sweeping views across manicured tea plantations, steep valleys, and dramatic waterfalls, crossing charming wooden bridges and passing quaint, colonial-era stations. The train's large windows offer unobstructed views of the landscape, allowing you to fully appreciate the lush tea plantations and mist-covered green hills.
Try to spot the tea pickers hard at work in their colorful saris before disembarking and transferring 20 minutes to Nuwara Eliya. With a climate unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka, its misty altitudes and cooler temperatures make it a haven for growing colorful flowers and exquisitely flavored teas. Colonized by the British and often referred to as "Little England," it retains a distinctly old-world atmosphere.
Spend an afternoon discovering the town's gardens, temples, museums, and tea plantations. Stroll past quaint villages, manicured lawns, and a serene lake, where you can rent paddleboards or Jet Skis. Head to Victoria Park to admire the well-maintained gardens, colorful flowerbeds, and tranquil ponds. When darkness falls, visit a local restaurant to try classic Sri Lankan dishes like kottu roti (chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, eggs, and your choice of meat or seafood), before settling in for a peaceful evening in the Hill Country.
Day 5: Visit Horton Plains National Park, Tea Plantation & Factory Tour
Today starts bright and early, with a packed breakfast and a before-dawn transfer to Horton Plains National Park. Located at the heart of the isle, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is renowned for its sweeping green plains and wet montane evergreen forests. Altitudes above 7,000 feet (2,133 m) and a cool, wet climate create a biodiverse ecosystem that shelters flora and fauna varieties found nowhere else on Earth.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
See its many wonders up close with a 6-mile (9.5 km) hike to the aptly-named World's End, a towering escarpment that falls dramatically to the lowlands and offers sweeping views all the way to the distant southern coastline. Keep an eye out for the park's rare and diverse birdlife, as well as sambar deer, wild boar, otters, and maybe even a glimpse of the rare Sri Lankan leopard.
Afterward, head back to Nuwara Eliya for a fascinating look at Sri Lanka's most famous export with a tour of one of the region's best tea estates. Help the workers pick tea leaves in the rolling fields, then visit the factory to learn about the process of fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving, and grading. There are machines for almost every part of the process except the all-important tea tasting at the end—where you'll discover how to taste the difference between varieties and qualities of world-class Ceylon tea.
Day 6: Transfer to Yala National Park via Elephant Sanctuary, Afternoon Safari
Say goodbye to Nuwara Eliya as you continue your journey south on a 3.5-hour transfer to Yala National Park, the second-largest national park in Sri Lanka. On the way, stop at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, a wildlife sanctuary for orphaned elephant calves. Founded to rescue baby elephants orphaned by elephant-human conflicts, the transit home provides food and medical care until the calves are ready to be released into the wild. Watch as the playful babies are bottle-fed and cared for, and learn about the work that goes into protecting these remarkable animals.
After lunch, you'll travel west to another natural haven, Yala National Park. Check into your jungle lodge, then join a guide for an afternoon Jeep safari through the park. Leopards are the main attraction here, but the park is also home to large herds of elephants as well as spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, wild buffalo, sloth bears, jackals, and mongoose. The bird-watching is also fantastic, as the park features rare and colorful resident species like rosy starlings, paradise flycatchers, crested hawk eagles, blue-tailed bee-eaters, and common loris.
Day 7: Morning Safari in Yala National Park
Rise early this morning to continue your search for the elusive Sri Lankan leopard in the wilds of Yala National Park. Covering almost 621 square miles (1,608 sq km), the second-largest national park in Sri Lanka was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 CE, and its savanna-like landscape of dry thorn scrub and forest glades makes it the perfect environment for wildlife spotting. On today's Jeep safari, you'll seek out a diverse array of flora and fauna, from peacocks to elephants, and if you're lucky, catch a glimpse of Sri Lanka's biggest cats.
Day 8: Transfer to Galle, Guided Tour of Galle & the Japanese Peace Pagoda
Leave the central highlands behind this morning as you transfer two hours to Galle, a historic city on the southwestern coast. The ancient port city is famous for Unawatuna Bay, which is protected by an offshore reef, and the Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Portuguese in 1587 CE and reinforced by the Dutch. Check into your hotel, then join a tour along the fort's well-preserved coral and limestone walls that encircle the city. After, step through the main gate to discover the blend of colonial-era architecture and narrow cobblestone streets.
Wander past a vibrant mix of shops, cafés, and cultural sites like All Saints' Church, the Old Dutch Hospital, and the picturesque Galle Lighthouse. Then, climb up to the fort's walls to walk along the ramparts and enjoy panoramic views of the ocean on one side and the city on the other. Along the eastern and southern sides of the fort, you'll find well-preserved watchtowers and cannons.
Day 9: Transfer to Colombo, Depart
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