The route of The Classic, extended by Polonnaruwa, an extra day in Ella and three quiet nights by the sea. Perfect for a first, thorough Sri Lanka holiday.
Itinerary
Airport pick-up, evening by the lagoon.
After landing in Colombo, your guide meets you in the arrivals hall with a sign and a cold king coconut. The drive to the Negombo lagoon takes only about twenty minutes, so you reach the hotel quickly after the long flight. The rest of the day is yours: sleep, swim in the pool or walk along the beach, where fishermen pull their outrigger boats onto the sand in the late afternoon. In the evening we meet for a welcome dinner with fresh seafood and talk through the days ahead.
Via Dambulla to Sigiriya.
After breakfast we leave the coast and drive inland through coconut groves and rice paddies. On the way we stop at the Dambulla cave temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: five caves beneath an overhanging rock are filled with Buddha statues and painted ceilings, some more than two thousand years old. From the top of the rock there is a wide view across the forest to Sigiriya. We reach the hotel near Sigiriya in the early afternoon – time for the pool before the monkeys start chattering in the trees at dusk.
An early climb, afternoon free.
Before sunrise we drive to the Lion Rock. Among the first at the gate, we climb in the cool morning air through the water gardens, past the cloud maidens and the lion paws to the summit, with the forest stretching to the horizon. By mid-morning we are back at the hotel for a late breakfast. The afternoon is free: swim, rest in the shade, or take a short bicycle ride through the nearby villages with your guide.
The royal city and elephants in Minneriya.
Today we explore Polonnaruwa, the medieval royal capital, by bicycle – the ruins are spread over a flat area and are perfect for cycling at an easy pace. Highlights include the royal palace, the circular Vatadage and the Gal Vihara, four Buddha figures carved from a single granite rock. After lunch in a village restaurant, we set out in jeeps for an elephant safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla, returning to the hotel at dusk.
Spice garden, Temple of the Tooth in the evening.
Leaving the dry zone behind, the road climbs gently into the hills. On the way we stop at a spice garden to see how cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and nutmeg grow and how they are used in Ayurvedic medicine. In the afternoon we reach Kandy, the last royal capital, set around a lake. In the early evening we visit the Temple of the Tooth for the puja ceremony, when drummers play and pilgrims bring offerings of lotus flowers to the sacred relic.
Botanic gardens, afternoon free.
The morning belongs to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, just outside the city: an avenue of royal palms, a fragrant orchid house, giant bamboo and the enormous Javan fig tree. Back in Kandy, the afternoon is at leisure – walk around the lake, browse the market, take a tuk-tuk up to the viewpoint above the city, or simply relax at the hotel. In the evening you can watch a performance of traditional Kandyan dance and drumming.
Tea factory and tasting.
Today the road winds up into the heart of the tea country, past waterfalls and endless green terraces. We stop at a tea factory to follow the leaf from plucking to withering, rolling and drying – and, of course, to taste the result. In the afternoon we arrive in Nuwara Eliya, at almost 1,900 metres, with its colonial-era houses, rose gardens and cool mountain air. Evenings here can be chilly: a fire in the hotel lounge is part of the experience.
Reserved seats on the most beautiful line.
Today is one of the highlights: the train journey through the hill country. From Nanu Oya the line winds through tea estates, pine forests and small stations, climbing past Pattipola, the highest point of the railway, before descending towards Ella. We have reserved seats for the whole group, and your luggage travels separately by car. In the late afternoon, after arriving in Ella, those who wish can walk up Little Adam’s Peak for sunset over the valley.
Little Adam’s Peak and Nine Arches Bridge.
A whole day in Ella, the most relaxed place in the hill country. In the morning we walk through tea gardens to the Nine Arches Bridge, a stone viaduct from the colonial era, and wait for the blue train to cross the arches. Afterwards there is time for a café in town or a short trip to Ravana Falls. In the late afternoon we visit a family on the hillside who cook with you: you grate coconut, mix spices and prepare several curries, which we then eat together. We end the day with sunset over the Ella Gap.
Afternoon jeep safari.
Today we descend from the mountains to the dry lowlands of the south. The landscape changes quickly: tea estates give way to rice fields, lakes and finally scrubland. In the early afternoon we check in at the lodge on the edge of Yala National Park. Then we climb into an open jeep and head into the park with an experienced naturalist. Yala has one of the highest leopard densities in the world; elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, water buffalo and countless birds live here too. Our drivers keep their distance and never crowd the animals – which makes every encounter calmer.
Arrival by the sea.
After the adventure in the national park, the sea is waiting. We drive along the coast to Tangalle, one of the quietest beach towns in Sri Lanka. Instead of large resorts there are wide, almost empty bays lined with coconut palms and small houses with character. The afternoon is free for swimming, reading or walking. If you like, visit the rock temple of Mulkirigala with your guide, or the Rekawa lagoon, where sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs. In the evening all you hear is the sound of the waves and the chirping of crickets.
Free.
A whole day by the sea without a programme. Enjoy a slow breakfast, lie in the shade of the palms or swim in the quiet bays. If you want to be active, go snorkelling, take a kayak trip into the mangroves, or ride a tuk-tuk into town and watch the day’s catch being sold at the fish market. Your guide is reachable by phone and happy to help organise anything. In the evening we recommend dinner right on the beach, with grilled fish and a view of the sunset.
Stilt fishermen, sunset on the ramparts.
Along the south coast we drive west towards Galle, passing sandy bays and, near Koggala, the famous stilt fishermen. In the afternoon we explore Galle Fort on foot: the ramparts built by the Dutch, the white lighthouse, old churches and narrow lanes full of colonial houses, cafés and small shops. At sunset we walk the walls to Flag Rock and watch the sun sink into the Indian Ocean.
Transfer to the airport.
Depending on your flight time, there may be a last walk on the beach or through the fort. Your transfer to Colombo airport takes about two hours on the expressway from the south coast. If you would like more time by the sea, we can easily extend your holiday with 3, 5 or 7 nights on the beach.
Why choose The Grand Tour
Two weeks is the ideal length for a first Sri Lanka holiday, and The Grand Tour uses it well: the Cultural Triangle including Polonnaruwa, two nights in Kandy, the tea country, two nights in Ella, a Yala safari and three nights by the sea in Tangalle before finishing in Galle.
It works beautifully as a honeymoon or a family holiday, and in summer we can swap the south coast for the east coast so you always have the dry side of the island.
Customising The Grand Tour
Swap the south coast for the east coast in summer, add a night in a tea planter’s bungalow, replace Yala with Udawalawe for guaranteed elephants, or extend the beach stay. Every change is priced transparently in your proposal.
Hotels on this route
Included
Not included
Questions about The Grand Tour
November to April. In summer we swap the south coast for the east coast.
An average level of fitness is enough. Sigiriya has around 1,200 steps, taken slowly in the cool of the morning; everything else is short walks.
Yes – add days, swap hotels or skip stops. Your proposal is built around your wishes.
No. Prices are from and to Colombo airport; we will suggest suitable flights from the UK or US.
