Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is one of the most scenic countries in the world and well worth visiting. It is known for its tropical jungles, tea gardens, elephant orphanage, beaches and many festivals.

Duration
10 days
Group size
15 people
Country
Sri Lanka

Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour Overview

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is one of the most scenic countries in the world and well worth visiting. It is known for its tropical jungles, tea gardens, elephant orphanage, beaches and many festivals.

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is one of the most scenic countries in the world and well worth visiting. It is known for its tropical jungles, tea gardens, elephant orphanage, beaches and full calendar of colourful festivals. With its many pilgrimage sites, sacred Buddhist temples, busy cities and mountainous jungle landscapes, Sri Lanka is becoming a popular destination for travellers.

Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country with many ancient Buddhist sites, including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Panduwasnuwara and Yapahuwa. These places contain the remains of a great civilisation that developed over centuries under the influence of Buddhism, which is still practised in Sri Lanka in a traditional form.

This ten-day guided tour introduces you to the culture of Sri Lanka. You spend nine nights in highly rated accommodation as you travel around the country. A buffet breakfast is served each day, and your days are spent visiting ancient sites and natural landscapes. On arrival in Colombo, an experienced English-speaking guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel. You travel around the country in an air-conditioned luxury van.

You go on a jeep safari in Yala National Park to see wildlife, visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to watch the elephants being fed and bathed, and take an elephant ride in Habarana. You see UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Dambulla Cave Temple and Galle Fort, attend a cultural show in Kandy, and see the waterfalls of Nuwara Eliya. All national park and sightseeing entrance fees are included, along with many other visits and experiences on this award-winning tour.

Ten days gives you a good introduction to the culture and nature of Sri Lanka, and many travellers find they would like to stay longer.

Join this tour to discover the island of Sri Lanka.

You can combine a Sri Lanka tour with Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan or India, and visit 2 or 3 countries on one trip. Write to us with what you would like to do and we will be happy to help.

Email us at earthbound@wlink.com.np or earthboundexpd@gmail.com.

Key highlights of the Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour

Itinerary

  1. Our representative will meet you at the airport. You can arrive in the afternoon of day 1. One of our experienced driver-guides then takes you to your hotel in Dambulla. On the way, you visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, arriving in time to see the elephants' morning feeding and bathing. You can have lunch by the river and watch them bathe. In Dambulla, you visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, which has five caves built into the rock. You then check in to your hotel in Dambulla and rest.

    Altitude
    170 m (560 ft)
    On foot
    Easy walking, 1–2 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Dambulla
    Meals
    None
  2. After breakfast, you climb the Sigiriya rock fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle. The climb takes 2 to 3 hours. You then go to Habarana for the Hiriwadunna trek and a boat ride on a lake with fine views. Return to your hotel in Dambulla to relax.

    Altitude
    170 m (560 ft)
    On foot
    3–4 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Dambulla
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. After breakfast, you check out of the hotel in Dambulla and travel to Kandy. On the way, you visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple and a spice garden in Matale, where you can see most of the spices grown in Sri Lanka. In Kandy, you visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, which holds Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic, a tooth of the Buddha. You then check in to your hotel in Kandy and have the afternoon free. In the evening, you are driven to a cultural show featuring various kinds of Sri Lankan dance. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Kandy.

    Altitude
    500 m (1,640 ft)+330 m
    On foot
    Easy walking, 2–3 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Kandy
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. After breakfast, you set off on a city tour of Kandy, which includes the botanical gardens and the Gem Museum, where you can see a variety of gemstones and a large collection of jewellery. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, are known for their wide range of plants, with large lawns, huge tropical trees and many kinds of bamboo. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Kandy.

    Altitude
    500 m (1,640 ft)
    On foot
    Easy walking, 2–3 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Kandy
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. After breakfast, your driver meets you in the hotel lobby and explains the sights of Nuwara Eliya. The drive passes tea plantations and waterfalls. On the way, you visit a tea factory to see how tea is made, and you can buy a selection of fresh tea. Later, you stop at Ramboda Falls to enjoy the views. Before checking in, you visit the Hanuman Temple, one of the holy places associated with the Ramayana. You then check in to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya for dinner and a relaxing evening.

    Altitude
    1,868 m (6,130 ft)+1,368 m
    On foot
    None, 3–4 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. After breakfast, you set off on a city tour of Nuwara Eliya. The town lies among the misty hills, with an average temperature of 10°C to 25°C. Places you can visit include Gregory Lake, Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya Golf Course, the racecourse, Lover's Leap waterfall, the Mackwoods Tea Factory Museum, St Clair's Falls and Galway's Land National Park. Return to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya for dinner and a relaxing evening.

    Altitude
    1,868 m (6,130 ft)
    On foot
    Easy walking, 2–3 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. After breakfast, we drive to Yala, which takes about 6 hours. The park is best known for its elephants and leopards. You check in to the hotel in Yala and rest. In the evening, you go on a jeep safari in Yala National Park. Animals you may see include elephants, peacocks, leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, sambar, buffalo and deer. Return to the hotel in Yala.

    Altitude
    20 m−1,848 m
    On foot
    None, 6 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Yala
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. After breakfast, you travel to your resort in Bentota, a well-known beach destination on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. Bentota is known for its beaches and water sports and is a good base for day trips along the west and south coasts. At the hotel, you can swim, bodysurf, dive, jet-ski, windsurf, parasail and water-ski, and all the equipment you need can be hired. On the way, you visit Galle Fort, an old Dutch fort and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, where you can learn about turtle conservation. The hatcheries are open from 06:00 to 18:00. If you wish, you can release a three-day-old turtle into the ocean. Check in to the hotel in Bentota and enjoy the surroundings.

    Altitude
    5 m−15 m
    On foot
    None, 4–5 hr drive
    Night in
    Resort, Bentota
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. After breakfast, we go to the Madu River, a protected wildlife sanctuary, for a relaxing boat ride. Next, you visit the moonstone mines, where you see how the stones are extracted, cut and polished ready for sale. Return to the hotel in Bentota.

    Altitude
    5 m
    On foot
    Easy walking, 1–2 hrs
    Night in
    Resort, Bentota
    Meals
    Breakfast

What's included

  • 10-day tour of Sri Lanka
  • Nine nights in highly rated hotels on a twin-share basis
  • Scheduled airport transfers
  • Daily buffet breakfast
  • All transport during the tour in an air-conditioned luxury van
  • Experienced English-speaking guide
  • All national park and sightseeing entrance fees
  • Concierge service at the airport and at all hotels
  • 2 bottles of mineral water (500 ml) per person per day
  • Jeep safari in Yala National Park to see leopards and other wildlife
  • Visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to see the elephants fed and bathed
  • Visit to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery to release a baby turtle into the ocean
  • Visit to Sigiriya National Park and Lion's Rock, the most famous historical site in Sri Lanka
  • River boat ride on the Madu River
  • Visit to the sacred Temple of the Tooth and the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Cultural show in Kandy, and the tea plantations and waterfalls of Nuwara Eliya
  • Time on the beaches of Bentota, a well-known beach destination
  • The Avukana Buddha statue, carved from stone
  • Visit to Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and entrance to the Botanical Gardens
  • Award-winning tour company with a 98% TripAdvisor rating

Not included

  • Supplements as mentioned
  • Lunch and dinner (approximately USD 220)
  • Tips and gratuities
  • International airfare
  • Personal expenses and any other costs not listed above

Reviews

Exceptional5.0 out of 5Reviews from Tripadvisor
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Showing 10 reviews from 901 on Tripadvisor

At the end of 2014, we made an incredible two week trip through Nepal.

December 2014, Tripadvisor

At the end of 2014, we made an incredible two week trip through Nepal. We booked our trip at the in Kathmandu based travel agency Earthbound Expeditions. It was not a problem to change the travel program to the way we liked it the most. Rajan, the director of Earthbound Expeditions, fully organized everything like guides, porters, transport, accommodation, etc. We spend the first couple of days in and around Kathmandu. We had a guided tour around all the landmarks of Kathmandu and we went to Nagarkot and Bakthapur. We eventually flied to Pokhara. The highlight of our trip was the 6 day trek through the Annapurna Region. The hikes were not particularly hard however, there were enough brakes at teahouses or viewpoints so that our youngest one (11 years old) could also keep up. Even when it got more difficult due to snow and ice, the enthusiastic guide Ramchandra Sapkota and the very friendly porters Padam, Kedar and … were very helpful and made sure nothing would happen to us. Ramchandra could tell us a lot about Nepal’s history, culture and nature. We spend the nights in lodges which provided us with all out basic needs like a warm welcome, a fireplace, good food, clean rooms, often even WIFI access and sometimes a hot shower. After the trek we traveled by bus to Chitwan National Park. Again the accommodation was perfectly organized. We spend 3 days with a guide in the jungle, either on foot, on an elephant, with a jeep or in a canoe. After this we flied back to Kathmandu to fly home from there.

Rita BHouten, The NetherlandsRead on Tripadvisor

At the end of 2014, we made an incredible two week trip through Nepal.

December 2014, Tripadvisor

At the end of 2014, we made an incredible two week trip through Nepal. We booked our trip at the in Kathmandu based travel agency Earthbound Expeditions. It was not a problem to change the travel program to the way we liked it the most. Rajan, the director of Earthbound Expeditions, fully organized everything like guides, porters, transport, accommodation, etc. We spend the first couple of days in and around Kathmandu. We had a guided tour around all the landmarks of Kathmandu and we went to Nagarkot and Bakthapur. We eventually flied to Pokhara. The highlight of our trip was the 6 day trek through the Annapurna Region. The hikes were not particularly hard however, there were enough brakes at teahouses or viewpoints so that our youngest one (11 years old) could also keep up. Even when it got more difficult due to snow and ice, the enthusiastic guide Ramchandra Sapkota and the very friendly porters Padam, Kedar and … were very helpful and made sure nothing would happen to us. Ramchandra could tell us a lot about Nepal’s history, culture and nature. We spend the nights in lodges which provided us with all out basic needs like a warm welcome, a fireplace, good food, clean rooms, often even WIFI access and sometimes a hot shower. After the trek we traveled by bus to Chitwan National Park. Again the accommodation was perfectly organized. We spend 3 days with a guide in the jungle, either on foot, on an elephant, with a jeep or in a canoe. After this we flied back to Kathmandu to fly home from there.

Rita BHouten, The NetherlandsRead on Tripadvisor

Amazing Journey

February 2015, Tripadvisor

I booked a trip to Tibet with Earthbound in Sept 2014, and over the last 6 months have also booked a trip to Bhutan, and completed 3 treks with Earthbound Expeditions. Every trip I have done has been outstanding with Earthbound, and have the highest praise for this company. Rajan, the owner who I have dealt with for all the trips has been fantastic and has taken care of all the details of all the trips. Rajan is so experienced in the industry, and on top of that he was so friendly and helpful in all of my dealings. I highly recommend Earthbound Expeditions for any trip you may want to do in this region.

dharmagreg63Brisbane, AustraliaRead on Tripadvisor

Amazing Journey

February 2015, Tripadvisor

I booked a trip to Tibet with Earthbound in Sept 2014, and over the last 6 months have also booked a trip to Bhutan, and completed 3 treks with Earthbound Expeditions. Every trip I have done has been outstanding with Earthbound, and have the highest praise for this company. Rajan, the owner who I have dealt with for all the trips has been fantastic and has taken care of all the details of all the trips. Rajan is so experienced in the industry, and on top of that he was so friendly and helpful in all of my dealings. I highly recommend Earthbound Expeditions for any trip you may want to do in this region.

dharmagreg63Brisbane, AustraliaRead on Tripadvisor

great experience!! 最高

January 2015, Tripadvisor

It was really great trip even we had limited of time. (3nights 4days) The president Mr. Rajan himself organize our trip include our requests with really reasonable price. Mr. Rajan kept contact me with e-mail time to time until we arrived in Kathmandu and informed us about our tour and some little changes of our domestic flight. The guide, porter and driver are all nice people and knowledgeable. We learned some Nepalee words during the trekking. I'd love to go to the trekking trip again by joining their tour for sure!!! とても限られた時間で、ベストなツアーを組んでもらいました。 エージェントのボス自らがメールでコンタクトを取ってくれ、私達がカトマンズへ到着するまできめ細かい情報提供をしてくれました。 ガイド、ポーター、ドライバー皆さんのお陰で楽しい旅になりました。 今度はもっと長い休みを取ってまた行きたいでーす!!

great experience!! 最高

January 2015, Tripadvisor

It was really great trip even we had limited of time. (3nights 4days) The president Mr. Rajan himself organize our trip include our requests with really reasonable price. Mr. Rajan kept contact me with e-mail time to time until we arrived in Kathmandu and informed us about our tour and some little changes of our domestic flight. The guide, porter and driver are all nice people and knowledgeable. We learned some Nepalee words during the trekking. I'd love to go to the trekking trip again by joining their tour for sure!!! とても限られた時間で、ベストなツアーを組んでもらいました。 エージェントのボス自らがメールでコンタクトを取ってくれ、私達がカトマンズへ到着するまできめ細かい情報提供をしてくれました。 ガイド、ポーター、ドライバー皆さんのお陰で楽しい旅になりました。 今度はもっと長い休みを取ってまた行きたいでーす!!

Excellent service with Earthbound

December 2014, Tripadvisor

We trekked in Nepal in December 2014. We loved it so much we plan to go back. EE is a very professional company. Rajan, the owner, communicated with me numerous times before we even booked and again before we arrived, as we wanted to do something a bit customized. Our city tour guide, Kumar, was very knowledgeable and personable. Consider yourself lucky if you get him. We will ask for him by name next time we go. Our trek guide, Namaraj ("Nama") was excellent. Same with our porter, Chandra. During the trek I asked Nama a lot questions about the Himalayas, trekking, Nepali culture, Hinduism and Buddhism, and whatever came to mind that interested me about this breathtaking country and it's lovely people. He never tired of my inquisitiveness and was extremely knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. During the trek we had to adjust our schedule, and Nama took care of it seamlessly. Chandra was tireless and always had a smile on his face. You will be in good hands with EE. I highly recommend this company.

RobertAndAliciaRead on Tripadvisor

Excellent service with Earthbound

December 2014, Tripadvisor

We trekked in Nepal in December 2014. We loved it so much we plan to go back. EE is a very professional company. Rajan, the owner, communicated with me numerous times before we even booked and again before we arrived, as we wanted to do something a bit customized. Our city tour guide, Kumar, was very knowledgeable and personable. Consider yourself lucky if you get him. We will ask for him by name next time we go. Our trek guide, Namaraj ("Nama") was excellent. Same with our porter, Chandra. During the trek I asked Nama a lot questions about the Himalayas, trekking, Nepali culture, Hinduism and Buddhism, and whatever came to mind that interested me about this breathtaking country and it's lovely people. He never tired of my inquisitiveness and was extremely knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. During the trek we had to adjust our schedule, and Nama took care of it seamlessly. Chandra was tireless and always had a smile on his face. You will be in good hands with EE. I highly recommend this company.

RobertAndAliciaRead on Tripadvisor

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10 days

$1,497 per person

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