6 days 5 nights
Daily Tour
Unlimited
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The Best of Sri Lanka is a 6-day private guided tour covering the island’s most diverse range of landscapes and experiences in a single itinerary. The route begins in the Cultural Triangle at Sigiriya Lion Rock (a 5th-century granite fortress rising 200 meters above the surrounding plain) and the Dambulla Cave Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing 153 Buddha statues across five cave shrines). Day 2 visits Minneriya National Park, famous for “The Gathering,” one of the largest elephant congregations in Asia, before continuing through tea country to Ella in the hill country. Days 3 and 4 cover Ella’s trekking trails, the Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Falls, and the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort on the southern coast. Day 5 explores the southwest coast at Kosgoda and Balapitiya before a final night in Bentota. Starting from $1,120 per person.
On arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, your Tira Travels guide will transfer you north into the Cultural Triangle. Your first destination is Sigiriya, a 5th-century royal citadel built by King Kasyapa on a granite rock column rising 200 meters above the surrounding forest. The UNESCO World Heritage Site contains an elaborate water garden at the base; a series of frescoes painted on the western rock face depicting 21 celestial maidens (the original paintings covered an area of approximately 140 meters in length); the Mirror Wall inscribed with ancient visitor graffiti dating to the 7th century; and the Lion Gate paws at the summit approach. At the summit, the foundations of King Kasyapa's throne room, pool, and royal quarters offer panoramic views across the dry zone forest extending to the horizon. After Sigiriya, visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, a complex of five cave shrines at the summit of a 160-meter-high rock, containing 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings, and ceiling paintings covering a total area of 2,100 square metres. Overnight in Dambulla or Sigiriya.
Depart early for Minneriya National Park, a 8,890-hectare protected area in the North Central Province centered on the ancient Minneriya reservoir built by King Mahasena in the 3rd century AD. Between July and October, the reservoir's receding waterline attracts hundreds of Sri Lankan elephants to graze on the exposed grasslands in an event known as "The Gathering," recorded as one of the largest temporary concentrations of Asian elephants in the world, with numbers reaching 300 or more. The park is also home to toque macaques, sambar deer, spotted deer, Sri Lankan leopards, and over 160 bird species. After the morning safari, travel southeast through the hill country toward Nuwara Eliya, stopping at a tea factory in the mid-country growing region between 600 and 1,200 meters elevation. Mid-country teas are characterized by a medium-bodied flavor with a distinctive fragrance, produced using both orthodox and CTC methods. Continue to Ella, a hill town at 1,041 meters known for its dramatic views across the Ella Gap, a natural break in the mountain ridge offering sightlines extending to the southern coast on clear days. Overnight in Ella.
Spend the full day exploring Ella and its surrounding area. Begin with the hike to Little Adam's Peak, a 1,141-meter summit accessible via a 45-minute trail from the Ella town center, offering views across the Ella Gap and the surrounding tea estates. The trail passes through working tea fields where you can observe the hand-plucking process used on the steeper slopes that cannot be accessed by mechanical harvesters. Descend and visit the Nine Arch Bridge, a colonial-era railway viaduct built in 1921 using brick and cement without any steel reinforcement, spanning 91 meters across a jungle valley on nine arches, each rising 24 meters. The bridge carries the Kandy to Badulla railway line, one of the most scenic train journeys in Asia, and is best photographed from the jungle paths below the arches when a train passes. In the afternoon, visit Ravana Falls on the Belihul Oya River and Ravana Cave in the hillside above Ella town, both connected to Ramayana tradition. Optional activities in Ella include zip lining across the valley and the Ella Rock hike, a more challenging 3-hour climb to a 1,140-meter summit. Overnight in Ella.
Depart Ella in the morning and drive southwest toward the southern coast via the Wellawaya junction and the Udawalawe basin. En route, the landscape transitions from hill country to dry zone scrubland before reaching the coast highway. Arrive in Galle, a coastal city on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka. Galle Fort was originally constructed by the Portuguese in 1588 as a defensive fortification and substantially expanded by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) after they captured it in 1640. The current structure covers 36 hectares and is enclosed by 1.5 kilometers of rampart walls. Within the fort, the Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1755 on the site of a Portuguese convent, the gravestones in its floor belonging to Dutch colonial officials. The National Maritime Museum, housed in a Dutch warehouse, documents the maritime history of the region. The fort also contains the International Cricket Stadium, built adjacent to the ramparts in 1927 and hosting Test matches since 1982. After Galle, continue north along the coast to Bentota for your overnight stay.
Spend the day exploring the southwest coast between Bentota and Balapitiya. Begin at the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project, one of seven registered turtle hatcheries on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. The project collects eggs from nesting olive ridley, green, leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead sea turtles laid on the beach, incubates them in protected conditions, and releases hatchlings into the ocean. The hatchery maintains tanks of injured turtles undergoing rehabilitation. Continue north to Balapitiya for a boat ride on the Madu River, a 900-hectare Ramsar-listed wetland system that flows into the Indian Ocean through a network of 64 small islands covered in mangrove forest. The river supports 303 plant species, 111 fish species, 14 species of mangrove, and a population of saltwater crocodiles. Local fishermen demonstrate traditional fishing methods using hand-woven nets on the river. Return to Bentota in the afternoon for optional water sports on the beach including jet skiing, windsurfing, banana boat rides, and snorkelling. Overnight in Bentota.
After breakfast at your hotel in Bentota, transfer north to Bandaranaike International Airport via the Southern Expressway. Drive time from Bentota to the airport is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic. The highway passes through Colombo's southern suburbs, where optional stops are available at the Gangaramaya Temple in Slave Island or the Beira Lake waterfront in central Colombo for those with afternoon departures.
Purchase after a tour package, you'll get a receipt and a Purchase Confirmation directing you to an online Passenger Information Form. You must complete the Passenger Information Form within 72 hours of purchase. We ask that you fill out your Passenger Information Form as soon as possible. However, changes requested after filling out the form cannot be guaranteed and will incur additional fees, as mentioned in the schedule of fees below. On purchasing the Travel Offer, you (and any additional cardholders on the account) are bound by the terms of General Terms and Conditions in addition to the specific terms and conditions outlined in Important Information.
3 – 4 Star (self–rated) PLEASE NOTE: Accommodation/rooms offered are based on a lead-in-room type, and are subject to availability based on seasonality. Properties will be confirmed, no later than two weeks prior to travel. Maximum room capacity – 03 people (subject to availability) Child policy No child discounts. Full price applies for all children travelling with their parents Valid for Children 8 years old and over. PLEASE NOTE: Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult 18 years old and over to travel. No unaccompanied minors are allowed. Triple Share – No discounts apply for 3rd person travelling. Full price applies, subject to availability. PLEASE NOTE: Triple shares may be required to share existing bedding. Bedding Configuration – Twin or Double bedding (Subject to availability) Adjoining / interconnecting rooms – Subject to availability and at the hotel's discretion. Please enquire on booking if you require this option.
Online credit/debit card payment. By International Bank Transfer: Flexi payment We are offering you a Flexi payment option. You have to pay half of the total cost now and the remaining 50% of cash payment in USD / GBP / EURO upon your arrival at the airport lobby, Sri Lanka, before starting the tour. Our prices include all applicable taxes. You’ll never have to worry about it.
Suppose you are unable to travel due to Covid-19-related travel restrictions. In that case, you will receive a free date change or an open credit less any non-recoverable supplier fees to the value of your original purchase. PLEASE NOTE: Date change credits are subject to availability and not guaranteed until confirmed by Tira Travels, not the property you are due to stay with Cancellation charges 21 days or less - 100% cancellation charge Between 22 days & 29 days - 50% cancellation charge or the equivalent of the first two days of charges depending on the program and period of stay. Above 29 days - No cancellation charges provided.
All those who travel must possess valid travel insurance, and those details must be stated before travel - unless we give a specific written exemption. Individuals must ensure that their travel insurance offers adequate cover for the type of holiday undertaken. We reserve the right to refuse travel if they are inadequately insured.
We aim to offer flexible itineraries. However, once an itinerary is finalized, requests for changes to a group or individual itinerary will always be considered, but they may incur charges.
TOUR GUIDE Our licensed & qualified tour guides can provide you with a variety of information, and they can route effective sightseeing tours. In addition, they're very good at keeping large groups together and ensuring that everyone in the group has a good time. CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURES Sri Lanka is a year-round destination with two monsoon seasons, so there is a lot of confusion around when is the best time to visit. However, you can wear whatever you like and still feel great in the warm and pleasant climate. The sea temperature is constant at 26°C, and the air temperature is about 27°C - that means that it’s nice and cool over here! FLIGHTS At Tira Travels, we don't arrange flight tickets. You will need to contact the airline directly and book the relevant dates yourself. PASSPORT VALIDITY The valid Passport details will be requested either at the time of purchase or no later than 45 days before departure. Failure to provide this information will cancel the booking, and you will be responsible for any costs and fees incurred. MEALS - CAR / COACH TOUR Breakfast is included for all tours. For all other meals, the tour guide will help you make reservations to local restaurants. It would help if you let us know any dietary restrictions before the tour. Please note; we will do our best to meet your requests, but we cannot guarantee that we will always be able to. LUGGAGE For the duration of the tour, you're responsible for your belongings. You must carry your luggage from the vehicle to the hotel room and back to the vehicle. The driver will help with these tasks. Sightseeing In the event of changes in operating hours or public holiday closures, an activity may be cancelled, and a similar activity may be offered instead (subject to availability).
A Tourist Visa for Sri Lanka is a strict requirement. You can start your Visa application process once you receive your final travel documentation approximately 6 weeks prior to departure. Please note; Travellers need to see the Consulate or Visa Agency website to find out a visa requirement and what personal identification they ask for. In addition, some areas of employment such as journalism, government authorities and charity organizations may have additional restrictions in applying for Visas.
Change requests by you This includes any costs incurred to make a booking change requested by you, including but not limited to those that require an accommodation date change or a purchase confirmation reissue.
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