Sri Lanka · Private & tailor-made
Sri Lanka Highlights
Colombo and the Cultural Triangle, the climb up Sigiriya, tea country and a river morning at Kitulgala — then the reef and old walls of the south coast.
Private & tailor-made — price on enquiry, shaped around your group and dates. Land only, excludes flights.
The journey
Sri Lanka fits an enormous amount into a small island, and this nine-day route makes the most of it without ever feeling like a route march.
You begin in Colombo, then head up into the Cultural Triangle for the cave temples at Dambulla and the early climb up Sigiriya. From there it's into Kandy, the island's cultural heartland, for the Temple of the Tooth, before dropping down through the tea country to Kitulgala and a morning on the Kelani River.
The last few days are on the south coast at Hikkaduwa — a surf lesson, the reef, and time on the beach — with an afternoon inside the old walls of Galle Fort to finish. It suits families who want a bit of everything: ancient sites, elephants, a proper adventure, and a stretch of sand to wind down on. Throughout it's private, with your own guide and vehicle, and we're happy to reshape the pace around you.
Where you'll go
Trip highlights
What stays with you
The early climb up Sigiriya rock fortress, through the water gardens to the summit.
A village visit near Sigiriya — a tractor ride, a canoe on the lake and a home-cooked rice and curry.
An afternoon safari at Minneriya or Kaudulla in search of wild elephants.
The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, and an evening of Kandyan dance and drumming.
A white-water rafting run on the Kelani River at Kitulgala.
A surf lesson and the reef at Hikkaduwa, then the old walls of Galle Fort.
Day by day
Your itinerary
Arrive in Colombo
You're met at the airport and driven about an hour into the capital. In the late afternoon, a city tour takes in Colombo's mix of old and new — historic temples and colonial-era buildings, the markets and older neighbourhoods, then the newer districts of cafés, rooftop restaurants and the seafront. The evening is yours.
Into the Cultural Triangle
After breakfast, travel about four hours into the heart of the island to the Dambulla Cave Temples — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient Buddhist murals and statues set within five caves. The evening is at leisure at your hotel near Sigiriya.
Sigiriya at sunrise, then an afternoon safari
An early climb up Sigiriya rock fortress with the sun coming up behind it, through the water gardens and the remains of the royal citadel to the summit (packed breakfast provided). Later, a short transfer to a village for a cooking demonstration and a home-cooked rice and curry — with a tractor ride through the paddy fields and a canoe trip on the lake in a traditional oruwa. In the afternoon, a safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park in search of elephants, deer, mongoose, crocodiles and birdlife.
Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth
Travel about three hours to the hill capital, Kandy. Visit the UNESCO-listed Temple of the Tooth Relic, set within the old royal palace complex, and in the evening watch a Kandyan dance performance — traditional dance and drumming, and a lively introduction to the island's performing arts.
Tea country and the Kelani River
After breakfast, visit a tea factory to see how Ceylon tea is made, then travel about two and a half hours to Kitulgala, a rainforest town on the Kelani River. After lunch, a white-water rafting run through a series of rapids with rainforest on either side. The evening is at leisure — your guide can point you to reliable local operators if you'd like more.
Down to the coast at Hikkaduwa
Travel about four and a half hours from the hills to the south coast, the landscape shifting from tea country to tropical lowland. Hikkaduwa is a long sweep of sandy beach with clear water, a coral reef and an easy seaside feel.
A day on the coast
A surf lesson in the morning, then the rest of the day on the beach, in the town or along the coves nearby. Glass-bottom boat trips, snorkelling and diving can be arranged locally.
Hikkaduwa and Galle Fort
A relaxed morning, then an afternoon at Galle Fort — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of atmospheric streets, old ramparts, colonial architecture and small shops and cafés within the walls.
Homeward
After breakfast, a transfer of about two and a half hours to Colombo airport for your onward flight. We can easily extend the trip here — more time on the coast, or up to Ella and the tea hills — just ask.
Where you'll stay
Your hotels
Two comfortable options are shown for most stops. We'll confirm the exact properties with you when we tailor the trip, and can step the whole route up to a higher standard on request.
What's included
- All accommodation as listed (8 nights)
- Private, English-speaking guiding and a private vehicle throughout
- All transfers and transport within Sri Lanka
- Sightseeing and entrance fees for the activities named in the itinerary
- The Sigiriya climb, village visit and cooking demonstration, and the national park safari
- White-water rafting at Kitulgala and a surf lesson at Hikkaduwa
- Meals as shown day by day (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- 24-hour in-country support and ATOL financial protection
Not included
- International flights to and from Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka visa (ETA) and any vaccinations
- Travel insurance (required — please arrange cover with medical and repatriation)
- Meals and drinks not shown in the itinerary
- Optional water sports and extra activities arranged locally
- Tips for guides and drivers (we'll give guidance), and anything of a personal nature
Good to know
Before you go
When to travel
December to March is the drier, brighter season for the west coast, the hill country and the south — the regions this route covers. We'll advise on the best window for your dates.
Who it suits
It works well for families and couples. The Sigiriya climb and the white-water rafting suit older children — as a rough guide, from around age eight — and we can adjust or swap either where needed.
Pace and fitness
Mostly gentle, with some longer drives between regions and one steep climb at Sigiriya. No technical skill is needed, but a reasonable level of fitness makes the active days more enjoyable.
Money
The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee. Cards work in the towns and larger hotels, but carry some cash for markets, village stops and smaller places.
Health and water
Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap. Pack light layers, sun protection, a swimsuit and comfortable shoes for the climb; mosquito repellent is worth having.
Making it yours
This is a private trip, so the pace and the balance of culture, wildlife and beach are all adjustable. We can add a leopard safari at Yala or Wilpattu, or more time in the hills, if you'd like.
Make it yours
Ready to start planning?
This is a starting point, not a fixed package. Tell us who's travelling, your dates and roughly what you have in mind, and we'll tailor it — the pace, the comfort level and any extensions — and send you a detailed quote.
Travelling well
The STC way
We work with trusted local partners in Sri Lanka, and it shows in the detail: guides who know the ground, village visits and family-run stops that put money directly into the places you travel through, and a genuine care for the people and landscapes along the way. It's the same groundwork behind our sister company, STC Expeditions — pointed at a slower, more comfortable kind of travel.