8 Days | 4 Star Essential Sri Lanka | 2025

Colombo  Wilpattu National Park  Anuradhapura

Grab yourself a window seat and get ready to head off the beaten track as we head north towards one of Sri Lanka’s biggest nature reserves, Wilpattu National Park! Wilpattu has earned its name ‘Land of Lakes’ thanks to the serene natural bodies of water that cover the vast park. Jump in our Jeep and keep your eyes peeled for a healthy population of Sri Lankan leopards, elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer, mongoose, and water buffalo throughout an included safari. You might even get the chance to watch on while predators and prey make the ultimate fight for survival, and mother nature takes its course. After an action-packed day of safari, put your feet up at your hotel in Anuradhapura. 

Optional Activities & Entrance Fees

Wilpattu National Park Entrance Fee - 36 USD

Accommodation: 4-Star Palm Garden Village or similar 
Meals: Breakfast 

Anuradhapura  Ritigala  Sigiriya

After breakfast, follow your guide to the ancient city of Anuradhapura to learn of one of the greatest and oldest civilisations in the world. Once home to 113 kings over a 1300-year period, the ancient capital city showcases some of Sri Lanka’s richest and most fascinating history. Hear stories of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree and visit the Uwanwelisaya stupa, Samadhi Buddha statue and Isurumuniya Rock Temple with your guide. In the afternoon, put on your hiking shoes for a trek up to the Ancient Ritigala Monastery (1.5 to 2 hours return). Nestled within the dense and lush forest of northern Sri Lanka’s highest mountain, Mount Ritigala, lays the ruins of the forest monastery dating back thousands of years. Get your camera ready because the views from the summit are some of Sri Lanka’s best! Finish up a big day in the north at your beautiful hotel, or take a dip in the pool. 

Optional Activities & Entrance Fees

Ritigala Monastery Entrance Fee - 5 USD
Anuradhapura Sacred Area Entrance Fee - 25 USD

Accommodation: 5-Star Amaara Forest Hotel or similar 
Meals: Breakfast 

Sigiriya  Polonnaruwa  Minneriya National Park  Sigiriya 

Fill up on breakfast, as we have a big day ahead! First up, a visit to the Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa for an included bicycle tour with your local guide. The sheer size of Polonnaruwa is enormous, making a bicycle the best way to explore. Visit its UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, including Gal Viharaya or “Rock Temple” where you will see four colossal statues of the Buddha cut into the stone, plus plenty of ancient palaces and royal baths. In the evening, visit the Minneriya National Park to witness the incredible migration of over 300 elephants! We'll park up on the bank of the reservoir in our Jeeps, switch off the engine and watch carefully as herds of elephants – one by one – roll on to the grass-covered banks to feed. The park is famed for hosting some of the largest elephant gatherings in the world on a regular basis, and is truly a magnet for wildlife enthusiasts across the globe.

Optional Activities & Entrance Fees

Polonnaruwa Ancient City Entrance Fee - 25 USD
Minneriya National Park Entrance Fee - 36 USD

Accommodation: 5-Star Amaara Forest Hotel or similar 
Meals: Breakfast 

Sigiriya  Dambulla  Kandy  Nuwara Eliya 

This morning we’ll make our way to Dambulla, a city treasured by many kings since the 1st century BC to visit the iconic Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple of Dambulla. These unique cave structures host magnificent drawings and cave paintings, each with fascinating stories that shape Sri Lankan history - so listen carefully as your guide explains. Next up, we’ll transfer to the city of Kandy to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Last ruled by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe – before it was brought under British rule in 1815, Kandy crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors worldwide. Take a stroll through the small lakeside town – cradled among the misty hills – and shop the bazaars, an arts and crafts centre, and fresh fruit and vegetable markets. Tonight we’ll sleep in 5-star comfort at our hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Optional Activities & Entrance Fees

Temple Of The Tooth Entrance Fee - 5 USD
Dambulla Rock Temple Entrance Fee - 10 USD

Accommodation: 5-Star Araliya Red Hotel or similar 
Meals: Breakfast 

Nuwara Eliya  Horton Plains National Park  Nuwara Eliya 

Prepare for plenty of "oh, wow!" moments in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Today, we’ll head towards the Horton Plains National Park to trek the endless stretches of green pastures at this eco-tourism hideout. Sitting at an altitude of 7000 feet (2.13 km), the plateau is covered in flora and fauna varieties that may be found nowhere else on Earth. Along the trek, watch out for the thundering Bakers Falls, and catch a glimpse of the famous "World’s End" lookout. Then make the most of an included Jeep safari across the plains - watch out for Sambar deer, wild boar, otters and the beloved Sri Lankan leopard. In the late afternoon, enjoy free time back in Nuwara Eliya to wander through the countryside.

Optional Activities & Entrance Fees

Horton Plains National Park Entrance Fee - 36 USD

Accommodation: 5-Star Araliya Red Hotel or similar 
Meals: Breakfast 

Nuwara Eliya  Tea Plantation  Colombo 

A trip to Sri Lanka wouldn’t be complete without a visit to its famed tea plantations! Take a tour to the cold and misty hills that are blanketed with lush green tea plants, before getting a look inside the factories as they process the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea. Inhale the heavenly scent arising from these facilities, and then try the perfect blend of pure Celyon tea. Next, we make our way back to the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. This afternoon, you’ll enjoy a guided city tour through the clean streets edging the crystal white racecourse, then visit the neighbourhood of Pettah – famous for its open-air floating markets and bazaars. Check out the city’s Independence Square, before we finish up in Sri Lanka’s trendiest part of town, with time for a quick shop for last-minute souvenirs and designer goods. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to explore the bustling metropolitan city!

Accommodation: 4-Star Fairway Colombo or similar 
Meals: Breakfast 

Colombo 

All great things must come to an end! Today, we say our farewells to new travel mates over one last breakfast at the hotel. Check-out of the hotel by 11:00am, and feel free to explore the city at your own pace until the airport departure shuttle at 3:00pm.

Meals: Breakfast