Classic Sri Lanka in 7 Days

Your Sri Lanka journey begins at the airport, where your private tour guide will be waiting to welcome you. The drive north takes you into the heart of the Cultural Triangle, with an optional stop at the magnificent Dambulla Cave Temple before arriving in Sigiriya for the evening.

• Sigiriya village tour — authentic rural Sri Lanka up close
• Optional visit to Dambulla Cave Temple en route

The day begins with the iconic climb up Sigiriya Rock Fortress — a 5th-century citadel rising around 200 metres above the jungle, with ancient frescoes and panoramic views across the plains. The afternoon continues to Kandy via Pinnawala, followed by an evening of traditional Kandyan dance.

• Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress — UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
• Evening Kandy Cultural Show — traditional dance and drumming

A morning visit to Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist site is followed by a scenic drive into the misty highlands, past waterfalls and rolling tea estates, to Nuwara Eliya — the colonial hill station once called "Little England".

• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy
• Ramboda Falls on the mountain road
• Tour a working tea factory and walk the plantations
• Explore Nuwara Eliya — Gregory Lake, Victoria Park and colonial architecture

The drive to Ella is one of the most scenic on the island — winding through tea estates, past waterfalls and mountain villages. Ella is a charming highland town surrounded by peaks, trails and some of Sri Lanka's most photographed landmarks.

• The iconic Nine Arch Bridge — a colonial-era railway viaduct in the jungle
• Hike Little Adam's Peak for sweeping views across the Ella valley

The landscape changes dramatically as you descend from the highlands into Sri Lanka's most famous wildlife park. Yala has one of the highest leopard densities recorded anywhere, along with elephants, sloth bears and crocodiles — best seen in the golden light of late afternoon.

• Morning drive from Ella through the dry-zone landscape
• Afternoon jeep safari in Yala National Park — leopard, elephant, sloth bear, crocodile

The road follows the southern coastline to Galle, one of Asia's finest colonial towns, where a UNESCO-listed Dutch fort encloses cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches and ocean-view ramparts. The afternoon is yours to relax by the sea.

• Explore Galle Fort — UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visit a sea turtle hatchery on the south coast
• Relax at the beach after a week of exploring

After breakfast, the coastal road brings you north to Colombo, Sri Lanka's lively capital. There's time for a short city tour — Gangaramaya Temple, Pettah market and the colonial Fort district — before your transfer to the airport.

• Short Colombo city tour — temples, markets and colonial architecture
• Private transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport