Highlights of Sri Lanka

Highlights of Sri Lanka

2,879 Views
16 Days From

$4310

Highlights of Sri Lanka

16 Days Starting in UK and ending in UK

Tour operator:

Wendy Wu

Tour code:

380

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

12 - 28

Physical rating:

Level2

Age range:

12-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Meat

Tour operated in:

English
From: $4310

NB: Prices correct on 22-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

From stunning scenery to amazing architecture, Sri Lanka is a tropical paradise. Marvel at magnificent temples, see the Rock Fortress at Sigiriya, see elephants at Yala National Park and explore the ruined cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.

Highlights

  • Venture up to the magnificent Lion Rock Fortress of King Kasyapa

  • Wander through the UNESCO ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa

  • Visit the 1st century BC Dambulla Rock Temple in Kandy

  • See the lovable Asian elephants at the Udawale Elephant Orphange

  • Discover the colonial city of Galle

  • Tour the multi-religious city of Colombo

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 - 2 : Days 1-2: Fly To Colombo

Meals Included: Dinner

Fly overnight to Colombo. On arrival you will be met by your expert tour guide and transferred to your hotel in the coastal town of Negombo, a short drive from Colombo. The rest of the day is yours to explore.

Day 3: Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Journey to Sigiriya and explore the magnificent Lion Rock Fortress, built by King Kasyapa. Later visit the world-renowned Heavenly Maiden frescoes.

Day 4: Polonnaruwa

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Polonnaruwa, which was the former capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 12th century and is home to well preserved stupas, frescoes and statues. While here, explore the rock temples at Gal Vihara and the Vatadage, an ancient structure with elaborate stone carvings, before returning to Sigiriya.

Day 5: Anuradhapura

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel to the World Heritage city of Anuradhapura, one of Sri Lanka's most celebrated ancient cities. Whilst here, visit the Sri Mada Bodhi Bo tree, over 2000 years old; the Ruwanweliseya dagoba and the Samadhi Buddha statue. Visit the Isurumuniya rock temple to visit its rock carvings dating back to the 3rd century BC.

Day 6: Spice Gardens & Kandy

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel to the Buddhist city of Kandy visiting the Dambulla Rock Temple, which dates back to the 1st Century BC. Visit a spice garden and witness a cookery demonstration in Matale. Continue to Kandy.

Day 7: Explore Kandy

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens before continuing to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world. We also explore the remains of the Royal Palace which is now the National Museum. Later, witness a cultural dance show with dinner in the evening.

Day 8: Nuwara Eliya

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel to Nuwara Eliya by train, through the world's most picturesque scenery to the city known as Sri Lanka's little England. On arrival you will check-in and relax for the rest of the afternoon.

Day 9: City Tour Of Nuwara Eliya

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning visit a tea plantation and factory learning all about the manufacturing process. Later this afternoon explore the town centre as you take in the race course, the interesting history of Hill Club Hotel, Gregory Lake and the Hindu Temple of Seetha Amman Kovil.

Day 10: Yala National Park

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Yala National Park, home to a large number of elephants, leopards, sambhur, wild buffalo and over 130 bird species. Enroute visit Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, established by the Department of Wildlife Conservation for orphaned elephants.

Day 11: Explore Yala National Park

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a morning and evening jeep safari in Yala National Park.

Day 12: Travel To Galle

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart Yala and drive to Galle. On the way, stop and visit the Hummanaya Blow Hole, Mulkirigala Rock Temple and Dikwella Wewurukannala Temple. After lunch stop to view the stilt fisherman at Welligama. Upon arrival in Galle, check into your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 13: Discover Galle

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Dutch Fort, Galle Lighthouse and Dutch Reformed Church. Also known as Galle Fort, the Dutch Fort is one of the best preserved examples of 17th Century colonial fortifications in the world.

Day 14: Colombo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel to Colombo, stopping at Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery en route. The hatchery is home to Sri Lanka's pioneering sea turtle conservation project.

Day 15: Explore Colombo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Embark on a city tour of Colombo this morning. Explore Fort District, the historic centre of the city. Wander through Pettah Market and visit the Dutch Church of Wolvendhall, dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, a major pilgrimage site for Buddhist devotees, and Colombo's finest museums.

Day 16: Fly Colombo To Uk

Meals Included: Breakfast

Fly to the UK, arriving home later the same day.

What's Included

  • 3* plus – 4* accommodation

  • All meals

  • Entrance fees, guides and daily tours

  • Visa fees for UK passport holders

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • Drinks with Meals

Accommodation

Jetwing Sea

With the beach at your doorstep, the 4* Jetwing Sea Resort makes for a perfect destination during your tour. Enjoy stunning coastal views of Negombo as the resort is nestled upon the edge of the Indian Ocean. Your room is fully equipped with modern essentials and facilities include but are not limited to a rooftop spa, 24-hour room service, two swimming pools and wine cellar.


Jetwing Lakeside

The 4* Jetwing Lakeside in Dambulla, where modernity and history meet, offers guests the perfect accommodation surrounded by lush greenery and completed with a panoramic balcony. Each rooms also offers air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and minibar. Hotel facilities include a Suwa Arana Spa, swimming pool as well as a gym.


Earls Regent

The 4* Earls Regent Hotel is perfectly located within close proximity to the Kandy Royal Botanical Gardens and boasts a range of modern and stylish rooms. Your room will also feature a private balcony, private bathrooms as well as a minibar. Delight in a wide variety of local Sri Lankan, Chinese and continental dishes during your stay, before enjoying the outdoor swimming pool.


Jetwing St. Andrew's

Nestled in the midst of the lush green hills of Nuwara Eliya, the 4* Jetwing St. Andrew's hotel is a beautiful location rich in history and charm. Each room is equipped with heating, television and tea/ coffee making facilities. Leisure time can be spent enjoying a round of golf or two at the nearby Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, or delighting in the extensive menu available at one of the many eateries available.


Cinnamon Wild

Located in the heart of the jungle, the 4* Cinnamon Wild Resort is an extension of the Yala National Park and proudly boasts minimalistic interiors furnished with old vintage furniture. Enjoy a bird's eye view of the wilderness beneath you at the resort's rooftop bar all before delighting at a buffet restaurant.


Hikka Tranz

Located on the Southern shoreline of Sri Lanka, 4* Hikka Tranz offers true Southern Sri Lankan hospitality where guests can stay in spacious rooms and enjoy views of the Golden Belt of the South Coast. Each room also has air conditioning, a minibar and complimentary tea and coffee making facilities. The resort also houses a pool bar, serving delicious snacks and beverages as well as a 24-hour restaurant offering a delightful buffet experience.


Cinnamon Lakeside

Overlooking the tranquil Beira Lake, the 4* Cinnamon Lakeside hotel offers modern rooms with a blend of equipped with a safety deposit box, complimentary toiletries, minibar and coffee/ tea making facilities. Enjoy the wide range of hotel amenities at your leisure, whether it be the hotel swimming pool, tennis and squash courts or gym.


Experiences

Kosgada Turtle Hatchery

Tour the wonderful conservation project at Kosgada, where a specialist turtle hatchery works tirelessly to protect Sri Lanka's native sea turtle species, and meet its residents.


Kandy Dance Performance

In the island's cultural capital, Kandy, enjoy a fun and fascinating cultural performance of traditional Sri Lankan music and dance.


Unforgettable train journey

A journey to remember as you travel through misty pine forests and lush tea plantations, over the nine arch bridge on one of the world's most scenic train routes.


Check out our Q&As

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    Yes

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Yes

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    Yes

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    Yes

  • What's the standard of development like?

    Although Sri Lanka is developing quickly, it still lacks the international standards of civil infrastructure and tourist facilities. Concepts of personal responsibility are also different to those in the UK. Consequently, tourist and public facilities may not uphold the same safety standards as in the UK; for example, you may see a hole in the road without a warning sign or safety barricade.

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.

  • Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?

    Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.

  • What is 'Happy to Share'?

    Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance in line with our normal booking conditions. Either way, our Operations Team will contact you around 75 days before departure to let you know whether a share partner has been found or not. We regret that Happy to Share requests cannot be accepted within 75 days of departure. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to change or withdraw this arrangement at any time.

  • Do you allow children on your tours?

    We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Bill  

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Elsie  

Great country

Great country, very interesting places, lovely peo

Great country, very interesting places, lovely people, would visit Sri Lanka again.

Barabara  

Full of many interesting visits

The holiday in Sri Lanka was very full of many int

The holiday in Sri Lanka was very full of many interesting visits. The hotels were very good apart from the Ramada in Colombo which was average. The meals were excellent and there was always an alternative to the hot spicy curry. Our guide was attentive, helpful and very informative with excellent English. He did his best to show us his beautiful country and appreciation it’s long and complex history. It was a shame that the bus we travelled in was not very comfortable, the seats did not recline and were quite small without much legroom, as we did spend a lot of time in the bus on the long slow drives through Sri Lank’s interesting traffic!! However, the drivers were very good, nice and attentive.

Irene  

Great country

Wendy Wu ensured that we had a wide and varied exp

Wendy Wu ensured that we had a wide and varied experience of a great country.

Ian  

Would recommend

Great Country. Good range of different things to

Great Country. Good range of different things to do and places to see — temples to beaches to wildlife. Hotels ranged from adequate to excellent. Food quality and variety was better than we expected A really good tour guide and our fellow travellers were excellent company. Would recommend despite the impact of Coronavirus cutting out a few later trips, but that was beyond anyone's ability to control.

Save on this tour

Request your exclusive discount code now and unlock savings for your next adventure!

Send me one now.

1 Select your preferred date

Friday - Saturday

Jan 31, 2025 - Feb 15, 2025
$4623

Friday - Saturday

Jan 31, 2025 - Feb 15, 2025
$5626

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Feb 28, 2025 - Mar 15, 2025
$4623

Friday - Saturday

Feb 28, 2025 - Mar 15, 2025
$5626

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Mar 14, 2025 - Mar 29, 2025
$4623

Friday - Saturday

Mar 14, 2025 - Mar 29, 2025
$5626

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Apr 11, 2025 - Apr 26, 2025
$4310

Friday - Saturday

Apr 11, 2025 - Apr 26, 2025
$5626 $5312

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Oct 24, 2025 - Nov 08, 2025
$4623

Friday - Saturday

Oct 24, 2025 - Nov 08, 2025
$5626

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Nov 07, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025
$4310

Friday - Saturday

Nov 07, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025
$5626 $5312

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Nov 21, 2025 - Dec 06, 2025
$5563

Friday - Saturday

Nov 21, 2025 - Dec 06, 2025
$6878 $6565

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Jan 23, 2026 - Feb 07, 2026
$4686

Friday - Saturday

Jan 23, 2026 - Feb 07, 2026
$6001 $5688

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Feb 13, 2026 - Feb 28, 2026
$4686

Friday - Saturday

Feb 13, 2026 - Feb 28, 2026
$6001 $5688

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Feb 20, 2026 - Mar 07, 2026
$4686

Friday - Saturday

Feb 20, 2026 - Mar 07, 2026
$6001 $5688

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Mar 13, 2026 - Mar 28, 2026
$4686

Friday - Saturday

Mar 13, 2026 - Mar 28, 2026
$6001 $5688

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Apr 10, 2026 - Apr 25, 2026
$4686

Friday - Saturday

Apr 10, 2026 - Apr 25, 2026
$6001 $5688

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Oct 16, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026
$4686

Friday - Saturday

Oct 16, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026
$6001 $5688

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Oct 23, 2026 - Nov 07, 2026
$4686

Friday - Saturday

Oct 23, 2026 - Nov 07, 2026
$6001 $5688

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Nov 06, 2026 - Nov 21, 2026
$4686

Friday - Saturday

Nov 06, 2026 - Nov 21, 2026
$6001 $5688

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Friday - Saturday

Nov 20, 2026 - Dec 05, 2026
$5939

Friday - Saturday

Nov 20, 2026 - Dec 05, 2026
$7254 $6941

Operator discount: -$313

Including UK Flights

Prices last published on 21-Nov-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Wendy Wu requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wendy wu charges.

    Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Enquire for huge savings

Rated 5* on Trust Pilot & ABTA Protected.

By submitting this form, I accept Travel Club Elites terms & conditions and privacy policy.

Similar Tours