14-nights/15-days Sri Lanka round tour by Minivan - with Udawalawa Safari
14-nights/15-days Sri Lanka round tour by Minivan - with Udawalawa Safari
This tour includes two safaris and six World Heritage Sites and a lot more. But for a true Sri Lanka experience you should not miss to come into contact with locals and get an impression of their genuine culture(s). Our ambition as a local tour operator is not only to show you the most impressive touristic highlights but also country and people and some places of interest which remained untouched by mass tourism, plus a taste of local cuisine.This round tour does not include accommodation, this way allowing you to book the hotels or guesthouses of your own choice.
This does not apply to the first three nights in Mihintale, when the accommodation is fixed. The reason is that you will come into contact with locals in my hometown and will have an opportunity to learn more about Sri Lankan cuisine in my own kitchen.
Book This ExperienceA glimpse of the journey
Your Itinerary
A curated journey through the experience
Negombo Beach
Day 2: Kalpitiya Peninsula & Wilpattu Safari
Munneshwaram Hindu temple
Afterwards, you will proceed to one of the most revered Hindu shrines on the island. The Munneshwaram Kovil near Chilaw is one of the island's four major temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Munneshvaram is not only frequented by Hindus but also by Sinhalese devotees.
30 minutesKalpitiya
A small detour will lead you to the tip of Kalpitiya Peninsula, where you can observe kitesurfers in action or just walk along the long sandy beaches. Kalpitiya is also famous fpr dolphin watching, but a boat excursion is an option only seasonally. At the foot of the peninsula you will see large salines.
1 hourWilpattu National Park
Day 3: Anuradhapura & Mihintale
3 hoursRuwanwelisaya
See the most holy places of Sri lanka's ancient capital Anuradhapura, the Bo-tree and the white dome of Ruwanweliseya, the first stupa called Thuparama Moonstone , Samadhi Buddha, Isurumuniya, Gold Fish Park and Vessagiriya.
3 hoursRajagiri Kanda Caves
Day 4: Ritigala & Polonnaruwa
3 hoursRitigala Forest Monastery
On the way from Mihintale to your next destination, the area of Sigiriya, you will first explore the ruins of Ritigala hidden in the jungle at the slope of the highest hill in the northern half of Sri Lanka. This was the largest monastery of the Pansukulikas. You can discover several of their typical so-called meditation platforms in the jungle on both sides of an ancient meditation path and an Ayurvedic hospital. This region is famous for the abundance in medicinal herbs.
2 hoursPolonnaruwa Vatadage
Day 5: Sigiriya & Dambulla & Hurulu Eco Park
3 hoursSigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress
In the morning you will visit the famous Lion Rock of Sigiriya, being Sri Lanka's most imposing ancient site. A large number of unique features make this former fortified city extraordinary indeed, one of Asia's earliest water gardens outside Persia, the island's best preserved paintings from antiquity, graffities with the earliest know poems composed in Sinhala language, the giant paws of a former lion sculpture, the palace or temple on top of the rock, sometimes called "Sri Lanka's Machu Picchu".
3 hoursDambulla Royal Cave Temple
Dambulla is the largest cave temple in Sri Lanka. It's famous for the numerous Buddha sculptures from various periods and the most impressive paintings from in the Kandyan style. When visiting the so-called "Golden Temple", be aware that this is one of the oldest surviving monasteries on earth still inhabited by monks.
1 hour 30 minutesHurulu Eco Park
Day 6: Nalanda Gedige & Aluvihara - on the way to Kandy
3 hoursNalanda Gedige
A special detour will lead to the small but extraordinary temple of Nalanda Gedige. It's remarkable for at least five reasons. Firstly, this is Sri Lanka's only surviving temple completely built of stone. Secondly, it's the best example of architecture in the classical South Indian Pallava style found anywhere on the island. Thirdly, it was a Mahayanist temple and even one of Sri Lanka's rare places of tantric worship. Furthermore, Nalanda Gedige has Sri Lanka's only ancient depictions of sexual intercourse. Last not least, the temple earned the nickname "Sri Lanka's little Abu Simbel", as it had to be replaced and rebuilt due to a reservoir project.
30 minutesRanweli Spice Garden
Enjoy a break at a herbal and spice garden, where you can see most of the famous spice plants of the tropical regions of Asia and learn more about the use of herbal medicine in traditional healing practices of Ayurveda. A herbal tea will be served for free.
30 minutesAluvihara Rock Cave Temple
Next, you will visit the Aluvihara, which according to Theravada traditions was the place of the fourth Buddhist council, which took place in the 1st century BC. This was the event that laid down the Sacred Scriptures of Buddhism, the so-called Tipitaka, in written form for the very first time. Sri Lanka is proud to be the nation that has conserved the only complete version of the "Buddhist Bible" in an original Indian language, Pali. The Aluvihara is still a place of scholarship and calligraphy. You can study the production of palm leave manuscripts in the new building serving as a museum. The nearby caves and rocks are definitely worth a visit, too.
1 hourTemple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Day 7: Full day in Kandy
1 hourKandy View Point
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing and relaxing in Kandy, the island's charming hill capital. You will see all the famous places such as Senani view point and Victoria Hotel at Kandy Lake and have various shopping opportunities. As a special extra, the guide will show you a local food market and other shops frequented more by locals than by tourists.
3 hoursRoyal Botanical Gardens
In the afternoon you can walk around in the largest and oldest botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, belonging to the University of Peradeniya. You can relax under the giant Java fig or on another one of the meadows inviting for a rest.
2 hoursKandy Lake Club - Cultural Dance Show
Day 8: Tea Plantation & Nuwara Eliya & Train Ride
1 hourRamboda Waterfall
Have a break of your journey at the waterfalls known as Rama Falls in Ramboda. The water is coming through the Rama rocks. Enjoy the scenic views of the Ramboda area and Kotmale valley.
30 minutesDamro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden
When visiting the tea factory of Damro, in one of Sri Lanka's largest tea plantations historically known as Labookellie, you will learn more about all the steps of the tea leaf processing, withering, rolling, oxidation/fermentation, drying, and quality sorting. Afterwards you take a break with a complimentary cup of tea and have shopping oppurtunities.
45 minutesNuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka’s highest situated town. Due to it’s cool climate it attracted English farmers growing potatoes and vegetables and soon afterwards also the colonial high society from Colombo, for enjoying their spare time and exercising their favourite sports. The flair of a British Hill Station is the reason why Nuwara Eliya earned the nickname “Little England”. On your small city tour you will see the post office famous for its English style of timber framing and other colonial buildings such Grand Hotel and Hill Club, have a view to the golf course and the race course and see Gregory Lake outside town.
1 hourNanu Oya railway station
Day 9: Full Day in Ella
3 hoursLittle Adam's Peak
In the morning, you will enjoy a short hike to the so-called "Little Adam's Peak" near Ella. This is one of the most amazing vantage points in the southern range of the highlands. From here, you can overlook the entire Ella Gap and the southern plains with the hills of Kataragama in the background.
1 hour 15 minutesNine Arches Bridge
It's only a short hike to Nine Arches Bridge, Sri Lanka's most iconic highland train bridge. We will be there in time that you can take a picture of a train crossing the bridge.
1 hourElla
Day 10: Buduruwagala & Udawalawe safari
2 hoursRavana Ella Falls
When crossing the Ella Gap, we will have a photo stop at the Ravana Falls, the name is referring to the legendary King Ravana of Lanka, a major character of the Indian Ramayana epic. Local legend has it, that after abducting Sita from India, he held her in captivity for a short while in a nearby cave.
Buduruwagala Temple
Near Wellawaya, we will have a small detour to Buduruwagala, where you can see a group of seven rock-cut statues, the central one being the largest Buddha sculpture of this kind in Sri Lankas, the more elaborate smaller sculptures being Mahayanaistic Bodhisattvas.
1 hourVisit Udawalawe National Park
Day 11: South Coast & Galle & Transfer to your Beach Holiday hotel
3 hoursRamba Viharaya
In the morning, you will visit the archaeoligical site of Ramba Viharaya, which is the temple area of the medieval southern capital of Sri Lanka. Some statues are still in situ in former image houses.
1 hourHummanaya Blow Hole
On your way along the south coast, you will have a break at the Hoomaniya Blow Hole. Blow Holes are natural fountains like geysers, but even rarer. This fountain in Sri Lanka is South Asia's only Blow Hole at all.
20 minutesKushta Raja Gala
Near Weligama, there will be a small detour to the so-called Kushtaraja, which translates to "Leper King". This is a rock-cut Buddhist statue with Mahayanistic characteristics.
20 minutesSea Turtle Conservation Project (Koggala)
In the Koggala Sea Turtle Farm & Hatchery you can observe several of the species of sea turtles occuring in Sri Lanka and their offspring, saved and protected for later release into the ocean.
20 minutesGalle Fort
Day 12: full day beach relaxation - On your own
1 hourUnawatuna Beach
Day 13: Beach Holidays at the Southwest Coast - On your own
8 hoursGalle
Day 14: Beach Holidays at the Southwest Coast - On your own
1 dayGalle
Day 15: Transfer from the hotel to the Airport & End of Tour
1 dayKatunayake
No accommodation included on this day.
3 hoursIncluded
- 1 Double & 1 Triple room for 3 nights
- 2 nights accommodation at First House Mihintale on HB basis
- 500 ml bottled drinking water per person per day
- Air-conditioned comfortable Minivan
- All Parking charges
- All Transfers as per given Itinerary (Airport - Airport)
- Driver Room
- English-speaking Driver guide, other languages on request
- Hurulu Park and Yala 4X4 Jeeps for Safaris
- Passenger Insurance Cover of 500,000 LKR p.p
- Replacement a vehicle in case of unlucky events (New Driver)
- Taxes
- Total Toll Charges
- Tran Tickets 1st or 2nd or 3rd class on availability (Train Tickets should book 30 days in advance)
- 3x Breakfast
- 2x Dinner
- Accommodation included: 2 nights
Not Included
- 11 overnight stays outside Mihintale
- Beverages other than 500ml bottled water per person per day
- Entry Fees of visiting sites or activities
- Extra Excursions & persons in the the vehicle
- Travel Insurance & Luggage Insurance
- meals other than breakfast and dinner in First House Mihintale
Good to Know
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tickets & Cancellation
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.