Travelling with a group of no more than 12 people, our new Small Group trips provide you with more space for your comfort and pleasure. Discover the colourful culture and history, friendly people, and the timeless wonders of Sri Lanka on the 8-day Splendours of Ceylon. An island blessed with green forests, vast sandy beaches and stunning ancient treasures, Sri Lanka is a true hidden gem of South-East Asia. Start your adventure at the metropolitan city of Colombo and explore impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered around the island. Hop on your jeep in Walpattu, Horton Plains and Minneriya to spot elephants or the famed Sri Lankan Leopard. Trek through lush forests, climb up to temples carved in huge boulders and have a sip of exotic Sri Lankan tea.
Duration
Destination
Start/Ends in
8 Days
Sri Lanka
Colombo / Colombo
Hotels
Group Size
Age Requirement
5 & 4 Star
4-12
18+
Trip Rating
Trip Theme
Departs
0
0 reviews
Classic,Overland
All Year Round
Why You’ll Love This Tour
Journey with a small group of 12 travellers at most, enjoy more personal space and embark on Safe Travels.
Adventure through the heart of Sri Lanka on this 8-day trip with local expert guides. Stay in the comfort of hand-picked 5 & 4-star hotels with all breakfasts included.
Witness the incredible migration of over 300 elephants are you park up the Jeep on the banks of Minneriya National Park Reservoir and watch on as one of the largest elephant gatherings in the world unfolds before your very eyes.
Visit the iconic Royal Cave Temple of Dambulla, sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the Gal Viharaya ‘Rock Temple’ of Polonnaruwa and plenty other UNESCO World-Heritage Listed sites with local, expert guides.
Experience pinch-yourself moments while trekking the highlands of Horton Plains. Then watch out for the thundering waterfalls and the beloved Sri Lankan Leopard on an included Jeep safari through the park.
Take a tour to the lush hillside of Sri Lanka’s famous tea plantations! Witness the process of making the presitigious Celyon Tea and try a cuppa’ yourself!
Start and finish your adventure in the commercial capital, Colombo with included international airport transfers.
The dense and lush forest of northern Sri Lanka's highest mountain, Mt Ritigala lays the ruins and rock inscriptions of a monastery dating back to 1st century BCE.
Colombo
Colombo is a cosmopolitan gateway to the wonders of Sri Lanka, boasting a rich colonial heritage, it is a melting pot of races, religions, and cultures.
Dambulla Rock
This UNESCO World Heritage Site features sanctified caves with centuries of tales that have shaped the five immaculate Buddhist shrine rooms open for visitors.
Minneriya
This national park is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers. Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Wewa.
Parakrama Samudra
The Parakrama Samudra, sometimes called the Sea of Parakrama was built as an irrigation solution, so as to supply water for the many paddy cultivations in the kingdom.
Samadhi Buddha Statue
Famous statue situated at Mahamevnāwa Park in the ancient city of Anuradhapura. The Buddha is depicted in the position of the Dhyana Mudra.
Temple of the Tooth
Ready to see something really ineteresting? The golden roofed temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic a tooth of the Buddha.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Welcome to Sri Lanka! Look out for the Travel Talk sign at Colombo International Airport for the private arrival shuttle to your hotel at 3.00pm. Meet in the hotel lobby around 7pm for an informal welcome meeting with your group and guide. Feel free to explore Colombo on your own pace until then. After the meeting, head out to a local restaurant for an optional tour group dinner and get to know your new travel mates!
Accommodation Fairway Colombo – 4 Star
Included Activities Welcome Meeting
Optional Activities Group Dinner
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 reserves, the 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 the 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.
Accommodation Palm Garden Village – 4 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Wilpattu Jeep Safari
Entrance Fees Wilpattu National Park – 2250 LKR
After breakfast, follow your guide to the ancient city of Anuradhapura to learn of one of the greatest and oldest civilizations in the world! Once home to 113 kings over 1,300 years, 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. Nestled within the dense and lush forest of northern Sri Lanka’s highest mountain, Mt 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 5-star Forest Hotel in Sigiriya.
Accommodation Amaara Forest Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Anuradhapura Sightseeing
Jeep Safari to Ritigala
Fill up on breakfast for the 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 and plenty of ancient palaces and royal baths. In the evening, visit the Minneriya National Park to witness the incredible migration of over 300 elephants! Park your Jeep on the bank of the reservoir, 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.
Accommodation Amaara Forest Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Polonnaruwa Tour on Bicycle
Minneriya Nationa Park Jeep Safari
Entrance Fees Polonnaruwa Ancient City – 3750 LKR
Minneriya Nationa Park – 2250 LKR
This morning we’ll make our way to Dambulla, a city treasured by many kings since the 1st century B.C to visit the iconic Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple of Dambulla. These unique cave structures host magnificent drawings and cave paintings with fascinating stories that shape Sri Lankan history. 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 & crafts centre, and fresh fruit and vegetable markets. Tonight we’ll sleep in 5-star comfort at our hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Accommodation Araliya Red Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Dambulla & Kandy Sightseeing
Entrance Fees The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy – 1500 LKR
Dambulla Cave Temple – 1500 LKR
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 7,000ft, 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 glimspe of the ‘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.
Accommodation Araliya Red Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities
Horton Plains Trekking & Jeep Safari
Entrance Fees
Horton Plains National Park – 2250 LKR
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 blanketed with lush green tea plants and tour 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! Then, make your way back to the commercial capital of Sri Lanka – Colombo. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a Panoramic City Tour through the clean streets edging the crystal white Racecourse, then visit the neighbourhood of Pettah – famous for it’s open-air floating markets and bazaars. Check out the city’s Independence Square and then 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 Fairway Colombo – 4 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Tea Factory Visit
Colombo Panoramic City Tour
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 Included
Breakfast
Day 1 Colombo
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Colombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka! Look out for the Travel Talk sign at Colombo International Airport for the private arrival shuttle to your hotel at 3.00pm. Meet in the hotel lobby around 7pm for an informal welcome meeting with your group and guide. Feel free to explore Colombo on your own pace until then. After the meeting, head out to a local restaurant for an optional tour group dinner and get to know your new travel mates!
Accommodation Fairway Colombo – 4 Star
Included Activities Welcome Meeting
Optional Activities Group Dinner
Day 2 Colombo, Wilpattu National Park Safari, Anuradhapura
Detailed Itinerary
Day 2 Colombo, Wilpattu National Park Safari, 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 reserves, the 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 the 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.
Accommodation Palm Garden Village – 4 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Wilpattu Jeep Safari
Entrance Fees Wilpattu National Park – 2250 LKR
Day 3 Anuradhapura, Ritigala Jeep Safari, Sigiriya
Detailed Itinerary
Day 3 Anuradhapura, Ritigala Jeep Safari, Sigiriya
After breakfast, follow your guide to the ancient city of Anuradhapura to learn of one of the greatest and oldest civilizations in the world! Once home to 113 kings over 1,300 years, 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. Nestled within the dense and lush forest of northern Sri Lanka’s highest mountain, Mt 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 5-star Forest Hotel in Sigiriya.
Accommodation Amaara Forest Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Anuradhapura Sightseeing
Jeep Safari to Ritigala
Day 4 Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya National Park, Sigiriya
Detailed Itinerary
Day 4 Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya National Park, Sigiriya
Fill up on breakfast for the 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 and plenty of ancient palaces and royal baths. In the evening, visit the Minneriya National Park to witness the incredible migration of over 300 elephants! Park your Jeep on the bank of the reservoir, 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.
Accommodation Amaara Forest Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Polonnaruwa Tour on Bicycle
Minneriya Nationa Park Jeep Safari
Entrance Fees Polonnaruwa Ancient City – 3750 LKR
Minneriya Nationa Park – 2250 LKR
Day 5 Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
Detailed Itinerary
Day 5 Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
This morning we’ll make our way to Dambulla, a city treasured by many kings since the 1st century B.C to visit the iconic Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple of Dambulla. These unique cave structures host magnificent drawings and cave paintings with fascinating stories that shape Sri Lankan history. 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 & crafts centre, and fresh fruit and vegetable markets. Tonight we’ll sleep in 5-star comfort at our hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Accommodation Araliya Red Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Dambulla & Kandy Sightseeing
Entrance Fees The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy – 1500 LKR
Dambulla Cave Temple – 1500 LKR
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 7,000ft, 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 glimspe of the ‘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.
Accommodation Araliya Red Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities
Horton Plains Trekking & Jeep Safari
Entrance Fees
Horton Plains National Park – 2250 LKR
Day 7 Nuwara Eliya, Tea Factory, Colombo
Detailed Itinerary
Day 7 Nuwara Eliya, Tea Factory, 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 blanketed with lush green tea plants and tour 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! Then, make your way back to the commercial capital of Sri Lanka – Colombo. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a Panoramic City Tour through the clean streets edging the crystal white Racecourse, then visit the neighbourhood of Pettah – famous for it’s open-air floating markets and bazaars. Check out the city’s Independence Square and then 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 Fairway Colombo – 4 Star
Meals Included Breakfast
Included Activities Tea Factory Visit
Colombo Panoramic City Tour
Day 8 Colombo
Detailed Itinerary
Day 8 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.
Arrival shuttle at 3.00pm on Day 1. Departure shuttle at 3.00pm on Day 8.
Tour Guiding
Services of experienced Travel Talk local guides licenced by the Ministry of Tourism
Free Wi-Fi
Complimentary hotel Wi-Fi access ( where available )
What is NOT included?
What is NOT included?
- Any flights not mentioned above
- Travel Insurance
- Meals not stated above
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips and gestures
- Entrance fees to the sights and museums
- Optional activities
- Other services not stated in the itinerary
Dates & Rates
All prices are per person, based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers not wishing to pay a single supplement will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender.
Fairway Colombo is a modern and stylish hotel located in the heart of the capital city. Colombo, and only 750 yards from the Khan Clock Tower.
PALM GARDEN VILLAGE
Anuradhapura
4 Star
Conveniently located in Anuradhapura, The stylish accommodation extends over 50 acres of land with a swimming pooling and beautiful garden surroundings.
AMAARA FOREST HOTEL
Sigiriya
5 Star
This 5-star luxury property is located in the Sigiriya Jungle, surrounded by wildlife and features an outdoor pool and views of the garden.
ARALIYA RED HOTEL
Nuwara Eliya
5 Star
Situated in Nuwara Eliya, hotel is close to Gregory Lake and has an amazing view of the surrounding mountains and various facilities such as a restaurant and a gym.
Accommodation
Colombo
FAIRWAY COLOMBO HOTEL
4 Star
Accommodation
Anuradhapura
PALM GARDEN VILLAGE
4 Star
Accommodation
Sigiriya
AMAARA FOREST HOTEL
5 Star
Accommodation
Nuwara Eliya
ARALIYA RED HOTEL
5 Star
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Why You’ll Love This Tour
Journey with a small group of 12 travellers at most, enjoy more personal space and embark on Safe Travels.
Adventure through the heart of Sri Lanka on this 8-day trip with local expert guides. Stay in the comfort of hand-picked 5 & 4-star hotels with all breakfasts included.
Witness the incredible migration of over 300 elephants are you park up the Jeep on the banks of Minneriya National Park Reservoir and watch on as one of the largest elephant gatherings in the world unfolds before your very eyes.
Visit the iconic Royal Cave Temple of Dambulla, sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the Gal Viharaya ‘Rock Temple’ of Polonnaruwa and plenty other UNESCO World-Heritage Listed sites with local, expert guides.
Experience pinch-yourself moments while trekking the highlands of Horton Plains. Then watch out for the thundering waterfalls and the beloved Sri Lankan Leopard on an included Jeep safari through the park.
Take a tour to the lush hillside of Sri Lanka’s famous tea plantations! Witness the process of making the presitigious Celyon Tea and try a cuppa’ yourself!
Start and finish your adventure in the commercial capital, Colombo with included international airport transfers.