trip overview

Discover the diversity and authentic beauty of Sri Lanka on our 10-day Sri Lanka Essentials & itinerary. From tea plantations to temples, safari to sun-kissed beaches–this is the perfect way to experience it all!

It’s stylish. It’s meaningful. It’s unforgettable.

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Days 6 & 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10

Sri Lanka Welcome

Day 1

Arrive Sri Lanka

Ayubowan, and welcome to Sri Lanka! Once you have cleared all customs procedures in Colombo, you will be met by your English-speaking ambassador, driver, and guide, who will transfer you to your Galle hotel.

Once checked in, the remaining evening is at your leisure.

Overnight in Galle – you can choose your hotel and standards below

Sri Lanka Leopard

Day 2

Galle – Yala

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and meet your private English-speaking guide and driver for a walking tour of Galle, a vintage postcard town straight from the Dutch colonial area. Its paved streets, unique buildings, and history etched deep within its ancient architecture speak volumes about the island’s past.

Next, see the fishermen perched on stilts as they fish in the shallow waters. They use fly-fishing methods to capture small to medium fish that get carried with the currents onto the shore.

Before making the journey to Yala, visit the Galle Turtle Hatchery and watch as the eggs are incubated in the sand. Observe many species of Turtles, from Leatherback, Greenback, Loggerhead and Hawkbills, as they are protected and returned to the sea after hatching. Five of the seven known Turtles visit Sri Lanka’s shores yearly to lay eggs and continue this cycle.

Drive to Yala National Park for an afternoon Safari in the hopes to see the majestic leopard. The chances of you seeing a leopard here are relatively high compared to the other parks on the island. The parkland includes many lakes, rivers, and jungles where over 32 species of mammals, hundreds of bird species and many reptiles have been recorded.

Check into your Yala hotel where the rest of the evening will be at your leisure

Breakfast included
Overnight in Yala – you can choose your hotel and standards below

Sri Lanka Nuwara Eliya

Day 3

Yala - Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be driven to Nuwara Eliya with your private English-speaking guide for a tour of a local tea factory. Ceylon Tea is famous worldwide, and the tea leaves are carefully handpicked by women wearing sarees with big baskets they hang on their backs. Each day the woman can pick up to 40kgs of fresh leaves.

Next, you’ll visit Nuwara Eliya, a town surrounded by tea plantations. The atmosphere of a British countryside village and a hot cup of tea perfectly framed within a beautiful postcard scenery makes this a must-visit in your adventure in Sri Lanka.

Check into your Nuwara Eliya hotel where the rest of the evening will be at your leisure

Breakfast included
Overnight in Nuwara Eliya – you can choose your hotel and standards below

Sri Lanka Train

Day 4

Nuwara Eliya - Kandy (Train)

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head to the rail station with your private English-speaking guide to experience the spectacular subtropical spice and eucalyptus forest of the rail route to Kandy.

On arrival, Comfort travellers will check into their hotel where the rest of the day is at their leisure. Deluxe and Indulgence travellers will enjoy a Kandy cultural show, where dancers are adorned with colourful and ornate costumes while moving to drums and other instruments. Acrobatic movements, graceful movements and fire dancing are part of the performance before checking into their hotel for an overnight stay.

Breakfast included
Overnight in Kandy – you can choose your hotel and standards below

*Note: for any travellers visiting Sri Lanka between the 21-31st of August we recommend visiting the Kandy Esala Perahera annual event. This gorgeous cultural rehearsal of Kandy’s past glory carries a spiritual message too and it also shows the harmonious blending of Buddhism and Hinduism. More information can be found in your travel booklet, but please note this is at an additional cost.

Peradeniya Botanical Garden

Day 5

Kandy – Passikudah

After checking out of the hotel, you and your English-speaking driver will head to Temple of Tooth in your comfortable private car. Dating back to the 14th century, its tucked away in Kandy’s valleys; and is a reminder of the last Kandyan King, Wickrama Rajasinghe.

Next, Deluxe and Indulgence travellers will visit Peradeniya botanical garden, the largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka, elevated 500 ft above sea level and established during the British Colonisation.

Drive to the coastal resort town of Passikudah, where clear sand and deep blue waters offer an ideal setting for the next three nights.

Check into your hotel where the rest of the evening is at your leisure.

Breakfast included
3 nights in Passikudah – you can choose your hotel and standards below

Sri Lanka Passikudah

Days 6 & 7

Days at leisure

A short break from the journey can be a great opportunity to discover a new culture. Our guide will suggest places to visit, but today is about exploring Sri Lankan culture at your own pace. Take advantage of the lush green landscapes or take the day by the beach to build up that suntan!

Breakfast included

Sri Lanka Polonnaruwa

Day 8

Passikudah – Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya

After breakfast, check out from the hotel for a comfortable drive to Polonnaruwa, a “World Heritage Site” and the ancient capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th – 13th Centuries. Cycle through the spectacular statues, large stupas and rock shrines. The medieval capital was fortified with inner and outer moats and inner and outer walls.

Later, check into your hotel, where you will have the remaining day at your leisure.

Breakfast included
2 nights in Sigiriya – you can choose your hotel and standards below

Sri Lanka Sigiriya

Day 9

Sigiriya and Dambulla

It is best to visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress early in the morning before the sun gets hot, so after breakfast, begin climbing up the incredible summit.

Next, journey to Dambulla Cave Temple. Built in the first century B.C, is an enormous, isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. It sheltered King Walagamba’s caves during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne, he built one of the most magnificent Rock Temples in Sri Lanka.

Later, return to your hotel, where you will have the remaining day at your leisure.

Breakfast included

Day 10

Depart Sri Lanka

Depending on your chosen flight time, breakfast will be served at the hotel before being transferred by your English-speaking driver back to Colombo airport. Depending on your chosen airline, most flights will arrive in Australia the following morning.

Breakfast included

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Trip Highlights

Included in This Journey

  • 1 Night in Galle
  • 1 Night in Yala
  • 1 Night in Nuwara Eliya
  • 1 Night in Kandy
  • 3 Nights in Passikudah
  • 2 Nights in Sigiriya
  • Daily Breakfast
  • Private transfers with an English-speaking driver
  • All sightseeing as described in the program
  • Game drives at Yala National Park
  • Admission to sights
  • Private qualified licensed English-speaking local guide in each city
  • Refillable glass water bottle, to help preserve the environment
  • Gift Tea pack on departure
  • All taxes
  • In local destination representative or trip coordinator
  • All administrations

Choose your standard

*We try to include these hotel examples where available. If a selected hotel is unavailable for your requested dates, we will provide you with an alternative option that has been reviewed and rated similarly to the original property.

Need to Know Before You Go

  • A 20% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking
  • Final payment is due 60 days before departure

What Our Travellers Say

Frequently asked questions

Click and Trip is an Australian-owned online travel agency that helps independent travellers like you find and book alternatives to group tours. Skip the sales agent and book international holiday packages 24/7 via our online platform. Click here to learn more about our experience, credentials, and company values.

Private guided trips let you choose a package that suits your schedule, budget, and activity preference. Itineraries are set in advance though you choose the dates, travel companion(s), and comfort level.

Our fully inclusive holidays feature private drivers, local private guides, and private stays. We offer trips to suit every demographic imaginable, from couples to singles, retirees to families, and everyone in between.

Yes, infants and children are accepted to book onto this trip. Children under the age of 5 years will only incur a surcharge of 10% when sharing bed with parents. Children 5-12 years are required to have their own bed and are based on a triple share pricing.

We’re the sole Australian company for many of our travel partners as well as the exclusive vendor for some of our products. What’s more, we’re the first online travel agency to offer instant confirmation for private guided trips. Such bookings were previously limited to custom tours by sales agents. Needless to say, we’re proud to serve a niche market!

Click and Trip is accredited by the International Air Transit Association (IATA 02366862), which sets international standards for airline ticket sales. We also have more than 30 years of combined experience in the tourism industry. To learn more about our qualified representatives, click here.

Our holiday packages were designed with you in mind. This is no place for mass-marketed travel tours! Instead, we’ve handpicked our suppliers and arranged comprehensive support to ensure a unique and memorable experience.

We make it easy for you to plan, book and enjoy your next adventure. Select an itinerary based on your travel preferences, identify the best time to travel using our interactive weather maps and choose your preferred airline. After receiving confirmation, you can access your account, download travel checklists, book visas, and more. Let us simplify your experience!

Our three travel styles — Essentials, Explorer, and Adventurer — include a range of travel experiences. We also offer standards from comfort (3*) to ultra-luxurious (5*). Visit our trip styles page here to find your perfect fit.

Absolutely! You’ll still receive the same inclusions as a couple, family, or small group, plus private local guides and drivers. Our suppliers always provide a safe travel environment regardless of group preference. Please note our all-inclusive pricing for accommodation, transportation, and guides is charged per travel group. Solo travellers are charged a single supplement fee.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade highly recommends travel insurance for all overseas travellers. Click and Trip supports this recommendation and provides information on available policies, how to buy as well as other pointers.

Travel insurance protects against unforeseen events that could prevent you from travelling. Please don’t delay! We encourage travellers to book a policy after receiving their personalised documents. Travel insurance is normally covered from the day of purchase. In other words, you’ll be protected from incidents prior to departure, depending on your coverage.

At a minimum, your travel insurance should cover cancellation, medical and repatriation expenses. It should also include personal injury and accident, death, loss of personal baggage and money, as well as personal liability insurance.

Credit card companies and reciprocal medical coverage agreements do not always include comprehensive insurance. To learn more, talk to a recommended travel insurance provider or read our terms and conditions.

Our website was designed to be as user-friendly and automated as possible. Everything you need is easily accessible online, from en-route enquiries to booking terms and conditions. If you prefer to speak with someone, we have a call centre that can assist with any enquiries you may have about our trips or services. They can be reached on 1300 833 149. What’s more, our chat service is monitored daily, and we provide a WhatsApp number for existing bookings departing within 48 hours. Please note that we cannot take payments over the phone. Check out our Contact Us page to learn more.

Absolutely. Please indicate any special requests like bedding, dietary, or medical requirements on the confirmation page. We’ll do our best to accommodate your needs. Some airlines require advanced notification of dietary requirements, while other hotels limit capacity for rooms or suites. Please note that we cannot meet every request though we’ll do our best to make a memorable trip.

Not all of our vehicles are wheelchair accessible so we advise to please get in touch before booking to check your exact mobility requirements. Travellers should be reasonably fit to participate in all our trips. As always, please consult your doctor for all health enquiries before booking.

“From prices” are the best prices available within a calendar year; they’re generally based on two people sharing a room in the low season. Prices may be subjected to additional fees. For example, high-season travel, solo travel or larger group/room size may exceed the “from price.” International flight pricing depends on your airline choice, date, and routing.

Once payment is authorised, you’ll receive an email receipt and account activation. You can view your booking on your account by clicking on the man icon in the top right corner of any Click and Trip page. My Account lets you make additional selections like booking seats on flights. You can also check visas, vaccinations, airport lounge passes or view travel checklists. Personalised travel documents are available for download 3–6 days after making your booking.

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