9 Nights / 10 Days Grand Ceylon
Colombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala and Galle — the definitive Sri Lanka circuit.
Trip Highlights
What makes this journey special
UNESCO cultural triangle & Sigiriya Rock
Blue-train ride through the tea hills
Yala safari & southern beach sunsets
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your journey, unpacked
Destinations, stays, food and activities for every day of the trip. Every detail is customisable — chat with us on WhatsApp to fine-tune.
Day 1Colombo · Negombo
Arrival in Colombo
Warm welcome at Bandaranaike International Airport and a scenic transfer to your Negombo beachfront hotel to unwind after the flight.
Stay
Jetwing Beach, Negombo (4★ beachfront)
Food
- • Welcome fresh king coconut
- • Seafood platter dinner by the Indian Ocean
Activities
- Airport meet & greet with your private guide
- Sunset stroll along Negombo Beach
- Trip briefing over Ceylon tea
Day 2Negombo → Dambulla → Sigiriya
Cultural Triangle — Sigiriya
Drive inland to the ancient kingdoms. Explore Dambulla Cave Temple before an evening village experience in Sigiriya.
Stay
Aliya Resort & Spa, Sigiriya
Food
- • Sri Lankan rice & curry village lunch
- • Buffet dinner with hoppers station
Activities
- Dambulla Golden Cave Temple visit
- Traditional bullock cart & catamaran ride
- Cooking demo in a local home
Day 3Sigiriya · Minneriya
Lion Rock & Minneriya Safari
Sunrise climb of the 5th-century Sigiriya rock fortress, followed by an afternoon jeep safari to see wild elephant herds.
Stay
Aliya Resort & Spa, Sigiriya
Food
- • Packed sunrise breakfast
- • Curry lunch at a paddy-field café
Activities
- Sigiriya Rock climb with a heritage guide
- Minneriya National Park elephant safari
- Sunset over Kandalama tank
Day 4Sigiriya → Matale → Kandy
Spice Trails to Kandy
Journey to the hill capital via Matale spice gardens. Evening cultural show and visit to the sacred Temple of the Tooth.
Stay
Cinnamon Citadel, Kandy
Food
- • Ayurvedic spice-garden tasting
- • Rooftop dinner overlooking Kandy Lake
Activities
- Matale spice & herbal garden tour
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Kandyan dance & fire-walking performance
- Day 5
Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
Blue Train to the Tea Country
Board Sri Lanka's most scenic train through emerald tea estates and misty peaks up to 'Little England'.
Stay
The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
Food
- • Tea-factory high tea
- • British-colonial dinner with local wines
Activities
- Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens
- Kandy → Nanu Oya scenic train ride
- Tea factory & plantation visit
Day 6Nuwara Eliya → Ella
Ella Highlands
Continue through waterfalls and viewpoints to boho hillside town Ella — Nine Arches Bridge and Little Adam's Peak await.
Stay
98 Acres Resort, Ella
Food
- • Kottu roti street lunch
- • Farm-to-table dinner on the terrace
Activities
- Nine Arches Bridge train spotting
- Little Adam's Peak sunset hike
- Ravana Falls photo stop
Day 7Ella → Yala
Yala Safari
Descend to the dry southern plains for a full afternoon jeep safari in Yala — home to the highest leopard density in the world.
Stay
Cinnamon Wild Yala
Food
- • Bush brunch en route
- • Wildlife-lodge BBQ dinner
Activities
- Afternoon jeep safari in Yala Block 1
- Leopard, elephant & sloth-bear spotting
- Sundowners at the waterhole hide
Day 8Yala → Mirissa
Southern Beaches — Mirissa
Coastal drive to the palm-fringed south. Optional whale-watching cruise or a lazy afternoon on Coconut Tree Hill.
Stay
Weligama Bay Marriott Resort
Food
- • Fresh crab curry lunch
- • Beachfront seafood grill
Activities
- Optional Mirissa whale-watching (Nov–Apr)
- Coconut Tree Hill sunset
- Weligama surf lesson
Day 9Mirissa → Galle → Bentota
Galle Fort & Stilt Fishermen
Walk the Dutch colonial ramparts of Galle Fort, meet the iconic stilt fishermen, then relax at a beach resort in Bentota.
Stay
Cinnamon Bey, Bentota
Food
- • Boutique café brunch inside the Fort
- • Farewell candlelit beach dinner
Activities
- Galle Fort heritage walk
- Enjoying Bentotta Beach
- Madu River mangrove boat safari
Day 10Bentota → Colombo Airport
Departure
Morning at leisure by the beach before your private transfer to the airport with all the memories of Ceylon.
Stay
Day-use lounge on request
Food
- • Sri Lankan breakfast — string hoppers, kiribath
Activities
- Beach morning at leisure
- Souvenir stop at a Colombo craft market
- Private airport transfer
Ready to explore Ceylon?
Send us a WhatsApp message and we'll confirm dates, tailor the itinerary and answer any questions — usually within an hour.
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