Customized 11-Day Flexible Sri Lanka Tour with Private Car

Welcome to Sri Lanka! After you arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport, your private driver guide will warmly greet you at the airport and then transfer you to the well-selected hotel in Negombo which is close to the airport. It takes about 30 minutes. Upon arrival, you could relax at the hotel or step out to explore the city.

In the morning, your guided tour will start at Negombo Fish Market and Lella Fishing Village. You will get close to a different lifestyle of local fishermen and be amazed by the thousands of fresh and dried fish, crabs, shrimps, and other seafood placed neatly in lines.

After exploring the busy fish market, you will visit the Dutch Cannel, which dates back to the 8th century and was once the vital transportation channel connecting Negombo with Colombo. You will enjoy a peaceful scene comprising green water and tropical trees along the roadside.

Then, explore the Dambulla Cave Temple, the largest and best preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka.

After that, drive you to Sigiriya.

After breakfast, your guided tour will begin at Sigiriya the Ancient Rock Fortress, a definitely precious heritage with architectural wonders. Located high on a hilltop, the 1500-year-old rock fortress, which is 200 meters high, was once a royal palace comprising a moat, a large garden, and many halls. You will marvel at exquisite craftsmanship and enjoy a panoramic view of the boundless forest.

Later, turn to the Rural Villages of Hiriwadunna. Your eyes may catch the tea garden, vegetable plantations and even some flying butterflies. Thereafter, return to the hotel and take a good rest.

We will make a stopover at a Spice Garden. With a planting history of over 3,000 years, Sri Lanka is one of the biggest spice exporters in the world. You will get close to a variety of spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper and clove. It might be interesting to watch how to bark the cinnamon or how to grind the cardamom. You could also try essential oil of cinnamon and spiced snacks in the garden.

After arriving and checking in the hotel in Kandy, you will head for Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which the locals call “Sri Dalada Maligawa”. Housing the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, this temple is a world-famous Buddhist sanctuary and unquestionably one of the symbols of Sri Lanka.

You will next watch a brilliant Culture Dance Show after visiting the temple. The traditional Kandyan dance, which was a kind of sacrificial dance in ancient times, has been the representative of Sinhalese culture. You might interestingly find that there is no body anxiety among the performers. Although they don’t have a slim figure, their powerful and enthusiastic movements perfectly follow the music and rhythm of “Geta Beraya” drum. Then, your driver guide will send you back to your hotel.

After breakfast, you will step into a kitchen and learn to cook an authentic Sri Lankan lunch for yourself. Accompanied by a well-experienced local chef, your private cooking lesson might start from selecting fresh ingredients at the market. You will get insight into how to process the food and how to use different spices. Get ready to not only get an immersive cooking experience in a warm atmosphere, but also explore the country’s cooking culture and learn valuable culinary skills. Enjoy your self-made lunch and don’t forget to bring the taste of Sri Lanka home. After lunch, you will be sent back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to arrange.

Today, your first stop is Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. Situated west of Kandy, it is one of the best tropical botanical gardens in the world. People come here to learn something about plants, breathe fresh air and touch nature. There are over 4,000 native and overseas trees and flowers. Feast your eyes on colorful flowers in Orchid House where various species of orchids bloom all year round. Also don’t miss the giant Java Fig Tree and banyan trees which offer cool shade for family to have a picnic or lovers to date.

Then, we will proceed to Nuwara Eliya. On the way we will stop at Ramboda Falls. With a drop of 109 meters (358 ft.), it is one of the most beautiful and highest waterfalls in Sri Lanka. Climb the steps for a while and you will reach the view point, from which you can better appreciate the natural splendor and take some good pictures. If time permits, we will make a stopover at Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple. This Hindu temple is located on a hill, with golden roofs and walls. From the outside you can overlook the serene surrounding forests and valley.

With its pleasant scenery and cool climate, Nuwara Eliya once attracted a lot of British to settle here and got the nickname of Sri Lanka’s “Little England”. This little town has suitable environment for tea trees and has become the most important growing region of premium Ceylon black tea in the world. After arrival in Nuwara Eliya, you will visit a Tea Plantation & Tea Factory. Have a taste of fresh black tea and learn about the tea planting history and tea varieties. Experience the joy of picking some tea leaves in the plantation and watch how they are fermented and dried in the factory. After that, we will drive you to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Please have a big breakfast at hotel as you will take a long hiking journey in Horton Plains National Park toady, where lots of wild animals are likely to wonder around. You may also visit the World's End and Adams Peak if the weather is nice.

In the afternoon, we will take you to visit a local market in Nuwara Eliya. Markets in every city and town are a microcosm of the everyday life and offer you a chance to interact with local people. Besides fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, there are also stalls of flowers, handicrafts and black tea. It may be an enjoyment to see all the items placed in order at every stall. Remember to bargain hard if you want to buy something. Afterwards, you will be escorted to your hotel.

After checking out the hotel, you will be transferred to the Nanu Oya Railway Station to take the morning train to Ella. This is a picturesque journey with magnificent scenery.

When you get off the train in Ella, your local guide will pick you up and bring you to visit the Nine Arch Bridge, a popular scenic spot among tourists.

The hike is relatively easy and it takes about 1 hour to the top. You will start your climb from some tea plantations surrounded by green forests. As you climb higher, the trail may be steeper and rougher but the scenery will be more stunning and delightful. From the top, you could get a panoramic view of Ella Gap and the town of Ella.

Next, we will proceed to Ravana Falls, one of the widest waterfalls in the country. With a drop of 25 meters (80 ft.), the fall is particularly splendid during the rainy season with a look like an areca flower. Standing in front of the waterfall, you will be encompassed by fresh mist and the roaring sound of water. Don’t forget to capture the beautiful scene with your phone or camera.

Set up in 1938, it is one of the largest and most popular national parks in Sri Lanka. Get ready to have a close up view of various wildlife. Your guide will give you a better understanding of the species and behaviors of wild animals in the park. Yala National Park has the largest density of Sri Lankan leopards.

itness a unique way of fishing - Stilt Fishing. In the past, fishermen couldn’t afford to buy a boat for fishing, so they had no choice but to invent a new method to make a living. They sit on a cross bar called petta fixed in the shallow sea, with one hand holding firmly and the other hand fishing. Unfortunately, this tradition has become a show for tourists now. You may have seen some impressive photos of these stilt fishermen, while actually few people in Sri Lanka do that for a living in recent years. If you want to be a “stilt fisherman” yourself, you can pay to climb on the stilt and take some photos. Be careful while climbing because the stilt may be unsteady and cause a fall.

Next, we will proceed to visit Galle Dutch Fort - a perfect fusion of European architectural art and South Asian styles. With a history of nearly 400 years, it’s one of the best-preserved coastal fortresses in Asia. Stepping into this small town, you will be attracted by the narrow but clean streets and centuries-old buildings. Many old houses have been transformed into cafés, boutique hotels, shops or restaurants. You can still feel the traces of history through the wooden window and door frames, peeling walls and vintage decorations on them. The old churches and lighthouse are still standing there, telling the stories of the past. Strolling around the fort, the nostalgic ambience may take you back to a medieval town in Europe. After the visit, we will drive you to Bentota and help you check in at the hotel.

Your holiday in Sri Lanka is coming to an end today. Your driver guide will drive you for about 1.5 hours from Bentota to the airport in Colombo and see you off. Wish you have had a great time with us!