Colombo Trip Overview
Culturally and historically, these tour destinations place a huge importance in Sri Lanka. Kandy is the last Royal Kindgom of Sri Lanka is Named as a UNESCO world heritage site along with Sigiriya and Dambulla which is also included in this tour. You will get the chance to visit the temple of tooth relic, hike the world famous Sigiriya rock fortress and a unique once in a life to experience the authentic rural lifestyle of Sri Lanka.
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-offs
• Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle with a travel guide driver
Additional Info
Duration: 3 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Culturally and historically, these tour destinations place a huge importance in Sri Lanka. Kandy is the last Royal Kindgom of Sri Lanka is Named as a UNESCO world heritage site along with Sigiriya and Dambulla which is also included in this tour. You will get the chance to visit the temple of tooth relic, hike the world famous Sigiriya rock fortress and a unique once in a life to experience the authentic rural lifestyle of Sri Lanka.
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-offs
• Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle with a travel guide driver
Itinerary
Day 1: Negombo/Colombo – Kandy
Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple.It is a must visit location for all tourists where they can catch a glimpse of the budhdhist rituals, explore the muesuem which include several ancient artifacts and pay tribute to the holy relic of Lord Buddha. The architectural splendor and the historical importance of the Dalada Maligawa are sure to amaze you.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Road, Peradeniya 20400 Sri Lanka
The royal botanical gardens are the oldest formal gardens in Sri Lanka. The botanical garden attracts more than 2 million visitors annually with more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees and is renowned for its collection of orchids and the long, palm framed pathways. Though the groundwork for the current gardens were laid in 1821 by Alexander Moon, the origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near the Mahaweli river so this garden has an historical importance of sorts. Initially established from plants brought from brought from Kew Garden in London, Slave Island Colombo today it is said that this garden is superior to Kew Garden.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue, Bahirawa Kanda Rd, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Bahirawakanda Viharaya which is located in close proximity to the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. It is one of the most enchanting sites that you can visit in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka. The incredible beauty of the brilliant white Buddha statue here will take your very breath away for sure! The statue has a height of 88 feet. It can be seen from many parts of the city. Coupled with the refreshing mountain breeze the magnificent statue sparkles the Gem that is Kandy city. The temple was built in the year 1972 so it has very little historic significance. But the mountain upon which the temple is perched has quite a number of remarkable stories weaved about it which will surely leave you in awe.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kandy Lake Club – Cultural Dance Show, 7 Sangamitta Mawatha, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Originally performed by Indian shamans, Kandyan dancing is a celebration of Sri Lankan tradition and culture. The traditional Kandyan dances include the Cobra Dance, Mask Dance and Ginisisila which will leave you amazed. The entire frenetic and colorful spectacle climaxes with an amazing fire-walking act. The dancers wear elaborate costume including a headdress, their chests only covered by a decorative beaded net. The Kandyan Dance is traditionally performed to percussion only, the most common drum is the ‘Geta Beraya’. To assist the dancer to keep rhythm a small pair of cymbals is also used. The drummers also have lyrics that are sung in tune with the movements of the dancer.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kandy Lake, Centre of Kandy City, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Enjoy the natural breeze which will calm your soul and relieve you of all weariness by taking a stroll around the Kandy Lake which will be the perfect way to end your day in Kandy. The lake was artificially created by King Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe, the last ruler in Kingdom of Kandy. The central island was used as Sri Wickrama Rajasinha’s personal harem. Later the British used it as an ammunition store and added the fortress-style parapet around the perimeter.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Stay in a 3 Star Hotel In Kandy
Day 2: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Kandy
Stop At: Pedro Tea Factory, Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is famous for its ‘Ceylon tea’, which is a favorite of many tea enthusiasts around the world. Pedro Tea Estate, located roughly 3-4km from Nuwara Eliya. Established in 1885, the factory is filled with the cranky machinery of the 19th century still. This spot is also where the first tea bushes were planted by James Taylor, giving start to the line of Ceylon tea that followed. The 20-minute tour of the factory will take you through the entire manufacturing process, from grading to packaging.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Victoria Park of Nuwara Eliya, A5, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
What was formally the research field of the Hakgala Botanical Garden, Victoria Park is a 27-acre public park situated at the centre of Nuwara Eliya city. The park received its name in 1897 as a way to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 60th year on her throne. Few places in Sri Lanka could compete with Victoria Park’s extensive array of flowering plants, with rare endemic flora to more intrepid blooms making an experience across the expanse of the park.The park comes under the local municipal council’s jurisdiction, which carefully maintains the many gardens within its parameters.The park is accessible to the public all year round, but it’s highly recommended to pay a visit during the months of March to May, and again in August to September, when the flowers are in full bloom, in order to get the most out of the experience.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Lover’s Leap Falls, Hawa Eliya, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
Located 5.5km from Nuwara Eliya, Lovers Leap is said to have gotten its name from the story of a young prince who had lost his way on a hunting trip and chanced upon a maiden, who he fell deeply in love with. Due to societal pressures and the disapproval of everyone around him, they couldn’t be together.And so, filled with anguish, the two decided to leap off the peak where the waterfall spills so that they could be together forever. Due to the superstitions held dear by the villagers, the waterfall is avoided at night (most likely due to the folklore).The gory side story aside, Lovers Leap is an impressive sight for sore eyes. Standing 30 metres tall, the cascading waterfall derives its water from the streams of the Piduruthalagala Mountain. Nearby, you can spot the Shiva shrine beside the rocky facade.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Post Office Nuwara Eliya, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
Built in the year 1894, the Nuwara Eliya Post Office building displays a Tudor-era design, in keeping with the architectural style of many of the other colonial buildings within the town.Complete with a red brick exterior and a clock tower spiralling out of the corner of the building, the building showcases a glimpse of old-world Ceylon and serves as a major tourist attraction in ‘Little England’.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka
Gregory Lake, located in the heart of Nuwara Eliya, is a reservoir constructed by British Governor by the name of Sir William Gregory in 1873 which was used to be a bog back in the day and had been through some times of tribulation. But once it was renovated and the lake’s water was directed through a tunnel to power a hydro power station, which it continues to do to this day. Today, it’s a lovely spot for people to relax, with many activities and a massive park lining it. Spanning 225 acres, Lake Gregory is the place to go for water activities in Nuwara Eliya, with the park serving as a great spot for picnics. You can find little ponies trotting along on the grass and boats that you could hire to go out on the lake and enjoy some serenity away from the noise. If you need to get away from the sun, there are private little huts where you can relax, and if you’re hungry, there is no shortage of food stalls in the park, selling you a variety of snacks and local delicacies.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Stay in a 3 Star Hotel In Kandy
Day 3: Kandy – Sigiriya – Dambulla – Negombo/Colombo
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
A stone monolith perched high above the jungle, its rock face and sculptures weathered by many centuries. An image of Sigiriya’s peculiar limestone plateau will defineitlely ignite your need to visit Sri Lanka.A once-hidden palace to an illicit king, Sigiriya is nicknamed Lion Rock for its formerly lion-shaped peak—of which the only remaining features are a pair of massive clawed feet. The fifth-century citadel is shrouded in mystery even to the locals who know it well, so no one could possibly resist scaling its steps in pursuit of its legends. Attracting 1.8 million Sri Lanka is new to the tourism spotlight, and Sigiriya has quickly become the island’s most-visited monument
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Golden Temple of Dambulla, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka
The Dambulla temple has five caves and 157 statues of the Lord Buddha, many paintings on the ceilings and walls that emphasis the artistic talent of ancient days. The history of the caves, rock and temple dates from the 1st century BC. The fascination of these caves is not only the statues but also the many intricate and delicate paintings that cover the ceiling and walls, created with indigenous traditional paints. Because of the history, archaeological and artistic implications, the premises were declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1991. The temple has been in use for over 22 centuries and still holds a sense of benevolence and spirituality. Visitors may climb up steps to the temple and the view from the top of the rock is as inspiring as the temple’s golden interior.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sigiriya Craft Village, Kimbissa, Sigiriya Sri Lanka
Traditional Village tour is where you could experience the authentic rural life and interact with real locals. People from both destination livelihood is based on agriculture predominantly, so walking in these villages will allow you to see vegetable fields, rice fields and various crops farmed by villagers.During this village walk you come across farmers in the farming fields, village vendors, lake fishermen, tree houses built to protect the crops from the wild animals and many. pend time with the villagers and understand village life. Engage in many village activities that form everyday life; such as an oxen cart ride, a catamaran ride and a walk through the fields. Learn to cook traditional Sri Lankan food. You will finish off with an exceptionally delicious buffet lunch, served in classic Sri Lankan style. This is your truly Sri Lankan holiday experience.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
