Ragama Trip Overview
The lush green tropical island of Sri Lanka will surprise you with both diversity of nature and wonderful setting of heritage attractions. For a true Sri Lanka experience you should not miss to come into contact with locals and get an impression of their genuine culture(s). Our ambition as a local tour operator is not only to show you the most impressive touristic highlights but also country and people and some places of interest which remained untouched by mass tourism, plus a taste of local cuisine. Check and compare the details of the itinerary to find out how we make a difference.
This round tour does not include accommodation, this way allowing you to book the hotels or guesthouses of your own choice. This does not apply to the first three nights in Mihintale, when the accommodation is fixed. The reason is that you will come into contact with locals in my hometown and will have an opportunity to learn more about Sri Lankan cuisine in my own kitchen.
Additional Info
Duration: 15 days
Starts: Ragama, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Ragama Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Ragama, Western Province, Sri Lanka
The lush green tropical island of Sri Lanka will surprise you with both diversity of nature and wonderful setting of heritage attractions. For a true Sri Lanka experience you should not miss to come into contact with locals and get an impression of their genuine culture(s). Our ambition as a local tour operator is not only to show you the most impressive touristic highlights but also country and people and some places of interest which remained untouched by mass tourism, plus a taste of local cuisine. Check and compare the details of the itinerary to find out how we make a difference.
This round tour does not include accommodation, this way allowing you to book the hotels or guesthouses of your own choice. This does not apply to the first three nights in Mihintale, when the accommodation is fixed. The reason is that you will come into contact with locals in my hometown and will have an opportunity to learn more about Sri Lankan cuisine in my own kitchen.
Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer Colombo to Mihintale (4 hrs)
Pass By: Mihintale, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
On arrival at Colombo International Airport you will be warmly welcomed by our driver, who will transfer you to First House Mihintale near Anuradhapura, where you will stay for the first three nights. The driving time will be around four hours.
Overnight stay is included in Mihintale at First House
Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at First House Mihintale
Day 2: Mihintale & Around Mihintale
Stop At: Rajagiri Kanda Caves, Mihintale Sri Lanka
In Mihintale you will see more than the famous pilgrimage site around Ambasthala Dagabe, which is the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The extras of your full day in Mihintale include a meeting with a monk in the village, sightseeing at less-known places such as Rajagirilena and Doramadalawa, a hike to the best sunset point and an excursion to the crocodile lake and the nearby ancient stone bridge, which is more hidden than those of Anuradhapura but in a much better state of preservation. You can also have a look into a kitchen to learn more about typical Sri Lankan dishes.
Overnight stay is included in Mihintale at First House
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at First House Mihintale
Day 3: Excursion to Anuradhapura World Heritage Site
Stop At: Ruwanwelisaya, Abhayawewa Rd, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Visiting the World Heritage Site Anuradhapura, you will of course see the most famous attractions such as Bo-Tree, Ruwanweliseya Dagoba, Twin Ponds, Samadhi Buddha, Mahasena Palace moonstone. We will also show you the largest stupa of Asia and the famous carvings of Isurumuniya. But traveling with us, you can expect to find some hidden treasures additionally. We will show you a second moonstone that is almost equal in size and beauty when compared to the most famous one and the large so-called rice boats of ancient monasteries and the remnants of 1500 years old cave paintings and last not least an ancient pleasure garden where you can study one of the most enigmatic rock carvings at all.
Overnight stay is included in Mihintale at First House
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at First House Mihintale
Day 4: Trasfer from Mihintale to Nilaveli Beach – Tricomalee
Stop At: Kiralagala Archaeological Reserve, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Travelling from Anuradhapura or Mihintale to Trincomalee or Nilaveli Beach is just a transfer for most tourists. Only few people know, that this route is crossing an area crowded with archaeological sites that really deserve a break. Depending on your preferences and your physical condition, you will have a choice: You can either see the large ancient site of Veherabandigala (in today’s Kiralagala), which is the first settlement of the austere fraternity of Buddhist reform monks known as Pansukulikas, or you can climb the rock of Madagama, which is the best view point in the area and also an archaeological site due to its caves that were once inhabited by reclusive monks. Madagama is still a forest monastery, where monks are not used to be visited by foreign guests.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Velgam Vehera, Vilgam Vihara Road, Trincomalee 31000 Sri Lanka
Before arriving in Trincomalee, we will definitely visit the excavations of Velgam Vehera, a rare example of a Buddhist temple that was significantly enlarged and embellished during the period of foreign occupation of the island under the rule of the Hindu Cholas from southern India.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Thirukkoneswaram Kovil (New Temple), Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
In the late afternoon we will proceed to Trincomalee, where we cross the Durch Fort Frederik to reach the promontory on top of which is the most famous Hindu temple of Sri Lanka, Konneshvaram Kovil dedicated to Lord Shiva. In this temple or the Kali temple in twon you can join a Puja ceremony led by Brahmin priests, an unforgettable impression of the island’s Tamil culture.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nilaveli, Nilaveli, Eastern Province
Proceed to your your sand beach of Nilaveli.
The accomodation is of your own choice and not included in the tour Costs.
Duration: 10 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 5: Leisure at the beaches near Trincomalee
Stop At: Nilaveli Beach, Nilaveli Sri Lanka
Enjoy one full day at Sri Lanka’s largest sandy beach. Nilaveli Beach is 10 km long. If you like to enjoy more sightseeing instead, there are several excursions that can be easily organized by the driver on your request, for example boat rides to the coral reefs of Pigeon Island or in the Lagoon of Sinnakarachchi. A half-day excursion by car would allow you to see the rarely visited heritage site of Tiriyai, with the island’s best preserved circular temple atop a hill.Enjoy one full day at Sri Lanka’s largest sandy beach. Nilaveli Beach is 10 km long. If you like to enjoy more sightseeing instead, there are several excursions that can be easily organized by the driver on your request, for example boat rides to the coral reefs of Pigeon Island or in the Lagoon of Sinnakarachchi. A half-day excursion by car would allow you to see the rarely visited heritage site of Tiriyai, with the island’s best preserved circular temple atop a hill.
Accomodation is of your own choice & not included
Duration: 10 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 6: Habarana & Sigiriya
Stop At: Ritigala Forest Monastery, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka
On the way from Trincomalee to your next destination, the area of Sigiriya, you will explore the ruins of Ritigala hidden in the jungle at the slope of the highest hill in the northern half of Sri Lanka. This was the largest monastery of the Pansukulikas. You can discover several of their typical so-called meditation platforms in the jungle on both sides of an ancient meditation path and an Ayurvedic hospital. This region is famous for the abundance in medicinal herbs.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
The afternoon is the best time to see the famous Lion Rock of Sigiriya, being Sri Lanka’s most imposing ancient site. A large number of unique features make this former fortified city extraordinary indeed, one of Asia’s earliest water gardens outside Persia, the island’s best preserved paintings from antiquity, graffities with the earliest know poems composed in Sinhala language, the giant paws of a former lion sculpture, the palace or temple on top of the rock, sometimes called “Sri Lanka’s Machu Picchu”.
Accomodation is of your own choice & not included
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 7: Full day around Sigiriya & Afternoon Jeep Safari
Stop At: Pidurangala Rock, Pidurangala,Sigiriya, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
The early morning is the best time to climb Pidurangala, which is the neighbouring rock of Sigiriya. The view to Sigiriya is the most spectacular in the entire Cultural Triangle area. Pidurangala is an attraction in itself. One of the rock shelters harbours the best example of a recumbent Buddha built from bricks.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Dambulla Royal Cave Temple, Kandy – Jaffna Highway, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka
Dambulla is the largest cave temple in Sri Lanka. It’s famous for the numerous Buddha sculptures from various periods and the most impressive paintings from in the Kandyan style. When visiting the so-called “Golden Temple”, be aware that this is one of the oldest surviving monasteries on earth still inhabited by monks.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Minneriya National Park, Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway, 50150 Sri Lanka
In the afternoon take part in an elephant safari. The jeep safari will usually take place in Minneriya National Park, where you can see the world’s largest herd of Asian elephants during the summer months. Alternatively, due to the annual migration of the wild animals, the jeep safari could take place in Kaudulla National Park or Hurulu Eco Park, depending on the seasonally changing favourite gathering places of the elephants.
Accomodation is of your own choice & not included.
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 8: Transfer from Sigiriya or Habarana to Kandy
Stop At: Nalanda Gedige, Matale 21152 Sri Lanka
A special detour will lead to the small but extraordinary temple of Nalanda Gedige. It’s remarkable for at least five reasons. Firstly, this is Sri Lanka’s only surviving temple completely built of stone. Secondly, it’s the best example of architecture in the classical South Indian Pallava style found anywhere on the island. Thirdly, it was a Mahayanist temple and even one of Sri Lanka’s rare places of tantric worship. Furthermore, Nalanda Gedige has Sri Lanka’s only ancient depictions of sexual intercourse. Last not least, the temple earned the nickname “Sri Lanka’s little Abu Simbel”, as it had to be replaced and rebuilt due to a reservoir project.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ranweli Spice Garden, No. 99 Kaudupellella, Matale 21000 Sri Lanka
Enjoy a break at a herbal and spice garden, where you can see most of the famous spice plants of the tropical regions of Asia and learn more about the use of herbal medicine in traditional healing practices of Ayurveda. A herbal tea will be served for free.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple, Matale, Aluvihara Aluvihara Junction, Matale Rd, Matale 21000 Sri Lanka
Next, you will visit the Aluvihara, which according to Theravada traditions was the place of the fourth Buddhist council, which took place in the 1st century BC. This was the event that laid down the Sacred Scriptures of Buddhism, the so-called Tipitaka, in written form for the very first time. Sri Lanka is proud to be the nation that has conserved the only complete version of the “Buddhist Bible” in an original Indian language, Pali. The Aluvihara is still a place of scholarship and calligraphy. You can study the production of palm leave manuscripts in the new building serving as a museum. The nearby caves and rocks are definitely worth a visit, too.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Matale, Matale, Central Province
We will have a short photo stop close to the largest Hindu temple tower (Gopuram) in central Sri Lanka. The Tamil temple in Matale is dedicated to the goddess Muthu-Mariamman.
Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
In the evening you will join a Puja ceremony in Sri Lanka’s most renowned Buddhist shrine, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.
Accomodation is of your own choice & not included
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 9: Full Day in Kandy
Stop At: Kandy Lake, Centre of Kandy City, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing and relaxing in Kandy, the island’s charming hill capital. You will see all the famous places such as Senani view point and Victoria Hotel at Kandy Lake and have various shopping opportunities. As a special extra, the guide will show you a local food market and other shops frequented more by locals than by tourists.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Road, Peradeniya 20400 Sri Lanka
In the afternoon you can walk around in the largest and oldest botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, belonging to the University of Peradeniya. You can relax under the giant Java fig or on another one of the meadows inviting for a rest.
Accomodation is of your own choice & not included
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 10: Sightseeing in the Tea HighSightseeing in Tea Highlands & Nuwara Eliya & 3 hrs Train Journey to Ellalands &
Stop At: Ramboda Waterfall, Pussellawa Sri Lanka
Have a break of your journey at the waterfalls known as Rama Falls in Ramboda. The water is coming through the Rama rocks. Enjoy the scenic views of the Ramboda area and Kotmale valley.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden, A5, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
When visiting the tea factory of Damro, in one of Sri Lanka’s largest tea plantations historically known as Labookellie, you will learn more about all the steps of the tea leaf processing, withering, rolling, oxidation/fermentation, drying, and quality sorting. Afterwards you take a break with a complimentary cup of tea and have shopping oppurtunities.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka’s highest situated town. Due to it’s cool climate it attracted English farmers growing potatoes and vegetables and soon afterwards also the colonial high society from Colombo, for enjoying their spare time and exercising their favourite sports. The flair of a British Hill Station is the reason why Nuwara Eliya earned the nickname “Little England”. On your small city tour you will see the post office famous for its English style of timber framing and other colonial buildings such Grand Hotel and Hill Club, have a view to the golf course and the race course and see Gregory Lake outside town.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ella, Ella, Uva Province
From Nanu Oya near Nuwara Eliya, you will take the afternoon train to Ella. This part of the famous tea-highlands railroad is famous for the large number of short tunnels and the views on the left side to the so-called Uva tea region.
Accomodation is of your own choice & not included
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 11: Hiking near Ella & Yala Safari
Stop At: Little Adam’s Peak, Passara Road, Ella 90090 Sri Lanka
In the morning, you will enjoy a short hike to the so-called “Little Adam’s Peak” near Ella. This is one of the most amazing vantage points in the southern range of the highlands. From here, you can overlook the entire Ella Gap and the southern plains with the hills of Kataragama in the background.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Rawana Falls, Wellawaya-Ella-Kumbalwela Hwy, Ella 90090 Sri Lanka
When crossing the Ella Gap, we will have a photo stop at the Ravana Falls, the name is referring to the legendary King Ravana of Lanka, a major character of the Indian Ramayana epic. Local legend has it, that after abducting Sita from India, he held her in captivity for a short while in a nearby cave.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Yala National Park Sri Lanka
After proceeding to Tissamaharama, you will join an afternoon jeep safari in Sri Lanka’s most famous and most scenic national park, Yala. Crossing the entire Yala Block 1, chances to observe wild leopards are around 50%.
The Jeep in Yala is included, national park fees and accommodation are not included
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 12: Along the South Coast to Galle (3 hrs)
Stop At: Ussangoda National Park, Sri Lanka
Driving along the South Coast of Sri Lanka, you will enjoy a small detour to one of the smallest national parks. Actually, it’s protected for its rare grasses. The coastline of this small national park is quite picturesque and rarely visited by foreigners.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Hummanaya Blow Hole, Kudawella, Tangalle Sri Lanka
On your way along the south coast, you will have a break at the Hoomaniya Blow Hole. Blow Holes are natural fountains like geysers, but even rarer. This fountain in Sri Lanka is South Asia’s only Blow Hole at all.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kushta Raja Gala, Matara Sri Lanka
Near Weligama, there will be a small detour to the so-called Kushtaraja, which translates to “Leper King”. This is a rock-cut Buddhist statue with Mahayanistic characteristics.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Sea Turtle Conservation Project (Koggala), Mathara Road, Koggala 80630 Sri Lanka
In the Koggala Sea Turtle Farm & Hatchery you can observe several of the species of sea turtles occuring in Sri Lanka and their offspring, saved and protected for later release into the ocean.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Galle, Galle, Galle District, Southern Province
Galle Dutch Fort, also known as Old Town of Galle, is a World Heritage Site, it’s the best preserved European fortress from the colonial period in Asia. You can walk along the ramparts and visit the museums or boutiques in town.
Please choose your preferred beach for the final days of your beach holidays, in or near Galle, Unawatuna Beach, Talpe Beach, Koggale Beach or Mirissa Beach. Accommodation is not included in the tour costs.
The driver will make his farewell in the evening, as he does not return during the next two days of your beach relaxation. For your convenience, please inform the driver about your return flight details, allowing us to pick you up in time on departure day.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 13: Beach Holidays at the Southwest Coast – On your own
Stop At: Galle, Galle, Galle District, Southern Province
You spend the final days of your holidays at one of the South Coast beaches between World Heritage Site Galle and Whale Watching Destination Mirissa.
During the days of relaxation you will stay on your own, the vehicle and driver will not be available.
Duration: 1 day
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 14: Beach Holidays at the Southwest Coast – On your own
Stop At: Galle, Galle, Galle District, Southern Province
You spend the final days of your holidays at one of the South Coast beaches between World Heritage Site Galle and Whale Watching Destination Mirissa.
During the days of relaxation you will stay on your own, the vehicle and driver will not be available.
Duration: 1 day
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 15: Transfer from the hotel to the Airport & End of Tour
Stop At: Katunayake, Katunayake, Negombo, Western Province
On departure day the driver will pick you up at the appointed time at your hotel and transfer you to the airport.
We hope to welcome you again on our tropical island soon.
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
