 Volata Travels & Events (PVT) LtdHot Line / WhatsApp: +94 71 694 6693 / +94 71 897 9909info@volatatravels.com | www.volatatravels.com |
431/1/1 Kandy Road, Dalugama, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka | General line: +94 11 227 3732 | SLTDA License: SLTDA/SQA/TA/02471 |
Private Tour · 4★ hotels 15 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Trincomalee, Anuradhapura & Yala – 4-Star Hotels4-star hotel version: Fifteen days of ancient capitals, east-coast sand, tea country and a Yala jeep safari, finishing on the Bentota coast with your own driver-guide all the way. Private Tour · 4★ hotelsModerate intensityEnglish-speaking guide Tour priceFromUSD 1,764per person This 15 day Sri Lanka tour with Trincomalee and Anuradhapura is built for travellers who want more than a quick loop of the famous sights. It spends four nights around Sigiriya so that the ancient cities can be visited one at a time, adds a night on the east coast, climbs by train into the tea hills, goes looking for leopards in Yala and ends with a few slow days beside the sea on the south-west coast. A private vehicle, an English-speaking driver-guide and a comfortable hotel each night mean you only have to decide how much energy you have on a given morning. Stay in 4-star hotelsThis version of the tour is booked in 4-star hotels for all 14 nights: Amaya Lake in Sigiriya, a comfortable 4-star hotel in Trincomalee, Amaya Lake in Sigiriya, Mahaweli Reach Hotel in Kandy, Araliya Green Hills in Nuwara Eliya, Chaarya Resort & Spa in Tissamaharama, Temple Tree Resort & Spa in Bentota and Fairway Colombo in Colombo, or similar hotels of the same standard. Rooms are double or twin, or single if you travel alone, with breakfast included each morning. The route, the sightseeing and your private driver-guide are the same as on the 3-star and 2-star version of this tour, so the difference is a more comfortable room, a better restaurant and pool, and in most places a quieter setting. Lunch, dinner, entrance fees, activity fees and train tickets are not included in the price. Who the 15 day Sri Lanka tour with Trincomalee and Anuradhapura suitsIt suits couples, friends and families with older children who have two weeks to spare and would rather see fewer places properly than many places in a rush. The pace is steady rather than gentle: there are a few early starts, one real climb at Sigiriya and some long days on the road. In return you get long stretches without a change of hotel, and a final week that is mostly about scenery, wildlife and the beach. If you enjoy history, you will be happiest here, because three of the island's old royal capitals are visited properly, not in an hour. The route and where you sleepYou land at Colombo airport and head inland, stopping at the elephant orphanage at Pinnawala on the way to Sigiriya, where you stay for one night. Next day you cross the island to Trincomalee for a night by the Indian Ocean, then return to Sigiriya for three further nights. That base is the heart of the trip: Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla on one day, Polonnaruwa on the next and Anuradhapura on the third. After that you drive south through Matale to Kandy for two nights, ride the train to Nuwara Eliya for two more, and travel down through Ella to Tissamaharama, where two nights cover a morning in Yala. The final stretch is two nights in Bentota, with a stop at Galle on the way, and one night in Colombo before your flight. Moments you will rememberTrincomalee comes first and it feels different from everything else on the route. The bay is one of the great natural harbours of the east, the Koneswaram temple stands on a headland above the water, and the long beach at Nilaveli looks across to Pigeon Island. Sigiriya is the physical highlight: you climb the rock in the cool of the morning, pass the painted maidens and the lion's paws and stand among the palace ruins with the forest spread out below. Anuradhapura is the spiritual one, a city of vast white stupas and a sacred fig tree where pilgrims still bring flowers each day. The mountains give you the train from Kandy up to Nanu Oya, a slow ride through tea terraces and tunnels that many guests describe as the best hours of their trip. Then comes a morning jeep safari in Yala, where a leopard is a good chance but never a promise. Madu River's mangrove channels and the walled streets of Galle Fort round off the coast. Comfort, meals and your driver-guideYou travel in an air-conditioned private car or van with the same driver-guide throughout. He handles the roads, explains what you are looking at, suggests where to eat lunch and adjusts the day if the weather or your mood changes. Rooms are in comfortable hotels chosen for their position, and the plan is bed and breakfast, meaning breakfast is included each morning while lunch and dinner are left free, so that you can eat locally. Entrance fees, jeep fees and the train ticket are paid separately and your guide will explain each one before you reach it. Best time for this tourNo single month suits every region. The east coast and the ancient cities are at their best from April to September, and Yala is also good in the drier months. The hills and the south-west coast are kinder from December to March. Late March and April therefore make a useful overlap, though the tour works in other months too with a little flexibility. Nuwara Eliya is cool all year, so pack a jumper for the evenings. Make it your ownEvery day here can be changed. If you would rather skip the temple of Dambulla and spend longer at the lake, or swap the Yala safari for the elephants at Udawalawe, tell us and we will adjust the plan. You can also shorten the Sigiriya section, add a night in Ella or choose a different beach for the finish. Send us your dates and your interests, and we will reply with a tailored version of this itinerary and a clear price. Tour highlights
Day-by-day itinerary Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Colombo airport with a name board, and from there the road runs inland towards the Cultural Triangle. The first stop is Pinnawala, roughly an hour and a half from Colombo, so you can stretch your legs after the flight and see something lively before the long drive on. The elephant orphanage was set up in 1975 on a former coconut estate beside the Maha Oya river. It was created for young elephants found alone or hurt in the forest, and today it holds a large herd of all ages. Calves under three are still fed by bottle, and it is a charming moment to watch a keeper tip one back. Twice a day the whole herd is led through the town to the water, and the sight of dozens of elephants splashing, rolling and spraying one another is the reason most people come. Plan on two hours or so, and wear shoes you do not mind getting dusty. After lunch you continue north through Kurunegala and the dry-zone plains, with the landscape turning flatter and greener as you go. Altogether the journey from the airport to Sigiriya takes about three and a half to four hours, with the Pinnawala stop on top. You reach your hotel in the late afternoon, in time for a swim or a rest, and the hotel restaurant is handy for dinner. Tomorrow is a long drive to the east coast, so an early night is sensible. If you land very early and feel tired, tell your driver; the stop at Pinnawala can be shortened without losing the best part, the river bath. Accommodation Amaya Lake or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast you leave the dry-zone interior and head north-east to the coast. The road from Sigiriya to Trincomalee takes roughly three hours, passing villages, scrub forest and rice fields, and your driver will stop for a drink or a roadside snack if you ask. Trincomalee has one of the finest natural harbours in the world and a history that reaches far back. Some scholars link the area with Gokana, a place named in the ancient chronicle called the Mahavamsa, and Hindu tradition connects its hill shrine with the mountain Trikuta mentioned in the Vayu Purana. The bay has drawn traders, kings and colonial fleets for centuries, yet the town itself is calm and unhurried, and the people are noticeably relaxed with visitors. You begin at Nilaveli, a long sweep of pale sand north of town that faces Pigeon Island. Depending on the sea and the season, you can walk the shore, swim or arrange a short boat trip and snorkel over the shallow reef, which is an optional extra. In the afternoon you turn to the town: Fort Frederick, a colonial-era stronghold on the headland, and the Koneswaram temple, reached by a path through the fort. The Hindu shrine is one of the sacred sites devoted to Shiva, and from its cliff edge you look straight down onto the Indian Ocean. Remove your shoes at the entrance and cover shoulders and knees. The evening is free for the beach and a seafood dinner, either at your hotel or at a restaurant nearby. The east-coast sea is calmest between about May and September, and outside those months the water can be rougher, though the temple and fort visits are not affected. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Comfortable 4-star hotel in Trincomalee or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Leave the coast early, because the best time to climb Sigiriya is before the heat builds. The drive back inland takes about three hours, and with a prompt start you can be at the foot of the rock by mid-morning. Sigiriya was built by King Kashyapa in the 5th century as a palace on top of a granite monolith, and local people sometimes call it the eighth wonder of the world. You walk first through the symmetrical water gardens, then up a staircase fixed to the rock face. Along the way you pass a sheltered gallery of painted women, a polished wall once so glossy that the king could see himself in it, and the giant paws of a lion that guarded the final flight. The last stretch is steep and open, and you should allow about two hours up and down. At the top, the foundations of the palace and a rock-cut pool sit above a sea of treetops. Carry water and a hat. By early afternoon you are ready for a gentler outing. A village near Sigiriya offers a bullock-cart ride through paddy fields, a paddle in a traditional outrigger boat on a small tank, a look at chena cultivation, where farmers clear a patch of forest for seasonal crops, and a cooking demonstration in a family house. Lunch is a home-cooked rice and curry eaten there. Late in the afternoon your driver takes you to the cave temple at Dambulla, a short drive away. Five caves lie beneath a vast overhanging rock that rises roughly 160 metres above the plains, and they hold 153 Buddha statues, three kings and four deities, with painted ceilings above. UNESCO listed the site in 1991. Climb the steps barefoot, as the surface is warm, and return to your hotel for dinner. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Amaya Lake or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Polonnaruwa lies roughly an hour to an hour and a half from Sigiriya, and the ruins are spread across a quiet, shaded area close to the great Parakrama Samudra reservoir. You arrive in the morning, when the light is soft and the stone is still cool. The city rose to importance after King Vijayabahu drove out the Chola rulers in 1070 and brought the island under local rule again. His successor Parakramabahu governed from 1153 to 1186 and is remembered for a huge network of irrigation tanks, some so large that they look like inland seas. The rice they supported gave Sri Lanka its old nickname, the Granary of the East. What you see today is one of the best-planned ruined cities in the country, and it is easy to follow the layout of a royal capital that once had palaces, council halls and monasteries side by side. Your driver-guide takes you through the main groups in order. The Vatadage is a circular relic house whose carved stone platforms and guardstones are among the finest in the island. The remains of the royal palace show how tall the building once was, with thick walls still standing, and the council chamber nearby has carved lions and elephants along its base. The highlight for many is Gal Vihara, where four Buddha figures are cut from a single granite slab, one of them reclining with a calm expression. Plan three to four hours on site, with shoes removed near the shrines. If you still have energy in the late afternoon, you can drive on to Pidurangala for a sunset view of Sigiriya; otherwise you return to your hotel for a swim and dinner. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Amaya Lake or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Anuradhapura is the oldest of the island's great capitals, and it feels different from Polonnaruwa because it is still a place of living worship. The drive from Sigiriya takes about one and a half to two hours, heading north-west across flat farmland, and you should arrive before the sun is high. For many centuries the city was the centre of Theravada Buddhism, and UNESCO placed it on the World Heritage list in 1982 as the Sacred City of Anuradhapura. The site is large, with monasteries, ponds and ruined palaces scattered between modern streets, so your guide will pick a sensible circuit and use the car between the main groups. The first stop is usually the Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred fig said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha reached enlightenment. It was planted in the 3rd century BC, and pilgrims in white clothes still leave flowers and light lamps around it. Not far away stands the Ruwanwelisaya, a gleaming white dome ringed by a wall of elephants, and the much larger Jetavanaramaya, built of brick and once among the tallest structures in the ancient world. You can also visit the Twin Ponds, an elegant bathing pool for monks, and the stone-carved moonstones at the entrances of old shrines. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, carry a scarf if you like, and expect to take your shoes off often. Stone pavements get hot at midday, so thin socks are useful. After a late lunch, you drive back to Sigiriya, arriving for dinner and an early night. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Amaya Lake or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today you leave the dry plains behind and climb into the hills. The road from the Sigiriya area to Kandy takes roughly two and a half to three hours, and the first break is at Matale, a market town on the way. A spice garden here is a pleasant way to learn how much of the island's flavour grows in the shade. You wander among nutmeg trees, pepper vines, clove, curry leaf, cinnamon and cardamom, a relative of ginger that thrives under tall trees and has to be picked by hand. Guides explain how each is grown, dried and used in cooking or in traditional Ayurvedic remedies, and farmers in the area sell through a cooperative. Buying something is entirely up to you, and the walk itself is a fragrant half hour. You reach Kandy by the early afternoon. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the city's spiritual centre. According to tradition, the Buddha's tooth was smuggled to the island in the 4th century hidden in the hair of a princess from Kalinga, and it has been guarded here by the kings of Kandy and their successors. The relic sits in a golden casket within an upper room, and ceremonies with drummers take place at fixed times of the day. You queue with local worshippers, many carrying lotus flowers, and your guide helps you with the etiquette. At five o'clock you attend a Kandyan dance show of about an hour, with drummers, masked dancers and a fire-walking finale. Afterwards you choose where to have dinner, and your driver can suggest a place. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Mahaweli Reach Hotel or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 A second night in Kandy lets you see the surrounding hills without packing a bag. After breakfast you drive up to a tea estate and factory a short way outside the city, where your host explains how a leaf becomes a cup of Ceylon tea. Tea was first planted on a commercial scale here during British rule, and Kandy and its surroundings became the early centre of the industry before the planters pushed on to Hatton, Bandarawela and higher ground. Inside the factory you follow the leaf from withering through rolling and drying to sorting by grade. The smell of the process is as strong as the taste, and the visit ends with a tasting on a terrace above the bushes. Even a person who does not drink tea usually enjoys the view. Back in town you stop at a gem museum and workshop. Sri Lanka has long been known for sapphires and other stones, and the museum shows a reconstructed mine, cases of raw and cut stones and a film about how they are polished and set. You are under no obligation to buy, and the staff are happy to answer questions. There is also free time in Kandy for shopping, whether for batik, wood carving, tea or spices, and your driver can wait while you wander. In the late afternoon you drive west to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, about five kilometres out. Spread over 147 acres, the gardens contain more than 4,000 plant species, including orchids, medicinal plants, palms and avenues of giant trees. Their roots reach back to a royal garden of 1371, and the current layout dates from the early 1800s. Plan a slow two-hour stroll. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Mahaweli Reach Hotel or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 This is the day many travellers remember best. After breakfast your driver takes you to Kandy station, where you board the train to Nanu Oya, the stop nearest Nuwara Eliya. The journey takes about four to five hours, and it follows the original line built by the British in the 19th century to carry coffee and later tea down from the estates. Soon after leaving the city the carriage begins to climb. The track winds through terraced tea slopes, crosses viaducts above deep gorges and passes through short tunnels, with waterfalls dropping beside it. Open doorways let you lean out for photographs, though you should be careful and keep a hand on the rail. Village stations appear every so often, where vendors sell snacks and tea workers climb aboard. Your guide has arranged the seats beforehand, and the ticket is paid separately, but the scene outside the window is the real attraction. Bring a jumper, because the air turns noticeably cooler as you gain height. At Nanu Oya your driver is waiting on the platform and takes you to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya, around twenty minutes away. At about 1,900 metres, the town is the coolest in the island and is nicknamed Little England for its colonial-style houses, lawns and flower beds. Check in, rest and decide how to spend the afternoon: a walk by Gregory Lake, a stroll through the quiet streets or simply a hot drink by the window. Evenings here can be properly cold, so keep a fleece to hand. Dinner is your own choice, and the hotel restaurant is the simplest option. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Araliya Green Hills or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After a leisurely breakfast you spend the day around Nuwara Eliya, taking things at a gentle pace after yesterday's rail journey. The town sits among tea estates, and the air is crisp enough that you rarely feel hurried. Your first visit is the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, a short drive south of the town. The terraces climb a hillside beneath a steep rock, and the cool mountain air allows plants that cannot survive in the lowlands. You see rose beds, tree ferns and a collection of orchids, and with some luck you may spot monkeys or blue magpies among the trees. A slow walk takes about an hour. Close by is the Seetha Amman Temple, a brightly painted Hindu shrine decorated with colourful figures. It is linked to the epic Ramayana, which tells how Sita was held captive on the island, and local tradition places that story in these hills. Visitors leave their shoes at the door, and your guide will explain the customs when you arrive. Back in town you can explore the central market, where vegetables grown in the hills sit beside strawberries and spice packets, and drive around the main sights, including the colonial post office and the lake. If the weather is clear, ask your driver to take a detour through a tea estate for photographs. An optional early start takes you up to Horton Plains for the walk to World's End, a cliff edge with a very long drop. You need to leave well before dawn to see the view before mist rises, and your guide can arrange it if you ask in advance. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Araliya Green Hills or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today the scenery changes from cool mountain air to the warm south-east. After breakfast you drive down through Ella, which is roughly three hours away, with views opening out as the road drops through tea country and forest. Ella sits on a ridge where the land falls away through a gap, and the villages around it are full of small cafés and guesthouses. Your first stop is the Nine Arch Bridge near Demodara, a viaduct of stone arches built in 1921 without any steel reinforcement, which curves gracefully across a forested valley. Walk along the track to a viewpoint and see if a train crosses; the timetable decides, and your guide will know approximately when one is due. Next you reach Ravana Falls, a broad cascade that drops from a curved rock beside the main road. It is said to take the shape of a drooping areca flower when the water is high, while in the dry months it thins to a few ribbons. Local legend ties it to the king of the Ramayana. You can stand near the pool for photographs, but swimming is discouraged. After lunch the road continues for about two hours down to Tissamaharama, and the landscape changes steadily: cooler terraces give way to dry-zone scrub, peacocks cross the road and small reservoirs appear. The town lies beside the ancient Tissa Wewa lake and is the base for Yala, so you arrive with plenty of time to rest, swim and prepare for tomorrow. Have dinner early, in the hotel restaurant or nearby, and an early night is wise because the safari collects you before dawn. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Chaarya Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Your alarm goes off very early today, because the best hours in Yala are at first light. A packed breakfast goes with you, and a 4x4 jeep with a driver and a tracker takes you to the park gate while the sky is still dark. Yala is the island's best-known wildlife park and is considered one of the best places anywhere to see leopards, which hold some of the densest territories known. Along with them you may see elephants at waterholes, sloth bears if you are fortunate, crocodiles, wild boar, spotted deer, buffalo and a rich variety of birds, including peacocks and painted storks. Nothing is certain, and sightings depend on luck, the season and the water level, so treat every animal as a bonus. Trackers share information with other jeeps, and the guide watches for alarm calls from deer and langur monkeys that often signal a big cat nearby. The morning drive lasts about three hours on dirt tracks, so wear neutral colours, a hat and sunscreen, and keep binoculars handy. Dust is part of the experience. Seats are open at the sides, and you should remain inside the jeep unless the tracker says otherwise. The jeep fee and park entry are paid separately. You are back at your hotel around midday, in time for lunch and a long rest by the pool. In the late afternoon you can stroll along the Tissa Wewa reservoir, where the white stupa catches the evening light, or simply do nothing. Dinner is up to you this evening, and your driver can suggest a good place nearby. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Chaarya Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast you drive west along the southern coast to Galle, about three hours from Tissamaharama. The road passes rice fields, lagoons and long, quiet beaches, and your driver is happy to pause for a coconut or a photograph. Galle Fort stands on a small peninsula and is a UNESCO-listed town begun by the Portuguese in 1588 and greatly strengthened by the Dutch from 1649. You can walk along the ramparts, past the lighthouse, the clock tower and the Dutch Reformed Church, then lose yourself in lanes lined with galleries, boutiques and small cafés. Allow about an hour and a half, and go up on the walls for a view across the bay. From Galle it is an easy drive towards Bentota, and you leave the main road for the Madu River. This wetland has 64 islands, a large area of mangrove, and seven tributaries feeding the main channel, and it has been a protected sanctuary since 2006. A boat trip takes you through narrow channels where kingfishers and monitor lizards are common. Short stops let you see how cinnamon is peeled and rolled, visit a small island temple and try the fish therapy platform, where small fish nibble your feet. The ride lasts about an hour. On the way you also stop at a turtle hatchery along the coast, where eggs are protected, injured turtles recover and young ones are raised before release. Bentota is roughly an hour beyond Galle, and you arrive at your beach hotel in the late afternoon for a swim and dinner. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Temple Tree Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today nothing is planned, and that is deliberate. After two weeks of temples, trains and early starts, the day is yours to spend by the sea, in the pool or wherever you feel like going. Bentota has a wide beach and a river mouth that is calm enough for kayaks, jet-skis and banana boats, all optional and paid on the spot. Many guests like to book an Ayurveda treatment, a traditional massage or herbal therapy that is a speciality of this coast. The Bawa brothers created lovely gardens in the area, and a visit makes a quiet half day if you want a break from the beach. Your driver is available for any of these and can book them on your behalf. If you do nothing but lie on a lounger with a book, that is a perfectly good day too. Some guests use the morning for a long swim, then spend the afternoon in the shade with a cold drink and watch the fishing boats and river traffic slide past. Others walk along the beach towards the river mouth, where the sand is firm and the shells are easy to find. There is no schedule to follow and no one to meet, and your driver stays nearby in case you change your mind about an outing. Dinner is up to you, whether at the hotel or on the beach, and the evening is a good time for a walk along the sand before sunset. Tomorrow's drive to Colombo is short, so there is no need to pack in a hurry tonight. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Temple Tree Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 You say goodbye to the coast after breakfast and drive north to Colombo, about one and a half hours away. The road passes fishing villages, small temples and beach towns, and traffic increases as you reach the capital. Your hotel in Colombo is a good base for the final evening. Colombo is the commercial centre and a mixture of many influences. A city tour starts in the Fort district, where colonial buildings, the old parliament and the lighthouse clock tower stand near the harbour. You drive past the World Trade Center towers and Independence Hall, which was built for the ceremony that marked freedom from British rule, and pause at the island's main museum and the green space of Viharamahadevi Park. Galle Face Green is the seafront promenade where families fly kites and eat street food at sunset. The city is also a showcase of faiths. Within a short distance you can see Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian places of worship, and your guide can show you the red-and-white striped mosque in the Pettah bazaar area, a labyrinth of stalls selling fabric, spices and household goods. Colombo is a good place for last-minute shopping, and your driver can wait for you at the shops you choose. After checking in at your hotel you may rest or explore on your own. Dinner is your own choice tonight, with the hotel restaurant the simplest option. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Fairway Colombo or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast you check out and your driver takes you to the airport at Katunayake, roughly an hour away. He helps with your luggage and drops you at the departures hall in good time for your flight. If you have a few spare hours, tell your driver the evening before. A last stroll on Galle Face Green or a final round of shopping can usually be fitted in, and we will plan the timing around your flight so that you never feel rushed. Thank you for travelling with Volata Travels. We hope the island stays with you, and that you will come back to see a part of it that we did not have time for. Meals Breakfast Included Activities
Landmarks
Route mapWhere you'll stayThese are the hotels we plan to use. If one of them is full on your dates, we book another hotel of the same standard (“or similar”) and tell you its name before you travel. Amaya Lake or similarSigiriya 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Comfortable 4-star hotel in Trincomalee or similarTrincomalee 1 night · Bed and breakfast · exact hotel confirmed at booking Amaya Lake or similarSigiriya 3 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Mahaweli Reach Hotel or similarKandy 2 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Araliya Green Hills or similarNuwara Eliya 2 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Chaarya Resort & Spa or similarTissamaharama 2 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Temple Tree Resort & Spa or similarBentota 2 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Fairway Colombo or similarColombo 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel What's included
What's not included
Pickup & drop-offPickup: Your Volata Travels driver-guide meets you in the arrivals hall at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Katunayake, with a name board. Pick-up from a hotel in Colombo or Negombo can also be arranged. Drop-off: Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) for your departure flight, with the timing planned around your flight. Important informationItinerary order and overnight stops can be adjusted to fit your dates and pace — this is a private tour built around you, not a fixed departure. Cancellation policyAll cancellations must be received in writing by your Volata Tour Consultant. 19.1 Unless otherwise specified in your quotation, the following cancellation terms will apply to your booking: 19.1.1 Cancellations received between the date of booking and 61 days prior to departure will result in the loss of the deposit. 19.1.2 Cancellations received 60 – 46 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 25% of the tour price. 19.1.3 Cancellations received 45 – 29 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 50% of the tour price. 19.1.4 Cancellations received 28 – 15 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 75% of the tour price. 19.1.5 Cancellations received 14 days or less prior to departure will be subject to a forfeiture of the entire tour price. 19.2 Cancellation of airline tickets will be subject to the refund policy of each individual airline and may be greater than the percentages above particularly when low cost/net-based fares are used. 19.3 The purchase of special event tickets is subject to the refund policy of each individual event. Please refer to the specific event policy for details. 19.4 Volata reserve the right to charge for financial penalties, fees and losses incurred in excess of your cancellation fee as a result of cancellation.... What travellers say4.9 average from 7 customer reviews FS Felix Schneider, Germany A fascinating journey through Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. The transport was comfortable, and the itinerary worked well. TW Thomas Weber, Germany This was a thoroughly enjoyable trip, with smooth arrangements and comfortable journeys from one destination to the next. The itinerary was thoughtfully paced and gave us plenty to appreciate along the way. We returned with wonderful memories. LM Lucas Meyer, Germany The tour was comfortable and informative. Kandy was a highlight, and the guide shared plenty of interesting details. PG Pauline Girard, France A charming tour with a good balance of history and exploration. We enjoyed it very much. AH Amir Hakim, Malaysia Great Sri Lanka HolidayExcellent Sri Lanka holiday. The itinerary was well planned and the vehicle was comfortable. The driver was punctual, polite and helpful throughout the journey. The route covered a great combination of cultural attractions, mountain scenery, wildlife and beaches. JH Jason Hendry, Singapore We enjoyed a memorable holiday in Sri Lanka. The service was professional, and the vehicle was comfortable. FR Fatima Rahman, Malaysia We had a wonderful time exploring Sigiriya and Kandy. Our guide was kind and made sure we were comfortable. You might also like       Ready to plan your Sri Lanka trip?Tell us your dates and interests — we'll put together a private itinerary within a day. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 15 days enough for Trincomalee, the ancient cities, Kandy, Yala and the coast?
Yes, it is a comfortable length for this route. Four nights around Sigiriya allow separate days for Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, and the east coast gets a night of its own. The remaining nights are split between Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Tissamaharama and Bentota. The distances are long on a few days, but the hotel changes are limited, and the free day at Bentota gives you a rest before the end.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
The island has two monsoons, so no month suits every region. The east coast, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Yala are generally at their best from April to September, while the hills and the south-west coast are driest from December to March. Late March and April sit between the two. Outside those windows the tour still works, but you may meet some rain or a rougher sea, and your driver can adapt the plan.
How difficult is the climb at Sigiriya?
It is a moderate climb. You climb roughly 1,200 steps in total, some of them steep and exposed, and you should allow about two hours for the whole visit. Going early keeps the heat and crowds down. Take water, a hat and shoes with grip. If you have a fear of heights or knee trouble, you can stop at the frescoes or the lion's paws, and your guide will wait with you.
Is the scenic train ride from Kandy included?
Yes, the programme includes the train from Kandy to Nanu Oya. Your driver takes you to Kandy station and collects you at Nanu Oya, so your luggage travels by road. The ticket itself is paid separately, and seats are best arranged in advance, because the service is popular. The journey takes roughly four to five hours and is one of the most scenic in the country.
Will I see a leopard in Yala?
There is a good chance, since Yala has one of the highest leopard densities known, but nobody can promise a sighting. Elephants, crocodiles, sloth bears, deer and many birds are also seen. A morning safari lasts about three hours and starts at first light. Your jeep carries a tracker who shares news with other vehicles. If you want more time, an extra safari can be arranged in the afternoon.
How long are the drives between places?
The longest days are the drive from Sigiriya to Trincomalee, which takes about three hours, Nuwara Eliya to Tissamaharama, which takes about four to five hours with stops at Ella, and Tissamaharama to Bentota, with Galle on the way. Other drives are between one and three hours. Your driver plans regular breaks, and the stops on the road are chosen so that long days feel varied rather than tiring.
Is the swimming good at Trincomalee?
The east-coast sea is usually calmest between roughly May and September, when Nilaveli is excellent for swimming and snorkelling around Pigeon Island. Outside those months the water can be rougher, and boats to the island may not run. The temple and the fort can be visited in any season. Your guide will check conditions on the day and suggest the best use of the afternoon.
What should I wear and pack?
Light, breathable clothes work for the plains and the coast, but bring a warm layer for Nuwara Eliya, where evenings are cold. Temples require covered shoulders and knees, and you will take your shoes off often, so slip-on shoes are handy. Add a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle and sturdy shoes for the Sigiriya climb. Neutral colours are best for the Yala safari.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every Volata Travels tour is private and can be adjusted. You can add or remove nights, swap Yala for Udawalawe, add a whale-watching morning from Mirissa during the season or choose another beach for the finish. Tell us your dates, your interests and your pace, and we will send a revised plan with a clear price before you decide.
What's included in the 15-day tour price?
Meet and greet at Bandaranaike International Airport; 14 nights in 4-star hotels (or similar), double or twin room sharing; a single room if you travel alone; Daily breakfast at your hotels (bed and breakfast); All transfers and sightseeing in a private air-conditioned vehicle; English-speaking driver-guide throughout the tour; Fuel, parking, driver accommodation and highway fees. The tour costs USD 1764 per person when two adults share a room, or USD 3372 for one traveller in a single room, for 14 nights / 15 days. These prices are valid for travel from 8 October 2026 to 30 November 2027.
What's not included?
International flights and the Sri Lanka ETA visa fee; Lunches, dinners and drinks (breakfast is included); Entrance fees and activity fees (Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sigiriya Rock, Pigeon Island boat trip, village experience, Dambulla Cave Temple, Polonnaruwa ancient city, Anuradhapura sacred city, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and cultural show and more); Optional tours and optional activities; Train tickets (if you choose the scenic train); Hotel supplements when you travel on 24 December and 31 December (New Year), and the Christmas supplement on 24 December; Tips, porterage and personal expenses; Early check-in and late check-out at hotels; Travel insurance and bank charges.
Is the price the same on 24 and 31 December?
Not quite. Hotels charge a compulsory supplement for the nights of 24 December (Christmas Eve) and 31 December (New Year's Eve), and these supplements are not included in the tour price. If your dates include either night, tell us when you enquire and we will confirm the supplement for the hotels on your route before you book.
Can I customize this tour?
Yes. The order of stops, the number of nights in each place, the hotels and the activities can all be adjusted to your dates, pace and budget — this is a private tour built around you, not a fixed group departure. Tell us what you would like to change and we will send a revised quote.
What is the cancellation policy?
All cancellations must be received in writing by your Volata Tour Consultant. Cancellations received up to 61 days before departure result in the loss of the deposit. Between 60 and 46 days before departure a charge of 25% of the tour price applies; between 45 and 29 days, 50%; between 28 and 15 days, 75%; and 14 days or less before departure the entire tour price is forfeited. Airline tickets follow the refund policy of each airline, and special event tickets follow the policy of each event. The full Terms & Conditions are at www.volatatravels.com/terms-and-conditions.