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Private Tour · 4★ hotels Grand Ceylon Discovery – 4-Star Hotels4-star hotel version: Thirteen days that follow the island's royal cities from Anuradhapura to Kandy, then climb to the tea hills, enter Yala and finish on the southern coast. Private Tour · 4★ hotelsModerate intensityEnglish-speaking guide Tour priceFromUSD 1,436per person This 13 day Sri Lanka tour through the ancient capitals is for travellers who like their sightseeing to tell a story. You move in order through the island's royal cities, sleeping in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, then Kandy, before the route climbs to the tea hills, drops to a wildlife park and ends by the sea. Your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking driver-guide travel with you from first morning to last. Stay in 4-star hotelsThis version of the tour is booked in 4-star hotels for all 12 nights: Fairway Colombo in Colombo, Rajarata Hotel in Anuradhapura, Hotel Sudu Araliya in Polonnaruwa, Amaya Lake in Sigiriya, Mahaweli Reach Hotel in Kandy, Araliya Green Hills in Nuwara Eliya, Te Dalu Resort & Spa in Ella, Chaarya Resort & Spa in Tissamaharama, Mandara Resort in Mirissa and Temple Tree Resort & Spa in Bentota, 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 13 day Ceylon discovery tour through the ancient capitals suitsThe route suits curious couples, mature families and small groups who enjoy history, temples and landscapes, and who would rather stay overnight at a site than commute to it. A shorter tour of eight or nine days usually treats the ancient cities as day trips from one hotel. A longer one adds extra beach nights or a far-flung coast. This version sits in between: it gives each royal capital its own evening and morning, then spends the rest of the time in the hills and on the southern shore. Expect moderate walking, a handful of early starts and plenty of time in the vehicle between places. The route, night by nightThe loop opens in Colombo, then you spend one night each in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya. Two nights in Kandy follow, one in Nuwara Eliya and two in Ella, then one each in Tissamaharama, Mirissa and Bentota. The pattern matters. Sleeping in the old cities means sunset at the sacred tree in Anuradhapura, ruins in the soft light of Polonnaruwa and the Sigiriya climb at opening time rather than after a long transfer. The double nights in Kandy and Ella provide breathing space, so you are not packing every morning. Four capitals, four different storiesAnuradhapura comes first. It was the island's earliest great capital, and its sacred fig tree, a living offshoot of the tree of the Buddha's enlightenment, still draws pilgrims in white. Polonnaruwa, the medieval successor, is a leafy ruin by a vast reservoir, with the circular Vatadage and the serene stone Buddhas of Gal Vihara. Sigiriya is the dramatic one: a fifth-century fortress on a rock, with frescoes, mirror wall and water gardens, and you see it from Pidurangala before climbing it the next morning. Kandy, the last royal city, adds the Tooth Relic temple, drummers and fire-walkers, and the botanical gardens at Peradeniya. Hills, wildlife and the south coastAfter Kandy the road climbs through tea country, with a factory visit and a tasting, Ramboda Falls and the cool streets of Nuwara Eliya. The hill train then carries you to Ella, where you have two nights to see the Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Falls and the ridge walks. Next comes Yala for an evening jeep safari, with a good chance of leopard, elephant and crocodile, though no sighting is certain. You finish with Galle Fort, an evening in Mirissa, then the Madu River mangroves and a turtle hatchery on the way to Bentota. Comfort, breakfast and your driver-guideYour vehicle is private, and your driver-guide doubles as an interpreter of history, handling all the logistics. Rooms are comfortable and the price covers breakfast every morning. For other meals you choose where to eat, and your driver-guide will point you to reliable local restaurants along the way. Entrance fees, safari jeeps, boat rides and train tickets are paid separately, and train seats need to be booked in advance. When to goRain patterns differ across the island. The Cultural Triangle is at its driest between about April and September, whereas Kandy, the hills and the south-west coast are driest from December to March. Yala is best in the drier months, from around February to September, and whale watching off Mirissa runs roughly from November to April. Since this route crosses all of those zones, choose the season you care most about and expect an occasional shower elsewhere. Hill nights are cool at any time of year. Make it your ownThis itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed script. We can lengthen the beach end, add a whale-watching morning in season, replace the train with a drive or include Mihintale, the hill where Buddhism is said to have arrived on the island. Send your dates and interests and we will build the plan around them. Tour highlights
Day-by-day itinerary Your Volata Travels driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall to welcome you and drive you to Colombo, about an hour from the airport. After you have settled in, an easy city tour introduces the capital at your own pace. Colombo layers its history in plain sight. The Fort district keeps its colonial buildings, the Old Parliament faces the sea, and Independence Square, where a memorial hall recalls the end of British rule, sits a short drive away. Viharamahadevi Park offers shade, while Galle Face Green is where the city comes to breathe in the evening. Mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples and churches sit close together, and a short walk through Pettah's bazaars gives you your first taste of island crowds and colours. The twin towers of the World Trade Center rise above it all. Treat the outing as optional if you are tired. Each morning begins with breakfast at the hotel, while the other meals are yours to choose. Accommodation Fairway Colombo or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 The first full day is a long road north, but it is broken into pleasant pieces. After breakfast you leave Colombo for the Cultural Triangle, a drive of about four hours, and pass Dambulla on the way to Sigiriya's countryside. A village visit makes the midday stop. Here you climb onto a bullock cart and roll along tracks beside paddy fields. The cart ends at a village lake, where you paddle across in a traditional outrigger canoe while the Sigiriya rock stands in the distance. Lunch is your own choice. A fuller village day, including cooking, comes on day five. From the Sigiriya area, Anuradhapura lies roughly ninety minutes to two hours beyond. You arrive in the late afternoon, which suits the ancient city perfectly. Anuradhapura served as the island's first capital and for centuries was the heartland of Theravada Buddhism; UNESCO inscribed the Sacred City in 1982. It is a place of living worship. At the Sri Maha Bodhi, a fig planted in the third century BC from a branch of the very tree that sheltered the Buddha, devotees leave flowers and light lamps as the day cools. The huge white stupas, including Ruwanwelisaya and Jetavanaramaya, glow in the evening light. Dress modestly, remove your shoes at the shrines and carry socks for the hot stone. Your hotel in Anuradhapura is a short drive away. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Rajarata Hotel or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Start early from Anuradhapura, because the sun gets strong by late morning. The road to Sigiriya runs for roughly ninety minutes to two hours, and today you meet the great rock from the outside. You walk through the gardens around its foot, with the ponds, boulders and terraces that King Kashyapa laid out in the fifth century, and see the soaring walls from below. UNESCO protects the whole complex, and in local conversation it is often called the eighth wonder of the world. Next comes Pidurangala, the quieter rock beside it. A temple stands at the start of the path, and the final stretch is a scramble over boulders, so sturdy shoes are essential. The summit looks directly onto the fortress, which gives a better sense of its scale than the base ever could. Carry water, as the morning is already warm. The full climb up Sigiriya itself is saved for tomorrow. Drive to Habarana for lunch and a rest during the hottest hours, then continue to Polonnaruwa, roughly a one-to-one-and-a-half-hour drive from Sigiriya. This was the capital in the eleventh to thirteenth centuries, after King Vijayabahu ended Chola rule in 1070. Under Parakramabahu, on the throne from 1153 to 1186, an immense irrigation network of reservoirs turned the dry plains into rice land. The ruins now lie in woodland beside the Parakrama Samudra. Walk among the royal palace, the circular Vatadage and the carved Buddhas at Gal Vihara in the softer afternoon light. You sleep in Polonnaruwa tonight. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Hotel Sudu Araliya or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Morning is the best time for the Sigiriya climb, so you set out right after breakfast for the drive back from Polonnaruwa, which takes an hour to an hour and a half. The fortress rises roughly 200 metres above the surrounding forest. Kashyapa built his palace on the summit in the fifth century, after taking the throne by force, and the approach was designed to impress. The route begins in the water gardens and continues past the Mirror Wall. A stairway leads to a sheltered pocket in the cliff that holds the frescoes of celestial maidens. Then you reach the Lion's Paws, two enormous claws that once framed a lion-shaped gateway. About 1,200 steps in total rise to the ruins of the royal palace, and the view from the summit looks across a flat green sea of jungle. Allow two to three hours, take water, wear a hat and move at a pace that suits you. There is no shame in pausing on the landings. In the late morning you drive 30 to 40 minutes to Dambulla. The cave temple is a UNESCO monument whose five shrines are tucked under a vast overhanging rock, high above the plain. The Buddha figures and painted ceilings have been tended for more than two thousand years. The count inside is 153 Buddha images, plus three kings and four deities, so give yourself an hour. A stepped path climbs to the entrance, and shoes come off at the bottom. Cover shoulders and knees. Return to your Sigiriya hotel for the rest of the day, and rest your legs. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Amaya Lake or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 This is a travelling day with three gentle stops and an evening show. You leave Sigiriya after breakfast and begin with the second half of the village experience, in a family home among the paddy fields. A farmer takes you into a chena plot, where crops are grown in rotation on cleared land, and explains what is planted and why. Then you join the cooks in a village kitchen and see the rice and curry dishes cooked on an open wood fire. You sit down to the meal afterwards, which makes a better lunch than most restaurants. From Dambulla the drive south to Kandy needs roughly two and a half to three hours. On the way you pause in Matale, a market town in the hills above Kandy, to walk through a spice garden. Cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, vanilla and clove grow in the shade here, and guides show you how each is grown and prepared and how Ayurvedic herbal remedies are made. The growers are organised in a cooperative, and small packs are on sale if you want to take some home. Kandy's great shrine is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the most revered on the island. According to tradition the Buddha's tooth came here in the fourth century AD, concealed in a princess's hair on the voyage from Orissa, and the kings of Kandy guarded it as a sign of legitimate rule. Leave your shoes outside, keep shoulders and knees covered, and take your time in the crowded shrine room. The day ends with a cultural show that runs from five to six, with drummers, dancers and fire-walkers. Your hotel in Kandy awaits for the next two nights. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Mahaweli Reach Hotel or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After a relaxed breakfast, you spend the morning learning why Sri Lanka has been known for gems for centuries. A gem museum and workshop in Kandy traces the geology behind the island's stones. Displays of raw and cut stones show how they are mined, cut and set, and the story runs from ancient times to the jewellers of today. A shop is attached with sapphires, pearls and other gems, but nobody pushes you to buy, and the museum is worth the stop in its own right. The middle of the day is yours. Kandy rewards slow wandering, whether around the lake, through the town's markets or back to a quiet corner of the temple precinct. It is a cool, green city, and you can explore on foot with your driver-guide's suggestions. In the afternoon you head some 5 km out of town to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya. The grounds occupy a bend of the Mahaweli river, covering 147 acres with over 4,000 species of plants, with a famous orchid collection, palm-lined avenues, a spice garden and giant trees. The first formal layout dates from 1821, when Alexander Moon laid out the grounds, and the garden has served Kandyan royalty, British botanists and, for a time, an Allied war headquarters. Walk the long palm avenue, find the orchid house, and rest on a shaded bench for a while. Allow two relaxed hours. Spend a second night in your Kandy hotel. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Mahaweli Reach Hotel or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today you climb into the highlands. Getting from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya takes about three to four hours by road, yet this is not a day for hurrying, because tea takes centre stage along the way. You stop at a working plantation and walk between the bushes where pickers fill their baskets. The factory visit follows the leaf through every stage: withering, rolling, fermenting, drying and grading. It takes just a day for the picked shoots to become tea. Afterwards you taste a fresh cup of Ceylon tea with the terraces spread out in front of you. The British turned the region into tea country in the 19th century, and the first tea bush imported from China went into the soil at Peradeniya. Further up, Ramboda Falls tumbles down in several tiers beside the road. A Hindu temple to Hanuman, brightly painted, crowns a nearby hill and holds an 18-foot statue of the monkey god, the tallest in the country, built by the Chinmaya Mission. The temple is part of the Ramayana trail. Nuwara Eliya sits at about 1,900 metres and has the nickname Little England, thanks to its bungalows, lawns and flower beds. In the afternoon you take a city tour that includes the market, where vegetables and tea stalls fill the lanes. If the weather is clear, you also visit Hakgala Botanical Gardens, where roses, tree ferns and orchids grow on terraces beneath a steep rock, and Seetha Amman Temple, a brightly coloured Hindu shrine crowded with sculpted figures. Evenings are cold, so pack a jumper and a warm jacket. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Araliya Green Hills or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast your driver delivers you to Nanu Oya, the railway stop serving Nuwara Eliya, to board the scenic train to Ella. The ride lasts roughly three to four hours and has a reputation as one of the finest railway journeys in Asia. The rails date from the 1860s, when the British laid them to carry tea and coffee from the hill estates to the coast. It still winds through green terraces, tunnels, hanging mist and small stations where vendors sell snacks to passengers. Tickets are bought separately and seats are booked in advance. Keep a small bag and a camera with you, because your driver goes ahead by road with the suitcases and waits for you at Ella. Once you arrive, check in to your hotel and take an hour to unwind. Ella is a relaxed hill village with sweeping views through the gap in the mountains, and its cafes and homestays reward a slow pace. Late in the afternoon you visit Ravana Falls, a wide cascade right by the road. It plunges roughly 82 feet from a hollowed, oval rock face, and when the flow is strong the curtain hangs like an areca flower. It is smaller in the dry months and thunders after rain. The falls lie within the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, and local legend connects them with King Ravana of the Ramayana. The viewpoint is close to the road, so even a short stop is rewarding. Stay clear of the slippery edges. Have dinner in the village. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Te Dalu Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today you stay put, which is the point of the second night. Ella rewards people who do not hurry, and the best of it is within a short walk or a short ride. Start with the Nine Arch Bridge near Demodara, which is easiest to enjoy in the morning. Work on the viaduct was ordered in 1921 under colonial rule. Nine tall stone arches carry the track around a soft curve in the forest, and the builders used blocks and cement alone, with no iron inside. Trains cross it a few times a day, and a blue carriage sliding over the arches is the picture everyone wants. Ask your driver-guide for the likely times, and arrive early to find a spot by the track. Walk carefully and keep clear when a train comes. For views, try Little Adam's Peak, a gentle hour on foot through tea fields to a ridge that overlooks the Ella Gap. Fitter walkers can tackle Ella Rock, a longer and steeper hike with a bigger panorama, although it is better with a local guide. The path to both is simple, but you should wear grippy shoes and bring water. The afternoon can be as relaxed as you like. Sit in a cafe above the valley, browse the small shops on the main street, book a spa treatment or simply read on a balcony. If you want, return to Ravana Falls, which look different in the afternoon light. The evening is free, with plenty of restaurants to choose from. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Te Dalu Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Leave Ella after breakfast and descend to the dry plains of the south-east. The drive to Tissamaharama takes about two hours, and the scenery changes quickly from cool, misty hills to warm scrubland and paddy. Tissamaharama, a lakeside town, serves as the usual gateway to Yala. Its old Tissa Wewa reservoir and a white stupa lie at the centre, and Kataragama, a pilgrimage town revered by several faiths, is close by. Check in, have lunch and rest through the hottest hours. In the afternoon you set out on a jeep safari in Yala, the island's most visited wildlife park. A tracker rides with the driver and helps spot animals, and the open roof gives you excellent views. Yala shelters one of the densest leopard populations recorded anywhere, and you have a fair chance of seeing elephants, crocodiles, peacocks and many birds. Sloth bears are rarer. Sightings are never certain, and part of the pleasure is the landscape itself, with lagoons, rock outcrops and scrub forest. The park has an annual closure, so we always check the dates before you travel. Dress in muted colours, bring a hat, binoculars and water, and keep voices low in the jeep. Park entrance and jeep fees are paid separately. The ride lasts around three hours and ends at dusk, when you return to your hotel in Tissamaharama. Dinner is at a restaurant of your choice, and an early night is welcome. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Chaarya Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today takes you west along the southern coast. After breakfast reaching Galle takes about three hours, and the scenery shifts from dry plains to palm-lined bays and fishing villages. Stop for a coconut or a quick swim whenever the coast road offers a beach that catches your eye. Galle Fort is the main stop. The Portuguese built the first fort in 1588 on the bay, and the Dutch made it much stronger from 1649 onwards, adding the sturdy ramparts you see today. UNESCO lists it as a World Heritage Site. Inside the walls the streets are narrow and shaded, lined with boutiques, galleries and cafes in old merchant houses. Walk the ramparts, preferably in the softer light of late afternoon, passing the lighthouse and the Dutch Reformed Church. From the bastions you look over the sea on one side and the rooftops on the other. Allow a good couple of hours. If you like history, a local walking tour reveals stories that few visitors hear. From Galle it is about 45 minutes to Mirissa. This crescent of golden sand is the island's whale-watching hub, and you arrive in time for the evening. Check in at your hotel, then walk to the beach for a swim or a sunset drink. Coconut palms lean over the shore and fishing boats are drawn up at one end. Whale-watching trips leave very early in the morning, and they are best between roughly November and April, so ask if you would like to try one. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Mandara Resort or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Start the day with a swim or a slow breakfast. If you visit between roughly November and April and would like to see blue whales or dolphins, a dawn boat trip from Mirissa can be arranged as an optional extra. It requires a very early start and delays the rest of the day, so tell us in advance. Whales are never certain, but trips often meet dolphins. The drive to Bentota takes about two hours and has two stops. The first is the Madu River, a maze of mangrove islands and channels north of Galle. Its estuary contains 64 islands, some inhabited, within a wetland of 915 hectares fed by seven tributaries, and it supports a rich range of habitats. A boat safari takes you through the mangrove tunnels, and the boatman pauses at a cinnamon-peeling demo, a temple island and a platform where small fish nibble your feet. Keep sunscreen and a hat handy. The second stop is a turtle hatchery near Kosgoda. Five species of sea turtle come ashore along this stretch of coast to lay eggs, and hatcheries guard the eggs, nurse injured animals and send hatchlings off to sea at dusk. You can see tanks with injured turtles and newborns, which is an easy, gentle visit and especially popular with children. Arrive in Bentota in the afternoon. This beach resort lies where the Bentota river meets the sea, with broad sands and a long Ayurveda tradition. The afternoon and evening are yours for a swim or a treatment. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Temple Tree Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Once breakfast is done, your driver heads for the airport, a drive of about two hours from Bentota. Early departures are typical, so settle the pick-up time with your driver-guide the night before, working back from your flight, and leave a cushion for Colombo traffic. If your flight is later in the day, you can still enjoy a last swim on the beach. Thank you for exploring Sri Lanka with Volata Travels. 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. Fairway Colombo or similarColombo 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Rajarata Hotel or similarAnuradhapura 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Hotel Sudu Araliya or similarPolonnaruwa 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Amaya Lake or similarSigiriya 1 night · 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 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Te Dalu Resort & Spa or similarElla 2 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Chaarya Resort & Spa or similarTissamaharama 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Mandara Resort or similarMirissa 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Temple Tree Resort & Spa or similarBentota 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 say5.0 average from 5 customer reviews NA Noura Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabia Great Sri Lanka HolidayWe had an excellent experience with Volata Travels & Events during our Sri Lanka holiday. From the first airport pickup, everything was organized clearly. Our driver met us on time, helped with our luggage and explained the daily program. The drive to Kandy was comfortable and we enjoyed the cultural attractions and evening activities. The hotel in Kandy was comfortable and well located for sightseeing. In Nuwara Eliya we enjoyed the cooler weather, tea plantations and scenic views. The hotel there was clean and the breakfast was good. Ella was one of our favorite parts of the journey because of the mountain scenery and relaxed atmosphere. Later we continued to Yala for the wildlife experience and then to the southern coast. The beach hotel gave us time to relax after the sightseeing days. Overall, the program was well balanced between sightseeing, driving and free time. Our selected hotel arrangements were comfortable, including Amaya Hill Kandy, a Nuwara Eliya hotel and a comfortable Ella stay. The accommodation worked well with the daily sightseeing schedule and gave us a good place to relax after travelling. AJ Anna Johansson, Sweden Wonderful Private TourThe trip was very well planned. We enjoyed the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country around Nuwara Eliya, Ella and the southern beaches. Our driver was professional and the private vehicle gave us flexibility. Hotel arrangements were handled smoothly and the team responded quickly to our questions. The accommodation was suitable for our itinerary and the breakfasts were convenient before sightseeing. The driver also helped us understand the timing for each day's activities. MR Marco Romano, Italy Comfortable and Well OrganizedThe trip was very well planned. We enjoyed the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country around Nuwara Eliya, Ella and the southern beaches. Our driver was professional and the private vehicle gave us flexibility. Hotel arrangements were handled smoothly and the team responded quickly to our questions. We liked the way the itinerary moved from the busy city areas into the cooler hill country and finally to the coast. The hotel arrangements were convenient and comfortable. KN Kavya Nair, India Great Sri Lanka HolidayWe had an excellent experience with Volata Travels & Events during our Sri Lanka holiday. From the first airport pickup, everything was organized clearly. Our driver met us on time, helped with our luggage and explained the daily program. The drive to Kandy was comfortable and we enjoyed the cultural attractions and evening activities. The hotel in Kandy was comfortable and well located for sightseeing. In Nuwara Eliya we enjoyed the cooler weather, tea plantations and scenic views. The hotel there was clean and the breakfast was good. Ella was one of our favorite parts of the journey because of the mountain scenery and relaxed atmosphere. Later we continued to Yala for the wildlife experience and then to the southern coast. The beach hotel gave us time to relax after the sightseeing days. Overall, the program was well balanced between sightseeing, driving and free time. Our selected hotel arrangements were comfortable, including Devon Hotel Kandy, London Eye Hotel Nuwara Eliya and Oakray Yala. The accommodation worked well with the daily sightseeing schedule and gave us a good place to relax after travelling. KA Khalid Ali, Saudi Arabia Our tour was coordinated very well, and we enjoyed the different destinations included in the itinerary. The travel arrangements were straightforward, and the comfortable vehicle made longer journeys much easier. Overall, it was a memorable holiday. 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 13 days enough to see Sri Lanka's ancient cities and the south?
Yes. Thirteen days lets you spend a night in each of the first three ancient cities, two nights in Kandy and two in Ella, and still reach Yala and the south coast. It does not include the far north or the east coast. The route is full but not frantic, and the double nights give you rest days. If you want more time at the beach, we can add a night.
Why do you sleep in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa?
Staying in the ancient cities means you see them at the best times: Anuradhapura at dusk, when pilgrims bring lamps to the sacred tree, and Polonnaruwa in the soft afternoon light, with a short drive next morning to Sigiriya. It also avoids long transfers on the same day as the sightseeing. Some travellers prefer a single base, and we can arrange that if you wish.
How hard is the Sigiriya climb?
The climb has about 1,200 steps and takes two to three hours with stops. Some stairs are steep and exposed to the sun, so go early and carry water. You do not need climbing skills, and many fit older travellers manage it at a slow pace. If you prefer, you can skip the summit and enjoy the gardens and the Pidurangala viewpoint instead.
When is the best time of year to take this tour?
December to March suits Kandy, the hills and the south-west coast, while the Cultural Triangle is drier from April to September. Yala is best in the drier months, roughly February to September, and whale watching at Mirissa runs from about November to April. No month is perfect everywhere, so choose the part you care about most and expect occasional rain elsewhere.
Is the train ride to Ella included in the programme?
The train from Nanu Oya to Ella is part of the plan, but the tickets are bought separately and seats must be reserved in advance, so tell us your dates early. The ride takes roughly three to four hours. Your driver follows by road with your luggage and meets you in Ella. If trains are full or you prefer to drive, we can change the day.
Will we definitely see a leopard at Yala?
No honest operator can promise it. Yala has one of the highest leopard densities known, so there is a good chance, but animals roam freely and sightings depend on luck, season and patience. Elephants, crocodiles, peacocks and many birds are seen on most safaris. The park also closes for part of the year, so we always check the dates before you travel.
What should I wear for temples and in the hills?
Temples require covered shoulders and knees and removal of shoes, so pack light long trousers or skirts and a scarf. Carry socks for the hot paving at Anuradhapura. In Nuwara Eliya and Ella the evenings are cool, so bring a warm layer and a light waterproof. Sturdy shoes help at Sigiriya, Pidurangala and the walks around Ella.
Can we shorten or change the route?
Yes. Every Volata Travels tour is private and can be customised. People often shorten the Ella section, replace a night in the ancient cities with a single Habarana base, add Minneriya's elephants, include Mihintale or extend the beach stay. Tell us how many days you have and what matters most, and we will rebuild the programme and the hotels around it.
What's included in the 13-day tour price?
Meet and greet at Bandaranaike International Airport; 12 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 1436 per person when two adults share a room, or USD 2730 for one traveller in a single room, for 12 nights / 13 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 (Dambulla Cave Temple, village experience, Anuradhapura sacred city, Sigiriya Rock, Pidurangala Rock, Polonnaruwa ancient city, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and cultural show, Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens 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.