Discover Sri Lanka – Scenic train, Sigiriya & Yala Safari Incl. Dubai Extension

Let’s start our holiday! We depart for Colombo, Sri Lanka.

After arriving in Sri Lanka, we'll transfer to our hotel in the coastal town of Negombo, just north of Colombo, with our guide. Once we check in, feel free to relax and unwind for the rest of the day.

Join us for dinner! Meals are included tonight and for the next 11 nights of our stay in Sri Lanka. Often the meals are simple with locally inspired flavours.

Please note:

Occasionally on the Discover Sri Lanka, Dubai extension tour, you may arrive and depart on different flights and flight times to the main group. 

On today’s full-day excursion, we explore Negombo, a vibrant fishing village with a rich history as a former cinnamon trading hub. Our visit begins early in the morning before breakfast and the day’s heat, allowing us to witness the fishermen selling their catch of the day. While the fish market may have a noticeable smell, it is all part of experiencing the village’s authentic atmosphere. Following breakfast at our hotel, we will take a guided tour to learn more about Negombo before travelling to Habarana, a journey of around four hours (150 km). During the trip, we’ll admire the lush tropical landscape from our coach window as our adventure in Sri Lanka unfolds.

We have arrived! Let’s check into our hotel, which will be our home for the next three nights. Enjoy a leisurely evening to relax, unwind and discover our surroundings.

Today, we delve deeper into Sri Lanka’s history with a full-day guided visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya, the impressive ‘Lion’s Rock’ fortress built by King Kashyapa between 477 and 495 AD. This ancient rock palace is surrounded by the remains of a vast and intricate garden complex.

The ascent involves climbing more than 1,200 steps on a narrow staircase, so a moderate level of fitness is advisable. Thankfully, several resting platforms along the way offer chances to pause and take in the breath-taking views. At the summit, you can admire the exquisite Water Gardens, the famous frescoes, and ancient graffiti—features that make Sigiriya one of Sri Lanka’s most treasured landmarks.

In the afternoon, we explore Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s medieval capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will wander through the Royal Palace complex and admire the impressive Buddha statues at the Gal Vihara rock temple. The surrounding landscape is truly stunning, featuring expansive man-made lakes such as the renowned Sea of Parakrama. After immersing ourselves in this remarkable history, we will return to our hotel, where you can relax and unwind following a day full of discovery.

After breakfast, we embark on an unforgettable day trip to the ancient city of Anuradhapura, a treasure trove of history and spirituality. Renowned for its stunning temples, lush, landscaped gardens, and the sacred 'Bo Tree'—the world's oldest known tree, dating back to around 245 BC—Anuradhapura served as Sri Lanka’s capital for over a thousand years from the 5th century BC. Here, you'll find yourself surrounded by awe-inspiring Buddhist monuments that have stood the test of time for more than 2,000 years.

Experience the charm of Sri Lankan traditions as we visit a local village and explore a different way of life. Enjoy the peaceful rural surroundings on a relaxing bullock cart ride, passing by green paddy fields, small shops, and mud-thatched houses. After this unique adventure, we'll head back to the hotel for some well-earned relaxation.

This morning, we say farewell to Habarana and transfer by coach to Kandy, an attractive bustling city that is encircled by hills and has a tranquil lake at its centre.  En-route we experience more of Sri Lanka's treasures with a visit to Dambulla Cave Temple, which has been a sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries and contains a fascinating array of Buddhist mural paintings and statues of Buddha. The drive will take approximately three hours (96km).

On arrival in Kandy, we uncover more history and culture with a visit to The Temple of The Sacred Tooth Relic, a centre for the Buddhist faith. This 16th-century temple houses the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, which was brought to Sri Lanka from ancient India in the 4th century. After the visit we depart for our hotel, which will be our base for the next two nights.

On today’s tour, we revel in the beauty of The Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, home to exotic plants such as coffee, tea, nutmeg, rubber and Cinchona. The gardens feature an arboretum, an Orchid House and a colony of flying foxes.

After we visit the gardens, we uncover more delights with a Tuk-Tuk ride around Kandy, one of the best ways to discover this city! During our adventure, we pass the British Garrison Cemetery, Aniwatta Residencial area, Kandy Market, Kandy Lake and finish with picturesque scenes from the Kandy viewpoint. The Tuk Tuk ride will take around two hours, after which we return to our hotel to relax and reflect on our day of sightseeing and discovery.

All aboard! This morning, we depart our hotel for Kandy railway station. We embark on a scenic colonial era vintage train journey through sub-tropical forests, to lush green tea plantations, and mountainous backdrops, passing shops and local life along our journey to Nuwara Eliya. The train journey will take approximately 3.30 hours (subject to availability).

On arrival in Nuwara Eliya we set off in our coach to visit a tea plantation and tea factory, we’ll also have a guided tour of the town before checking in to our hotel. The town’s name translates as “City of Light”, but it is also known as “Little England” as it was a popular destination for 19th century British colonialists who indulged in pastimes such as fox, deer and elephant hunting, polo, golf, and cricket. The colonial history of the town can still be seen in buildings such as the Queen's Cottage, General's House, Grand Hotel, Hill Club, and Town Post Office.

This morning, we transfer onwards to Yala and en route we stop at Ella Waterfalls for a refreshing break. Today's journey will take approximately five hours (185km) with comfort stops.

Let’s embark on a jeep safari in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s second largest reserve, spanning approximately 979 square kilometres. This diverse park is home to elephants, leopards, bears, water buffalo, crocodiles, and numerous bird species. Due to its vast terrain and dense foliage, spotting wildlife can require some patience, which only adds to the excitement of the adventure. Yala has also been featured in documentaries by Discovery and National Geographic, highlighting important leopard research and conservation efforts. After our safari, we will head to our hotel for an overnight stay and an evening at leisure.

After breakfast, we enjoy one final, leisurely game drive in Yala National Park, offering another opportunity to spot the elusive leopard.

Following the safari, we travel by coach to Beruwela, a journey of around four hours (210 km). Along the way, we take a guided tour of Galle, exploring the 17th-century Portuguese and Dutch Fort that encloses the city centre. We will stroll through the streets, admiring Dutch-influenced architecture, historic British residences, and mosques adorned with Arabic details, before continuing on to our hotel in Beruwela.

We can take it easy for the rest of the day and evening, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the ocean air.

We have two full days at leisure in Beruwala, situated along Sri Lanka’s beautiful south-west coast. Enjoy the fresh sea air, sit back and unwind as we come towards the end of our journey through this fascinating country.

These days are perfect for relaxing after exploring Sri Lanka’s many highlights, including ancient temples, cave sites and scenic landscapes.

For those wanting to explore more, there may be the possibility of an optional excursion to a turtle hatchery and then experience the mangrove forests of Madu River home to 300 species of fauna, birds and more, and end your day with a visit to a tea plantation.

Today set out on our excursion to discover more of Sri Lanka. Enjoy a gentle cruise down the river by boat, in search for crocodiles, water monitors and colourful birds. Enroute, visit a small island called Koth Duwa with its beautiful temple and statue of the Buddha. After enjoying a stroll through a tea plantation and end the day with a visit to an antique tea factory, before sampling a cup of Ceylon tea, a delightful way to end this excursion.

Return to our hotel after your 3-hour excursion.

Minimum numbers apply for this tour and is subject to availability. This tour is sold locally from Beruwela.

After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer by coach to our hotel in Colombo where we’ll spend our last night in Sri Lanka. The drive will take approximately two hours drive from Beruwela (90km).  The rest of our day is at leisure.

Departing Colombo, we will reflect on a treasure trove of memorable moments from our Discover Sri Lanka tour. We depart Colombo and fly to Dubai.

On arrival in Dubai, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Spend the next three nights in Dubai on a bed and breakfast basis.

Please note:

Your extension in Dubai will be on an individual basis rather than as part of a big group and that guide services are not included as part of the tour.

The next two full days are at leisure to fully discover Dubai at your own pace. Enjoy an independent stay in Dubai, a cosmopolitan city where the traditional and contemporary meet. You could visit Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai’s largest mosque, or Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city. Relax on the beach, or shop till you drop in one of the many shopping malls Dubai has to offer!

Transfer to Dubai Airport for your flight home.