09 Days Cultural Sightseeing Tour
09 Days 08 Nights
Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa - Minneriya - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Tissamaharama - Yala - Mirissa - Galle - Bentota - Airport
The Sri Lanka 09 Days tour consists of 8 nights. We will take you to the tourist attractions in the cultural triangle, the central hills, and the southern province of Sri Lanka during this tour. The guests are further participating in activities like wildlife safaris, rock climbing, waterfall watching, boat riding, swimming, and surfing within this tour.
*Hotel/accommodation for this tour will be chosen based on the needs of the guests.
1-3 Passengers
1 – 6 Passengers
1 – 9 Passengers
1 – 15 Passengers
1 – 29 Passengers
Upon your arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, a representative from our team will be there to greet you. You'll then be escorted to your accommodation in the historic town of Sigiriya, where you can relax and enjoy the rest of your evening.
On the second day of your 9-Day Sri Lanka Sightseeing Tour, you’ll embark on a journey to the historic city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second-oldest kingdom. Once serving as the country's capital after Anuradhapura's fall in 993, Polonnaruwa is renowned for its well-preserved archaeological treasures. You'll explore the ancient remains of Parakramabahu’s grand garden city, constructed in the 12th century, along with Chola-built Brahmanic temples, shrines, and ruins.
Among these fascinating sites is the palace of King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186). Although much of the original 50-room structure has eroded over time, the surviving walls still give a sense of its former grandeur. The king’s audience hall, flanked by intricately carved stone elephants, and guarded by lion sculptures, is a sight to behold. Nearby, the king’s swimming pool is adorned with impressive crocodile mouth statues that spout freshwater. Hidden within a small forest, you’ll also discover the Shiva Devale No. 2, Polonnaruwa’s second-oldest Hindu temple.
Following your exploration of Polonnaruwa, you’ll head to Minneriya National Park. This wildlife reserve is a popular destination for spotting Sri Lankan elephants, especially during the dry season when 150–300 wild elephants gather near Minneriya Tank. The 888.4-hectare park is also home to an array of exotic wildlife, including native monkeys, sloth bears, buffalo, and Sri Lankan Sambar deer. After your wildlife adventure, you'll return to Sigiriya for an overnight stay.
On the third day of your Sri Lanka tour, you’ll start with an exhilarating rock climbing adventure before heading to the historic city of Kandy. Your climb will take you up the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress, known as the "Lion Rock." This towering 180-meter high rock served as the capital and seat of administration under King Kashyapa. Halfway up the cliff, you’ll pass through a massive lion-shaped doorway, giving the fortress its name. After the king's death, the site was abandoned but later used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Today, the remnants of this magnificent fortress are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Next, you'll visit the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Dambulla Golden Temple. This temple, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, features five chambers adorned with intricate murals spanning 2,100 square meters and housing 157 statues. The temple’s natural wonder is enhanced by the towering 150-meter rock that serves as its roof, and the site’s iconic 15-meter-tall golden statue and pagoda, which were constructed after extensive renovations. Like Sigiriya, Dambulla is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After exploring the cave temple, you'll head to the quaint village of Hiriwadunna. This small rural community, home to about 2,500 residents, offers a glimpse into traditional Sri Lankan village life. You can immerse yourself in the peaceful countryside, take a bullock cart or boat ride, and enjoy a delicious traditional Sri Lankan meal.
Your next stop will be the Spice Garden, where you can explore the aromatic world of spices and learn about their culinary and medicinal uses. Following this, you’ll visit the Matale Muthumariamman Temple, dedicated to Mariamman, the Hindu goddess of fertility and rain. The temple, with its vibrant colors and intricate designs, is a popular destination for religious ceremonies and weddings. The annual chariot festival held in March is one of the temple's most celebrated events. Finally, you’ll make your way to Kandy, where you can enjoy dinner and settle in for the night.
On the fourth day of our 9-day sightseeing tour in Sri Lanka, you'll head to the enchanting city of Kandy, with a few stops at nearby attractions along the way. After breakfast, we'll pick you up from your hotel, and the adventure begins.
Our first visit is to the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), a site of immense spiritual significance to Buddhists around the world. This revered temple houses the Buddha’s left canine tooth and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.
Next, we'll journey to the Bahirawakanda Temple, situated atop Bahirawakanda hill. Here, you can marvel at the massive Buddha statue that has become a landmark of the region. From there, we’ll make our way to the Kandy viewpoint, offering panoramic views of the entire city—a perfect spot for photos.
We'll then take a stroll through a local market, where you'll have the chance to browse and purchase a variety of items, from organic produce to unique souvenirs. Following that, our tour continues to the National Gems and Gemmological Museum. This museum offers a fascinating glimpse into Sri Lanka's rich gem history, showcasing some of the world’s most remarkable minerals and providing an educational experience about the island’s geological heritage.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, an expansive 147-acre garden featuring over 4,000 plant species. Just a short drive from Kandy, this lush sanctuary is bordered by the tranquil Mahaweli River.
Our cultural exploration concludes with a visit to the Kandy Cultural Dance Show. Here, you'll be captivated by a mesmerizing performance that highlights the vibrant dance traditions and cultural expressions of Sri Lanka. The Kandy Lake Club has been showcasing these performances since 1982, bringing together the island’s diverse dance forms on one stage.
To round off the day, we’ll visit a Kandy shopping mall, where you can indulge in some retail therapy. After a full day of sightseeing and exploration, we'll transport you back to your hotel in the late afternoon, giving you time to relax and reflect on the day’s experiences.
On the sixth day, you will go to the lovely Ella, a little village situated in the mountains of the Central Province. You could come across mountains, waterfalls, and magnificent flora as you travel into the highlands. You’ll stop at a few locations along the way, including the 109-meter-tall Ramboda Falls, Sri Lanka’s eleventh-tallest waterfall (358 ft). Our next outing will take us to the Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden, which is the country of Sri Lanka’s oldest tea institution. There are tea samples and a free factory tour offered.
On the way to the quaint village of Nuwara Eliya, we’ll make a few notable stops, including Gregory Lake, where you can have a pony ride and enjoy a delectable lunch. We’ll then head to the Nuwara Eliya post office after that. It has a unique design and is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest post offices. Then, after being transported to the Nanu Oya Railway Station, you will board the train for the most incredible journey to the stunning city of Ella. One of Sri Lanka’s most romantic rail rides is this one. A must-do activity in Sri Lanka is to take in the breathtaking views of the island’s lovely green tea estates, mountains, bridges, valleys, and lush wildness. Additionally, it’s the best way to understand Sri Lankan culture. The vendors who board the train at each station sell delicious treats as you converse with other passengers and wave at children running alongside the rails. You’ll be escorted to your overnight destination after the train travel.
We will travel to Yala on day six, making a few stops along the way, including at Little Adam’s Peak. Little Adam’s Peak, often referred to as Mini Adam’s Peak, was given the renowned Adams Peak moniker since the two summits are identical (Sri Pada). A simple climb to Little Adams Peak, where you can observe employees picking tea, leads to a spectacular peak covered with tea plantations. In the deep jungle, the sight is breathtaking. You won’t soon forget this ascent.
Next up is the Nine Arch Bridge, which is worth seeing to appreciate the engineering and beauty of the bridge. The Bridge in the Sky is another name for the Nine Arch Bridge. It is a structure from the Colonial era with a viaduct bridge design. The second-largest national park in the nation and one that is bordered by the Indian Ocean is Yala National Park, where the safari experience will thereafter take place. Only two of the park’s five blocks, Ruhunu and Kumana national parks, are open to the public. Yala was founded as an animal refuge around 1900. You will be driven to the hotel for supper and a night’s stay after the safari.
You’ll be taken directly to Mirissa on day seven. When you go to Mirissa, we’ll visit Coconut Tree Hill. It’s possible that it’s the most well-known site in Mirissa. Near Mirissa, there is a mineralized headland that overlooks the Indian Ocean. It takes around 10 to 15 minutes to walk along the beach from the street. When you reach the summit, which offers a breathtaking view of the beach and Mirissa Bay, you must take a picture in this lovely frame. You might then explore the town before going to your overnight accommodation.
On the eighth day of your Sri Lanka 9 days Sightseeing Tour, we’ve planned a whale-watching excursion to give you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see whales. These incredible animals allow you to go quite near to them. Whale and dolphin watching, which is available at Mirissa, is one of Sri Lanka’s most thrilling water activities. The warm waters of Sri Lanka are home to a variety of marine animals, including blue whales, killer whales, sperm whales, fin whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, striped dolphins, and Risso’s dolphins. The best time to see whales is from November through April, when the seas are quiet and warm.
After that, we’ll go to Bentota. We will go via Galle on the route to Bentota and stop to see the iconic Galle Fort, which is located on the Galle Coast. The Portuguese built it in 1588, and the Dutch renovated it starting in 1649. It still maintains a magnificent appearance after having been in place for more than 432 years, and it is today recognized as an important architectural landmark. Our next tour will take us to the Turtle Hatchery Farm in Galle, which aims to increase the baby turtles’ robustness. You will be given a tour of the building by a guide who will greet you at the main entrance. Then, we’ll travel to Balapitiya town’s picturesque Madu River to take a boat ride. Numerous islands are formed by the nearby stream, and the area’s biological system also produces a stunning wetland. You will be driven to the hotel because it is the end of the day.
Our guide will pick you up from the hotel on day nine of your great Sri Lanka 9 Days Sightseeing Tour and drive you back to the airport in time for your flight home. You planned a nine-day trip with Lanka Safe Tours, and it would be fantastic and lovely.
