The colonial style of Colombo, the archaeological heritage of Sigiriya, the ponds of Polonnaruwa, the spices of Matale, the relic of Kandy... Discover it all in just 5 days on this tour of Sri Lanka's most cultural cities!
Sri Lanka 5-Day Tour
Day 1: Colombo
We'll pick you up at the airport in Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, and transfer you to your accommodation. The rest of the day will be spent visiting the city, where the Portuguese, Dutch and English influence is still present in buildings like the 100-year-old Clock Tower.
In the streets of Colombo, we'll also find Hindu and Buddhist temples where we can delve into the more spiritual side of the city. Afterward, we'll do some shopping and learn to haggle at the emblematic Pettah Bazaar.
Day 2: Colombo - Dambulla
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll leave Colombo to visit the Cave Temple, carved into a large rock. Inside we'll find images, carvings and paintings, as well as check out the large 14-meter-long statue of the Reclining Buddha. We'll enter its five cavities and stop to admire the murals that cover its walls and ceilings. A trip back in time to the 1st century B.C.!
In the afternoon, we'll resume our journey to Dambulla, where we'll head to our accommodation for dinner and rest.
Day 3: Dambulla - Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya - Dambulla
We'll start the day with breakfast at the hotel, and from Dambulla, we'll drive to our next destination. After an hour and a half journey, we'll arrive in Polonnaruwa, a town located in an area full of ponds. There, we'll discover the ruins of the city and the 2,400-hectare fortified complex of Parakrama Samudra!
Following this visit, we'll hit the road again for the hour-and-a-half drive to the archaeological site of Sigiriya. Once there, we'll be welcomed by the imposing Lion Rock. We'll climb up this iconic formation jutting out in the middle of the jungle, and enter its caves to discover the famous frescoes of the Golden Maidens. Here, we'll also get to see the Mirror Wall covered by Sigiri Graffiti and get lost in the beautiful Royal Gardens. Fun fact: these were one of the first landscaped gardens in Asia!
In the afternoon, we'll return to Dambulla, where we'll have dinner and spend the night.
Day 4: Dambulla - Matale - Kandy
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll say goodbye to Dambulla and head to Matale, an hour and 15 minutes away. There we'll enter a typical spice garden and learn about the properties of some of the spices, many of which are used for medicinal purposes.
Returning to the road for another hour, we'll make our way to Kandy. There we'll discover one of the most important Buddhist sanctuaries, the Temple of the Tooth. We'll walk through its rooms and among its statues to discover the historic relic it houses: a tooth of the Buddha himself!
After this spiritual experience, we'll head to our accommodation in Kandy for dinner and rest.
Day 5: Kandy - Colombo Airport
We'll start our last day together with breakfast at the hotel. Refreshed, we'll accompany you to the Colombo Airport to catch your flight, concluding the 5-day tour of Sri Lanka.
Accommodation
During the tour, we'll stay in the following hotels:
- Colombo (1 night): Mt. Lavinia Hotel 4* or similar
- Dambulla (2 nights): Paradise Resorts & Spa 5* or similar
- Kandy (1 night): Amaya Hills 5* or similar
What Do I Need?
Our 5-day tour is designed so that you don't have to worry about anything other than booking your international flights. You just need to purchase the flight to Colombo and the flight back from the same city. If, for example, you arrive in Colombo on a Monday to start the tour that day, you must book your return flight for Friday of the same week.
