Sri Lanka · New Year (Batch 2) with Archita
Colombo · Kandy · Ella · Mirissa · Bentota
- Pickup
- Colombo
- Drop
- Colombo
What you are signing up for
Eight days around Sri Lanka's greatest hits. Watch elephants at Pinnawala, climb Sigiriya, ride the hill-country train into Ella, then slow right down on the south coast at Mirissa, Galle Fort and Bentota. We sort the stays, the train and every transfer. You just pack and show up.
Highlights
- Sigiriya Rock
- Temple of the Tooth
- The train to Ella
- Nine Arch Bridge
- Mirissa and Galle
- Pinnawala elephants
Meet your host
Archita
- Travels with the group From day one to the flight home.
- Knows the best spots Viewpoints, food stops and photo moments.
- Your go-to person Ask Archita anything before or during the trip.
All 8 days
Colombo— 1 night
Part One · Kandy
Land at Bandaranaike International Airport and meet your guide.
About an hour's drive to Colombo to check in.
A lively night out in the city, at one of Colombo's casinos if you like.
Drive to Kandy
Kandy— 2 nights
Part One · Kandy
After breakfast, drive to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to watch the elephants bathe and feed.
On to Kandy for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Walk around Kandy Lake and the bazaar, with an
optional Kandyan dance show.
An early drive to Sigiriya to climb the rock fortress.
Visit the Dambulla cave temple on the way back, with an optional tuk-tuk ride.
Back to Kandy for dinner and the night.
Train to Ella
Ella— 1 night
Part Two · The Hills
Head into the hills, stopping at Ramboda Falls and a tea factory near Nuwara Eliya.
A short tour of Nuwara Eliya, 'Little England', and the Seetha Amman Temple.
Ride the train from Ambewela to Ella (about an hour) and check in.
Drive to Mirissa
Mirissa— 2 nights
Part Three · Ella & The Coast
Hike up Little Adam's Peak after breakfast.
Walk to the Nine Arch Bridge (tuk-tuk at your own cost).
Drive down to the south coast and check in at Mirissa.
A free day on Mirissa's beach.
Beach bars and nightlife after dark.
Optional extras: whale watching, Secret Beach, Coconut Tree Hill or snorkelling.
Drive to Bentota
Bentota— 1 night
Part Four · Galle & Bentota
Explore Galle Fort's Dutch-era streets, lighthouse and museums.
Drive on to Bentota (about 1.5 hours).
A boat safari on the Madu River and a turtle hatchery visit, then dinner.
A relaxed morning, depending on your flight time.
Transfer to Bandaranaike airport (about 2 hours).
Fly home with a tin of Ceylon tea in your bag.
7 nights, town by town
Colombo
Hotel, twin sharing
Kandy
Hotel, twin sharing
Ella
Hotel, twin sharing
Mirissa
Resort, twin sharing
Bentota
Resort, twin sharing
What is and is not included
Included
- Hotels: Colombo 1, Kandy 2, Ella 1, Mirissa 2, Bentota 1
- Breakfast daily; dinner too in Kandy and Bentota
- Air-conditioned car for all transfers
- Train ride, Ambewela to Ella
- Entry to Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple and the Temple of the Tooth
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Tea factory visit and Seetha
- Amman Temple
- Madu River boat safari and turtle hatchery
- Toll charges
Not included
- Visa or ETA fee
- Flights
- 5% GST and 2% TCS
- Lunches and meals not listed
- Tuk-tuks, water sports and optional activities
- The vehicle on free days
- Tips, laundry, drinks and personal expenses
- Costs from flight delays, currency changes or natural events
- 31 Dec gala dinner supplement (USD 30 per person)
Other information
Built for solo travellers after a crew, friends who hate planning, and couples who'd rather not hold the itinerary.
Pack this
- A light jacket for Nuwara Eliya and Ella
- Temple wear: shoulders and knees covered
- Good shoes for Sigiriya and Little Adam's Peak
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
- Universal plug adapter
- Mosquito repellent
Sort this before you fly
- Carry a passport valid 6+ months from your return date.
- Check Sri Lanka's visa or ETA rules before you fly.
- Allow about 2 hours from Bentota to the airport on Day 8.
Plans can move Weather, roads and closures can change a day. We carry an alternative for each one rather than cancelling it.
When to go
Every town on this route has its own weather. Pick a month to see the real numbers for each one.
Oct on this route
Sri Lanka averages 28° by day and 20° after dark, with rain on 25 days of the month.
Typical conditions, not a forecast — weather models only run about a fortnight ahead. Daily records averaged per calendar month (Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis). Temperature bars scaled 15 °C to 35 °C, rain bars to 30 days.
Real stories, real escapes.
-
Travelled solo and never once felt like the odd one out. Transfers and check-ins were sorted before we arrived anywhere, which I had not expected at this price. Worth every rupee, and I am not easy to please on that.
Uday Kulkarni, Vadodara
-
The route sold it — Colombo, Kandy, Ella in 8 days without me planning a thing. Galle Fort came around just as the group had hit its stride, which was annoying in the best way. Already looking at their Kaziranga & Meghalaya trip.
Arjun Qureshi, Mumbai
-
Booked this one fairly late and still got a seat on the first batch. Ramboda is the bit I keep describing to people who did not go. Worth every rupee, and I am not easy to please on that.
Lakshmi Bedi, Indore
-
Was deciding between two operators and picked this for the itinerary. No regrets. Free day in Mirissa was the day everyone had come for, and it delivered. Tell your friends to go before it gets busy.
Shreya Chawla, Delhi
-
First group trip for me, and Land in Colombo on day one took the nerves out of it. Food stops were picked by someone who actually eats there, not off a list. Would do it again with the same crew.
Nikhil Mehta, Lucknow
Not sure it is your group?
Tell us who is coming and when you are free. We will say honestly whether this departure fits, or build a private one that does.
Chat on WhatsAppOne message. A person replies, usually within the hour.