Hannah R.United Kingdom
★★★★★ · March 2026
The train alone is worth it
Our guide Nuwan knew which side of the carriage would have the best view and which tea factory still did tastings by hand. Small details, every day.
Sri Lanka · Group or private
Emerald Island Classic
Bestseller
Guaranteed dates available
Trip code LK-EIC10
Length10 days / 9 nights
From$1,649 pp
Rating★ 4.9 (312)
GroupUp to 20
The classic loop, done slowly
Ten days around the heart of Sri Lanka: the rock fortress of Sigiriya, the temples of Kandy, the train through the tea hills to Ella, leopards in Yala and the old Dutch fort at Galle.
Two nights in most places, early starts only when they are worth it, and a guide who stays with your group the whole way. Ideal for a first visit.
- Climb Sigiriya at 6:30, before the crowds
- Reserved observation-car seats on the Kandy to Ella train
- Two jeep safaris in Yala National Park
- Cook lunch with a family in the Kandy hills
- Cycle the ruins of Polonnaruwa
- Sunset on the ramparts of Galle Fort
Is this tour for you?
Walks of up to 3 hours on uneven ground, and about 1,200 steps at Sigiriya. Some long drives of 3 to 4 hours. Good for anyone who walks regularly.
Good to know
Temples need covered shoulders and knees, and shoes off. Safari jeeps are open-sided and bumpy. The train can be crowded outside our reserved carriage.
Travelling solo? Share a twin room with another traveller of the same gender and pay no single supplement.
Day by day
Numbers show the day you arrive. Open a day to see it on the map.
Day1
Ayubowan, Colombo
Arrive at Bandaranaike International (CMB)
Ayubowan, Colombo
Arrive at Bandaranaike International (CMB)We meet you at arrivals and drive 1 hour into the city. Late afternoon walk on Galle Face Green as the kites go up, then a welcome dinner of hoppers and curries with your group and guide.
Day2
North to the Cultural Triangle
Colombo → Sigiriya · about 4 hours
North to the Cultural Triangle
Colombo → Sigiriya · about 4 hoursDrive north through coconut country to the Dambulla cave temples, five caves of painted ceilings and 150 Buddha statues. Evening at your lodge on the edge of the forest.
Day3
Lion Rock at 6:30
Sigiriya rock · Polonnaruwa by bike
Lion Rock at 6:30
Sigiriya rock · Polonnaruwa by bikeClimb the 1,200 steps of Sigiriya before the heat and the tour buses. After lunch, cycle the flat paths of Polonnaruwa, the 12th-century royal capital, with a local guide.
Day4
Spices and the sacred tooth
Sigiriya → Kandy · about 2.5 hours
Spices and the sacred tooth
Sigiriya → Kandy · about 2.5 hoursStop at a spice garden in Matale on the way. In the evening, join the drummers at the Temple of the Tooth for the daily puja.
Day5
Cooking with the Wijesinghe family
Kandy · free afternoon
Cooking with the Wijesinghe family
Kandy · free afternoonMorning in the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, then cook lunch with a family in the hills above the lake: dhal, jackfruit curry and pol sambol. Afternoon free.
Day6
The train to Ella
Kandy → Ella by train · about 7 hours
The train to Ella
Kandy → Ella by train · about 7 hoursReserved seats in the observation carriage for the most famous train ride in Sri Lanka, through tea estates, tunnels and cloud forest. Your driver meets you at Ella station.
Day7
Bridges, peaks and waterfalls
Ella · Little Adam's Peak · Nine Arch Bridge
Bridges, peaks and waterfalls
Ella · Little Adam's Peak · Nine Arch BridgeSunrise walk up Little Adam's Peak, then the path along the tracks to the Nine Arch Bridge in time for the morning train. Afternoon free, or a tea factory visit.
Day8
Into leopard country
Ella → Yala · about 3 hours · afternoon safari
Into leopard country
Ella → Yala · about 3 hours · afternoon safariDown from the hills to the dry south-east. After lunch at camp, your first jeep safari in Yala National Park, home to one of the densest leopard populations in the world.
Day9
Dawn safari, then the fort
Yala → Galle · about 3.5 hours
Dawn safari, then the fort
Yala → Galle · about 3.5 hoursOne more safari at first light, when the animals are most active. Then west along the coast to Galle Fort for a sunset walk on the ramparts.
Day10
Farewell
Galle → Colombo airport · about 2.5 hours
Farewell
Galle → Colombo airport · about 2.5 hoursA free morning in the fort, then the expressway to the airport for your flight home, or extend with a few nights in the Maldives.
Included, and not
Included
- 9 nights in hotels and a tented camp, twin sharing
- 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners
- English-speaking guide for the whole trip
- Air-conditioned minibus and driver
- Reserved train seats, Kandy to Ella
- 2 jeep safaris and park fees in Yala
- Entry to Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and the Temple of the Tooth
- Airport transfers on day 1 and day 10
Not included
- International flights
- Sri Lanka ETA (visa), about $50
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed, and drinks
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Single room, +$380 (optional)
Choose how you travel
Sat 14 Nov – Mon 23 Nov2026 · 10 days
Guaranteed
4 of 20 spaces left
$1,649
per person · single room +$380
Book this trip
Sat 28 Nov – Mon 7 Dec2026 · 10 days
Only 2 spaces left
2 of 20 spaces left
$1,649
per person · single room +$380
Book this trip
Sat 12 Dec – Mon 21 Dec2026 · 10 days
Full
No spaces left
$1,649
per person · single room +$380
Sat 26 Dec – Mon 4 Jan2027 · 10 days · Christmas and New Year
Available
12 of 20 spaces left
$1,849
per person · single room +$380
Book this trip
Sat 9 Jan – Mon 18 Jan2027 · 10 days · On offer
Guaranteed
7 of 20 spaces left
Sat 23 Jan – Mon 1 Feb2027 · 10 days
On request
9 of 20 spaces left
$1,649
per person · single room +$380
Request this date
Sat 6 Feb – Mon 15 Feb2027 · 10 days
Available
14 of 20 spaces left
$1,649
per person · single room +$380
Book this trip
Pay 50% or in fullPay half when you book and the rest after you arrive. Arriving within 14 days? Full payment at booking.
Cancelling14 days or more before arrival: 5% fee. Less than 14 days, or a no-show: no refund.
Seats held for youWhen you start booking we hold your seats for 30 minutes while you pay.
Take this tour privately
Same route, your own dates and your own guide and car. Add nights, swap hotels or combine countries.
- Any start date, any group size
- Choose 3★, 4★ or 5★ hotels
- Quote by email or WhatsApp, usually within 24 hours
The form asks for
Your name, email, WhatsApp 1 step
Arrival and departure dates 1 step
Adults, children, infants 1 step
Activities and hotel level 1 step
This tour is attached to your request. About 2 minutes.
Where you stay
★★★★
Lion Rock Jungle Lodge
Sigiriya · nights 2–3 · pool, forest views
Lion Rock Jungle Lodge
Sigiriya · nights 2–3 · pool, forest views
★★★★
The Kandyan Heritage House
Kandy · nights 4–5 · 12 rooms above the lake
The Kandyan Heritage House
Kandy · nights 4–5 · 12 rooms above the lake
★★★★
Leopard Trails Tented Camp
Yala · night 8 · en-suite tents, all meals
Leopard Trails Tented Camp
Yala · night 8 · en-suite tents, all meals
Plus a boutique hotel in Colombo, a tea-estate bungalow in Ella and The Rampart House in Galle Fort. Hotels may change to one of a similar standard; we tell you before you travel.
Before you go
Visa and ETA
Most nationalities need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying to Sri Lanka. Apply online at least a week before you travel. We send the link and a checklist after you book.
Health
No vaccinations are required for entry from most countries. Talk to your doctor about typhoid and hepatitis A. Use repellent at dusk; dengue is present in Sri Lanka.
Weather
November to April is the dry season in the west, south and hill country. Days are 28–32°C on the coast; Ella cools to about 14°C at night. Short showers are possible any month.
What to pack
Light layers, a warm top for the hills, walking shoes, a scarf or sarong for temples, sun cream and a refillable bottle. We give you a water bottle and refill it every day.
Money and tipping
The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Cards work in most hotels; ATMs are in every town. We suggest about $8–10 per traveller per day for your guide and driver together.
Flights
Flights are not included. Arrive at Bandaranaike International (CMB) on day 1 and fly out from CMB on day 10, after 3:00 pm. Add your flight details after booking.
Travel insurance
Insurance with medical cover is required for every traveller. We ask for your policy number before departure.
Group and rooms
Groups are 4 to 20 travellers. A departure is guaranteed once enough travellers book; if it does not run, you choose another date or a full refund.
From travellers who went
4.9
312 reviews of this tour
Daniel K.Germany
★★★★★ · February 2026
Two leopards on day 8
Paying half up front and the rest after we landed made booking easy. The departure filled a week later, so we were glad we did not wait.
Maya L.Canada
★★★★☆ · January 2026
Great pace for a first visit
Long drive on day 2, but every stop was worth it. I travelled solo and shared a room, which saved the single supplement.
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