This jam packed itinerary really does combine everything that Sri Lanka has to offer. Explore Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, visit Ella and the nearby tea plantations, spend time in Yala and Udawalawe where you can see the best of Sri Lanka’s wildlife, before finishing your adventure relaxing on the island’s golden beaches.
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Description
1 night – Colombo
2 nights – Anuradhapura
3 nights – Dambulla / Sigiriya (inc Polonnaruwa)
2 nights – Kandy
1 night – Ella
1 night – Yala
1 night – Udawalawe
3 nights – Mirissa
✈️ UK to Colombo (1 night): Upon arrival in Colombo, your adventure begins with a warm welcome from your personal chauffeur who will be ready to take you to your hotel and through every step of your Sri Lankan journey. Beyond simply transporting you between each hotel, your dedicated driver offers you the flexibility to visit any sightseeing attraction you desire both en route and also at each stop in your itinerary. In Colombo, wander through the colourful Pettah market, explore colonial relics including the Old Parliament Building and the Galle Face Green promenade, and indulge in the wonderful Sri Lankan cuisine.
🚗 Colombo to Anuradhapura (2 nights): After a hearty breakfast, your driver will be ready to whisk you out of the city and into the heart of the country’s cultural triangle to the city of Anuradhapura. One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, it is home to ancient ruins, monasteries, palaces, and three huge dome-shaped stupas: Mirisavatiya, Ruvanweliya and Jetavanaya. One of the oldest living trees in the world can also be found here, the Sri Maha Bodhi, which is a sacred fig tree.
🚗 Anuradhapura to Dambulla / Sigiriya (inc Polonnaruwa) (3 nights): Delving deeper into the cultural triangle, your next stop is Dambulla / Sigiriya, home to some incredible ancient cities and truly fascinating structures. Dambulla is home to the Dambulla Cave Temple complex that features five caves with stunning murals and over 150 carved Buddha statues that have been painstakingly carved directly into the natural rock formations. Just a short drive away is the spellbinding Sigiriya Rock Fortress, also known as Lion Rock, with its incredible ‘rock-cut’ architecture and landscaped gardens built on top of a huge granite rock outcrop. The nearby ancient city of Polonnaruwa is also a must-visit within the area, and its ruins include royal palaces, temples, statues, and stupas, including the Gal Vihara, a rock temple with four huge Buddha statues carved into the granite.
🚗 Dambulla / Sigiriya to Kandy (2 nights): To complete your full exploration of the Cultural Triangle, you’ll head to Kandy, home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic. This Buddhist temple is widely believed to house a revered tooth that belonged to Lord Buddha himself – and therefore holds huge significance in the Buddhist religion. A short walk from the temple complex is the pretty Kandy Lake, surrounded by lush greenery, offering a peaceful retreat in the busy city.
🚗 / 🚂 Kandy to Ella (1 night): Your next destination is the picturesque small town of Ella in the central highlands, and you have the option for your driver to transport you door-to-door, alternatively, you could choose to take a scenic train journey from Kandy to Ella. This captivating train journey takes you through lush tea plantations, mist-covered mountains, and cascading waterfalls, offering an unforgettable experience. Despite its small size, Ella has become a popular tourist destination due to its scenic beauty, offering a range of highlights including Ella Rock with its fabulous panoramic views, the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, and the delicious local cuisine.
🚗 Ella to Yala (1 night): Yala, situated in the south-eastern region of Sri Lanka, is home to Yala National Park, the country’s most visited and second-largest national park. It boasts a wide range of ecosystems, from dense forests to expansive grasslands and coastal lagoons. Within the National Park, you can take a jeep safari to encounter a wide range of wildlife, including the iconic Sri Lankan leopard, elephants, sloth bears, and various bird species.
🚗 Yala to Udawalawe (1 night): Continuing the wildlife theme, you’ll head to Udawalawe, which is a smaller park, and ideal for a more intimate safari experience. Udawalawe National Park is renowned for its large herds of Asian elephants, which can often be seen roaming the grasslands and congregating around the park’s water sources. You can also spot water buffalos, sambar deer, spotted deer, wild boar, mongoose and around 200 species of birds.
🚗 Udawalawe to Mirissa (3 nights): You’ll conclude your Sri Lankan adventure with an escape along the southern coast of Sri Lanka, in the picturesque coastal town of Mirissa where you can soak up the sun for the final few days of your holiday. Mirissa is one of the most popular beach resorts in Sri Lanka, where you’ll find pristine beaches, a lively yet laid-back beachfront, and ample opportunities for whale watching, surfing, and snorkelling.
✈️ Mirissa to UK: You will be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport, ready for your return flight home to the UK.
Why choose eShores?
One to One Service
Our experienced personal travel consultants will ensure you find the most suitable holiday, whilst taking care of every last detail. Everything from start to finish will be effortless.
100% Tailor Made
We can use any hotel, in any destination, so we will craft an itinerary to suit your exact needs. Also, as we can provide any itinerary, the only holiday we'll offer, is the one that's right for you.
Fully Protected
Our ATOL bonding provides you with the financial protection you need and as a member of the Travel Trust Association, you'll have 100% financial protection. Covering you for any eventuality.
Competitive Pricing
As a tour operator & travel agent, we'll search the market to ensure that we find you the best price. Also as an online business, we can ensure our prices are as competitive as possible.
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GillianMargaret
Dave as been absolutely brilliant! So friendly, professional, and easy to talk to. He has sorted out everything for our up-coming holiday to Thailand including flights transfers and picking the right hotels for us based on our requirements. This is not the first time we have booked with eShores and we shall continue to do so as they (and Dave in particular) offer a first class service.
Posted 1 day ago -
Susan
Very pleased with my holiday booking. Laura explained everything really well and found us some lovely hotels, looking forward to our multi centre holiday next year
Posted 2 days ago -
Andrew
Very helpful staff, polite and knowledgable. Laura was excellent in orgnaising my booking for next year and i would recommend anyone looking to book a holiday to contact eSHores.
Posted 1 week ago -
John
Two centre holiday perfectly arranged Thanks Dave
Posted 1 week ago -
PhilipJohn
Very professional and friendly staff, good price for the holidays and expert knowled ge
Posted 2 weeks ago -
AmandaJayne
Never used this company at all before. They were so good, nothing too much trouble, made it all dress free. Emily was great. Definitely recommend them in fact my sister in law is looking at booking with them now too
Posted 2 weeks ago -
Sarah
Having used eShores for our previous holiay had no reservations using again. Great service and very quick response and Michelle came back with some very competitive flights and accomodation deals. Highly recommend
Posted 2 weeks ago -
JayneMarie
Emily was absolutely brilliant and very helpful and knowledgeable helping me book our next holiday to the USA next year.
Posted 2 weeks ago -
Leah
Another holiday booked with Eshores . Thank you Gavin for all your excellent advice and fine detail ! I can highly recommend this company !
Posted 2 weeks ago -
Andrew
EShores have helped on several vacation plans, full support and ideas to help make the holiday special. Laura has been our travel consultant and she has been great assisting with connecting flights, trains, hotel selections. Nothing is too much for her. Will be returning for more bookings in the future
Posted 3 weeks ago
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