Compare Grand Tour of Sri Lanka with Bentota by Cosmos vs Sri Lanka: See & Experience it ALL in 10 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4 | Great
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 15 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 2,439 | $ 1,824 |
| Price Per Day | $ 163 | $ 182 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Luxury |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
|
| Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | One of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots, Sri Lanka offers not only opportunities for seeing wildlife in their natural habitat, but also stunning landscapes, beautiful coastlines, the world’s finest teas, and lots of historic sites with a culture dating back over 2,500 years. In fact, this “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” has been named one of Asia’s leading destinations and on this Sri Lanka tour, you’ll experience all of this and more. Travel to Sigiriya to visit the rock fortress, an incredible volcanic formation that has served as Buddhist monastery, ancient palace of a king, and a frescoed fortress. You’ll visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple—the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka—with 23,000 feet of murals and statues of Buddha, Sri Lankan kings, gods, and goddesses. Also visit Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth—which holds the relic of Buddha’s tooth. Stroll through the exotic Peradeniya Botanic Gardens to see a collection of orchids, spices, and medicinal plants. You’ll pass through forests to the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya—with the perfect climate for tea production. Visit a tea factory amid the rolling hills high above sea level andsee the beautiful Ravana Falls on your way to Tissamaharama. Your value-minded vacation in Sri Lanka is never short on thrilling experiences, including morning and afternoon game drives in spectacular Yala National Park—home to leopards, elephants, sloth bears, water buffalo, and crocodiles. You’ll also visit to an elephant transit home, and embark on a whale-watching expedition in Mirissa Harbor, where you’re apt to see whales, orcas, manta rays, dolphins, and turtles. Continue your affordable Sri Lanka vacation in the paradise setting of Bentota. Relax on the beach or by the pool in this pristine resort setting. Your value vacation in Sri Lanka delivers the perfect amount of stunning sights, beautiful nights, and the right amount of free time to relax! |
You absolutely will not find another tour out there as packed with activities and attractions as this one, provided by CharlieTheTraveler. You will also not find another tour out there that offers it all ""FIRST CLASS,"" yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year-and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price and substance. |
Day 1
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA. Welcome to Sri Lanka’s capital city! Hotel rooms are available for a mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2
COLOMBO–SIGIRIYA. Embark on a sightseeing tour of this bustling city. Along the way, you will see the Galle Face Green promenade, Dutch Hospital precinct, Fort Railway Station, a Hindu Kovil, Beira Lake, and Independence Square. This afternoon, drive to the ancient city of Sigiriya. (B,D)
Day 3
SIGIRIYA. Today, visit the famous SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS, a giant magma plug which has served both as a long-standing Buddhist monastery and a fortress. Surrounded by a network of gardens and moats, it is a geological and anthropological landmark. The ancient ruins of the upper palace built by King Kasyapa can also be found on the summit, which, at 656 feet above sea level, affords magnificent views across the beautiful Sri Lankan countryside. On the way to the top, you will see the famous Cloud Maidens frescoes painted on the rock wall. Later, visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins of POLONNARUWA. (B)NOTE: Please note that you must climb steep steps to reach the top of Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Day 4
SIGIRIYA–DAMBULLA–KANDY. This morning, visit the fascinating DAMBULLA ROCK CAVE TEMPLE, containing well-preserved frescoes and statues of Buddha. Next, drive to the city of Kandy, a jumble of culture, history, and colonial buildings. Visit the TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH and enjoy a comprehensive tour of this green city, taking in the colorful KANDY MARKET and the Upper Lake Drive. (B,L)
Day 5
KANDY–NUWARA ELIYA. Begin today with a visit to the PERADENIYA BOTANIC GARDENS, which are renowned for their collection of orchids, spices, and medicinal plants. Then, journey through forests to the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya, also known as “Little England.” Set high above sea level and surrounded by rolling hills, its cool temperatures, humidity, and rainfall provide the perfect climate for tea production. Visit a TEA FACTORY en route and be enlightened on the tea manufacturing process. (B)
Day 6
NUWARA ELIYA–TISSAMAHARAMA. Depart Nuwara Eliya and view the famous RAVANA FALLS before continuing to Tissamaharama. (B,D)
Day 7
TISSAMAHARAMA. EXCURSION TO YALA NATIONAL PARK. Today, enjoy MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES in YALA NATIONAL PARK by jeep. The park is home to one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, with sightings of these beautiful creatures not uncommon. Yala is also a bird-watcher’s paradise, with around 230 species recorded in the park. Also, you may spot elephants, sloth bears, water buffalo, macaques, and mugger crocodiles. (B,L,D)
Day 8
TISSAMAHARAMA–AHANGAMA. Journey west to visit the ELEPHANT TRANSIT HOME where orphaned elephants are cared for before being returned to the wild. Continue to Ahangama, a small town on the country’s southern coast. (B)
Day 9
AHANGAMA–EXCURSION TO MIRISSA HARBOR. Rise early and travel to Mirissa, where you board your WHALE-WATCHING BOAT in search of sea life. The harbor is home to many different marine animals, including dolphins, flying fish, orcas, turtles, and manta rays. Be sure to keep an eye out for the largest creature on Earth, the blue whale. Return to your hotel this afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (B)
Day 10
AHANGAMA–GALLE–BENTOTA. Travel to Galle, where the natural harbor offers gorgeous views of the ocean. Enjoy an orientation tour of the city, and visit GALLE FORT, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This afternoon, continue to Bentota for your beach stay. (B)
Day 11
BENTOTA. Four full days at leisure, doing as little or as much as you wish. Visit fabulous beaches or simply relax by the pool. (B daily)
Day 12
BENTOTA. Four full days at leisure, doing as little or as much as you wish. Visit fabulous beaches or simply relax by the pool. (B daily)
Day 13
BENTOTA. Four full days at leisure, doing as little or as much as you wish. Visit fabulous beaches or simply relax by the pool. (B daily)
Day 14
BENTOTA. Four full days at leisure, doing as little or as much as you wish. Visit fabulous beaches or simply relax by the pool. (B daily)
Day 15
BENTOTA. Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Day 1: Getting to the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
From the airport in Colombo, we have a private driver and tour guide take us to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. En route, specifically in the town of Kurunegala, we can have lunch (or dinner depending on your arrival time into Colombo's international airport). As this is the first day of our trip and jet-lag is common, we simply go for an evening stroll in Polonnaruwa after checking into the hotel.
Day 2: A Guided Bike Tour of an Ancient City Followed by a Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park
Today starts with a guided bike tour of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Afterwards, we have lunch. Next, we are taken to Minneriya National Park. There we go on a jeep safari. In the evening, we are taken to Sri Lanka’s landmark hill, Sigiriya. This is where our hotel is located.
Best known for pagodas and ruins, the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Another draw is the town’s population of toque macaques. These monkeys have been living in the ruins since human occupation. They continued to thrive long after the humans left. The Minneriya National Park is best known as a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in forests.
Day 3: Hiking the Ancient Rock of Sigiriya, Hiking Pidurangala Rock & Visiting a Cave Temple
Today starts with a guided hiking tour of the ancient sites of Sigiriya. On the top of the rock, we will have a great view of the surroundings. We should be returning to the bottom of the base around 9:30am. We are then taken to Pidurangala Rock. There we are also provided with a guided hiking tour. We have lunch after hiking down Pidurangala Rock. After lunch in Sigiriya, we are taken to Dambulla Cave Temple. There we are given a guided tour. Afterwards, we are taken to Sri Muthumariamman Temple, in Matale. There we are given a guided tour. Finally, we are taken to the city of Kandy. This is where our hotel is located.
From all of today’s attractions, Sigiriya and Dambulla Cave Temple are the most popular. Dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters (660 feet) high, Sigiriya is a site of historical and archaeological significance. Sigiriya contains (A) ruins of an upper palace located on the flat top of the rock, (B) a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and a mirror wall with frescoes, (C) lower palaces located behind lavish gardens, and (D) moats and ramparts. The Dambulla Cave Temple is composed of five caves, which have been converted into shrine rooms. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses. This cave temple and World Heritage Site is one of most tourists’ favorite attractions in the country.
Day 4: A Tooth Temple, Royal Botanical Gardens, a Tea Factory Viewing & a Very Scenic Drive
Today starts with a guided tour of Kandy’s key attraction, the Temple of the Tooth. Since ancient times, this temple has played an important role in local politics. After exploring it, we are given a guided tour at Kandy’s second most popular attraction, the Royal Botanical Gardens. Best known for its collection of orchids, these gardens attract around two million visitors annually. The Royal Botanical Gardens are home to more than 4,000 species of plants, including spices and palm trees. After walking around these gardens, we can purchase lunch. After our meal, we are provided with a guided walking tour around town.
After discovering Kandy, we are taken to a tea factory. En route, we pass through arguably the greatest landscape in the country. The tea plantations in the countryside are absolutely gorgeous to look at. After our tea factory tour, we are taken to a mountain called Adam’s Peak. Our hotel is located in this area.
Day 5: Adam's Peak’s Sunrise Hike, a Train Ride Like No Other & Breathtaking Tea Plantations
Today we take a hike up Adam’s Peak. It is a 2,243-meter (7,359-feet) tall conical mountain located in the center of the country. Seeing from atop the sunrise and the surroundings, this is a hiker’s fantasy. Note that views from above the mountain may be obstructed due to fog. There really isn’t much that can be done about it. Hopefully it will be a clear morning. Hiking back to the base takes about 2.5 hours.
After our hike, we are taken to our nearby hotel so we can have breakfast, shower and check out. Next, we are taken to the town of Nuwara Eliya. There we can purchase lunch. After our meal, we are taken by a quite popular and scenic train ride to the town of Ella. This is where our hotel is located.
Day 6: Waterfalls, Temples & Hiking Little Adam’s Peak for Sunrise
The early morning starts with a hike to Little Adam’s Peak. We watch the sunrise once reaching the top of the mountain. The guided tour from the bottom to the top and back down takes a little under 2 hours. Afterwards, we are taken to Dhowa Rock Temple. There we are provided with a guided tour. Next, we are taken to the Nine Arch Bridge. This is where an antiquated train passes by. It serves as a popular tourist attraction.
After lunch, we take a short drive to Ravana Falls. These falls measure approximately 25 meters (82 feet) in height, featuring water falling from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. Its cave lies 1,370 meters (4,490 feet) above sea level on the foundation of a cliff. Excavations undertaken in the cave uncovered evidence of human habitation dating back 25,000 years. There we are provided with a guided tour. Afterwards, we are taken to Ravana Cave Temple. There we are provided with another guided tour. The day ends in Tissamaharama, a town near to Yala National Park. Our hotel for the evening is located in Tissamaharama.
Day 7: Wildlife Jeep Safari, Stilt Fishing, Colonial Galle & the Beach Resort of Hikkaduwa
Today starts with an early-morning, Jeep safari at Yala National Park. Yala is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is best known for its variety of wild animals, such as elephants, leopards and aquatic birds. After the tour, we are taken to Tangalle. There we can have lunch. Next, we are taken to the town of Weligama, which is home to the tradition of stilt fishing. Afterwards, we are taken to the somewhat colonial city of Galle. Galle has a handful of worth-seeing monuments built during European colonization, such as its fort. Our guided tour in Galle takes about 1 hour. Lastly for today is a drive to Hikkaduwa. This is where our hotel is located. Hikkaduwa was once a hotspot for hippies but is now better known for its relatively nice resorts. Hikkaduwa is especially popular with Russians. Note that Hikkaduwa’s high season is November through March.
Day 8: Whale Watching Near Mirissa or Snorkeling Near Hikkaduwa
Today we go snorkeling near Hikkaduwa or whale watching near Mirissa. It depends on what month you are traveling. November through April is whale watching season. If you are joining our tour between November and April, then we are taken to a village called Mirissa. Early morning, we go whale-watching on a relatively large boat. Dolphins are also often seen in the area. The boat should return to Mirissa around 12:00pm. We are then taken for lunch nearby. Afterwards, we are taken back to our hotel.
If you are joining our tour between May and October, then we have the morning and early afternoon to recover after all of these adventurous activities. Midday, we are picked up at the hotel and taken to a dock where we get onto a boat leaving for Coral Garden. Near this area, specifically at the coral sanctuary, we can go snorkeling. It features approximately seventy varieties of multi-colored corals. In the late afternoon, we are picked up at the dock and taken back to our hotel.
Day 9: A Wetland Boat Cruise, a Striking Religious Temple & Colombo's National Museum
Today starts with a drive to Madu Ganga. For whatever odd reason, not a lot of natives know about this place. Nevertheless, this wetland boat cruise is definitely a highlight when visiting the country. Madu Ganga might be one of the last remaining tracts of untouched mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. What’s more, the inhabitants of its islets produce peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil. There we are provided with a guided boat tour. Next, we are taken to a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda. There we are provided with a guided tour. Afterwards, we have lunch in the coastal town of Bentota. After our meal, we are taken to the Raja Maha Vihara Temple, in Kelaniya. This is arguably Sri Lanka’s most beautiful religious monument. There we are provided with a guided tour. We are then taken to Colombo, specifically to see its national museum. It features the throne and crown of the Kandyan monarchs as well as many other exhibits telling the story of ancient Sri Lanka. There we are provided with a guided tour. Still in Colombo, we are then taken to our hotel.
Day 10: Our Tour Ends This Morning
Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Colombo.
