Tour Overview
For travellers who want to earn their views. Cycle to Polonnaruwa, trek the wild Knuckles Range, raft Kitulgala’s rapids, climb Adam’s Peak by night with the pilgrims, hike Ella Rock and finish with a leopard safari in Yala.
Where you spend the nights
| Area / base | Nights |
|---|---|
| Sigiriya / Habarana | 3 |
| Kandy | 2 |
| Kitulgala | 1 |
| Dalhousie / Hatton | 1 |
| Ella | 1 |
| Yala / Tissamaharama | 1 |
| Total nights | 9 |
Trip at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights |
| Tour type | Adventure |
| Group size | Private tour: 1–12 guests |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Best season | December – April |
| Approx. road distance | ~1,040 km |
| Guide languages | English, German and Hindi (others on request) |
| Departure dates | Any date – private tour, all year |
Highlights
- Cycling in Polonnaruwa
- Pidurangala sunset hike
- Knuckles Range trek (UNESCO)
- White-water rafting in Kitulgala
- Night climb of Adam's Peak
- Ella Rock hike
- Yala leopard safari
Itinerary
Every tour is 100% flexible and customizable. This itinerary is a starting point – we can change the order of the days, add or remove nights, swap activities or extend the tour to match your exact dates, pace and interests.
Hotels and accommodation are not included in the standard tour price. You are free to book your own stays, or let us organise a complete accommodation package for you in your preferred hotel tier (guesthouse, 3★, 4★, 5★ or boutique/villa). We work with hotels across the island and can quote your whole trip as one package.
Please contact us before you place a booking so that we can finalise your customised itinerary and your accommodation plan, confirm availability for your dates and send you a final price.
Family, senior and accessibility friendly. We can arrange an elder-friendly set-up (slower pace, shorter drives, ground-floor rooms, lift-access hotels, wheelchair-friendly vehicles and skip-the-climb alternatives such as the Sigiriya museum and gardens or the Pidurangala base viewpoint) and a child-friendly set-up (child and booster seats, family or connecting rooms, hotels with pools, shorter driving days and kid-friendly meals).
Guides and languages. Our chauffeur-guides work in English, German and Hindi, and we can arrange French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese speaking guides on request.
Meals. The meals shown in the itinerary are what we include when we arrange your accommodation on half board. If you book your own hotels, your meals follow your own hotel booking – tell us which you prefer.
Start dates. This tour is private and runs on any date you choose within its season, subject to availability. It operates in January, February, March, April, December – outside those months the conditions make it either impossible or much less rewarding, and we will say so and suggest an alternative rather than take the booking. Tell us your arrival and departure dates and we will build the itinerary around your flights.
Contact us before booking: [info@lankaitinerary.com] · WhatsApp [+94 XX XXX XXXX]
Your chauffeur-guide welcomes you at the airport and you head straight inland to the heart of the Cultural Triangle. The drive passes coconut estates, paddy fields and roadside fruit stalls – stop for a fresh king coconut on the way. Check in to your hotel near Sigiriya, surrounded by forest and lakes, and spend the evening by the pool while the rock fortress glows on the horizon.
Meals: Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: 4 hrs (160 km) · Distance: ~160 km
Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the cool of the morning with your guide, who brings the story of King Kashyapa, his frescoes and water gardens to life. Rest at the hotel through the midday heat. In the late afternoon, hike Pidurangala Rock (about 45 minutes, with a short scramble at the top) for the best view of Sigiriya itself – a favourite with photographers at sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: Short local drives · Distance: ~25 km
Explore Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's medieval capital (UNESCO), by bicycle or by car. Highlights include the Royal Palace, the Quadrangle with its Vatadage, the Parakrama Samudra reservoir and the Gal Vihara – four Buddha figures carved from one granite rock. In the afternoon, join a jeep safari for wild elephants. Your guide takes whichever park is right for the month: Minneriya in August and September, when the falling tank level exposes fresh grass and hundreds of elephants gather in what is known as 'The Gathering'; Kaudulla from October to December and again from May to July, when Minneriya floods and the herd moves northeast; and Hurulu Eco Park from January to April, where elephants are resident all year.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: 1 hr to Polonnaruwa · Distance: ~135 km
Drive south to Kandy through Matale. Stop at a spice garden to see cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and pepper growing and learn how they are used in Ayurveda and Sri Lankan cooking. Continue to Kandy, check in and in the evening watch a traditional Kandyan dance and fire-walking show. Then visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (UNESCO) for the evening puja, when drummers and pilgrims bring flowers to the golden shrine.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Kandy · Travel: 2.5 hrs (95 km) · Distance: ~95 km
Drive into the Knuckles Range, a UNESCO-listed wilderness of cloud forest, grasslands and hidden villages. Trek 10–12 km (5–6 hours, moderate) with a local naturalist, passing waterfalls and paddy terraces, and enjoy a packed lunch with a view. Return to Kandy in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · Overnight: Kandy · Travel: 1.5 hrs each way · Distance: ~85 km
Transfer to Kitulgala, where 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' was filmed. Raft 5 km of the Kelani River through grade 2–3 rapids with certified instructors (all safety equipment provided). Afternoon options include canyoning, a rainforest walk or a natural rock-pool swim.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Kitulgala · Travel: 2 hrs from Kandy / Nuwara Eliya · Distance: ~95 km
Drive to Dalhousie and rest early. At about 2:00 am begin the pilgrimage climb of Adam's Peak (2,243 m) – around 5,500 steps lit by lanterns (December to May). Reach the summit before dawn to watch the sunrise and, on clear mornings, the peak's perfect triangular shadow on the clouds. Descend and rest. (Climbing season: December–May.)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Dalhousie / Hatton · Travel: 2 hrs + 3–4 hr climb · Distance: ~65 km
After the descent and a rest, drive to Ella (4 hours). Evening in Ella's cafés.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Ella · Travel: 4 hrs · Distance: ~150 km
Early hike up Ella Rock (4 hours return) with a local guide, then drive to Yala via Buduruwagala. Evening at your safari lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Yala / Tissamaharama · Travel: 2.5 hrs (105 km) · Distance: ~105 km
Final morning safari at 5:30 am, then transfer to the airport via the Southern Expressway (about 4 hours).
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: — · Travel: 2.5 hrs (125 km) · Distance: ~125 km
Includes / Excludes
Price Includes
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed English-speaking chauffeur-guide (SLTDA)
- Meals as listed in the itinerary (daily breakfast and dinner as standard)
- Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
- Jeep safaris as listed, including park entrance fees
- Rafting with certified instructors and safety equipment
- Knuckles trekking guide and packed lunch
- Local SIM card with data for the lead traveller
- Bottled water in the vehicle daily
- All government taxes and service charges
- 24/7 support while you travel
Price Excludes
- Accommodation (not included in the standard price – we can book any hotel tier for you; see 'Accommodation options')
- International flights
- Sri Lanka ETA (visa) – free for 40 nationalities since 25 May 2026; fee applies to others
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Lunches and drinks unless listed
- Camera/video permits at some sites
- Tips for guide, driver and safari trackers (suggested USD 10–15/day for your chauffeur-guide)
- Optional activities (e.g. hot-air balloon, zip-line, extra safaris)
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone, shopping)
- Early check-in / late check-out
Frequently Asked Questions
Good fitness is needed: several days include 4–6 hours of walking with elevation gain, and Adam's Peak has about 5,500 steps.
Yes. The tour is private for your group with your own vehicle and chauffeur-guide – you won't share with strangers.
Of course. You can add or remove days, change hotels, upgrade to boutique or luxury properties or swap activities. We'll send a revised quote within 24 hours.
The price is per person based on two adults sharing a room in the hotel category shown. Prices vary by season, hotel choice and group size – request a quote for your exact dates.
Send an enquiry or click Book Now. We confirm availability, then you secure the tour with a deposit; the balance is paid before arrival. [Insert your real deposit and payment terms.]