Tour Overview
Visit the most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka, including the ‘Atamasthana’ (eight sacred places) of Anuradhapura, Mihintale, the Dambulla caves, the Temple of the Tooth and Kelaniya. Take part in offerings, a meditation session at a forest monastery and a Poya (full-moon) observance if dates allow.
Where you spend the nights
| Area / base | Nights |
|---|---|
| Negombo | 1 |
| Anuradhapura | 1 |
| Sigiriya / Habarana | 2 |
| Kandy | 2 |
| Colombo | 1 |
| Total nights | 7 |
Trip at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 days / 7 nights |
| Tour type | Spiritual & Pilgrimage |
| Group size | Private or temple groups: 1–40 guests |
| Difficulty | Easy – Moderate |
| Best season | All year (Poya full-moon days are special) |
| Approx. road distance | ~560 km |
| Guide languages | English, German and Hindi (others on request) |
| Departure dates | Any date – private tour, all year |
Highlights
- Atamasthana – eight sacred sites of Anuradhapura
- Mihintale
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Temple of the Tooth – morning & evening pujas
- Meditation session with a monk
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
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.
Any start date. All tours are private and run on any date you choose, all year round, subject to availability. 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]
Welcome at the airport and a short visit to Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, believed to have been visited by the Buddha, before checking in at Negombo.
Meals: Dinner · Overnight: Negombo · Travel: 20 min (10 km) · Distance: ~10 km
A full day visiting the Atamasthana: Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri, Jetavanaramaya, Mirisawetiya and Lankarama. Evening offering at the Bodhi tree.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Anuradhapura · Travel: 1.5 hrs each way · Distance: ~160 km
Climb Mihintale in the morning, then drive to Dambulla and visit the cave temple in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: 1.5 hrs each way · Distance: ~75 km
Explore Polonnaruwa's religious quadrangle and the Gal Vihara. Afternoon free for rest or meditation.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: 1 hr to Polonnaruwa · Distance: ~30 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
Attend the dawn puja at the Temple of the Tooth, then visit a forest hermitage for a meditation session and dhamma talk with a monk. Afternoon at Lankatilaka and Gadaladeniya temples.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Kandy · Travel: City sightseeing · Distance: ~30 km
Drive back down to the coast. In Colombo, discover the Gangaramaya Temple, the Seema Malaka on Beira Lake, Independence Square, the red-and-white Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque in Pettah and the Dutch Hospital shopping precinct. Spend the evening at Galle Face Green.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Colombo · Travel: 3.5 hrs (120 km) · Distance: ~120 km
After breakfast (packed breakfast for early flights), your chauffeur-guide transfers you to Bandaranaike International Airport for your onward flight. We hope to welcome you back to Sri Lanka soon!
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: — · Travel: Transfer to airport · Distance: ~40 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
- Meditation session at a forest hermitage
- Flowers for offerings
- 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
Every full-moon day is a Buddhist holiday (Poya) in Sri Lanka. Temples are full of worshippers in white; alcohol and meat are not sold. It's a beautiful time for pilgrims.
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.]