Chill Out in Sri Lanka (9 Days) by Standard Bus

About this experience

This nine-day tour runs from Colombo through the hill-country city of Kandy and the cultural heartland around Dambulla and Polonnaruwa before finishing with three days on the coast at Kalpitiya. Travel is by private vehicle with a chauffeur guide throughout, so the pace and stops are set for you rather than fixed to a group schedule.

Highlights include Kandy's Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, a spice garden near Matale, the cave temple at Dambulla, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park, and a climb of Sigiriya rock fortress combined with a village experience nearby. The final stretch at Kalpitiya is left free for the beach and hotel facilities.

It suits travellers who want to cover Sri Lanka's cultural sites in the first part of the trip and then slow down completely on the coast, without having to plan transport or logistics between stops.

Your service advisor

Chathum Executive

Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Chathum directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.

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What’s included

Included

Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of, cost of fuel, parking & highway tolls.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.
All prevailing taxes and service charges (Except for Credit Card Charges).

Not included

Hotel Accommodation.
International / Domestic Airfare.
Any expenses of personal nature.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.

Tour route

Day-by-day waypoints across Sri Lanka. Each marker is where you spend the night; lines trace the daily drive.

Day-by-day itinerary

Download itinerary (PDF)

1 Colombo

Day 1 — Airport → Colombo

Arrival day: you are met at Colombo International Airport and driven to your hotel in Colombo to settle in.

Colombo

Transfer from the airport to Colombo and check in to the hotel to relax after the flight.

Gihanud2001 · CC0

2 Kandy

Day 2 — Colombo → Kandy

After checking out of Colombo you drive to Kandy, then spend the afternoon on foot exploring the old royal capital.

Kandy Town

Walk through the streets of Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, taking in its monuments, street food stalls, garland makers, a Hindu temple and a short three-wheeler ride.

A.Savin · FAL

3 Kandy

Day 3 — Kandy

A full day in and around Kandy taking in its best-known garden and its most sacred temple.

Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, laid out in the early 19th century and home to over 4,000 plant species, including orchids, spices and medicinal plants, a cannonball tree and a suspension bridge.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Temple of the Tooth Relic

Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century to house Lord Buddha's sacred tooth, with painted halls, carved pillars and gilded statues.

A.Savin · FAL

4 Dambulla

Day 4 — Kandy → Matale → Dambulla

On the way to Dambulla you stop at a spice garden near Matale before visiting the famous cave temple.

Spice Garden, Matale

Tour a spice and herbal garden near Matale to learn about spices such as coriander, chilli, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg, and their traditional and Ayurvedic uses.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Dambulla Cave Temple

Visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC, with ancient murals of Buddha's life, hundreds of statues across five main caves, and a giant golden Buddha statue outside.

Lankapic · CC BY 2.5

5 Dambulla

Day 5 — Dambulla → Polonnaruwa → Minneriya → Dambulla

A day out from Dambulla combining the ruins of Polonnaruwa with a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park.

Polonnaruwa

Explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second major capital, flourishing between the 10th and 13th centuries, including the Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Minneriya National Park

Take a jeep safari through Minneriya National Park, known for large elephant gatherings in the dry season between May and October, along with other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Stuart Pinkney · CC BY 2.0

6 Kalpitiya

Day 6 — Dambulla → Sigiriya → Kalpitiya

Climb Sigiriya rock fortress, spend time in a nearby village, then continue to the coast at Kalpitiya.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Climb the 5th-century rock fortress of Sigiriya, entering past its lion-paw gateway to see the famous murals, terraced gardens, cisterns and the ruined palace at the summit.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Village Experience

Visit a local village for a catamaran ride on a calm lake, a walk through paddy fields, a traditional cooking demonstration and a home-cooked lunch served on lotus leaves.

Kalpitiya Beach

Arrive in Kalpitiya and spend the remainder of the day at leisure on the beach and using the hotel facilities.

A.Savin · FAL

7 Kalpitiya

Day 7 — Kalpitiya (days 7–8)

Two free days at Kalpitiya to enjoy the beach and hotel facilities at your own pace.

Kalpitiya Beach

Spend the days relaxing on the beach and making use of the hotel facilities.

A.Savin · FAL

9 Airport

Day 9 — Kalpitiya → Airport

After a final morning at leisure and breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for departure.

Departure Transfer

Check out of the hotel at Kalpitiya and transfer to the airport, concluding the tour.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Please note

Public transportation nearby
Infant seats available

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
Entrance tickets are not included in the price.

Cancellation policy

More than 24 hours notice: full refund
Less than 24 hours notice: no refund

To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation email or message us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The tour is private to your group: your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking chauffeur guide for all 9 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo airport (CMB) and day 9 ends at Colombo airport (CMB). Every stop in between is reached by road in the same vehicle, so there is no other transport to arrange.

Are hotels included?

The base price covers the vehicle and chauffeur guide. In the booking box you can add hotels for all 8 nights at Budget (3★), Standard (4★) or Luxury (5★ and boutique) level, on half board. Hotels we hold contracts with for your dates are named in the price; for any other night our team books a hotel of the same class after you pay.

What vehicle will we travel in?

It depends on your group: a car for 1–2 guests, a van for 3–5, a large van for 6–8 and a bus for 9–15. Choose the number of guests in the booking box and the price updates to match.

Are entrance fees included?

Not in the base price. Set Tickets to Included in the booking box to add the entrance fees and safari jeeps for the sights on this itinerary; the booking box lists exactly which ones are covered.

Can we have a national guide?

Yes. A chauffeur guide is always included, and you can add a government-licensed national guide who travels with you for the whole tour. Choose it under Guide in the booking box; the vehicle is sized for the extra seat.

Can we change the itinerary or the dates?

Yes. Every tour is private, so it can start on any date you choose. To change stops, add nights or combine it with another tour, write to us in the booking notes or plan your own trip at lakpura.com/plan-your-trip.