Nature and Fauna (9 Days)

About this experience

This nine-day tour runs from Colombo through the hill country to the southern coast, combining Sri Lanka's highland scenery with its wildlife and colonial history. It moves from Kandy and Nuwara Eliya through Horton Plains and the tea country around Haputale and Ella, then down to Yala for a jeep safari before finishing along the south coast at Galle and back to Colombo. Travel is by private chauffeur-guided car throughout, with one scenic train journey from Nanu Oya to Haputale.

Travellers get a mix of cultural sites such as the Temple of the Tooth and Galle Fort, highland walks at Horton Plains and Ella, tea estate visits, a Yala jeep safari with a chance of leopard sightings, and coastal stops including stilt fishermen, a Madu River boat trip and a turtle hatchery. The pace allows time to walk through towns and fortresses rather than just drive past them, with a free day built in on the south coast.

The tour is arranged by a Sri Lankan operator using its own chauffeur-guides, who handle airport transfers, transport and the day-to-day logistics of the route.

Your service advisor

Mewan Manager

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

Email WhatsApp

What’s included

Included

Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all chauffeur accommodation.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.
All prevailing taxes and service charges.

Not included

Hotel Accommodation and Meals.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.
Chauffeur Guide's Accommodation.
Expenses of personal nature.
Visa and Related Expenses.
Tips & Portages.

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 Kandy

Day 1 — Airport → Pinnawala → Kandy

On arrival at Colombo airport you are met by your chauffeur guide and driven to Kandy, with an evening cultural show before you settle in.

Arts and crafts tour

Go on technical tours related to arts such as gem crafting, woodcarving and batiks.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Kandyan Cultural Show

Watch the Kandyan Cultural Show, an hour-long performance of traditional dances and music, including fire dancers, sword dancers and Kandyan dancers performing to drumming.

Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0

2 Nuwara Eliya

Day 2 — Kandy → Nuwara Eliya

Check out of Kandy after breakfast and travel to Nuwara Eliya, stopping along the way for a waterfall and tea estate before exploring the highland town in the evening.

Temple of the Tooth Relic

Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 16th century to house Lord Buddha's sacred tooth, with its painted halls, carved pillars and golden statues.

A.Savin · FAL

Ramboda Falls

Stop at Ramboda Falls, the 11th tallest waterfall in the country, en route to Nuwara Eliya.

A.Savin · FAL

Tea Factory and Estate

Take a guided tour through a tea estate and factory to learn about the varieties, processing methods and history of Ceylon tea, first commercially planted by James Taylor in 1852.

Adbar · CC BY-SA 3.0

Nuwara Eliya town

Explore this former British hill station, walking past its cottages, villas and mansions, the old red-brick post office, Queen Victoria Park and the shores of Lake Gregory.

Abdul malik77 · CC BY-SA 4.0

3 Nuwara Eliya

Day 3 — Nuwara Eliya → Horton Plains → Nuwara Eliya

Take a packed breakfast for a day hike in Horton Plains before returning to Nuwara Eliya.

Horton Plains National Park

Walk through the montane grasslands and cloud forests of Horton Plains, taking in views from World's End, the spray of Baker's Falls, endemic fauna and the park's archaeological finds.

Faslan at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

4 Ella

Day 4 — Nuwara Eliya → Haputale → Ella

Travel by train from Nanu Oya to Haputale through tea country, then continue by road to tour Haputale's sights before reaching Ella.

Nanu Oya to Haputale train journey

Ride the scenic train through tea plantations, misty villages and mountain landscapes between Nanu Oya and Haputale.

Lipton's Seat

Visit this well-known viewpoint over the Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern Provinces.

Kapidis (talk). The original uploader was Kapidis at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0

Adisham Bungalow

Walk the grounds of this Tudor-style mansion built in the early 1900s.

St Andrews Church

View the neo-gothic architecture of St Andrews Church and walk through its graveyard, resting place of many British tea planters.

5 Yala

Day 5 — Ella → Yala

Spend the morning exploring Ella's sights on foot before driving to Yala for an evening jeep safari.

Little Adam's Peak

Walk through tea fields and rocky terrain to views of Little Adam's Peak.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Nine Arches Bridge

Walk over the Nine Arches Bridge and hear the story of its construction.

Deitel55 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Demodara Railway Station

End the Ella hike at Demodara Railway Station, notable for its loop-over track design.

A.Savin · FAL

Yala jeep safari

Go on a jeep safari in Yala National Park, the island's second largest, with chances to see Sri Lankan leopards, wild water buffalo, sloth bears and elephants, alongside many other species.

6 Galle

Day 6 — Yala → Galle

Drive from Yala to Galle, stopping to watch stilt fishermen on the way, then spend the evening exploring Galle's old town.

Stilt Fishermen of Koggala

Watch fishermen perched on stilts along the coast of Koggala and hear how the practice has been passed down through generations.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Galle Fort

Explore the Dutch and Portuguese quarter of Galle, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia, including its museums, lighthouse and cobblestoned streets.

Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0

7 Galle

Day 7 — Galle

A free day on the south coast to enjoy the beach and hotel facilities.

8 Colombo

Day 8 — Galle → Colombo

Drive to Colombo, stopping at Balapitiya and Kosgoda for a river safari and turtle hatchery visit before an evening city tour.

Madu River boat safari

Take a two-hour boat ride through the mangroves of the Madu River, passing basking crocodiles and water monitors, a cinnamon-harvesting island, a fish massage stop and water birds.

SUPindia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery

Visit the hatchery on the southwest coast, which protects nests of the island's endangered sea turtle species, with the chance to see and feed baby turtles and recovering adults.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Colombo City Tour

Tour the capital's landmarks, including the Old Lighthouse, Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green and Gangarama Temple, with time for Independence Square and its shops.

Gihanud2001 · CC0

9 BIA

Day 9 — Colombo → BIA

After a relaxed morning and breakfast, check out and drive to the airport for the return flight home.

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 BIA. 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.