Overview
A 10-day itinerary can combine the 5-day Cultural Triangle route (Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy) with the 4-day Hill Country & Tea route (Nuwara Eliya, Ella, the blue train), plus an extra day. Ancient kingdoms into tea country: two already-proven private routes joined into one trip. Tell us your travel dates and we'll sequence the full day-by-day plan around them.
Built from these routes
What's included
- Accommodation Throughout
- Daily Breakfast & Dinner
- Airport Meet & Greet
- Airport Pick-up & Drop-off
- Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle
- Professional English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide
- Fuel, Parking & Highway Tolls
- Government Taxes
- Scenic Train Tickets (Subject to Availability)
Why this combination
- Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the two routes
- Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Kandy at an unhurried pace
- Then Nuwara Eliya, the blue train and Ella
- A buffer day built in for a rest, an extra night, or a beach stop on the way back
- The natural geographic order: dry-zone plains, then the climb into the hills
- Eight or nine nights of hotels, daily breakfast and dinner throughout
Destinations covered
- Dambulla
- Sigiriya
- Polonnaruwa
- Kandy
- Colombo
- Nuwara Eliya
- Ella
The itinerary, route by route
These are the published routes this trip is built from, in the order we would run them. When we sequence them around your dates the join between the two becomes a single travel day rather than a departure and a fresh arrival.
Day 1: Arrival | BIA → Dambulla
Welcome to Sri Lanka! Meet your private chauffeur guide at Bandaranaike International Airport and begin your journey to the Cultural Triangle.
- Airport Meet & Greet
- Scenic Drive to Dambulla
- Dambulla Royal Cave Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Day 2: Sigiriya Heritage Experience
Start your day by climbing one of Sri Lanka's most iconic landmarks before immersing yourself in authentic village life.
- Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Royal Gardens
- Mirror Wall
- Sigiriya Frescoes
- Sigiriya Village Experience with Traditional Sri Lankan Lunch
- Pidurangala Rock
Day 3: Polonnaruwa → Kandy
Explore Sri Lanka's medieval capital before travelling to the cultural capital of the island.
- Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Royal Palace
- Sacred Quadrangle
- Gal Vihara
- Rankoth Vehera
- Spice Garden Visit
- Evening Kandy Cultural Dance Performance
Day 4: Kandy Sightseeing → Colombo
Visit Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist temple before discovering the country's vibrant commercial capital.
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Kandy Lake
- Kandy Viewpoint
- Peradeniya Botanical Garden
- Tea Factory Visit
- Wood Carving Workshop
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Day 5: Colombo City Tour → Departure (BIA)
A last morning exploring Sri Lanka's vibrant capital before your onward journey.
- Colombo City Tour
- Independence Square
- Gangaramaya Temple
- Galle Face Green
- Port City Colombo
- Pettah Market
- Lotus Tower (Photo Stop)
- Shopping
- Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport
Day 6: Arrival | BIA → Kandy
Welcome to Sri Lanka! Meet your private chauffeur guide at Bandaranaike International Airport and begin your scenic drive into Sri Lanka's beautiful hill country.
- Airport Meet & Greet
- Scenic Drive to Kandy
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Peradeniya Botanical Garden
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Kandy Lake
- Kandy Viewpoint
- Wood Carving Factory
- Evening Kandy Cultural Dance Performance
Day 7: Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
Journey through Sri Lanka's scenic hill country, passing lush tea plantations, cascading waterfalls, and misty mountain landscapes. Explore the charming town of Nuwara Eliya, known for its cool climate, colonial architecture, and breathtaking natural beauty.
- Tea Factory Tour & Tea Tasting
- Ramboda Waterfall
- Gregory Lake
- Nuwara Eliya City Tour
- Colonial Buildings & Victoria Park (Photo Stops)
Day 8: Nuwara Eliya → Scenic Train Journey → Ella
Enjoy one of the world's most beautiful train journeys through rolling tea plantations, mist-covered mountains, and picturesque villages before exploring Ella.
- Scenic Blue Train Journey (Nanu Oya → Ella)
- Nine Arch Bridge
- Little Adam's Peak
- Ravana Falls
- Flying Ravana Mega Zipline
- Tea Plantation Walk
- Ella Town Exploration
- Relax and Enjoy Ella's Cafés and Mountain Atmosphere
Day 9: Ella → BIA
After breakfast, begin your scenic return journey to Bandaranaike International Airport.
- Beautiful Hill Country Drive
- Scenic Viewpoints Along the Way
- Local Fruit Stalls
- Gem Museum Visit
- Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport
Gallery
Best time to go
The Cultural Triangle is dry-zone and good most of the year, at its best from January to April and again in July and August. The hill country follows the same pattern. Put together, January to April is the strongest window for this combination, with July and August a solid alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sri Lanka 10-Day Private Tour a private tour?
Yes. Like every Majesty Tours itinerary, it is private throughout: your own air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking chauffeur guide, with no other travellers on your schedule.
How is this itinerary put together?
It combines two routes we already run and publish in full: The Cultural Triangle and Hill Country & Tea. Rather than invent a new itinerary, we sequence those proven routes back to back so the driving makes geographic sense and nothing is repeated.
Can I change the order or swap a section?
Yes. The component routes are the starting point, not a fixed package. Swap one for another of our tours, add or drop a region, or change the pace. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
How is the price calculated?
Sum of The Cultural Triangle (from $690) + Hill Country & Tea (from $590). The final quote depends on your dates, party size and hotel category, and we confirm it before anything is booked.
How many days is it exactly?
Components total 9 days (5 days · private + 4 days · private); rounds to 10 with a buffer/rest day. Confirm where that extra day goes.
Are hotels included?
Yes. Accommodation is included throughout, along with daily breakfast and dinner, the private vehicle and chauffeur guide, fuel, parking, highway tolls and government taxes.
Ready to plan Sri Lanka 10-Day Private Tour?
Tell us your travel dates and we'll confirm availability and a final quote.