10-Day Sri Lanka Group Discovery · Fixed departure
10-Day Fixed-Departure Tour of Sri Lanka: Ella & South Coast
Ancient landmarks, a railway journey through tea country, Udawalawe wildlife and the southern shore, shared with a small group.
The journey
Your 10-day fixed-departure tour
This 10-day fixed-departure tour starts in the Cultural Triangle, then spends two nights in Ella with time for both the railway and the walking trails. After the Udawalawe safari, two nights in Mirissa leave a full day by the sea before Galle Fort and Colombo.
10 days · 9 nights · 6 overnight stops · CMB round trip
- Duration
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Group
- Small group of 2 to 14 guests, with a trip host
- Stays
- Nine nights, twin-share rooms
- Meals
- 9 breakfasts
- Start / finish
- CMB Airport · Transfers included
- Activity
- Walking, steps and early starts
Your journey with JK Travels
Trip host
Local guidance along the journey
9 nights
Six hotel stops
Meals
9 breakfasts
Transport
A/C vehicle and airport transfers
Experiences
Core activities in the programme
Trip highlights
The moments that shape this journey
Sigiriya
Climb Lion Rock and explore the village lanes. An optional cooking session with lunch can be arranged at extra cost.
Ella
Ride from Nanu Oya and walk to the Nine Arch Bridge.
Udawalawe
Look for elephants from a safari jeep.
Mirissa & Galle
Spend a free day by the sea before exploring the fort.
5–14 January · Airport to airport
Itinerary
Activities labelled Optional · extra cost are not included in the tour fare. If you choose to join, pay any applicable entrance fees and activity charges separately. Your host will confirm the price beforehand.
Meal plan: breakfast on days 2–10. Lunches, dinners and the optional cooking-class meal are paid separately. No meals are included on arrival day.
Trace your JK Travels route
Route overview · © OpenStreetMap contributorsOpen full route with stops ↗CMB → Sigiriya → Kandy → Ella → Udawalawe → Mirissa → Galle → Colombo → CMB
Sigiriya area
Day 1 — Welcome to Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle
Your first day connects the airport with Dambulla’s cave shrines and your Habarana hotel, allowing time to settle into the journey.
Open this day’s programme
08:00 Airport welcome and journey north
Meet your JK Travels host at Bandaranaike International Airport or an agreed nearby hotel. The planned start is around 08:00. Allow time to change money or buy a SIM before the drive towards Dambulla, usually around three to four hours with traffic and comfort stops.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Walk up to the cave complex and explore the painted ceilings, murals and Buddha statues. There are steps and uneven sections. Wear comfortable shoes and bring clothing that covers shoulders and knees for the temple visit.
Lunch and hotel check-in
Stop for a Sri Lankan lunch before continuing to Sungreen Resort in the Habarana area. Settle into your room and enjoy a quieter afternoon after the journey. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
An optional first look by bicycleOptional · extra cost
If arrival time, daylight and weather allow, ask about a short cycle ride near Sigiriya. Otherwise use the afternoon to rest before the early start tomorrow.
Not included in the tour fare. Any entrance tickets, equipment or activity charges for this optional experience are paid separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Sigiriya area
Day 2 — Rock-fortress views and a shared village lunch
Spend the cooler morning on Sigiriya’s steps and explore rural village life. You can add a cooking session with lunch at your own expense.
Open this day’s programme
Early climb of Sigiriya
Leave early for Lion Rock, aiming for the cooler part of the morning. Follow the stairways through the gardens and fortress remains, with time for viewpoints and photographs. The climb commonly takes around one and a half to two and a half hours, depending on stops and pace.
Breakfast and a village visit
Return for breakfast and a break, then explore rural lanes with a local host. Cycle past paddy fields and learn about farming and daily routines. The village arrangements may also include a traditional cart or boat experience.
Cook and share a local lunchOptional · extra cost
Optional, at extra cost: join a village cook to prepare rice and curry using local vegetables, coconut and spices, then enjoy the meal you helped make. Guests who skip this option can choose and pay for lunch separately.
Not included in the tour fare. Any entrance tickets, equipment or activity charges for this optional experience are paid separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Free afternoon or optional PolonnaruwaOptional · extra cost
Rest at the resort after the active morning. Travellers who want more ancient history can request an additional visit to Polonnaruwa, with its palace ruins, stupas and Gal Vihara sculptures. Return for dinner. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Not included in the tour fare. Any entrance tickets, equipment or activity charges for this optional experience are paid separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Kandy
Day 3 — A journey into Kandy’s lakeside streets
Leave the Cultural Triangle for Kandy, where a lakeside walk and an evening performance introduce a different chapter of the island.
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Breakfast and drive to Kandy
Check out after breakfast and travel through central Sri Lanka. The road journey normally takes around two and a half to three and a half hours.
Spice garden near MataleOptional · extra cost
Choose a spice garden stop to break the drive. Any entrance fee or additional activity charge is paid separately; ask your host to confirm the cost before joining.
Not included in the tour fare. Any entrance tickets, equipment or activity charges for this optional experience are paid separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Lunch and Kandy Lake
Take time for lunch in town, then walk beside the lake with views of the hills and city. Check into Oak Ray Heritage for your one-night stay. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Kandyan music and dance
Attend a cultural performance when scheduled, with drumming, costumes and traditional dance. Performance arrangements are confirmed for the departure.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, with the entrance ticket included in your tour fare. Dress modestly and remove footwear as required. Enjoy time by the lake around the visit. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Ella
Day 4 — Through the tea estates to Ella
Follow the mountain road past a waterfall and working tea estates before taking the railway towards your two-night Ella stay.
Open this day’s programme
An early start into tea country
After breakfast, leave Kandy for the highlands. The scenery changes to tea estates, mountain slopes and small settlements as the road climbs.
Ramboda Falls and Ceylon tea
Stop for views of Ramboda Falls. Visit a tea factory to see how the leaves are processed, then taste the finished tea. Lunch is taken along the way according to the day’s progress. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Nanu Oya to Ella by train
Continue to Nanu Oya station for the scenic railway journey through tea country. Train travel, class and seating depend on ticket availability and the operating service. Your confirmed arrangements will be explained before departure.
Arrive in Ella
Transfer to Oak Ray Ella Gap, check in and explore the cafés and shops around town. Dinner can be taken at a local restaurant or the hotel. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Ella
Day 5 — Walking trails and time to enjoy Ella
Explore two of Ella’s best-known viewpoints on foot and keep the rest of the day for the activities that interest you.
Open this day’s programme
Little Adam’s Peak
Walk to the ridge for views across the valley and tea hills. A sunrise start can be around 04:30, or the walk can follow breakfast depending on weather and the group. Allow roughly one and a half to two hours for the return walk and stops.
Breakfast and Nine Arch Bridge
After breakfast, follow the walking paths to the bridge viewpoints. Spend time enjoying the architecture, forest and surrounding hills. Railway movements vary, so a passing train cannot be promised.
Lunch and your own afternoon
Return to Ella for refreshments and lunch. Use the afternoon for cafés, a gentle countryside walk or time at the hotel. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Optional adventure activitiesOptional · extra cost
Ask about the Ella Swing or outdoor activities around Ravana Adventure if you would like a more active afternoon. These choices are additional and depend on your interests, fitness and local conditions.
Not included in the tour fare. Any entrance tickets, equipment or activity charges for this optional experience are paid separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Udawalawe
Day 6 — Southbound to Udawalawe’s elephant country
Stop at a waterfall and ancient rock carvings on the drive down from Ella, then explore Udawalawe’s grassland habitats by jeep.
Open this day’s programme
Leave Ella via Ravana Falls
Enjoy breakfast and check out. Pause at Ravana Falls for photographs before descending towards the warmer southern plains.
Buduruwagala rock carvings
Visit the forest setting of Buduruwagala, where large Buddhist figures are carved into a rock face. Take time to appreciate the sculptures and surroundings before continuing.
Arrival in Udawalawe
Travel to Centauria Wild and stop for lunch. You may leave your bags at the hotel if the room is not yet ready. Freshen up before the park excursion. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Afternoon jeep safari
Enter Udawalawe National Park with a safari jeep and local guiding. Explore open grassland and reservoir habitats in search of elephants, birds and other wildlife. Sightings vary with the animals’ movements. Return to the hotel for dinner. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Mirissa
Day 7 — From the park landscape to Mirissa’s shore
Trade inland scenery for the Indian Ocean and settle into your Mirissa base for two nights near the beach.
Open this day’s programme
Breakfast and a relaxed departure
Check out after breakfast and leave safari country for the coast. Stop when needed for refreshments and comfort breaks.
Arrive in Mirissa
Have lunch en route or after arrival. Check into Paradise Beach Club, your base for the next two nights. The change of pace leaves time to enjoy the seaside setting. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Coastal viewpointsOptional · extra cost
An optional visit to Coconut Tree Hill can be arranged when weather and access permit. Take care on the uneven paths and exposed coastline.
Not included in the tour fare. Any entrance tickets, equipment or activity charges for this optional experience are paid separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Beach evening
Spend the late afternoon by the beach and watch the light change over the sea. Choose dinner at the hotel or one of the nearby restaurants. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Mirissa
Day 8 — A day to make your own on the coast
Choose a relaxed beach day or add a boat excursion or surf lesson, then reconnect with the group in the evening.
Open this day’s programme
Optional whale watchingOptional · extra cost
An early shared boat excursion can be arranged, commonly starting around 06:30. Allow approximately three to five hours including boarding and return. Sea conditions influence operations and wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Not included in the tour fare. Any entrance tickets, equipment or activity charges for this optional experience are paid separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Surfing or a quieter morningOptional · extra cost
Alternatively, request a beginner surf lesson at Weligama, generally around one and a half to two hours with an instructor. You can also keep the whole day free for the beach and seaside cafés.
Not included in the tour fare. Any entrance tickets, equipment or activity charges for this optional experience are paid separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Time to unwind
Enjoy lunch by the sea and an unhurried afternoon. Optional excursions are booked separately, so tell us your preferences in advance. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Evening together
Meet again for sunset. If you would like to dine with the group, your host can suggest a restaurant. Each traveller pays for their own dinner.
Colombo
Day 9 — A fort-town stop before the capital
Pause for Galle Fort’s streets and ramparts on the coastal journey to your final hotel, The Ocean Colombo.
Open this day’s programme
Breakfast and the coastal road
Check out of Paradise Beach Club after breakfast and continue towards Galle. The journey follows the southern coastline before reaching the fort town.
Explore Galle Fort
Walk the historic lanes, ramparts and lighthouse area. There is time for architecture, ocean views, small shops and cafés within the UNESCO-listed fort.
Lunch in Galle
Choose a local restaurant or a café inside the fort for lunch before the onward journey. Your host will confirm the meeting point and departure time. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Final night in Colombo
Continue to Colombo and check into The Ocean Colombo. Use the rest of the evening for your own plans or a relaxed dinner before your last day. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Colombo
Day 10 — A final Colombo morning and your flight home
Make the most of the time before your flight, with a Colombo temple visit where practical and an arranged transfer to CMB.
Open this day’s programme
Breakfast and check-out
Enjoy breakfast at The Ocean Colombo. Your host will coordinate luggage storage or loading into the vehicle around your flight schedule.
Gangaramaya Temple
If flight timing permits, visit Gangaramaya Temple to see its architecture and collection of Buddhist artefacts. Dress appropriately for a place of worship.
Transfer to CMB Airport
Travel to Bandaranaike International Airport with sufficient time for departure formalities. The final sightseeing schedule is adjusted around your confirmed flight, bringing the ten-day journey to its close.
Fixed departures · January 2027
Departure and twin-share fare
10 days / 9 nights · CMB round trip
per person, twin share
10 days / 9 nights · CMB round trip
per person, twin share
The USD 1,065 fare applies to each guest in a twin room occupied by two people. Coming alone? Tell JK Travels whether you prefer your own room or would consider sharing, so we can explain the available arrangements and any additional cost.
Begin by sending JK Travels an enquiry without making a payment. After our team confirms space for your party, transfer 60% of the tour amount as your reservation deposit. Settle the other 40% in cash when you arrive in Sri Lanka.
Small group tours →Your accommodation
Nine nights across six Sri Lankan stays
2 nights
Sigiriya area
Sungreen Resort
1 night
Kandy
Oak Ray Heritage
2 nights
Ella
Oak Ray Ella Gap
1 night
Udawalawe
Centauria Wild
2 nights
Mirissa
Paradise Beach Club
1 night
Colombo
The Ocean Colombo
Your nine-night route includes two nights near Sigiriya, one in Kandy, two in Ella, one in Udawalawe, two in Mirissa and one in Colombo. Prices are based on twin sharing.
Included in your tour
- 10 days and 9 nights at the six listed hotels, in twin-share rooms.
- Nine breakfasts on days 2–10.
- CMB Airport pickup and drop-off.
- Air-conditioned transport and scheduled core activities in the itinerary, with train travel subject to tickets and services.
- A trip host and local guiding.
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress entrance ticket.
- Dambulla Cave Temple entrance ticket.
- Kandyan cultural show admission.
- Nanu Oya–Ella train ticket, subject to seat availability and operating services.
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic entrance ticket.
- Udawalawe National Park safari.
Not included
- Lunches and dinners, including the optional cooking-class meal.
- Flights, visa fees and travel insurance.
- Optional excursions, personal expenses, tips and any room supplement.
Booking terms
Enquire without payment. Once JK Travels confirms availability, a 60% deposit by bank transfer secures your place. Pay the remaining 40% in cash on arrival.
Cancellation policy
If you cancel, tell us in writing. We use the date we receive your message.
- 15 days or more before departure: your deposit is refunded, less bank charges and any supplier costs we cannot recover.
- 8–14 days before departure: 50% of your deposit is refunded.
- 7 days or less, or no-show: your deposit is not refundable.
If we cancel because the minimum group size of 2 guests is not reached, we will tell you at least 15 days before departure. You can then move to another date or receive a full refund of what you paid. Read the full cancellation policy.
Planning your group holiday
How do the room arrangements work?
USD 1,065 is the price for one person sharing a twin room. Solo travellers can request a private room or ask to share. We confirm any supplement before you commit.
How do I reserve and pay?
Send your party size and preferred room arrangement. The request is free. Once availability is confirmed, pay 60% by bank transfer to secure your place. Pay the remaining 40% in cash when you arrive.
Where do we meet and finish?
The route starts and finishes at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Share your flight details so we can confirm meeting arrangements and allow time for departure formalities.
What if I arrive before my departure date?
Ask us to quote an extra night near the airport and confirm the day-one pickup point. Extra nights are arranged separately.
Can I choose optional activities later?
Tell us your interests in advance, especially whale watching and surfing. Availability, weather and sea conditions affect arrangements. Optional excursions carry additional charges.
What should I check in my quotation?
Ask for the itemised meals, entrance fees, jeep and park charges, rail tickets and cancellation terms for this departure. Your written offer sets out what the fare covers.
How active is the route?
Sigiriya and Dambulla involve steps. Ella includes walking on uneven paths. Tell us if you would like to skip a climb or need help planning around mobility needs.
Can we travel privately on different dates?
Yes. Send us your preferred dates, party size and room preferences for a separate private quotation.
What happens if I cancel?
If you cancel 15 days or more before departure, your deposit is refunded, less bank charges and any supplier costs we cannot recover. From 8 to 14 days before departure, 50% of your deposit is refunded. At 7 days or less, or for a no-show, the deposit is not refundable.