8-Day Classic Sri Lanka Group Adventure · Fixed departure
8-Day Fixed-Departure Tour of Sri Lanka: Sigiriya to Mirissa
Climb Sigiriya Rock, ride the train to Ella and take an afternoon jeep safari in Udawalawe before two nights by the sea in Mirissa.
The journey
Your 8-day fixed-departure tour
Join JK Travels Sri Lanka for an eight-day small-group journey from CMB Airport to Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella and the southern shore. Your Cultural Triangle visits focus on Dambulla Cave Temple and Sigiriya Rock, with one night near Sigiriya.
Spend two nights in Ella, then travel to Udawalawe for an afternoon safari before continuing directly to Mirissa. Two nights by the sea give you a full coastal day before Galle Fort, Colombo and your return to the airport.
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Group
- Small group of 2 to 14 guests, with a trip host
- Stays
- Five hotels · twin-share rooms
- Meals
- 7 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
7 nights
Five hotel stops
Meals
7 breakfasts
Transport
A/C vehicle and airport transfers
Included visits
Heritage entrances, train and safari
Trip highlights
From Lion Rock to the Indian Ocean
Sigiriya & Dambulla
One night in the Cultural Triangle, focused on the rock fortress and cave temple.
Kandy & Ella
Temple of the Tooth, a cultural show and the railway through tea country.
Udawalawe safari
An afternoon in the park, followed by the drive straight to Mirissa.
Mirissa & Galle
Two coastal nights and a fort-town visit before Colombo.
Your eight-day itinerary
Activities labelled Optional · extra cost are not included in the tour fare. Pay any applicable entrance fees and activity charges separately after confirming the price with your host.
Breakfast is included on days 2–8. Lunches and dinners are paid separately. Day five combines the Udawalawe afternoon safari with the onward drive to Mirissa.
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 — Arrive in Sri Lanka and explore Dambulla
From CMB, head inland to the cave shrines at Dambulla. Look up at the painted ceilings before settling into Sungreen Resort for your only night in the Cultural Triangle.
Open this day’s programme
08:00 Airport or nearby hotel pickup
Meet your JK Travels host at Bandaranaike International Airport or an agreed nearby hotel. Take time for essentials such as changing money or buying a SIM before the journey north. Share your flight details so we can confirm the meeting arrangements.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Explore the cave shrines, painted ceilings and Buddha statues, with the entrance ticket included. The approach involves steps and uneven surfaces. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
Lunch on the journey
Pause for lunch at a local restaurant during the journey. Choose what you would like to eat and pay the restaurant directly; lunch is not included in the tour fare.
Check in near Sigiriya
Continue to Sungreen Resort in the Habarana–Sigiriya area for your one-night stay. Rest after the journey and prepare for tomorrow’s Sigiriya climb. No village tour, cycling or Polonnaruwa excursion is scheduled on this eight-day route.
A relaxed first evening
Enjoy a quiet evening at the hotel. Dinner is at your own expense. Your host will confirm the next morning’s departure arrangements.
Sigiriya → Kandy
Day 2 — Climb Sigiriya and continue to Kandy
Take the fortress steps while the morning is cool. After Sigiriya, the focus shifts to Kandy’s lakeside temple and the drums and costumes of the evening performance.
Open this day’s programme
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Set out for Lion Rock in the cooler part of the morning. Explore the gardens and fortress remains, following the stairways to the viewpoints at your own pace. Your Sigiriya entrance ticket is included. Bring drinking water, sun protection and shoes suitable for steps.
Breakfast and check-out
Have breakfast at the hotel around the morning programme, then collect your bags and check out. Today’s Cultural Triangle visits are limited to Sigiriya; Dambulla is visited on day one.
Travel to Kandy
Continue towards Kandy with comfort breaks and a stop to buy lunch along the way. This is a combined sightseeing and transfer day, so your host will coordinate the order of visits and hotel check-in around the group’s progress.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Visit Kandy’s revered temple, with entrance included. Cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes where required. Follow your host’s guidance and respect worshippers in the temple grounds.
Kandyan cultural show
Attend a scheduled cultural performance with traditional music, drumming and dance. Admission is included. Your host will confirm the performance time and arrange the evening programme accordingly.
Overnight in Kandy
Check into Oak Ray Heritage for one night. Depending on the day’s timing, enjoy a short lakeside walk or relax at the hotel. Dinner is paid separately.
Kandy → Ella
Day 3 — Tea country and the train journey to Ella
The road climbs out of Kandy through tea estates. Pause at Ramboda and a tea factory before joining the Nanu Oya–Ella railway, subject to the day’s service.
Open this day’s programme
Breakfast and the highland road
Check out after breakfast and travel from Kandy into tea country. Watch the scenery change from city streets to mountain slopes, plantations and small highland settlements.
Ramboda Falls and Ceylon tea
Pause for waterfall views and visit a tea factory to see how tea leaves are processed. Enjoy a tasting when offered. Stop to buy lunch along the way, with the schedule adjusted around the train service.
Nanu Oya–Ella train
Continue to Nanu Oya station for the scenic railway journey towards Ella. The train ticket is included; the service, class and seating arrangements remain subject to ticket availability and railway operations. Your host will explain the confirmed arrangements.
Settle into Ella
Transfer to Oak Ray Ella Gap and check in for two nights. Enjoy an evening around Ella’s cafés and shops or rest at the hotel. Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Ella
Day 4 — Ella’s walking trails and Nine Arch Bridge
With a second night in the same hotel, there is time to walk both the Little Adam’s Peak trail and the approaches to Nine Arch Bridge. The afternoon is yours in Ella.
Open this day’s programme
Little Adam’s Peak
Walk towards the ridge for views of the valley and tea hills. Your host will arrange the walk around weather, daylight and the group’s pace. Wear shoes with grip for the steps and uneven paths.
Breakfast and Nine Arch Bridge
Enjoy breakfast, then follow the paths to the bridge viewpoints. Spend time looking at the arches and surrounding forest. Passing trains depend on railway operations and cannot be guaranteed.
Lunch and free time
Return to town to choose and pay for lunch. Spend the afternoon at cafés, enjoy the hotel or take a gentle walk. Keep some energy for tomorrow’s safari and onward journey to the coast.
Ella adventure activitiesOptional · extra cost
You can ask about the Ella Swing or activities around Ravana Adventure. These are optional extras, subject to local conditions and availability.
Not included in the tour fare. Pay any applicable entrance tickets and activity charges separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Evening in Ella
Choose a restaurant or dine at the hotel before your second night in Ella. Dinner and drinks are paid separately.
Ella → Udawalawe → Mirissa
Day 5 — Afternoon safari, then onward to Mirissa
Pack for the coast before leaving Ella. Swap the tour vehicle for a jeep at Udawalawe, then rejoin your driver after the afternoon safari and check in at Paradise Beach Club that evening.
Open this day’s programme
Breakfast and departure from Ella
Check out of Oak Ray Ella Gap after breakfast and begin the journey south. Carry what you need for the safari in a small day bag, keeping your main luggage ready for the onward transfer to Mirissa.
Travel to Udawalawe
Drive from the highlands towards Udawalawe, with comfort breaks and a stop to buy lunch before the afternoon park visit. Your host will coordinate the journey to allow time for the scheduled safari.
Udawalawe afternoon safari
Join a jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park, included in the tour fare. Explore grassland and reservoir habitats while looking for elephants, birds and other wildlife. Sightings vary with animal movements and are never guaranteed.
Continue directly to Mirissa
After the safari, return to the tour vehicle and drive to Mirissa. There is no overnight stay in Udawalawe. This is a longer travel day, and arrival on the coast is planned for the evening after the park visit.
Check into Paradise Beach Club
Settle into Paradise Beach Club for two nights. Keep the rest of the evening relaxed after the safari and transfer. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
Mirissa
Day 6 — A free day beside the Indian Ocean
Wake up in Mirissa with a full day between transfers. Stay by the beach, or ask your host about a separately priced whale-watching boat trip or a surf lesson at Weligama.
Open this day’s programme
Breakfast and your coastal morning
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Keep the day free for the beach, nearby cafés and rest, or choose one of the optional activities below. Your host can help coordinate arrangements.
Whale-watching boat excursionOptional · extra cost
Ask about a shared boat excursion from Mirissa. Operations depend on the sea and weather, and wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. This excursion is an optional extra.
Not included in the tour fare. Pay any applicable entrance tickets and activity charges separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Surf lesson at WeligamaOptional · extra cost
Alternatively, request a beginner surf lesson with an instructor. Confirm the lesson arrangements, conditions and cost before joining. You can also choose a quiet morning instead.
Not included in the tour fare. Pay any applicable entrance tickets and activity charges separately. Confirm the price with your host before joining.
Lunch and an unhurried afternoon
Choose and pay for lunch by the sea, then spend the afternoon at your own pace. Optional excursions are arranged separately and need not be taken by the whole group.
Sunset and your second Mirissa night
Meet the group again if you wish, enjoy the seaside setting and choose your dinner venue. Dinner is paid separately. Stay a second night at Paradise Beach Club.
Mirissa → Galle → Colombo
Day 7 — Galle Fort and your final night in Colombo
Break the journey to Colombo inside Galle Fort. Walk the ramparts and lighthouse lanes, choose a café for lunch, then continue to The Ocean Colombo for your final night.
Open this day’s programme
Breakfast and check-out
Enjoy breakfast at Paradise Beach Club and leave Mirissa for the coastal journey towards Galle. Keep your luggage packed for the onward drive to Colombo.
Walk through Galle Fort
Explore the historic lanes, ramparts and lighthouse area. Take time for architecture, ocean views and small shops within the fort. Follow your host’s meeting instructions for the onward journey.
Lunch in Galle
Choose a restaurant or café for lunch before continuing. Lunch is at your own expense, giving you flexibility over what and where you eat.
Continue to The Ocean Colombo
Travel to Colombo and check into The Ocean Colombo for one night. Enjoy a relaxed final evening or make your own plans in the capital. Dinner is paid separately.
Colombo → CMB Airport
Day 8 — A final Colombo morning and airport transfer
Your flight sets the pace today. Have breakfast at The Ocean Colombo and agree the airport pickup time with your host. A city stop is possible when the flight schedule allows.
Open this day’s programme
Breakfast and check-out
Enjoy breakfast at The Ocean Colombo. Your host will coordinate luggage and departure arrangements around your confirmed flight time.
Colombo, as flight timing permits
If time allows, visit Gangaramaya Temple or enjoy a short look around the city before leaving for the airport. Tell us your flight details in advance so we can explain what is practical on your final day.
Return to CMB Airport
Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport with time for departure formalities. The tour finishes at CMB, completing your eight-day airport-to-airport journey.
Fixed departure · December 2026
Departure and twin-share fare
8 days / 7 nights · CMB round trip
per person, twin share
Prices are per person, sharing a twin room. Travelling solo? Ask us about a private room or sharing. We confirm any room supplement before you commit.
No payment is needed to request a place. We confirm availability first, then a 60% deposit via bank transfer confirms your place. Pay the remaining 40% in cash on arrival.
If these dates do not work, ask us to quote the route privately for your own group and preferred dates.
Small group tours →Your accommodation
Seven nights across five Sri Lankan stays
1 night
Sigiriya area
Sungreen Resort
1 night
Kandy
Oak Ray Heritage
2 nights
Ella
Oak Ray Ella Gap
2 nights
Mirissa
Paradise Beach Club
1 night
Colombo
The Ocean Colombo
1 night near Sigiriya, 1 in Kandy, 2 in Ella, 2 in Mirissa and 1 in Colombo. The Udawalawe safari is followed by the drive to Mirissa, with no overnight in Udawalawe. Prices are based on twin sharing.
Included in your tour
- 8 days and 7 nights at the five listed hotels, in twin-share rooms.
- Seven breakfasts on days 2–8.
- 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, dinners and drinks.
- 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 eight-day group holiday
What does USD 840 cover?
The fare is per person sharing a twin room. It includes seven hotel nights, seven breakfasts, airport transfers, air-conditioned tour transport, a trip host and guiding, Sigiriya and Dambulla entrances, the Kandyan cultural show, Temple of the Tooth entrance, the Nanu Oya–Ella train ticket and the Udawalawe safari. Train services and tickets remain subject to availability.
Do we stay overnight in Udawalawe?
No. On day five we leave Ella, take the afternoon Udawalawe safari and then continue directly to Paradise Beach Club in Mirissa. Plan for a longer travel day and an evening arrival on the coast.
What do we visit in the Sigiriya area?
This route includes Dambulla Cave Temple on arrival day and Sigiriya Rock Fortress the next morning, with one night at Sungreen Resort. Village activities, cycling and Polonnaruwa are not part of this eight-day itinerary.
Which meals are included?
Seven breakfasts, on days two to eight. No meals are included on arrival day. Lunches, dinners and drinks are paid separately.
Can solo travellers join?
Yes. Ask about a private room or the option to share. Availability and any supplement will be confirmed before a deposit is requested.
How do I request and pay for a place?
Complete the enquiry form and review your request in WhatsApp or email. No payment is needed to enquire. Once availability is confirmed, a 60% bank-transfer deposit secures your place and the remaining 40% is paid in cash on arrival.
Where does the tour start and finish?
The route starts and finishes at CMB Airport. Share your flights before booking so we can confirm the arrival meeting point and final transfer arrangements. Early arrivals and extra hotel nights can be quoted separately.
Are optional activities included?
No. Whale watching, surfing and additional Ella adventure activities are optional and charged separately. Any entrance fees or activity charges for those experiences are paid separately after the price has been confirmed.
Can we choose other dates?
Ask us about a private departure for your own group. Tell us your preferred dates, party size and room arrangements for a separate 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.