Best of Sri Lanka

Best of Sri Lanka

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12 Days From

$3289

Best of Sri Lanka

12 Days

Visiting: Colombo with Panoramic City Tour, Colombo – Dambulla, Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Polonnaruwa, Hiriwadunna Village Experience & Anuradhapura, Dambulla Caves & Matale – Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Free Time or Horton Plains National Park, Galle, Galle – Beruwala, Beruwala

Tour operator:

Leger Holidays

Tour code:

bslka

Activities:

4WD

From: $3289

NB: Prices correct on 30-Jun-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

From captivating wildlife and remarkable archaeological sites to timeless ruins and culture rich cities, discover sensational Sri Lanka on this exceptional tour.

Itinerary

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Day 1

Today, we fly to Colombo.

Day 2 Colombo With Panoramic City Tour

Location: Colombo with Panoramic City Tour

Upon arrival in Colombo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you will stay for one night.


This afternoon enjoy a panoramic city tour of Colombo. This busy and vibrant city features a mixture of modern life and remnants of a bygone colonial era. Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-Westsea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago. The historical, religious and commercial sites of Colombo include the Fort and Pettah, the elite residential Cinnamon Gardens, the Galle Face Green, the newly opened Lotus Tower, Viharamahadevi Park and much more.


This evening, a welcome dinner will be included at your hotel.

Day 3 Colombo – Dambulla

Location: Colombo – Dambulla

This morning we drive to Dambulla for a three-night stay. The town is famous for its magnificent rock cave temples, which are adorned with exquisite cave paintings and shelter numerous statues of Lord Buddha.



During the day you will have the opportunity to join a jeep safari within the Minneriya National Park. Famous for its large wild herds of elephants which congregate on the edge of rivers and reservoirs to bathe and socialise, it's one of the best parks in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants. The park covers 8,890 hectares and consists of a mixed forest of evergreen shrubs, a favourite habitat for animals, which include leopards, deer and wild elephants. Keep an eye out for monkeys as well, including the purple-faced langur and macaques.

Day 4 Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Polonnaruwa

Location: Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Polonnaruwa

The spectacular citadel of Sigiriya built on a giant rock rises sheer and impregnable out of the plains below. This remarkable 5th-century archaeological site is made unforgettable by its dramatic setting. A moat, rampart and extensive gardens, including the renowned water gardens, ring the base of the rock and the frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya.



This morning we drive to Sigiriya. The 5th-century rock citadel of King Kasyapa and UNESCO World Heritage Site – Sigiriya – doesn't only boast of ancient Sri Lankan engineering and urban planning supremacy, but also claims to be one of the finest monuments of art and culture. Step through the gigantic 'Lion Paws' overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens below to appreciate the absolute splendour that once dominated this rock fortress.

This afternoon we continue to Polonnaruwa. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries A.D, Polonnaruwa is a World Heritage Site. Here you can see the Gal Viharaya, three splendid statues of the Buddha in upright, sedentary and recumbent postures carved out of rock. There is also the ruins of the Royal Palace, the audience hall, lotus bath, the 12th-century Polonnaruwa statue, and Parakrama Samudra tank (lake) built by King Parakramabahu the great. Furthermore, the ruins of famous places of worship, such as the Shiva temple, Lankatileka, Watadage, Galpotha, Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of a former temple of the tooth, reside here.



Please note: To reach the top of Sigiriya Rock, there are nearly 1,200 stone steps up and then down.

Day 5 Hiriwadunna Village Experience & Anuradhapura

Location: Hiriwadunna Village Experience & Anuradhapura

Today we visit Hiriwadunna, a quaint rural village in the centre of Habarana, where there are more trees and birds than people. We include a tour of the village before enjoying a ride on a decorated tractor through beautiful rice fields before being welcomed by a local family for a delicious traditional Sri Lankan meal.

Following our visit on the farm, we will enjoy catamaran ride on the scenic lake.



This afternoon we continue to the ancient city of Anuradhapura, which is considered by many to be the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Day 6 Dambulla Caves & Matale – Kandy

Location: Dambulla Caves & Matale – Kandy

This morning we visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temples. The magnificently constructed cave Temples are adorned with exquisite paintings and numerous statues of Lord Buddha.


Following our visit to the caves we continue our journey to a spice garden in Matale, where we will see the spices growing, and learn how they are used in traditional medicine and local cuisine.



This afternoon we arrive in the lakeside town of Kandy, the World Heritage Site and last Royal capital of the Sri Lankan Kings.
Cradled among the misty hills, we will visit the town’s crown jewel of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.
We stay overnight in Kandy.

Day 7 Nuwara Eliya

Location: Nuwara Eliya

This morning we take a world-renowned train journey through the spectacular lush Sri Lankan countryside and lands of tea plantations to the celebrated British colonial retreat of Nuwara Eliya.


We continue to a local tea plantation where you will see the picking and processing of the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea before returning to Nuwara Eliya for an overnight stay.

Day 8 Free Time Or Horton Plains National Park

Location: Free Time or Horton Plains National Park

Spend the day at leisure exploring Nuwara Eliya. Alternatively, you can join our optional excursion to Horton Plains National Park. With stunning viewpoints and an abundance of wildlife, the park is hailed as one of the most beautiful World Heritage Sites in the world.

Day 9 Galle

Location: Galle

This morning we head to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Galle. Once the centre of Dutch rule in the 17th century, Galle is a beautiful coastal town rich in history. Known for its majestic fort, it is one of the best-preserved colonial era cities in Southeast Asia.


On arrival in Galle, you will have time at leisure to explore this delightful city.

Day 10 Galle – Beruwala

Location: Galle – Beruwala

After a leisurely morning in Galle, we travel to Beruwala for a two-night stay.

Day 11 Beruwala

Location: Beruwala

Spend the day at leisure in Beruwala. A popular beach resort with magnificent, sandy beaches and rich seafood cuisine, Beruwala is the perfect place to relax.

Day 12

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Accommodation

You will stay at each of the following hotels, or similar:

Cinnamon Lakeside in Colombo for one night, Amaya Lake in Dambulla for three nights, Amaya Hills in Kandy for one night, the Blackpool Hotel in Nuwara Eliya for two nights, Radisson Blu in Galle for one night and the Cinnamon Bey in Beruwela for two nights.

All hotels are of a minimum 4-star superior Sri Lankan standard.

Check out our Q&As

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    40 years

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?

    Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies

Reviews of this operator

Gary White (Google Reviewer)  

Just got back from a...

27-May-2024

Just got back from a holiday with leger holidays to callea spain which my wife done as a surprise for my 60th and wedding anniversary together my wife and i had a great time the coach journey there was excellent regular stops for toilet breaks and a stretch. Our two drivers Geoff and katrina were brilliant serving regular drinks and making the trip pleasant all the people on the coach were pleasant the hotel in spain was so nice the best we've stayed in lovely staff lovely bar the guy at the bar was great really friendly nice room. Overall our journey there and our return journey was brill the only thing that was not good at all was the ibis hotel on the return journey the room was horrible not a nice breakfast not polite French staff. Not really interested in trying to speak some english if i was leger should try and use a different hotel. Once again a big thank you to Geoff and katrina well done guys for making our holiday lovely. Hope to see you on another holiday soon

Will (Google Reviewer)  

I went on the 4...

05-Jan-2024

I went on the 4 countries trip and swiss glacier express and overall it was a great trip. The coach I was on was silver service, it was tidy had nice seats and other accessories such as charging points and headsets which was very handy. The drivers Alex and Dave were fantastic, very kind, funny and respectful throughout the whole trip and a pleasure to talk to. The excursions were very pleasant and all ran very smoothly. The hotels were decent and offered a good service. I overall very much recommend leger holidays.

Sally Matson  

Excellent customer service

10-Jan-2023

Booked our ‘Christmas in Austria & Scenic Trains of the Tyrol’ through George on the customer Helpline. Nothing was too much trouble, everything clearly & patiently explained. He even had permission to log in on his day off to finalise the sale! A charming and helpful young person and a credit to the company.

Euan Donald (Google Reviewer)  

Been on two tours now...

10-Oct-2023

Been on two tours now the “D Day beaches” and “ All Quiet on the Western Front” tour of the Somme and Ypres. Both four days in total, two travelling and two on the site of the various battles. This is outstanding value for money, picked up from Carlisle , Cumbria and literally looked after all the way through the tours. The coaches are great and the accommodation spot on . The guides are very knowledgeable ( Mark Hope brilliant guy)and the bus drivers professional . Absolutely fantastic .

Sue Sinfield (Google Reviewer)  

Due to covid it was...

21-Jul-2022

Due to covid it was 3rd time lucky for us to visit lake Garda, what a treat. One or two hiccups but no fault of Legers at all. Praise to Graham and Chris for their excellent driving and coffee service. Our visit to Verona, our guide was very informative but did walk at a pace sometimes had to hurry to keep up. A lovely holiday

Michael Stephen Shilleto   England

Four Countries New Year & the Swiss Glacier Express

07-Jan-2024

Firstly we must thank Alex and Dave our tour guide / drivers who entertained us through out . The tour was fantastic so was the hotel’s food and entertainment. The tour was through the new year holidays as expected lots of shops closed and hotels were understaffed which was lost on some travelers. We travelled back from stop 24 on a luxuria coach I would recommend paying the extra for the comfort alone

Hilary Jackson (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

12-Jun-2024

I recently went on a 4 night tour to Scarborough. Driver was great hotel superb. My criticism is too many destinations crammed into day excursion. Example visit to Flamborough head stop for 1 hour it was teeming nobody got off coach but even if fine pointless. Then on to Bridlington coach Park 1.5 ml from centre. Most people are hard pressed to get to center & back in 1.5 hours pointless. Incidentally if Leger paid a permit they could alight us in the resort. Very bad logistics. On to Whitby with a decent stop should have taken us there & bypassed the other stops. I will not go with them again. I will source a better holiday with excursions to one place only.

aled blackshaw (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from a solos...

25-Mar-2024

just returned from a solos break to valkenburg and rhine valley i enjoyed the break overall although both journeys were considerably longer than expected due to several picks ups. I could have done without the 3 countries meeting point excursion to be honest and the lunch on rhine cruise was very basic. The drivers/couriers were efficient and good humoured and provided free lunch vouchers on the ferry which were much appreciated. I probably would book another break with leger but to somewhere a lot closer to home.

Mary Elmhirst (Google Reviewer)  

I was told by a...

19-May-2024

I was told by a customer service advisor (Michael) , our hotel overlooked the River Seine, which was totally untrue. It was nowhere in sight and a good walk to get to it. My view from the hotel room was a wall and a window, There was no porterage available and although our drivers offered, after a 15 hour journey to France, we all opted to take our own luggage. To get into the shower there was a step to it and the floor of the shower was like an ice rink when wet, with nothing to hold onto. ( I showered wearing my slippers to avoid slipping). The plunger to the sink was unusable; (the lever to retrieve it was broken). The staff were pleasant and helpful, the bed was comfortable and clean abd the breakfast was worthy of the 3 stars given. Otherwise, I have stayed in a better 2* hotel in France. The driver and travel rep, Paul were both very friendly and pleasant but it was the first time Paul had been on this trip and therefore had little knowledge of the places we visited! There was no commentary and the history of Monet and Versailles was read out from a book! All in all, nothing would persuade me to take part in another Leger tour.

TU  

Many thanks to Molly.

03-Jan-2023

I have recently booked a trip to Le Mans and had the good fortune to speak to Molly. She was very helpful and a pleasure to talk to. She was able to answer all but one of my queries with clarity and promised to ring me with the answer to the un-answered question as it required further investigation. This she duly did. An unusually pleasant experience when making a booking over the phone, if only it could be this easy every the time.

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Nov 05, 2024 - Nov 16, 2024
$3289
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Feb 21, 2026 - Mar 04, 2026
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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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