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Rightfully known as “The Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, Sri Lanka is truly nature’s treasure trove filled with exciting adventures and scenic wonders. The country is definitely one of Asia’s hidden gems that you’ll thoroughly want to explore – and what better way than with one of the best Sri Lanka tours?
From scenic mountains and beaches to historic caves and temples, Sri Lanka is a paradise for wanderlusts and adventure-seekers. It is a tropical island nation that is rich in cultural diversity with lots of different places to visit.
Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is located off the southeastern coast of India. Also known as “The Teardrop of India”, Sri Lanka has its own unique identity that is rooted in its history and traditions. The country is populated with people belonging to different ethnic groups, but most of them are Sinhalese and Tamils. The caves and temples are predominantly inspired by Buddhism and Hinduism, and each of them has its own background story.
If you’re a foodie and are no stranger to spices, then you’re in for a treat! The cuisine in Sri Lanka is known for its use of local fruits such as coconuts and a wide variety of seafood and spices. As such, there is a versatile range of dishes that are available to your taste and liking. It is no wonder that the country is famously dubbed “The Land of Rice and Curry”. Alot of nicknames for one country, right? Well – let us promise you they are all well-deserved.
Whether you’re looking for adventure or a quiet retreat, Sri Lanka is a place that can be enjoyed by anyone. There is no end to the number of activities for tourists here. You could go surfing or paddle in the clear turquoise sea or hike different valleys and get a glimpse of elephants and even leopards!
You could also hop on a train and ride through stunning plantations with the wind hitting your face in an open carriage. The national parks, with their beautiful wildlife, are sights that should not be missed – and thankfully most of the best Sri Lanka tours don’t!
If nature’s not your thing, there is plenty to do in the cities as well. There are many pubs, bars, and casinos that are spread across the country. That being said, you’ll get the best nightlife experience in Colombo, which is the country’s capital city. You will also find different kinds of markets from where you can buy local spices, gemstones, ornaments, and other interesting items.
With so many things to do and places to visit, Sri Lanka is a boon for tourists and is a travel destination that will provide a great holiday experience. Planning out your itinerary in this beautiful country, however, could be quite a task. To save you the headache of planning out your stay in Sri Lanka, it is definitely advisable to look at tour groups that will help you experience the best the country has to offer. There are plenty of reputed Sri Lanka tour operators to choose from, and there’s the right price and style for everyone. So, which one to choose?
As always, we’ve got your back! Just like we rounded up and review the best Cambodia tours and best Indonesia tours, we’ve also prepared a list of group tours and operators in Sri Lanka that’ll sort you out and take care of everything. So, without further ado, let’s have a look at the 10 best Sri Lanka tours that will help you discover this magical island with ease.
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Sri Lanka In 12 Days
One Life Adventures
One Life Adventures offers a truly immersive experience of Sri Lanka that starts from Negombo and ends at Colombo. The 12-day tour package includes accommodation and meals at different venues throughout the journey. The group sizes are small to ensure that every participant develops meaningful connections with the locals as well as with other people in the group. The maximum is 22, and the age range is 18 to 39.
The group tour is balanced with various activities that are adventurous as well as cultural. The trip is filled with hikes to monasteries, and temples, as well as safari trips where you can search the wilderness for elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, leopards and more. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get the opportunity to see blue whales diving and swimming in the clear waters. The tour also includes a fun masterclass where you will learn to cook the perfect Sri Lankan curry with local spices.
The accommodation included in the tour package happen to be one of the finest and will allow you to recharge your batteries for the next day. One thing’s for sure – One Life Adventures will give you your money’s worth, and their guides will ensure your journey is stress-free and fulfilling.
Tour Type: Safari, Active Adventure, Local Living
Travel Route: Negombo – Sigiriya – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Mirissa – Hikkaduwa – Colombo
Sri Lanka Experience
INTRO Travel
Another 12-day tour, the Sri Lanka Experience, is operated by INTRO travel and offers a wholesome travel experience to their customers. Their guides are known to be enthusiastic and make sure that everyone is having a great time throughout the journey.
The group tour starts off by picking you up at Colombo and allows you to explore different places all the way to Mirissa. The journey is filled with fun tuk-tuk rides through the cities and includes the famous train journey from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. In addition to exploring nature and safaris, you’ll also get the opportunity to experience the nightlife in Kandy with the group.
If you’re a beach bum, then you’ll definitely enjoy your trip to Hiriketiya and Talalla, where you can enjoy a chilled-out afternoon on the beach till the sun sets. Another exciting highlight of this tour is that it includes a private surf lesson in Weligama. The trip ends with your visit to Mirissa, where you’ll get a unique insight into the Buddhist way of life by interacting with monks living at the monastery.
Tour Type: Active Adventure, Explorer, Sightseeing
Travel Route: Colombo – Negombo – Sigiriya – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Hiriketiya – Tallala – Welligama – Mirissa – Colombo
Lifetime Experience in Sri Lanka
BH Lanka Tours
The Lifetime Experience in Sri Lanka is a group tour operated by BH Lanka Tours. They also offer private group tours and are perfect if you’re looking for a family holiday. BH Lanka Tours is based in Sri Lanka and provides an authentic local experience to tourists.
The tour package includes cozy and luxurious accommodations and resorts for you to unwind after your long day. The tour will also take you to various UNESCO World Heritage sites across the destinations such as the Golden Buddha Statue, Galle Fort, and Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress. Other popular sightseeing places include the breathtaking Ravana waterfall and Yala National Park, the largest national park in Sri Lanka. If you love jewelry, you’ll enjoy browsing through the precious gemstone collection at the museum in Nuwara Eliya.
The tour also includes several beach destinations in Mirissa, Weligama, and Galle. The relaxed itinerary allows you to take up other optional activities such as jet skiing, surfing, snorkeling as well as deep-sea fishing. To top it off, you’ll also experience an amazing boat ride and sail through the mangroves in the Madu river. An exciting tour indeed!
Tour Type: Cultural, Family, Private (upon request)
Travel Route: Negombo – Dambulla – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Mirissa – Welligama – Mirissa – Galle – Bentota – Negombo
Sri Lanka Express
G Adventures
The Sri Lanka Express is an active adventure group tour organized by G Adventures. This 8-day trip starts off at Negombo and ends at the Udawalawe National Park. The tour package includes accommodation, meals, transportation, and an expert tour guide.
G Adventures offers a multi-cultural expedition filled with various activities at a great price. They have several meal options available (including vegan) to suit your preferences. The accommodation includes hotels and guest houses as well as camping for one of the nights. As the group size is small, most of the travel between destinations is by private vehicles.
The Sri Lanka Express has a very relaxed itinerary and allows you to make the most of the trip in your own way. The tour takes you to spice plantations and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth in Kandy. You will also get to experience tea tasting in the lush green tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya. Due to the
The highlight of the trip will be your visit to Udawalawe National Park where an afternoon safari is organized for you to enjoy the wilderness. The safari ends with an overnight stay next to a lake with a BBQ dinner around the campfire.
Tour Type: Adventure, Cultural, Family
Travel Route: Negombo – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Udawalawe National Park
Sri Lanka Uncovered
TruTravels
Organized by TruTravels, Sri Lanka Uncovered is a life-changing group travel experience with plenty of different activities across the destinations. TruTravel is known for its private tours and offers 4 different travel styles, namely Classic, FitVentures, FlashPacker and SailVenture. So, if you have specific things to tick off your bucket list in Sri Lanka, TruTravel will get you sorted.
Sri Lanka Uncovered is a 10-day tour that starts off at Negombo with its final stop at the beachside town of Unawatuna, Galle. In Nuwara Eliya, you’ll also visit tea plantations where you’ll learn about the tea brewing process as well as get a first-hand experience of cooking Sri Lanka’s best dishes.
You’ll visit several popular sights across the country, but the highlight of this tour is the scenic train journey between Nuwara Eliya and Ella. The tour also organizes trips to waterfalls as well as camping activities for everyone to enjoy.
Overall, the itinerary is packed, but the tour guide fits in additional activities seamlessly.
Tour Type: Adventure, Wildlife, Private (upon request)
Travel Route: Negombo – Dambulla – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Udawalawe National Park – Unawatuna
Depth Touch of Sri Lanka
Capital Lanka Tours
Capital Lanka Tours provides an in-depth cultural tour of Sri Lanka over a course of 10 days. The group sizes are small, which ensures active participation in all activities. You can also request a private tour so that the guides will make sure the entire trip is tailored to your needs and preferences. Another advantage this tour has over others is that it can be operated in English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish.
In terms of activities, there’s a lot that is packed during the entire tour. You’ll be driving in 4×4 jeeps observing wild Asian elephants and even a leopard hunting in its natural habitat. The trip also includes going through tea plantations and stopping at a factory to learn more about their tea processing techniques. You’ll also get plenty of time to relax by the beaches and enjoy different water sports. A seasonal activity you should not miss is sailing the calm seas watch the blue whales swimming and diving.
Before ending your trip, make sure you visit the markets in Colombo and buy exotic items and souvenirs for back home.
Tour Type: Cultural, Private (upon request)
Travel Route: Negombo – Sigiriya – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Yala National Park – Mirissa – Hikkaduwa – Colombo
Wild About Sri Lanka
On The Go Tours
Wild About Sri Lanka is an active adventure tour organized by On The Go Tours. The tour is spread across 10 days and involves many destinations across the country. As the name of the tour suggests, the tour is known for wild safari trips and will take you to Udawalawe, Yala and Bundala National Parks. You’ll witness various wild animals including sloth bears, deer, crocodiles, leopards, and of course, elephants.
The tour also includes several heritage destinations such as Sigirya Rock Fortress and cave temples in Dambulla. Other scenic trips include the train rides in Nuwara Eliya through the tea plantations and waterfalls. During the season, you’ll also get the opportunity to go on a cruise to watch the whales and dolphins.
The accommodations are 4-5 stars hotels and other heritage destinations. They also have different food options available for vegetarians and vegans as well.
On The Go tours are great at providing a fun and culturally authentic experience.
Tour Type: Adventure, Wildlife, Safari, Family
Travel Route: Colombo – Dambulla – Polonnaruwa – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Udawalawe National Park – Yala National Park – Bundala National Park – Weligama – Mirissa – Colombo
Treasures of Sri Lanka
MTA Destination Experts
Treasures of Sri Lanka is an all-inclusive trip that is perfect for families and an in-depth cultural experience. The tour is organized by MTA Destination Experts and you can also request a private tour to accommodate your requests. In addition, the tour operators can also arrange for a tour guide to operate in English, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese.
The duration of the tour is 7 days, and the group sizes are kept very small. During the tour, you will visit Colombo, Pinnawala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala, and Bentota. You’ll experience the amazing city and night life at Colombo, followed by a wholesome experience of feeding baby elephants with a bottle at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. In Kandy, you’ll pay a visit to the Peradeniya Gardens as well as the historic Kandy temple. In Nuwara Eliya, you’ll drive through the green plantations and observe tea pickers collecting fresh harvests. The wildlife safari at Yala will be an exhilarating experience where you get to see different exotic animals. The trip finally ends at Bentota where you could opt for additional activities such as water sports, boat rides, and a sunset cruise on a private yacht.
MTA Destination Experts also provides different accommodations based on your budget. You can select the Standard, Supreme or Prestige packages and they have a full meal plan with each of them.
Tour Type: Cultural, Family, Private (upon request)
Travel Route: Colombo – Pinnawala – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Yala – Bentota
Discover Sri Lanka
Sunrise Sri Lanka Travels & Tours
Discover Sri Lanka is a long 15-day tour operated by Sunrise Sri Lanka Travels & Tours. The tour will take you to around 12-16 destinations across the country with planned activities in each location. Besides English, the tour can also be operated in German, Italian, French, and Spanish. Considering the duration, the tour provides great value for money and will arrange your stay at 3-4 stars hotels throughout.
Compared to other tours we have mentioned, the Discover Sri Lanka tour plans its trips to ensure you get more time exploring the local towns and cities. There are various optional activities that could take up such as cycling, snorkeling, whale & dolphin watching (seasonal), massages, and more. You’ll also get to visit the different heritage sites, botanical gardens, tea plantations, and national parks as part of the itinerary.
As a licensed Destination Management Company in Sri Lanka, Sunrise Sri Lanka also offers other packages to explore Sri Lanka.
Tour Type: Cultural, Explorer, Private (upon request)
Travel Route: Negombo – Anuradhapura – Trincomalee – Polonnaruwa – Dambulla – Kandy – Dulhoise – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Yala – Unawatuna – Colombo
The Pick of Sri Lanka
Aitken Spence Travel
In The Pick of Sri Lanka tour organized by Aitken Spence Travel, you’ll discover some of the best spots in Sri Lanka across various destinations. Based on your budget, the tour operators will provide 3 – 5 stars hotels as your accommodation (Standard, Superior, and Deluxe categories). You can also request them for a private tour if you need a special tour customized for your travel group.
The tour starts and ends in Colombo and has planned activities at each destination. Some of the highlights include visiting the spice gardens at Matale, experiencing the wildlife at Yala, and driving through the green landscape at Nuwara Eliya. From a cultural perspective, you’ll enjoy interacting with the friendly locals and visiting famous heritage sights, ruins, and temples. In Kandy, you’ll witness a mesmerizing cultural show filled with dance performances and drum orchestras.
Aitken Spence Travel is also a Destination Management Company in Sri Lanka and has a proven track record of providing a phenomenal group tour experience.
Tour Type: Cultural, Family, Private (upon request)
Travel Route: Colombo – Pinnawala – Dambulla – Sigiriya – Matale – Peradeniya – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Tissamaharama – Galle – Kalutara – Colombo
Sri Lanka is indeed a diverse nation rich with culture, wildlife, nature, adventure, and history. The people are extremely friendly and always have a smile on their faces. The country will leave a lasting expression on you and will make you feel right at home.
If none of these tours work for you in Sri Lanka, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.
Take a look at all the group tours in Sri Lanka now, which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is also always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.
