Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle & Hill Country
Rock fortresses, tea country and the Ella train ride, on an island where the landscape changes every two hours and the time zone never does.
Sigiriya (2N), Kandy (1N), Nuwara Eliya (2N), Colombo (1N)
Overview
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress and its fifth-century frescoes
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kandy
- Scenic hill-country train from Nanu Oya towards Ella
- Tea estate and factory visit at Nuwara Eliya
- Dambulla cave temple complex
- Optional Ramayana trail sites through the hill country
Rock fortresses, tea country and the Ella train ride, on an island where the landscape changes every two hours and the time zone never does.
Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle & Hill Country runs for 6 nights and 7 days across Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo. Like every Elitech itinerary it carries no fixed departure date — tell us roughly when you want to travel and we confirm availability, hotels and pricing for exactly those days.
The route below is a starting point. Extend a city, change the hotel category, add a private guide or remove a sightseeing block, and we will re-cost the trip and send you a revised plan, usually within a working day.
No fixed departure dates. This itinerary is operated in the window that suits you. Tell us roughly when you can travel and we will confirm availability, hotels and pricing for exactly those days.
Cities covered
Best time to travel: The west and hill country are at their best in the drier months; the cultural triangle works nearly year-round.
Day-by-day itinerary
Days are shown in sequence, not as calendar dates — your trip runs on the days you choose.
- Day1
Arrive in Colombo, transfer to Sigiriya
Met at Bandaranaike airport and driven to the cultural triangle, around four hours. Check in and rest. Overnight in Sigiriya.
- Day2
Sigiriya and Dambulla
Early climb of Sigiriya Rock Fortress — 1,200 steps to a fifth-century palace with frescoes and a mirror wall. Afternoon at the Dambulla cave temples, five caves of Buddha images and painted ceilings. Overnight in Sigiriya.
- Day3
Sigiriya to Kandy
Drive south with a stop at a spice garden and the Matale Hindu temple. In Kandy, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic for evening puja, followed by a cultural dance performance. Overnight in Kandy.
- Day4
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
Morning at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. Drive into the hill country past Ramboda Falls, stopping at a working tea estate and factory. Check in at Nuwara Eliya, a colonial-era hill station at 1,900 metres. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.
- Day5
Hill country and the Ella train
The scenic train from Nanu Oya through tea plantations and tunnels — one of the great rail journeys in Asia. Afternoon options include Gregory Lake, Seetha Amman Temple and Ramboda's Hanuman temple on the Ramayana trail. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.
- Day6
Nuwara Eliya to Colombo
Drive to the coast, stopping at Kitulgala or a gem museum en route. Afternoon Colombo city tour — Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple and the Independence Square area. Overnight in Colombo.
- Day7
Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
What is included
We list exclusions as prominently as inclusions — nothing appears for the first time at the payment stage.
Inclusions
- Accommodation for 6 nights in the hotel category shown, on twin-sharing basis
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- All transfers, sightseeing and intercity travel by private air-conditioned vehicle
- All entrance fees for the sightseeing listed in the itinerary
- Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and inter-state permits
- Assistance on arrival and a dedicated consultant reachable through the trip
- All applicable taxes on the services listed above
- Visa documentation support and file preparation by our in-house desk
- Basic overseas travel insurance for travellers up to 59 years
- Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla cave temple entry
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic entry and cultural show
- Hill-country scenic train ticket in reserved class
- Tea estate and factory visit with tasting
Exclusions
- Airfare to and from the start and end points of the tour
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the inclusions
- Visa fees, and any biometric or service charges levied by the consulate
- Lunch and dinner unless listed against a specific day
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone calls, minibar, room service and tips
- Optional excursions and activities marked as 'on request'
- Camera and video charges levied at monuments
- Any increase in government taxes or fuel surcharge after booking confirmation
- Costs arising from circumstances beyond our control — weather, roadblocks, flight rescheduling or medical evacuation
- Porterage at airports and hotels
- Insurance premium loading for travellers aged 60 and above, and for pre-existing conditions
Hotels
Properties shown as “or similar” may be substituted with an equivalent in category and location. We confirm the final property before departure.
| City | Nights | Hotel | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sigiriya | 2 | Hotel Sigiriya or similar | 4 Star |
| Kandy | 1 | Oak Ray Regency or similar | 4 Star |
| Nuwara Eliya | 2 | Araliya Green Hills or similar | 4 Star |
| Colombo | 1 | Ramada Colombo or similar | 4 Star |
Pricing
Rates are per person and vary by occupancy, not by departure date. Your final quotation reflects hotel availability for the days you choose.
| Occupancy | Price per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Per person on twin sharing | ₹58,900 | — |
| Per person on triple sharing | ₹55,366 | — |
| Single occupancy | ₹81,282 | Private room throughout |
| Child with bed (5–11 years) | ₹48,298 | — |
| Child without bed (2–5 years) | ₹36,518 | — |
Terms, payment and cancellation
Terms & conditions
This itinerary is quoted on twin-sharing basis and is subject to availability at the time of confirmation. Hotels shown as 'or similar' may be substituted with a property of comparable category and location, and you will be informed before departure. Prices may change before confirmation due to currency movement, revised government taxes or supplier rate changes.
Sightseeing may be resequenced to suit local conditions, weather or monument closure days. Where an included attraction cannot operate for reasons beyond our control, we substitute a comparable alternative or refund the applicable component.
Payment policy
A booking amount of 30% of the package cost confirms your services, with the balance due before departure on the date stated in your booking confirmation. Where an airline or hotel requires earlier full payment, we tell you at the time of quoting.
We accept UPI, credit and debit cards, net banking and NEFT/RTGS transfer to our registered current account. We never request payment into a personal account — always verify account details by calling us before transferring.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations must be made in writing. Standard charges apply from the date we receive your request: the booking amount is retained more than 45 days before departure, 35% between 31 and 45 days, 60% between 16 and 30 days, 80% between 8 and 15 days, and 100% within 7 days or for a no-show.
Air tickets, cruise bookings and non-refundable hotel rates follow their own supplier terms, which are stated in your quotation before payment. A visa refusal does not waive cancellation charges.