Sri Lanka and the Maldives: Sigiriya, the Hill Train, Galle and a Local Island

1. Day 1: Arrive in Colombo

   Bandaranaike International Airport to Colombo via Kelaniya, about 35 km

   • Drive about 1 h
   • Welcome dinner
   • Stay in Colombo
   Day 1 details

   Fly into Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at Katunayake, about 35 km north of Colombo, and a driver meets you in the arrivals hall. If you land by early afternoon, we stop on the way into the city at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, a working Buddhist temple on the Kelani River whose image house is painted with 20th-century murals of the Buddha's life and Sri Lankan history; it is about 20 minutes short of the centre and an easy first look at temple etiquette. Then check in and rest. Late in the afternoon your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the two weeks ahead: what to wear at temples, how the train and the Maldives crossing work, and the local-island rules. We walk the seafront promenade at Galle Face Green as the sun drops into the Indian Ocean and families come out for street food, then sit down together to a welcome dinner.

   Included

   • Pick-up at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
   • Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara on the way in, for arrivals by early afternoon
   • Welcome briefing with your guide
   • Sunset walk on Galle Face Green
   • Welcome dinner

   Free time: Free until the late-afternoon briefing

   Activity: Land by early afternoon for the Kelaniya stop; later arrivals go straight to the hotel and join the briefing or meet the guide at breakfast.

   

2. Day 2: Dambulla's caves and sunset on Pidurangala

   Colombo to the Dambulla cave temple, then Sigiriya, about 170 km

   • Drive about 4 h
   • Breakfast and lunch
   • Stay in Sigiriya
   Day 2 details

   We leave Colombo at about 6:30 am, ahead of the city traffic, and drive inland through coconut country and Kurunegala, about 170 km and four hours, the day's longest stretch broken by a coffee stop. Just before lunch we climb the short path to the Dambulla cave temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991: five caves under one granite overhang, worshipped in since the 1st century BC, holding more than 150 Buddha images and ceilings painted edge to edge. Lunch is a sit-down rice and curry in Dambulla, then a short drive to our hotel near Sigiriya and a rest through the heat. At about 4:30 pm we walk up Pidurangala, the rock just north of Sigiriya: steps past a reclining Buddha, then a short scramble over boulders to a flat summit. From the top Lion Rock stands in front of you with the forest all around, and the sun sets in the sky beyond it. We come down by torchlight; the evening is free.

   Included

   • Dambulla cave temple with your guide
   • Sit-down lunch in Dambulla
   • Pidurangala Rock at sunset

   Easier option: Stay at the base of Pidurangala by the temple, or watch the sunset from the hotel.

   Free time: Evening free

   Activity: The Pidurangala walk takes about 30 to 40 minutes up, ending in a boulder scramble; bring shoes with grip and a torch for the descent.

3. Day 3: Sigiriya at opening, elephants in the afternoon

   Sigiriya Lion Rock, then a jeep safari near Minneriya

   • Drive about 30 min
   • Breakfast
   • Stay in Sigiriya
   Day 3 details

   We are at the Sigiriya gate when it opens, at about 7 am, before the heat and the day coaches. King Kashyapa built his palace on top of this rock in the 5th century, and the climb follows his route: through the water gardens, up spiral stairs to the painted ladies in a sheltered gallery, past the polished Mirror Wall, and between the two giant stone paws that are all that remains of the lion gate. The last stretch is metal stairs bolted to the rock, and the summit holds the brick foundations of the palace, its cisterns and terraces, with views over forest and reservoirs. In all it is about 1,200 steps. Back at the hotel for a late breakfast, the middle of the day is yours. At about 2:30 pm we head out by jeep into Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Park, chosen that week by where the elephants are, and stay out until the gates close.

   Included

   • Sigiriya Lion Rock from opening with a local site guide
   • Afternoon jeep safari with park fees in Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Park

   Easier option: Walk the water gardens and the lower terraces, and skip the summit stairs.

   Free time: Late morning and early afternoon free

   Activity: About 1,200 steps on Sigiriya, some narrow and exposed near the top; not for anyone with a strong fear of heights.

   

4. Day 4: Aluvihare and the Temple of the Tooth

   Sigiriya to Aluvihare, then Kandy, about 95 km

   • Drive about 3 h
   • Breakfast and lunch
   • Stay in Kandy
   Day 4 details

   A slower morning, then we drive south about 95 km and three hours to Kandy, the hill capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom. On the way we stop at Aluvihare, a rock temple near Matale where monks first wrote down the Buddhist scriptures, the Pali Canon, on palm leaves in the 1st century BC; caves and shrines are tucked between boulders on the hillside. Lunch is a sit-down meal on the road into Kandy. We check in early, and the afternoon is free: walk around Kandy Lake, rest, or browse the central market on your own. There is no gem, spice or batik showroom on our plan. In the early evening your guide takes you into the Temple of the Tooth, part of the Sacred City of Kandy World Heritage Site, which holds the relic of the Buddha's tooth. We time it for the evening ceremony, usually around 6:30 pm, when drummers play and pilgrims bring flowers to the upper shrine.

   Included

   • Aluvihare rock temple
   • Sit-down lunch on the way to Kandy
   • The Temple of the Tooth at the evening ceremony, with your guide

   Optional experiences

   • Kandyan dance performance in the early evening

   Free time: Afternoon free in Kandy

   Activity: Cover shoulders and knees for the temple; white or light clothing is customary, and shoes are left at the entrance.

5. Day 5: Tea country and the train to Ella

   Kandy to Nanu Oya by road via Ramboda, about 80 km, then the train to Ella

   • Drive about 3 h
   • Breakfast and lunch
   • Stay in Ella
   Day 5 details

   We leave Kandy after breakfast and climb by road into tea country, about 80 km and three hours, past Ramboda Falls and estates where pickers work the steep slopes. We stop at a working tea factory to see leaf become black tea, with a tasting, and have a sit-down lunch near Nuwara Eliya. At Nanu Oya, the station for Nuwara Eliya, we board the train with reserved seats. For about three hours it climbs to Pattipola, the highest station on the line at about 1,900 metres, then runs down through Haputale and Bandarawela with tea and cloud forest on both sides, before pulling into Ella in the late afternoon. Keep a camera handy on both sides of the carriage. The rail section from Kandy was reported closed after the 2025 cyclone, which is why we drive the first half; if the train itself is cancelled, the vehicle takes you on to Ella by road.

   Included

   • Tea factory visit with a tasting
   • Sit-down lunch near Nuwara Eliya
   • Reserved seats on the train from Nanu Oya to Ella, with the vehicle as backup

   Free time: Evening free in Ella

   Activity: Train times change by season; the departure we ride is confirmed with your final itinerary. Before departure we also confirm the rail status: the Nanu Oya to Badulla section reopened in June 2026, but the Kandy to Nanu Oya section was still closed as of September 2026, so that leg is by road.

   

6. Day 6: Nine Arch Bridge at dawn and a cooking class

   Ella to the Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak on foot, then dinner with a local family

   • Drive about 30 min
   • Breakfast and dinner
   • Stay in Ella
   Day 6 details

   An early start pays off here. We walk to the Nine Arch Bridge before 7 am, while the valley is still misty and before the crowds arrive. Completed in 1921, the bridge curves across a ravine on stone and brick arches about 24 metres high, and your guide knows the morning train times so you can see one cross. From there it is on to Little Adam's Peak, about 45 minutes up a path through tea bushes to a ridge with views down the Ella Gap to the lowlands. You are back in town for a late breakfast, and the middle of the day is free: a massage, a cafe, or a nap. In the late afternoon a local family teaches you to cook rice and curry, with dhal, a vegetable curry and coconut sambol, and we eat what we made together at their table.

   Included

   • Guided early walk to the Nine Arch Bridge
   • Little Adam's Peak
   • Cooking class and dinner with a local family

   Easier option: Take a tuk-tuk to the bridge viewpoint and skip the Little Adam's Peak climb.

   More active option: Hike Ella Rock instead of Little Adam's Peak, about 3 to 4 hours there and back with a local guide.

   Free time: Middle of the day free

   Activity: About 2 to 3 hours on foot in the morning, on rail track edges, dirt paths and steps.

   

7. Day 7: Down from the hills to Yala

   Ella to Ravana Falls and Buduruwagala, then Tissamaharama and Yala National Park, about 95 km

   • Drive about 2.5 h
   • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
   • Stay in Tissamaharama
   Day 7 details

   We drop out of the hills after breakfast, about 95 km and two and a half hours in all. The first stop is Ravana Falls, right beside the road, then a detour near Wellawaya to Buduruwagala, where a standing Buddha about 15 metres tall and six smaller figures were carved into a rock face, probably around the 10th century; it is a quiet place, usually with more monkeys than visitors. By late morning we are in the dry lowlands near Tissamaharama, at a hotel close to the Yala gate, where lunch is included. At about 2:30 pm we go into Yala by jeep with a park tracker and stay until the gates close at dusk. Yala is known for its leopards, though they are never a sure thing; elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, spotted deer, peacocks and wading birds at the waterholes are much likelier. Dinner is at the hotel, as there is little else nearby.

   Included

   • Ravana Falls
   • Buduruwagala rock carvings
   • Lunch and dinner at the hotel
   • Afternoon jeep safari in Yala National Park with park fees and a tracker

   Activity: Safari jeeps are open-sided and the tracks are bumpy and dusty; bring a hat, sunscreen and a scarf.

8. Day 8: The south coast and Galle Fort at golden hour

   Tissamaharama to Koggala on the Southern Expressway, then Galle, about 160 km

   • Drive about 3 h
   • Breakfast and lunch
   • Stay in Galle
   Day 8 details

   A free morning, or an early second game drive into Yala for anyone who wants another chance at a leopard. After a late breakfast we drive west, about 160 km and three hours, mostly on the Southern Expressway, then down to the coast at Koggala, where a few families still fish from stilts planted in the surf. Many of the men on the poles now pose for photos and ask for a tip; your guide will tell you who is fishing and who is posing. Lunch is a sit-down meal by the sea. We reach Galle in the afternoon and check in, then walk the ramparts of Galle Fort as the day cools. The Portuguese first fortified this headland in the 16th century, and the Dutch, who took it in 1640, rebuilt the walls in the 17th century; inside the walls are churches, warehouses and narrow streets of old houses, now a World Heritage Site. We finish at the lighthouse bastion for sunset.

   Included

   • Stilt fishermen at Koggala
   • Sit-down lunch on the coast
   • Guided walk on the ramparts of Galle Fort at golden hour

   Optional experiences

   • Dawn game drive in Yala before breakfast

   More active option: Go out on the dawn game drive in Yala, back for breakfast before we leave.

   Free time: Morning free, evening free in Galle

   

9. Day 9: A free day on the coast

   Galle and Unawatuna at your pace

   • Breakfast
   • Stay in Galle
   Day 9 details

   Today is yours, with your guide around for advice and bookings. Unawatuna, a curved bay about 6 km from the fort, has calm water in this season, cafes on the sand and a short walk over the headland to Jungle Beach, which is quieter and good for a swim. In Galle you can go back inside the fort on your own in the morning light, look into the Dutch Reformed Church and the old warehouses, and sit in a cafe while the town is still quiet. From December to April boats go out from Mirissa, about 35 km east, to look for blue whales and dolphins; if you want to go, we book a smaller boat that keeps its distance from the animals, leaving very early and back by lunch. Or simply have an Ayurvedic massage and rest before the second half of the trip. Your guide suggests places for dinner.

   Included

   • Second night at the hotel in Galle
   • Your guide on hand for advice and bookings

   Optional experiences

   • Whale and dolphin watching from Mirissa
   • Ayurvedic massage
   • Surf lesson in Unawatuna

   Free time: Full day free: nothing is included beyond the hotel and your guide's advice

   

10. Day 10: Fly to the Maldives and cross to Dhigurah

    Galle to Bandaranaike International Airport, about 150 km, flight to Male, then speedboat to Dhigurah

    • Drive about 3 h
    • Breakfast and dinner
    • Stay in Dhigurah
    Day 10 details

    This is the trip's one long travel day, and we start it early. We leave Galle at about 6 am and drive about 150 km, roughly three hours on the expressways, to Bandaranaike International Airport for the flight to Male, a little over an hour in the air. Your guide flies with you. Velana International Airport sits on its own island next to the capital, and our speedboat leaves from the jetty outside arrivals for South Ari Atoll, about 95 km and about two hours across open water, sometimes up to three depending on the sea. Dhigurah is a long, narrow island with sandy lanes, a mosque, a school and a few guesthouses, fringed by a reef and ending in a long sandbank. We book a flight that lands early enough for the crossing, and arrive in the late afternoon, in time for a swim and sunset. Dinner is at the guesthouse, and from tonight there is no alcohol until you leave the Maldives.

    Included

    • Drive to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
    • Flight from Colombo to Male (MLE)
    • Speedboat transfer to Dhigurah, South Ari Atoll
    • Dinner at the guesthouse

    Free time: Evening free on the island

    Activity: If the flight lands too late for a safe crossing, we spend the night in Hulhumale next to the airport and cross first thing in the morning; the night is included. Boats can be bumpy; take seasickness tablets if you are prone.

11. Day 11: Whale sharks in South Ari

    A boat day in the South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area

    • By boat
    • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    • Stay in Dhigurah
    Day 11 details

    This morning we go out by boat into the South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area, the stretch of outer reef along the atoll's southern edge where whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea, are seen through the year. The crew and spotters scan the surface while the boat runs along the reef. When a shark is found, small groups slip into the water with masks and fins to swim alongside it, following the area's rules: keep about three metres away, never touch, no flash, and let the shark choose its path. Sightings are frequent here but never guaranteed, and the boat moves on if the sea is rough. Between searches we snorkel a reef with turtles and reef fish, and lunch is on board or back on the island. The afternoon is free on the bikini beach, and dinner is at the guesthouse.

    Included

    • Whale-shark snorkel trip in the South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area
    • Reef snorkel stop
    • Snorkel gear and life jackets
    • Lunch and dinner

    Optional experiences

    • Scuba dive with a local dive centre, for certified divers

    Easier option: Stay on the boat and watch from the deck; whale sharks feed near the surface and can often be seen from above.

    Free time: Afternoon free on the beach

    Activity: You need to be comfortable in open water; life jackets are provided and worn by anyone who wants one. If no shark is seen, the backup morning on day 13 is used.

12. Day 12: Turtle reef and the sandbank

    Dhigurah's reefs, village and sandbank

    • By boat
    • Breakfast and dinner
    • Stay in Dhigurah
    Day 12 details

    A slower day on island time. In the morning a boat takes us to a nearby reef where green and hawksbill turtles feed on the coral, a short ride from the island, for an hour or more in the water. Back on Dhigurah, the middle of the day is free: the bikini beach, a hammock, or a cold coconut. Late in the afternoon your guide walks you through the village, past the harbour where the dhonis come in, the mosque and the neat coral-stone houses, and explains how island life works, from fishing to Friday prayers. Then we head out to the sandbank at the island's tip, a long tongue of white sand that shifts with the seasons, for a swim and sunset with the lagoon on both sides. Remember to cover up again when you walk back through the village. Dinner is at the guesthouse.

    Included

    • Morning snorkel trip to a turtle reef
    • Village walk with your guide
    • Sunset on the Dhigurah sandbank
    • Dinner at the guesthouse

    Optional experiences

    • Kayak or paddleboard on the lagoon

    Easier option: Snorkel from the shore on the house reef, or skip the boat and enjoy the beach.

    Free time: Middle of the day free

13. Day 13: A free day on Dhigurah

    Dhigurah at your pace

    • Breakfast and dinner
    • Stay in Dhigurah
    Day 13 details

    The last full day is free, with no boat to catch. If the whale sharks did not show on day 11, this morning is the included second try. Otherwise spend it as you like: snorkel the house reef from the beach, walk the length of the island along its sandy lanes, read under a palm, or book a dive, a sunset fishing trip in the traditional Maldivian way with hand lines, or a picnic on an uninhabited sandbank with a local operator. Your guide is on the island all day to help arrange things and to suggest where to find the best afternoon shade. In the evening the group gathers for a farewell dinner at the guesthouse, often a beach table with grilled reef fish, Maldivian fish curry and roshi flatbread, and coconut drinks in place of wine. It is an early night, because the boat leaves after breakfast.

    Included

    • Second whale-shark trip if the first sees none
    • Farewell dinner

    Optional experiences

    • Sunset line fishing
    • Sandbank picnic trip
    • Scuba diving, for certified divers

    Free time: Full day free

14. Day 14: Back to Male and home

    Speedboat from Dhigurah to Velana International Airport, Male

    • By boat
    • Breakfast
    Day 14 details

    A last swim before breakfast, while the lagoon is flat and the beach is empty. After breakfast we take the speedboat back across to Velana International Airport, about two hours, sometimes up to three depending on the sea, arriving around the middle of the day. Your guide comes with you and checks you in for your flight before saying goodbye. If you have time before an evening flight, Male itself is just across the bridge from the airport island: a dense little capital with a fish market, the Old Friday Mosque built from carved coral stone, and a waterfront where ferries come and go. If you want to stay on in the Maldives at a resort, or spend extra nights in Sri Lanka before the trip, we can book them for you. Plan an international flight leaving after 4 pm at the earliest, since the crossing time depends on the sea.

    Included

    • Speedboat transfer to Velana International Airport (MLE)

    Activity: Book a flight leaving Male after 4 pm at the earliest.

Wildlife and weather: December to April is the dry season on Sri Lanka's south-west coast and in the hill country, and usually the calmer, drier season in the Maldives, though a squall can still move a boat trip by a day. Whale sharks are seen in South Ari through the year, but no sighting is ever promised; Yala's leopards are shy, and elephants are the likelier sighting near Sigiriya. Yala's Block 1 usually closes for a few weeks around September and October, well outside our December to April season.

• Colombo1 night
• Sigiriya2 nights
• Kandy1 night
• Ella2 nights
• Tissamaharama1 night
• Galle2 nights
• Dhigurah4 nights