Sri Lanka by Local Rail

Enjoy a leisurely start to your day before meeting your tour leader and fellow travellers for a welcome lunch and briefing.

After lunch we’ll head out and explore a bit of Colombo by private coach, stopping first at historic Chatham Street. Here you’ll get a strong sense of the Dutch colonial-era from the buildings, including the Chatham Street Clock Tower and the Old Colombo Lighthouse, and the iconic Pagoda Tea Rooms. Opened in 1884, the Tea Rooms’ old-world charm was immortalised in Duran Duran’s 1982 music video for ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, where a snake charmer and a local boy with a monkey added to the exotic allure of the scene. Our last stop will be the t-Lounge by Dilmah, where you’ll get to savour the finest Ceylon Tea paired with a selection of local sweets in a stunning old colonial building. 

After returning to the hotel in the late afternoon, there’ll be time to relax and freshen up, before transferring to the world-renowned Ministry of Crab for a celebratory welcome dinner with drinks on us! Located within the Old Colombo Dutch Hospital, this famed restaurant is the culinary creation of celebrity chef Dharshan Munidasa and Sri Lankan cricketing icons Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. 

Overnight: Galle Face Hotel, Colombo or Similar (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll pass our luggage to our private courier and head off to learn about the pioneering architecture of Sri Lanka’s famous ‘son’ – the world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. Often called the “father of Asian architecture,” Bawa rejected rigid Western modernism, instead developing a contextual, climate-responsive style of building – open plan courtyards creating a passive cooling effect, with seamless indoor-outdoor flows that feel like the buildings “dissolve” into landscapes, combining cultural elements of Buddhist stoicism, colonial verandas, Kandyan roofs, and Islamic geometry. His work continues to inspire global sustainable design. You’ll be lucky enough to stay at one of his most famous designs, the Kandalama Heritance Hotel, later in this journey.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll transfer to the Colombo Fort Train Station, with its Victorian-era architecture, to board the Galu Kumari Express to Galle. On board, sit back in air conditioned comfort and enjoy one of Sri Lanka’s most scenic train journeys, often called the “Coastal Line”, famous for its palm-fringed railway line and stunning ocean views. The train passes so close to the ocean near Hikkaduwa that during high tide, waves sometimes splash the tracks!

We’ll arrive in Galle late in the afternoon and transfer to our hotel, the wonderful Heritage Galle Fort boutique hotel.

Located within the World Heritage-listed Dutch Fort, The Heritage Galle Fort dates back over 300 years and was originally a shop, ‘Kotuwa Kade’, before being transformed into the ‘Castle in the Dutch Fort’ by renowned Sri Lankan architect Vidyajothy Ashley De Vos.

After checking in, we’ll head out to the atmospheric old town for a delightful dinner at a restaurant set in a beautifully decorated former merchant’s home.

Overnight: The Heritage Galle Fort, Galle or Similar (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we’ll embark on a walking tour of Galle, a colonial gem and the largest fortified city built by Europeans in Asia. The city’s strategic seaport has been used by Persians, Arabs, Greeks, and others for nearly 3,000 years. Galle was once the seaport of Tarshish, linked to King Solomon’s legendary trade. The Portuguese arrived in 1502, followed by the Dutch in 1640, and finally the British in 1796, who preserved the fort as the district’s administrative centre.

During your tour, you’ll visit a centuries-old Buddhist temple, known for its exquisite woodcarving, and explore a lively farmers market, where you’ll learn about the vibrant ingredients central to Sri Lankan cuisine. Afterward, we’ll visit a Dutch-style home for a cooking demonstration, where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation of classic Sri Lankan dishes before sitting down to enjoy them. The dishes might include Ambulthiyal fish curry, lentil dhal, eggplant curry and a sweet dessert.

The afternoon and evening is free for you to relax or explore the old town at your leisure. Galle has a strong arts scene, with both local and international artists drawing inspiration from the town’s colonial charm. Wander through its streets to discover boutique shops, galleries, cafes, and vibrant artwork.

In the evening, why not head out to try some local delicacies? Egg Hoppers, a crispy bowl-shaped pancake with an egg at the bottom, Chicken Kottu Roti, and Parippu (Sri Lankan red lentil curry) are all popular dishes. You can also enjoy a glass of Ceylon Arrak, distilled from coconut sap and aged in Halmilla wood.

Overnight: The Heritage Galle Fort, Galle or Similar (B, L)

After breakfast and check out, we’ll board our private coach and drive out to a cinnamon plantation just outside Galle to discover how Sri Lanka’s world-famous Ceylon Cinnamon is farmed – Sri Lanka produces 85% of the world’s finest cinnamon. Galle District, known as ‘Cinnamon Country,’ provides the ideal conditions for this spice, with steep slopes surrounded by lush jungle.

Continuing along the coast, you’ll travel through stunning shoreline scenery, with dazzling white sand beaches and emerald hills, stopping along the way to watch the famous stilt fishermen, a symbol of Sri Lanka’s coastal culture. These skilled fishermen balance themselves on vertical poles set in the shallow waters, casting their lines to catch small fish like spotted herrings and mackerels without disturbing the marine life below.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll continue to Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s premier wildlife reserve, for two nights at Cinnamon Wild Resort, a rustic retreat located just a few kilometers from the park. The resort borders a large lake where crocodiles, pelicans, and deer coexist. You may even spot a resident tribe of grey langur monkeys, known for their playful antics (perhaps even jumping on your roof in the morning!). The hotel’s proximity to the park means wildlife such as elephants, wild boar, and even the occasional leopard might wander close by.

After checking in, take time to explore and unwind. Tonight, dinner will be at leisure. 

Overnight: Cinnamon Wild Resort, Yala National Park or Similar (B, L)

In the early hours of the morning, you’ll head out on a 4WD safari through Yala National Park, exploring open grasslands, dense forests, and serene lagoons. Your knowledgeable guide will listen for the subtle sounds of wildlife, that often go unnoticed, to ensure you have the best chance of spotting a variety of animals such as spotted deer, wild boar, the elusive sloth bear, and the more elusive leopard – Yala National Park is renowned for having the world’s densest leopard population, so keep your eyes out. 

We’ll return to the hotel in time for breakfast and then the day is yours to enjoy the resort’s facilities, including lunch. 

In the late afternoon, enjoy a shorter safari, perhaps focused on birdwatching. Yala is home to over 215 bird species, including the Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Painted Stork, and Crimson-fronted Barbet. If you’re lucky, you might also spot an Indian Star Tortoise as it basks in the sun.

After a day filled with nature, head back to the hotel for a buffet dinner, where you can unwind and recount your wildlife encounters.

Overnight: Cinnamon Wild Resort, Yala National Park or Similar (B, L, D)

This morning, after breakfast and checking out of the hotel, we’ll head north by private coach to Ella, a charming town nestled in the highlands. The views through Ella Gap are breathtaking, and on clear evenings, you can catch a glimpse of the subtle glow from the Great Basses lighthouse along Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

We’ll arrive in Ella in time for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we’ll travel by Tuk Tuk through this colourful town and visit the Demodara Nine Arch Bridge, one of the best examples of colonial-era railway engineering in the world. This iconic bridge, made of stone and cement is a viaduct connecting Ella and Demodara train stations. The rail line passes under itself, going around the loop and emerging from a tunnel, which runs directly beneath the Demodara railway station. The rail loop is approximately 900 metres long and the tunnel is 320 m in length. It is considered the only loop in the world with a railway station situated directly over a tunnel at a spiral loop.

We’ll check into our hotel in the mid afternoon where the rest of your day and evening is free.

Overnight: EKHO Ella or Similar (B, L)

After an early breakfast and checkout, we’ll transfer to the Ella Railway Station and board the Ella Odyssey First Class train to Nanu Oya. This scenic train journey is often considered one of the most beautiful in South Asia, winding through lush green tea estates, past cascading waterfalls, and through numerous tunnels. It’s a journey that has become a must-do for many visitors, offering breathtaking views at every turn.

Upon arrival at Nanu Oya, we will take a short drive to Nuwara Eliya. Nestled deep in tea plantation country at an elevation of 1,800 metres, Nuwara Eliya enjoys a cool climate, which makes it a refreshing contrast to the coastal regions. Often referred to as ‘Little England’, the town is dotted with charming red telephone boxes, Victorian-era architecture, and beautiful rose gardens—all remnants from its time as a hill retreat for the English and Scottish pioneers of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. The cool mountain air offered a perfect escape, and many indulged in pastimes like golf, cricket, polo, and even fox hunting.

After an indulgent High Tea, the rest of the day and evening is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Spend some time exploring the hotel’s magnificent gardens, take a refreshing swim in the stunning indoor pool, or enjoy a peaceful walk through the nearby Queen Victoria Park. 

Overnight: The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya or Similar (B)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll begin our day with a visit to a Sri Lankan specialty Tea Estate and Tea Factory, where you’ll be guided through the entire tea manufacturing process, from grading to packaging. You’ll have the chance to meet the tea pickers as you take a walk through the lush plantations, and finish by sampling some of the final product. James Taylor planted the first tea bushes that would lead to the commercialisation of Ceylon Tea in Nuwara Eliya in 1885. While Assam Tea was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1840, it was Taylor’s efforts in the 1860s that helped the country become the world’s 4th largest producer of tea, after China, India, and surprisingly, Kenya.

After the tour, we’ll enjoy a sit-down lunch at Nuwara Eliya Golf Club. Founded in 1889 by Scottish soldiers, the golf course is one of the oldest continually operating clubs in Asia, originally serving British servicemen and officials stationed in the area.

Following lunch, we’ll explore more colonial-era buildings, including The Hill Club, Jetwing St. Andrews, and the Nuwara Eliya Post Office. If you missed it yesterday, you’ll also have time to wander through the beautiful Queen Victoria Park.

The evening is free for you to relax and enjoy at your leisure.

Overnight: The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya or Similar (B, L)

After breakfast and checkout, we’ll transfer to the Nanuoya train station to board the first-class Udarata Menike Express train to Kandy. Enjoy a packed lunch on board as you take in the breathtaking mountain scenery along the way. 

Kandy, the last capital of the Sinhalese kingdom before falling to the British in 1815, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Sri Lankans. It is home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the holiest sites in Buddhism. The Kandyans fiercely resisted Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial forces, and after British occupation, the Kandyans were granted the preservation of their rights, customs, and religion.

This afternoon, after checking in to our hotel, you’ll visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden, home to over 4,000 plant species, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees. Following the garden tour, you’ll enjoy a scenic walk around Kandy Lake, which beautifully frames the town.

We’ll conclude the day with dinner at a local restaurant. 

Overnight: Kandy Myst, Kandy or Similar (B, L, D)

This morning, after breakfast, we’ll visit the famous Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) in Kandy. Located in the heart of the city, this is Sri Lanka’s most revered shrine, housing a tooth relic of Buddha, believed to have been taken from his funeral pyre. You may even be fortunate enough to witness a pooja, a small worship ritual involving drummers and dancers, which adds a unique spiritual atmosphere to the visit.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you are free to enjoy the afternoon at leisure. 

In the late afternoon, experience the Kandyan Cultural Dance at the Kandy Lake Club. Marvel at the impressive costumes, graceful movements, and thundering drum beats in this captivating performance that offers a unique insight into the local culture. Afterwards, you may choose to continue exploring the city at your own pace – your guide will be able to suggest somewhere for dinner, or you can take the provided transfer back to the hotel for dinner at leisure there.

Overnight: Kandy Myst, Kandy or Similar (B, L)

This morning after breakfast and checkout, we’ll journey by private coach towards Sigiriya – the iconic Lion Rock. En route, we’ll visit a spice garden in Matale, where you’ll see the wide variety of spices for which Sri Lanka is famous. Learn how they’re grown and processed while enjoying the delightful fragrances of nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom as you stroll through the garden. We’ll have time for lunch at leisure here before continuing on to Dambulla, and the magnificent Dambulla Cave Temples. 

The Dambulla Cave Temples, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla or Dambulla Rock Temple, is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caves, carved into a massive granite rock outcrop of gneiss rock, have been a sacred pilgrimage site for over 22 centuries – the temples themselves mostly date from the 1st century BCE to the 18th–19th centuries CE. While there are over 80 documented caves, only five are major temples. The largest and most impressive cave contains 56 statues, including a 15-metre reclining Buddha, and the ceiling and walls are completely covered with murals (over 2,100 square metres of painted surfaces) depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life, Jataka stories, and historical events.

In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive at our Geoffrey Bawa designed hotel set in 211 acres of protected forest with the UNESCO listed Sigiriya as your backdrop. This stunning hotel was awarded Silver at the 2025 Global Responsible Tourism Awards for Climate Adaptation and Resilience, the only Sri Lankan hotel to feature in the awards. 

After checking in you’ll have time to relax and enjoy the resort’s amenities before regrouping for dinner in the hotel restaurant. 

Overnight: Heritance Kandlama, Dambulla or Similar (B,D)

Early this morning, before the heat sets in, we’ll head to Sigiriya with a packed breakfast to visit the iconic Lion Rock, a site of both historical and archaeological importance. Rising 200 metres above the surrounding landscape, this massive granite formation was chosen by King Kashyapa (AD 477–495) as the location for his royal capital. The king built his palace on top of the rock, adorned its sides with vibrant frescoes, and created a grand entrance in the form of a colossal lion statue. After his death, the site was abandoned and used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. For those who are fit and agile, a challenging 1,200-step staircase leads to the Lion’s Paws at the top of the rock, offering panoramic views.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll return to the hotel and enjoy a leisurely afternoon before gathering for dinner. 

Overnight: Heritance Kandlama, Dambulla or Similar (B,L,D)

After breakfast and check out, we’ll board our private coach and journey to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second ancient capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally established as a military outpost, Polonnaruwa was renamed Jananathamangalam by the Chola dynasty after their invasion in the 10th century. During our tour, you’ll explore the ruins of palaces, temples, and stupas, with a highlight being the impressive 14-metre-high granite carvings of the reclining Buddha, showcasing the peak of Sinhalese rock carving.

After lunch, we’ll drive to our hotel through the Minneriya National Park – renowned for its vast grasslands, ancient reservoir, and diverse wildlife, it’s home to elephants, deer, and exotic birds, offering a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s rich natural heritage.

We’ll arrive in the mid-afternoon and the rest of the day and night is at leisure. 

Overnight: Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana or Similar (B, L)

After breakfast and check-out, we’ll visit the carved Buddha at Aukana. At an impressive 13 metres high this masterpiece of ancient Sri Lankan culture is one of the tallest and most well-preserved Buddha statues in the country. 

Next, we’ll travel in style aboard a privately chartered T1 Railcar for a 5-hour journey back to Colombo. This Deluxe Diesel T1 Railcar, manufactured by English Electric in the 1930s, was in service in Sri Lanka from 1947 to 1983 and has since been beautifully restored to offer a unique, comfortable travel experience. Enjoy lunch and refreshments on board as you relax, enjoy the scenery, read a book, or chat with fellow travellers.

Upon arrival in Colombo, we’ll transfer to a charming courtyard restaurant in a former office of architect Geoffrey Bawa for light refreshments. Afterwards, you’ll explore his former residence, Colombo Residence No. 11, a masterpiece he renovated over 40 years. Wander through the unique space, admiring Bawa’s artistic flair and sophisticated design.

Next, we’ll travel by Tuk Tuk to the Barefoot Fair Trade Store, where you’ll find vibrant handicrafts such as textiles, clothes, and toys. Founded by artist Barbara Sansoni in the 1960s, Barefoot supports local artisans and offers a chance to purchase unique items while supporting Sri Lanka’s cottage industry. 

We’ll check in to our hotel in the late afternoon where you will have time to settle in before joining your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight: Galle Face Hotel, Colombo (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast it’s time to say farewell to your fellow travellers and check out of your hotel for your departure. 

Airport departure transfers are included in your tour package. 

(B)