Signature: Sri Lanka’s Highlands, Yala & Galle

  • thumbnail image_signaturesrilankashighlandsyalagalle
  • thumbnail map_signaturesrilankashighlandsyalagalle

Duration: 11 days

Begins: Colombo

Ends: Galle

Trip Code: ASCGNS

From

£6,199 per person

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    Uncover the soul of Sri Lanka as you glide from mist-shrouded tea plantations to the wild, untamed savannah. Explore ancient cave temples, track magnificent wildlife alongside local rangers, and board a private yacht with a marine researcher. Guided by experts, immerse yourself in vibrant communities keeping timeless traditions alive.
    Is this tour for me?
    Travel Style
    National Geographic Signature
    Exceptional exploration led by renowned experts, offering rare, private access to the world’s most storied sites — all defined by an unparalleled level of service and comfort.
    Service Level
    Luxury
    Five-star hospitality and meticulously curated inclusions, featuring iconic properties, fine dining, and private door-to-door service.
    Physical Rating
    3 - Average
    Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.
    Trip Type
    Small Group
    Age requirement
    12+
    All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
    What's Included
    • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Colombo
    • Signature Moment: Artisanal Tea Immersion, Nuwara Eliya
    • Signature Moment: Marine Conservation Cruise, Weligama
    • Arrival transfer
    • Colombo heritage experience
    • Colonial Colombo vintage car drive
    • Dambulla Cave Temple visit
    • Sigiriya Rock Fortress exploration
    • Polonnaruwa UNESCO ruins exploration by Tuk Tuk
    • Temple of the Sacred Tooth visit with puja ceremony
    • Scenic first-class train journey through Sri Lanka’s Hill Country from Ambewela to Ella
    • Private Yala National Park safaris with local rangers
    • Private cinnamon estate visit with cinnamon harvest demonstration and lunch
    • Galle Fort walking tour with historian insights
    • Candlelit temple blessing at Yatagala Temple
    • Tips are included for all activities, meals and porterage, except for your Expedition Leader
    • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
    • All internal flights
    • Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expedition Expert Throughout
    • Porterage at hotels and when getting on and off of vehicles

    Allow USD55-75 for meals not included.

    Day 1 : Colombo

    Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your expedition begins in Colombo, a coastal capital where warm tropical breezes mingle with the scent of the Indian Ocean. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Rest and recharge tonight, letting the ambient sounds of the city soothe you as you prepare for the captivating historical and cultural treasures that will unfold across the island in the days ahead.

    Arrival Transfer

    Bandaranaike International Airport - Colombo

    You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

    Day 2 : Colombo

    The morning comes alive as you gather for a welcome meeting with your National Geographic Expedition Leader, followed by insights from your National Geographic Expedition Expert. Next, dive into the sensory swirl of the capital. Board a motorized tuk tuk to rumble past colonial landmarks, vibrant markets, and the historic streets of Colombo Fort and Pettah beside a local historian. Inhale the aroma of toasted spices during a heritage lunch at the Dutch Hospital precinct. The afternoon brings a nostalgic spin through the city in beautifully restored vintage cars. Conclude the day watching the sky turn amber during sunset drinks overlooking the crashing ocean waves before your welcome dinner.

    Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group

    Colombo

    Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

    Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

    Discover Historic Colombo

    Colombo

    Explore Colombo by tuk tuk and on foot through the historic Fort and Pettah districts with a local historian. Discover colonial landmarks and bustling markets before enjoying a traditional Sri Lankan lunch at the iconic Dutch Hospital.

    Explore Colombo by tuk tuk and on foot through the historic Fort and Pettah districts with a local historian. Discover colonial landmarks and bustling markets before enjoying a traditional Sri Lankan lunch at the iconic Dutch Hospital.

    Vintage Colombo City Tour

    Colombo

    Explore Colombo in beautifully restored vintage cars, stopping at two iconic landmarks as your local guide shares stories of the city's colonial heritage, culture, and history.

    Explore Colombo in beautifully restored vintage cars, stopping at two iconic landmarks as your local guide shares stories of the city's colonial heritage, culture, and history.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 3 : Colombo/Kandalama

    Leave the coast behind and head into the emerald heart of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. Watch the urban bustle seamlessly dissolve into a canvas of rural countryside and swaying palms. En route, ascend a dramatic rock outcrop to reach the ancient Dambulla Cave Temple. Step into the cool, silent cavern shrines to marvel at centuries-old Buddha statues and intricate murals illuminated by soft light. After soaking in sweeping views of the plains, pause for a relaxed lunch at a tranquil lakeside restaurant. Arrive at your lodge nestled deep in the natural surroundings of Kandalama. Take the afternoon to unwind at leisure before gathering for a dinner overlooking the mirror-like lake.

    Private Vehicle

    Colombo - Dambulla 3h30m - 3h30m

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Dambulla Cave Temple Visit

    Sigiriya 1h - 1h30m

    Visit the ancient Dambulla cave temples at one of the most well-preserved temple and cave sites in Sri Lanka. See Buddhist mural paintings that line the walls of the seventh-century caves as well as a collection of hundreds of statues of Buddha in different poses.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 4 : Kandalama

    Greet the dawn with a choice, each offering a distinct perspective on this ancient wonder: ascend the sheer vertical walls of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress to marvel at ancient frescoes and summit views from above, or capture the immense scale of the dramatic citadel from below via a guided scenic drive. Mid-morning, connect with a vibrant community initiative at a women-led reed weaving project. Listen to the rhythmic rustle of natural materials as local artisans demonstrate their craft, sharing light refreshments and stories of empowerment. After an authentic Sri Lankan lunch, the low hum of a tuk tuk carries you through the ruins of Polonnaruwa. Explore UNESCO-listed temples and royal palaces as historical tales bring the stone to life, before returning to the resort to relax before dinner.

    Sigiriya Rock Fortress Experience

    Sigiriya

    Choose between two ways to experience the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress: climb to the summit for breathtaking views and a closer look at the ancient royal citadel, or enjoy a scenic guided visit around the base without the climb. Both groups reunite afterward before continuing together to a G for Good project.

    Choose between two ways to experience the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress: climb to the summit for breathtaking views and a closer look at the ancient royal citadel, or enjoy a scenic guided visit around the base without the climb. Both groups reunite afterward before continuing together to the G for Good project.

    Polonnaruwa by Tuk Tuk

    Polonnaruwa

    Explore the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Polonnaruwa by tuk tuk, visiting impressive royal palaces, temples, and iconic statues of the Lord Buddha. Discover the rich history, Buddhist heritage, and remarkable engineering of Sri Lanka's medieval capital.

    Explore the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Polonnaruwa by tuk tuk, visiting impressive royal palaces, temples, and iconic statues of the Lord Buddha. Discover the rich history, Buddhist heritage, and remarkable engineering of Sri Lanka's medieval capital.

    Weaving Ancient Heritage

    Sigiriya

    Visit a women-led reed weaving project in a local village to learn about traditional craftsmanship and the role it plays in supporting local livelihoods. Meet the artisans, try your hand at weaving, and enjoy homemade Sri Lankan sweets and herbal tea.

    Visit a women-led reed weaving project in a local village to learn about traditional craftsmanship and the role it plays in supporting local livelihoods. Meet the artisans, try your hand at weaving, and enjoy homemade Sri Lankan sweets and herbal tea.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 5 : Kandalama/Nuwara Eliya

    Watch the lowlands dissolve into mist-shrouded peaks as you ascend into the lush highlands of Kandy. Arrive at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, where the air is thick with the scent of jasmine and burning incense. Witness the atmospheric puja ceremony, letting the rhythmic throb of traditional drums and low chanting anchor you in this deeply spiritual space. Afterward, enjoy a home-style lunch at a women-led social enterprise, a G Adventures-supported project, while connecting with local artisans. Continue your drive deeper into the mountains, where neat rows of emerald tea bushes carpet the hillsides like velvet. Arrive in Nuwara Eliya, a cool highland retreat wrapped in crisp mountain air and timeless charm.

    Private Vehicle

    Kandalama - Kandy 3h - 3h

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Temple of the Sacred Tooth Tour

    Kandy 1h - 1h36m

    Enjoy a tour of the Temple of the Tooth, which houses an important relic – a tooth of Lord Buddha kept in a well-preserved golden casket. Learn about the importance of this site from local guides.

    Enjoy a tour of the Temple of the Tooth, which houses an important relic – a tooth of Lord Buddha kept in a well-preserved golden casket. Learn about the importance of this site from local guides.

    Social Enterprise Lunch

    Kandy

    Stop for a delicious traditional Sri Lankan lunch prepared by Sthree Craft Shop and Café. This social enterprise offers opportunities for local women and youth living with disabilities, through handicraft and hospitality training.

    Stop for a delicious traditional Sri Lankan lunch prepared by Sthree Craft Shop and Café. This social enterprise offers opportunities for local women and youth living with disabilities, through handicraft and hospitality training.

    Private Vehicle

    Kandy - Nuwara Eliya 3h30m 75km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 6 : Nuwara Eliya

    Step into the dew-kissed fields of a historic tea estate, welcomed by a plantation specialist. Inhale the earthy fragrance of the highlands as you learn traditional plucking techniques, working alongside local workers to harvest the bright green leaves. Follow the harvest inside the factory, watching the processing from withering to grading, and learn how the global auction system functions. Next, participate in a curated tasting led by a tea expert, identifying subtle flavor profiles before enjoying a freshly brewed cup. Return to the hotel for a lunch overlooking the rolling estate and an elegant high tea.

    Artisanal Tea Immersion

    Nuwara Eliya

    Enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience at Pedro Tea Estate, where a tea specialist guides you through the journey of world-renowned Ceylon tea. Stroll through the tea fields, try traditional tea plucking, explore the historic factory, and conclude with a private tea tasting featuring premium estate-grown teas, served with freshly baked cake.

    Enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience at Pedro Tea Estate, where a tea specialist guides you through the journey of world-renowned Ceylon tea. Stroll through the tea fields, try traditional tea plucking, explore the historic factory, and conclude with a private tea tasting featuring premium estate-grown teas, served with freshly baked cake.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 7 : Nuwara Eliya/Yala National Park

    The whistle blows as you settle into your seats, watching the rugged peaks begin to roll past the window. Travel into a landscape of pure cinema. Peer out the window as the locomotive snakes past cascading waterfalls, deep gorges, and dramatic stone viaducts, cutting through rolling green hills wrapped in mountain mist. Disembark in the mountain town of Ella for a local lunch, then watch the scenery transform dramatically as you descend into the sun-drenched southern lowlands. Arrive at the edge of the wild savannah of Yala, checking into your lodge as the calls of the wild echo through the dry scrub and twilight settles over the wilderness.

    Private Vehicle

    Nuwara Eliya - Ambewela 1h30m - 1h30m

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Scenic Hill Country Train Journey

    Ambewela - Ella

    Travel through Sri Lanka's breathtaking Hill Country aboard one of the world's most scenic rail journeys, with reserved first-class seating. Admire sweeping tea plantations, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, and dramatic mountain landscapes during this unforgettable ride.

    Travel through Sri Lanka's breathtaking Hill Country aboard one of the world's most scenic rail journeys, with reserved first-class seating. Admire sweeping tea plantations, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, and dramatic mountain landscapes during this unforgettable ride.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 8 : Yala National Park

    Set out in the crisp pre-dawn light in an open-air safari vehicle, entering Yala National Park as the wild awakens. Scan the golden grasses and gnarled trees as park rangers track wildlife, offering deep insights into elephant behavior and ecosystem pressures. Return to the lodge for breakfast, followed by a private presentation on elephant conservation led by an active researcher. In the afternoon, head back into the bush for a second safari, observing how the changing light shifts animal movements around the watering holes. As evening falls, toast the day's discoveries with sundowners overlooking the wild landscape, followed by a dinner celebrating local flavors.

    Yala Wildlife Safari

    Yala National Park

    Experience morning and afternoon safaris through Yala National Park with a local ranger. Explore the park by off-road vehicle in search of Sri Lanka’s remarkable wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and the elusive leopard, with lunch included between safari drives.

    Experience morning and afternoon safaris through Yala National Park with a local ranger. Explore the park by off-road vehicle in search of Sri Lanka’s remarkable wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and the elusive leopard, with lunch included between safari drives.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 9 : Yala National Park/Galle

    One final morning safari offers a chance to catch the park's predators and birdlife active in the cool dawn air. After breakfast, swap your safari vehicle for a tuk tuk, rumbling along coastal lanes to a fragrant cinnamon estate. Watch a harvesting demonstration, learning the intricate art of peeling the bark, before enjoying a private lunch infused with local spices. Continue along the coast to the historic trading port of Galle. In the late afternoon, join your Expedition Leader for a walking tour of the massive Galle Fort. Walk the stone ramparts past the lighthouse and historic churches, before choosing to stay in the fort for dinner or returning to the hotel.

    Yala Wildlife Morning Safari

    Yala National Park

    Set out on a privately guided morning safari through Yala National Park with a local ranger. Travel in off-road safari vehicles in search of Sri Lanka's incredible wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and the elusive leopard.

    Set out on a privately guided morning safari through Yala National Park with a local ranger. Travel in off-road safari vehicles in search of Sri Lanka's incredible wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and the elusive leopard.

    Cinnamon Estate Experience

    Galle

    Travel by tuk tuk to a private cinnamon estate for an immersive experience celebrating Sri Lanka’s renowned spice heritage. Enjoy a traditional estate lunch and a demonstration showcasing the art of cinnamon harvesting.

    Travel by tuk tuk to a private cinnamon estate for an immersive experience celebrating Sri Lanka’s renowned spice heritage. Enjoy a traditional estate lunch and a demonstration showcasing the art of cinnamon harvesting.

    Galle Fort Walking Tour

    Galle

    Explore the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort on a guided walking tour through its historic streets, colonial landmarks, and centuries-old trading heritage. Discover highlights including the Lighthouse, Clock Tower, Dutch Hospital, and key religious sites while learning about ongoing conservation efforts. Guests can continue exploring Galle Fort at leisure afterward or return to the hotel.

    Explore the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort on a guided walking tour through its historic streets, colonial landmarks, and centuries-old trading heritage. Discover highlights including the Lighthouse, Clock Tower, Dutch Hospital, and key religious sites while learning about ongoing conservation efforts. Guests can continue exploring Galle Fort at leisure afterward or return to the hotel.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 10 : Galle

    Wake early for fresh pastries and coffee before transferring to the harbor. Board a private yacht for an exceptional ocean cruise alongside a Marine Biologist and National Geographic Explorer. Inhale the salty sea spray and enjoy breakfast and lunch on board while contributing to marine conservation fieldwork, scanning the deep blue waves for marine life. Return to shore for a free afternoon to wander Galle's cobblestone lanes. At dusk, visit a serene hillside temple to participate in a moving, candlelit blessing experience. Conclude the expedition with a festive farewell dinner.

    Candlelight Blessing at Yatagala Temple

    Galle

    Visit Yatagala Temple for a serene candlelit blessing ceremony featuring traditional chants, offerings to local monks, and the symbolic pirit string ritual.

    Visit Yatagala Temple for a serene candlelit blessing ceremony featuring traditional chants, offerings to local monks, and the symbolic pirit string ritual.

    Marine Conservation Cruise

    Weligama

    Set sail aboard the Ceycat yacht for a private ocean experience featuring expert insights from a marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer. Learn about marine conservation efforts, the local ecosystem, and ongoing research projects while enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard. Please note: the featured marine biologist may vary based on availability and may not always be a National Geographic Explorer.

    Set sail aboard the Ceycat yacht for a private ocean experience featuring expert insights from a marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer. Learn about marine conservation efforts, the local ecosystem, and ongoing research projects while enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard. Please note: the featured marine biologist may vary based on availability and may not always be a National Geographic Explorer.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 11 : Galle

    Your expedition to Sri Lanka concludes today. Take advantage of a provided day room to refresh and pack at your leisure, depending on your flight schedule.Transfers are provided to the airport at any time during the day.

    Departure Transfer

    Galle - Bandaranaike International Airport

    You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

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