Island Highlights
The full story of Sri Lanka, told in ten days.
A private way through Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one of those rare places that genuinely has everything, and Island Highlights is the journey that proves it. In ten days, we take you from the ancient sky fortresses of the Cultural Triangle to the mist-wrapped tea plantations of the hill country, from a dawn safari in one of Asia's great wildlife parks to a sundowner on the ramparts of a 400-year-old Dutch fort above the Indian Ocean.
This is Sri Lanka's greatest hits, but private, unhurried, and built around the moments that matter. Your own vehicle, your own guide, your own pace. No group itineraries, no compromise. Just the island at its most rewarding, curated by people who know it intimately.
And the itinerary? It's a framework, not a timetable. Every day is yours to shape. Sleep in, linger, detour. Your guide is there to make the day whatever you want it to be.
If you've been thinking about Sri Lanka for years and want to see it properly, this is where you start.
- Length
- 10 days
- Nights
- 9
- Travel
- Private — your own guide & vehicle
What you’ll remember
- Climb the ancient sky fortress of Sigiriya at dawn, before the heat and the crowds arrive, and watch the island unfold beneath you from 200 metres of solid granite
- Stand among the ruins of Polonnaruwa, a civilisation that engineered sophisticated irrigation systems while Europe was still in the Dark Ages
- Wind through hairpin bends into the hill country as the air turns cool and the world turns green, tea plantations rolling to every horizon
- Ride the most scenic railway in Asia, a slow train through the clouds from the hill country toward the south, past waterfalls, jungle, and villages that feel untouched by time
- Track leopards at dawn in Yala, home to the world's highest density of wild leopards per square kilometre
- Walk the coral-stone ramparts of Galle Fort as the Indian Ocean turns gold at dusk, a UNESCO World Heritage site that feels like a living museum
- Spend a final afternoon on the south coast, where the beaches are quiet, the water is warm, and the only decision is whether to swim before or after lunch
Where this takes you
The island, in order
The order and pace are a starting point — we’ll shape the exact route with you on your planning call.
The route, step by step
- Day 01
Day 1. Arrival & the West Coast
Land in Colombo where your private guide is waiting, then a short transfer to a coastal property in Negombo for a gentle first night by the Indian Ocean.
- Day 02
Day 2. Into the Cultural Triangle
Head inland to the ancient kingdoms of the north-central plains, visiting a working elephant sanctuary en route, arriving in the Cultural Triangle by late afternoon.
- Day 03
Day 3. Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa
Early climb of the Sigiriya rock fortress, frescoes, mirror wall, water gardens, followed by an afternoon at Polonnaruwa, the second ancient capital with some of Asia's finest Buddhist sculpture.
- Day 04
Day 4. Dambulla & the Road to Kandy
Morning at the Dambulla cave temples (150 Buddha statues, 2,000 sqm of painted ceiling), then drive south to Kandy for an evening visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic and optional Kandyan dance performance.
- Day 05
Day 5. Into the Hill Country
Drive from Kandy into the hill country tea plantations, visit a working tea factory, and arrive in Nuwara Eliya, the town the British built to remind themselves of home.
- Day 06
Day 6. Ella & the Train
Ride the famous hill country train through the clouds past waterfalls and viaducts to Ella, with the Ella Gap dropping nearly a thousand metres below, arriving in the south by late afternoon.
- Day 07
Day 7. Yala Safari
Pre-dawn safari in Yala National Park, leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, with an optional second afternoon game drive.
- Day 08
Day 8. The South Coast & Galle Fort
Drive west along the south coast to Galle Fort. Portuguese foundations, Dutch architecture, galleries and restaurants, walking the ramparts as the light changes.
- Day 09
Day 9. The South Coast
A free day on the south coast: beach, pool, optional massage or seasonal whale watching at Mirissa.
- Day 10
Day 10. Return & Departure
The drive back to Colombo airport, timed around your flight.
What’s included
Included
- A private driver-guide for your whole journey
- Private air-conditioned vehicle & fuel
- All accommodation, to your chosen tier
- Daily breakfast
- Every airport and internal transfer
- Entrance fees for the sights on your itinerary
- Bottled water on the road
- A real person on call, around the clock
Not included
- International flights
- Sri Lanka visa (ETA)
- Travel insurance
- Lunches & dinners, unless noted
- Personal spending & gratuities
- Optional and add-on activities
Your tailored quote confirms exactly what’s included — ask us to fold anything on the right into your trip.
Who this journey suits
First-time visitors to Sri Lanka · couples · milestone and anniversary trips · travellers who want breadth with depth
Island Highlights
From NZD $3,930pp, land only. Tell us your dates and we’ll shape the trip around you.