Short Excursions
Excursion Tours
A compact 6-day Sri Lanka tour covering Pinnawala's elephants, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, Galle Fort and the Bentota coast, ideal for shorter stays.
Overview
About this tour
This compact 6-day Sri Lanka tour is built for shorter stays, covering Pinnawala's elephants, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, Galle Fort and a beach finish at Bentota without cutting corners on any of them. It runs on a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide, so the pace stays comfortable even on a tight schedule.
Tour highlights
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Kandy's Temple of the Tooth Relic and folk dance show
- Galle Fort walking tour
- Moonstone mines and mask museum near Ambalangoda
- Madu River island hopping
- Bentota beach finish
Day by day
Your itinerary
- Day01
Airport / Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage / Kandy
Pick up from Colombo Airport and depart for Dambulla, visiting Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage en route (74km from the airport). Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage: gates open 8.30am on a 25-acre property, home to about 90 elephants since 1975; daily bottle feeding at 9.15/13.15/17.00 and river bathing at 10.00 & 14.00. Overnight stay at Kandy.
Pinnawala Elephant OrphanageKandyElephant Bottle FeedingElephant River BathingElephant Orphanage Visit - Day02
Kandy
After breakfast, explore the last kingdom of Ceylon. Kandy Tooth Temple: home to the sacred left canine relic of the Buddha, an easy 2-hour visit. Folk Show: an hour of 12 traditional dances and a fire-walking ceremony. Overnight stay at Kandy.
KandyTraditional Folk ShowFire-Walking CeremonyTemple of the Tooth - Day03
Kandy / Galle
After breakfast depart for Galle. Galle Fort: built in the 17th century, one of the best-preserved forts in South Asia, with colonial villas, the Dutch Reformed Church, a museum and the Clock Tower. Overnight stay at Galle.
KandyGalleFort Exploration - Day04
Galle / Bentota
Breakfast then depart for Bentota. Moonstone Mines: near Ambalangoda in Meetiyagoda, the country's only concentrated moonstone deposit, with narrow mining shafts open to visitors. Ambalangoda Mask Museum: traditional hand-carved masks tracing centuries of craft and cultural significance. Island Hopping on the Madu River: a lagoon of hundreds of islets in southwest Balapitiya, with an old Buddhist monastery and local cinnamon cultivation and prawn fishing. Turtle Hatchery: begun in 1988, incubating purchased turtle eggs for roughly 50 days before releasing hatchlings to the sea at night. Overnight stay at Bentota.
GalleBentotaMoonstone Mine VisitMask Museum VisitTurtle Hatchery Visit - Day05
Bentota / Negombo
After breakfast depart for Negombo, a small fishing town near the airport known for its traditional catamarans, a Dutch-era fort and canal from the late 16th century. Overnight stay at Negombo.
BentotaNegomboTraditional Catamaran FishingFort Exploration - Day06
Negombo / Airport
Depart to Colombo Airport with delightful memories.
Negombo
Good to know
What’s included
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for the full itinerary
- English-speaking chauffeur guide
- Fuel, parking and highway toll charges
- Driver accommodation and meals
- Daily breakfast at listed hotels
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Entrance tickets to sites and national parks
- Lunches and dinners unless noted
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Questions
About this tour
Is 6 days enough to see Sri Lanka's highlights?
Six days covers the Cultural Triangle gateway, Kandy and the south coast well; it is a highlights tour rather than a comprehensive one, so it suits shorter stopovers or add-on trips.
Can this itinerary be extended?
Yes, extra nights are easiest to add at Kandy or on the south coast if your schedule allows.
Is this a private tour?
Yes, it runs on a private vehicle and chauffeur guide, not a shared group departure.
What is the daily driving time like?
Driving days are kept under three hours where possible, since the route stays within the south-west quadrant of the island.
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Ready to make this trip yours?
We will adjust the route, hotels and pace to suit you. No obligation.
