Day 1· CMB Airport → Negombo
Arrival & Negombo
Meet your private driver at the airport and transfer to Negombo for an easy first evening.
Airport meet & greetNegombo beachLagoon boat ride
Stay: Negombo (1 night)
Sri Lanka · Private tour
Ceylon Grand Explorer
Fourteen days from the Cultural Triangle to the east coast reefs and the southern shore.
Duration
13 Nights / 14 Days
Stops
10 places
Group
2–8 guests
Rated
5.0 (42)
Overview
An unforgettable route across the island
The most complete island journey we run — UNESCO cave temples and rock fortresses, elephant and leopard safaris, snorkelling at Pigeon Island, the highland tea train, whales off Mirissa and colonial Galle, finishing in Colombo.
Sigiriya Lion Rock and Dambulla Cave Temple
Snorkelling at Pigeon Island Marine Sanctuary
Nanu Oya to Ella scenic train through tea country
Yala safari, whale watching and Galle Fort
Day by day
Your itinerary
14 thoughtfully paced days across Sri Lanka — and every day is yours to change.
Flexible itinerary — customise any day
Route map
Where you'll travel
- 1Day 1Colombo Airport (CMB)
- 2Day 1–2Negombo
- 3Day 2Sigiriya
- 4Day 2Habarana
- 5Day 3Sigiriya
- 6Day 3Habarana
- 7Day 4Sigiriya
- 8Day 4Trincomalee
- 9Day 4–5Nilaveli
- 10Day 5–6Trincomalee
- 11Day 6–7Kandy
- 12Day 7Nuwara Eliya
- 13Day 8–9Ella
- 14Day 9Yala
- 15Day 9Tissamaharama
- 16Day 10Yala
- 17Day 10–12Mirissa
- 18Day 12Galle
- 19Day 13Mirissa
- 20Day 13–14Galle
- 21Day 14Colombo
- 22Day 14Colombo Airport (CMB)
- 1
- 2Day 2· Negombo → Sigiriya / Habarana
Dambulla Cave Temple & Cultural Triangle
Drive into the Cultural Triangle, stopping at the golden cave temples of Dambulla.
Dambulla Cave Temple (UNESCO)Ancient Buddhist muralsSunset over the paddy fieldsStay: Sigiriya / Habarana (2 nights) - 3Day 3· Sigiriya / Habarana
Sigiriya Rock & Minneriya Safari
Early climb of Lion Rock, then an afternoon jeep safari to find the great elephant herds.
Sigiriya Lion Rock climbFrescoes & panoramic viewsMinneriya elephant jeep safariStay: Sigiriya / Habarana - 4Day 4· Sigiriya → Trincomalee
Head East to Nilaveli Beach
Cross to the east coast, with clifftop temples and Dutch fort walls before beach check-in.
Koneswaram Temple on Swami RockFort FrederickNilaveli beach check-inStay: Nilaveli / Trincomalee (2 nights) - 5Day 5· Nilaveli
Pigeon Island & Nilaveli Leisure
Morning boat out to Pigeon Island National Park, afternoon free on white sand.
Snorkelling with turtles & reef sharksCoral reef marine sanctuaryUntouched Nilaveli beachesStay: Nilaveli / Trincomalee - 6Day 6· Trincomalee → Kandy
Spice Gardens & Kandy
South into the central hills, with a spice garden stop and an evening in the sacred city.
Matale Spice GardenTemple of the Sacred Tooth RelicKandyan cultural dance showStay: Kandy (1 night) - 7Day 7· Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
Tea Country
Climb through tea estates to Little England for waterfalls, factory tours and lake air.
Ramboda FallsTea factory & plantation tastingGregory Lake strollStay: Nuwara Eliya (1 night) - 8Day 8· Nanu Oya → Ella
Scenic Train to Ella
Board the world-famous highland train through cloud forest and misty valleys.
Nanu Oya–Ella train journeyMountain tea hillsSunset walk up Little Adam's PeakStay: Ella (1 night) - 9Day 9· Ella → Yala
Discover Ella & Journey to Yala
Iconic bridge and waterfall in the morning, then descend to the southern plains.
Nine Arches BridgeRavana WaterfallArrive Yala for evening leisureStay: Yala / Tissamaharama (1 night) - 10Day 10· Yala → Mirissa
Yala Safari to Mirissa
Dawn jeep safari in leopard country, then a coastal drive to the south's favourite beach town.
Yala National Park jeep safariLeopards, sloth bears & elephantsSunset drinks on Mirissa BeachStay: Mirissa (3 nights) - 11Day 11· Mirissa
Whale Watching & Coconut Tree Hill
Out at dawn for whales, or simply stay on the sand — then golden hour on the headland.
Whale watching tour (seasonal)Coconut Tree Hill sunsetBeachside seafood grill dinnerStay: Mirissa - 12Day 12· Mirissa → Galle → Mirissa
Colonial Galle Fort
A day trip up the coast to the Dutch fort, with stilt fishermen along the way.
Weligama stilt fishermenGalle Dutch Fort (UNESCO)Lighthouse, ramparts & boutiquesStay: Mirissa - 13Day 13· Mirissa → Galle
Galle, Madu River & the South Coast
A last coastal day mixing fort streets with a mangrove boat safari on Madu Ganga.
Galle FortWeligama stilt fishermenMadu Ganga boat safari & mangrove islandsStay: Galle (1 night) - 14Day 14· Galle → Colombo → CMB Airport
Colombo Highlights & Departure
Expressway to the capital for a quick city tour and shopping before your flight.
Gangaramaya TempleIndependence Square & Dutch HospitalSouvenir shopping and airport transfer
100% customisable
Customise this tour Make this itinerary your own
This is a private tour, never a fixed group departure. Add or drop days, swap destinations, change hotel standards, add a safari or extra beach nights, slow the pace for family travel, or match everything to your flight dates. Tell us what you'd like and we rebuild the route around you — at no extra planning cost.
What's included
Everything, sorted
- 13 nights hand-picked accommodation
- Private air-conditioned vehicle & chauffeur-guide
- Daily breakfast
- Jeep safaris, boat trips & entrance fees
Not included
A few extras
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Lunches & dinners unless noted
- Personal expenses
Your vehicle
Choose from our fleet
This tour is private — pick the vehicle that fits your group, with a licensed driver guide included.
Toyota Prius
2 seater
Toyota KDH
6 seater
KDH High Roof
10 seater
Toyota Coaster
16 seater
Good to know
Ceylon Grand Explorer questions
Everything travellers ask us before booking this Sri Lanka itinerary.
How long is the Ceylon Grand Explorer tour?
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Ceylon Grand Explorer runs for 13 Nights / 14 Days (14 days) and covers Negombo, Sigiriya, Nilaveli, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala, Mirissa, Galle, Colombo. Because every departure is private, we can shorten or extend the itinerary to match your flight dates.
Is a private driver guide included?
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Yes. Every Ceylon Bound Holidays & Tours tour includes a licensed, English-speaking Sri Lankan driver guide and a private air-conditioned vehicle from our own fleet — a Toyota Prius (2 guests), KDH van (6), KDH High Roof (14) or Coaster (20).
Where does the tour start and finish?
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We start with a complimentary pick-up from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo, or from any hotel on the island, and finish with a drop-off wherever suits your onward travel.
What is the best time of year for this Sri Lanka tour?
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Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so there is always a dry coast. December to April suits the west and south coast and the cultural triangle; May to September suits the east coast and Trincomalee. The hill country on this route is pleasant year-round.
How much does the Ceylon Grand Explorer tour cost?
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From $2,490 per person, based on two travellers sharing. The final quote depends on your hotel standard, travel dates and group size — send an enquiry and we reply with a full itinerary and price within 24 hours.
Can the itinerary be customised?
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Yes. This is a private tour, not a fixed group departure. Add a Yala or Udawalawe safari, extra beach nights, a honeymoon upgrade or family-friendly pacing and we rebuild the route around you.
What is the cancellation policy?
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Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. Full details are on our cancellation policy page.
Do I need a visa to visit Sri Lanka?
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Most visitors need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before arrival. It is applied for online and is usually approved within 24–48 hours. Our Sri Lanka visa guide walks through it step by step.
Still deciding? Ask us anything about this tour or read our cancellation policy.
Ready when you are
Let's plan your Ceylon Grand Explorer
Talk to a Sri Lanka specialist — we'll tailor this itinerary to your dates, pace and interests.
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