10 Day Sri Lanka Tour Package from Australia

After clearing immigration and collecting your bags, our representative will be waiting in the arrivals hall with a name board. They'll introduce you to your private English speaking chauffeur guide, who will drive you a short 20 minutes to your hotel in the beachside town of Negombo.

After the long flight from Australia, the rest of the day is yours to unwind by the pool or the ocean.

Head north to the Dambulla Cave Temple, built by King Walagambahu in the 1st century BC. Its five caves hold over 150 Buddha images, including a 14 metre reclining Buddha carved from the rock, and more than 2,000 square metres of painted walls and ceilings.

In the late afternoon, climb aboard your private jeep for a 3 hour safari in Minneriya National Park, a dry season feeding ground for the elephant herds of the surrounding forests.

Beat the heat with an early climb of Sigiriya Rock Fortress, King Kashyapa's 5th century citadel rising 200 metres above the jungle. See the water gardens, the giant lion paws and the famous "Heavenly Maidens" frescoes on the way up.

In the afternoon explore Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's capital from the 11th to 13th centuries, including the Vatadage and the four magnificent Buddha statues of Gal Vihara. In the evening, learn to cook a traditional rice and curry with a local family.

Stop at a spice garden in Matale to see how cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and other Sri Lankan spices are grown and processed. Enjoy a cooking demonstration, a short head and shoulder oil massage and a traditional rice and curry lunch.

Continue to Kandy, the last royal capital and home of the annual Perahera. In the evening, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist shrine and a World Heritage Site.

Drive up into the highlands and visit a working tea factory to see how freshly plucked leaves become world famous Ceylon tea, with a tasting of course.

From Nanu Oya station, board one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. For around four hours the line winds through tunnels, mountains and endless tea estates to Ella, while your driver meets you at the other end.

A relaxed day in Ella. In the morning visit the Nine Arch Bridge, the "Bridge in the Sky" completed in 1919 and one of the finest examples of colonial era railway engineering in Sri Lanka.

In the afternoon, take the easy 45 minute walk up Little Adam's Peak (1,141 m) through tea plantations for sweeping views over the Ella Gap. Evenings in Ella are perfect for cafe hopping in the village.

Leave the hills behind and drive south to Yala, Sri Lanka's most famous national park, hugging the Indian Ocean in the south east. A wildlife sanctuary since 1900, Yala is home to 44 mammal species and 215 bird species.

Head out in your private jeep with a park tracker in search of leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and peacocks.

Follow the coast west to Galle, Sri Lanka's most historic town. Inside the 90 acre Dutch Fort, a World Heritage Site, you'll find cobbled lanes, boutique shops, cafes, the lighthouse and traditional lace makers and wood carvers.

Walk the ramparts in the late afternoon for one of the best sunsets on the island.

A well earned day to yourself. Swim, snorkel, laze on the beaches near Galle, or wander back into the Fort for shopping and a long lunch.

Want to make more of it? Ask us about optional extras along the south coast when you enquire.

After breakfast, your guide drives you along the Southern Expressway to Bandaranaike International Airport, timed to your flight back to Australia.

Leave with full memory cards, a suitcase of tea and spices, and plans to come back.