How much does it cost?

From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group throughout. All guided tours, excursions, meals and transfers are included and scheduled.

What accommodation is provided?

Great Rail Journeys books five-star hotels: Cinnamon Life City of Dreams in Colombo, Uga Ulagalla in Anuradhapura, Earl's Regency in Kandy, Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya, DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort in Weerawila, and Cinnamon Life Bentota Beach for the final three nights.

When does the tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys has scheduled departures in October 2027, November 2027, and March 2027.

What meals are included?

Breakfast is included every day. The package also provides 3 lunches and 10 dinners. Some meals are independently taken at leisure.

Is travel insurance included?

No. Cancellation and travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Five-Star Sri Lanka: Grand Safaris & Sacred Cities

Fifteen-day escorted Sri Lanka tour combining wildlife safaris, sacred sites, tea trains, and beach

Great Rail Journeys' Five-Star Sri Lanka: Grand Safaris & Sacred Cities is a 15-day escorted tour departing London Heathrow with direct flights and returning the same way. The journey weaves through Buddhist heritage sites, jungle wildlife reserves, tea plantations, and coastal retreats, with all accommodation in five-star hotels and a UK Tour Manager at your side throughout. Days begin with guided exploration of UNESCO World Heritage cities such as Kandy, Dambulla, and Galle; two early-morning Jeep safaris hunt for leopards in Wilpattu and Yala National Parks. The centrepiece is a pair of First Class journeys on the Tea Train through mist-draped mountains and across the famous Nine Arches Bridge viaduct. Between activities, guests stay in luxury hotel bases where breakfasts are always included and 10 dinners feature both traditional Sri Lankan cuisine and restaurants such as Colombo's Ministry of Crab. The final three days are spent relaxing on Bentota Beach, with a mangrove boat excursion and unscheduled beach time built in. This tour suits luxury-seeking travellers who value comfort, guided structure, and a mix of active exploration with built-in relaxation.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £4,299.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement is GBP 2,200 (USD 2,940), approximately 49 percent of the double-room price; budget-conscious solo travellers may find this significant.
Two safaris depart before sunrise; early rising is required on Days 5 and 11.
The group size reaches up to 30 travellers, limiting the exclusivity of some shared experiences.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: In flight
Flying overnight to Sri Lanka
Your Sri Lankan holiday begins this afternoon at London Heathrow, where you meet the Tour Manager and your group ready for a direct overnight flight to Colombo.
Day 2overnight: Colombo
Welcome to coastal Colombo
As our plane touches down at Bandaranaike International Airport, a coach transfer takes us to our five-star waterfront hotel in Colombo. This afternoon is free to unwind before we travel to a nearby restaurant recreating a traditional Sri Lankan village to celebrate our first night with a buffet of local cuisine.
Day 3overnight: Colombo
Getting to know the enchanting capital
An expert guide joins us to explore Colombo, driving through the Pettah neighbourhood, past the Old Parliament Building and Galle Face Green, with a photo stop at Independence Square and a visit to the Colombo Lotus Tower for lunch. This evening we dine at the Ministry of Crab.
Day 4overnight: Anuradhapura
Driving through Sri Lanka's interior to Anuradhapura
We journey back in time to the ancient UNESCO World Heritage city of Anuradhapura, the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, checking into a five-star hotel with pool villas surrounded by more than 50 acres of nature.
Day 5overnight: Anuradhapura
Wildlife explorations in Wilpattu National Park
Heading out before sunrise, we take an early morning Jeep safari into Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka's oldest and largest, in search of sloth bears, elephants, crocodiles and the elusive leopard.
Day 6overnight: Kandy
To Kandy via Sri Lanka's Sacred Sites
We visit the UNESCO-listed Dambulla Cave Temples, the Matale Spice Garden, and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, before arriving at our five-star hotel overlooking Kandy's jungles and mountains.
Day 7overnight: Kandy
Getting to know Kandy and its Royal Botanical Garden
We visit the Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya, then take a guided walking tour of Kandy, including its market square, with lunch at the historic Queen's Hotel.
Day 8railovernight: Nuwara Eliya
Riding the scenic 'tea train' to Nanu Oya
A coach transfer takes us to the station for a journey on the 'tea train' to Nanu Oya, climbing into the central highlands past waterfalls and tea plantations in First Class seats, before transferring to our hotel near Nuwara Eliya.
Day 9overnight: Nuwara Eliya
Sri Lanka's tea heritage
We travel to Ramboda to tour a tea plantation and factory, learning about Ceylon tea production and plucking tea leaves, before an afternoon at our hotel's Grand Hotel Garden and spa.
Day 10railovernight: Weerawila
Mountain and jungle views by rail
We reboard the tea train for a journey to Demodara in First Class, crossing the Nine Arches Bridge, before a coach transfers us to our resort hotel on the shores of Weerawila Lake.
Day 11overnight: Weerawila
Spotting leopards in Yala National Park
We set out on a Jeep safari in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's most popular nature park, searching for leopards, wild boar, elephants and crocodiles with a local guide.
Day 12overnight: Bentota Beach
Towards the golden sand of the southwest coast
We travel along the south coast to the historic port city of Galle for a guided walking tour of its UNESCO-listed Portuguese and Dutch fortress, before continuing to our hotel in Bentota Beach for the final three nights.
Day 13overnight: Bentota Beach
Cruising through the mangroves of the Madu River
We transfer by coach to the Balapitiya Estuary for a boat ride on the Madu River, cruising through mangroves and past small islands, spotting monkeys, crocodiles and birdlife.
Day 14overnight: Bentota Beach
A day to relax beside the Indian Ocean
Your final day on the island is at leisure, with time to enjoy the hotel's pool complex, the beach, or a walk to Secret Island for guided meditation.
Day 15
Homeward bound
We depart our hotel with a packed breakfast and transfer by coach to Colombo's airport for our direct flight back to the UK, arriving at London Heathrow this evening.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 5Early morning Jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park searching for Sri Lankan leopards, sloth bears, and Asian elephants across 131,693 hectares.
Day 8First Class Tea Train journey from Kandy to Nanu Oya through mist-covered mountains, tunnels, bridges and cascading waterfalls in the central highlands.
Day 10First Class Tea Train crosses the Nine Arches Bridge viaduct, nearly 100 feet above the ground, en route to Demodara.
Day 11Early morning Jeep safari in Yala National Park hunting for leopards, wild boar, elephants and the crested serpent eagle and rare purple heron.
Day 13Boat excursion through mangrove tunnels on the Madu River to islands producing cinnamon, with sightings of monkeys, crocodiles and over 100 bird species.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
13 nights' 5-Star hotel accommodation
First Class rail travel
All rail, boat and coach travel throughout your tour
Direct return flights from London Heathrow to Colombo
Breakfast each day, 3 lunches, 10 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group throughout. All guided tours, excursions, meals and transfers are included and scheduled.
What accommodation is provided?: Great Rail Journeys books five-star hotels: Cinnamon Life City of Dreams in Colombo, Uga Ulagalla in Anuradhapura, Earl's Regency in Kandy, Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya, DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort in Weerawila, and Cinnamon Life Bentota Beach for the final three nights.
When does the tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys has scheduled departures in October 2027, November 2027, and March 2027.
What meals are included?: Breakfast is included every day. The package also provides 3 lunches and 10 dinners. Some meals are independently taken at leisure.
Is travel insurance included?: No. Cancellation and travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.