How much does it cost?

From £2,899 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,916 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?

Escorted. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from London Heathrow to the end of the tour, managing all logistics and leading guided tours.

Which hotels are used?

The Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo (five-star), Habarana Village by Cinnamon, Cinnamon Citadel in Kandy, The Golden Ridge Hotel in Nuwara Eliya, Chaarya Hotel in Tissamaharama, and Cinnamon Bey Hotel in Beruwala (five-star).

When does this tour run?

Great Rail Journeys schedules departures in October, November, January, February and March. Seven departures are currently available between October 2026 and November 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of Sri Lanka

15-day Sri Lanka escorted tour from Colombo to coastal towns via rail and coach

Great Rail Journeys operates this 15-day small-group escorted tour of Sri Lanka, beginning with an overnight flight from London Heathrow to Colombo and ending with a return flight from the same airport. The itinerary balances ancient cultural sites, wildlife safaris, hill-country rail journeys, and coastal relaxation. From Colombo you travel inland through the UNESCO-listed temples of Dambulla and Sigiriya (a 5th-century fortress on a granite rock), then take the Tea Train through central highlands to Nuwara Eliya, where you visit a working tea plantation to pick leaves and taste Ceylon tea. The scenic Hill Country Train carries you to Demodara, crossing the Nine Arches Bridge with views of waterfalls and misty mountains. Next comes Yala National Park for two Jeep safaris hunting leopards, elephants and over 200 bird species. The tour finishes with coastal time: a walking tour of colonial Galle Fort and three days free in Beruwala beside the Indian Ocean, including an evening at the Colombo Lotus Tower for dinner with 360-degree city views. Accommodation is four and five-star throughout, and a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group every day.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,899.

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

Some lunches are independent (free for your choice of restaurant); on eight days lunch is not specified as included.
Three consecutive days in Beruwala (days 12-13) are free time; optional excursions such as whale-watching and turtle hatchery visits are payable locally.
The group size reaches 22 people, a mid-sized escorted group.

Day by day

Day 1
Overnight flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka
Your holiday begins at London Heathrow, where you meet the Tour Manager ready for a direct overnight flight to Colombo.
Day 2overnight: Colombo
Welcome to historic Colombo
Touching down at Bandaranaike International Airport, we are transferred to our five-star hotel on Beira Lake in Colombo. This evening we enjoy a buffet of authentic local cuisine at a restaurant recreating a traditional Sri Lankan village.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3overnight: Habarana
Uncovering Sri Lanka's capital
A guided sightseeing tour of Colombo including the Colombo National Museum, the Gangaramaya Temple and Independence Square. In the afternoon we travel into the 'Cultural Triangle' to Habarana.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Habarana
Sigiriya's ancient Lion Rock Fortress
We visit the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya fortress, with the option to climb to the summit, then transfer to Polonnaruwa to explore the archaeological remains of the ancient capital.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Kandy
The sacred cave temples of Dambulla
A coach journey to Kandy stopping at the UNESCO-listed Dambulla Cave Temples, home to over 150 Buddha statues and murals, before checking in to our hotel overlooking the Mahaweli River.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Kandy
Kandy and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth
A guided tour of Kandy including the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the city market, and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7railovernight: Nuwara Eliya
The charming 'tea train' to Nanu Oya
A scenic train journey from Peradeniya railway station into the central highlands, arriving in Nanu Oya and transferring to our hotel near Nuwara Eliya, 'Little England'.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8overnight: Nuwara Eliya
Tea-picking and tasting at a working plantation
A visit to a tea plantation and factory in Ramboda, including hands-on tea-leaf picking and a tasting, followed by a luxurious high tea back at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9railovernight: Tissamaharama
Demodara by scenic rail and on to Tissamaharama
A scenic train journey through the hill country to Demodara, crossing the iconic Nine Arches Bridge, then by coach to Tissamaharama, home to an ancient Buddhist stupa.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10overnight: Tissamaharama
Looking for leopards at Yala National Park
A sunrise Jeep safari and a second afternoon safari in Yala National Park, searching for leopards, elephants, wild boar, crocodiles and other wildlife.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11overnight: Beruwala
Along the coast to the colonial town of Galle
A journey along the south coast to the historic port city of Galle for a guided walking tour of Galle Fort, then on to Beruwala for a five-night hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12overnight: Beruwala
Unwinding by the Indian Ocean
A day at leisure in Beruwala, with the option of the beach, the wellness centre, or exploring the nearby town of Aluthgama.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13overnight: Beruwala
Free time in tropical Beruwala
A free day with optional excursions available locally, such as whale-watching from Mirissa Harbour or a turtle hatchery visit combined with a Madu River boat ride.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14overnight: Colombo
Return to Colombo for dinner with a view
We return to our original hotel in Colombo with free time to explore, including the Pettah Floating Market, before dinner at a revolving restaurant atop the Colombo Lotus Tower.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15
Homeward bound
We transfer to the airport for our direct flight back to the UK, arriving at London Heathrow this evening.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Climb or explore the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya fortress, a 5th-century royal palace rising 600 feet from the jungle.
Day 7Board the Tea Train from Peradeniya, climbing through central highlands with views of lush tea plantations, forests and cascading waterfalls.
Day 9Journey by scenic rail to Demodara, passing the Nine Arches Bridge, a curved viaduct standing nearly 100 feet tall near Ella.
Day 10Rise before dawn for two Jeep safaris in Yala National Park, home to the largest concentration of leopards in Asia, plus elephants, crocodiles and over 200 bird species.
Day 11Walk through Galle Fort's narrow lanes lined with Portuguese and Dutch colonial architecture, with ocean views and centuries-old streets.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
13 nights’ 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
First Class rail travel - all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Direct return flights from London Heathrow to Colombo; regional departures available
Breakfast and dinner each day, 4 lunches
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
Small Group: average group size of 22, enhanced excursions and exclusive experiences
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 £2,899 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,916 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?: Escorted. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from London Heathrow to the end of the tour, managing all logistics and leading guided tours.
Which hotels are used?: The Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo (five-star), Habarana Village by Cinnamon, Cinnamon Citadel in Kandy, The Golden Ridge Hotel in Nuwara Eliya, Chaarya Hotel in Tissamaharama, and Cinnamon Bey Hotel in Beruwala (five-star).
When does this tour run?: Great Rail Journeys schedules departures in October, November, January, February and March. Seven departures are currently available between October 2026 and November 2027.