When planning your holiday in Sri Lanka, you could choose to hub in one or two popular cities such as Colombo in the Western Province and Kandy in the hill country. From here, you can explore the rest of the country by way of day tours. Also, if you are in Sri Lanka on a business visit or a family wedding maybe, and you have limited time in your hands, day tours are a great way to explore selected tourist destinations that you are interested in.
Wildlife
- Yala Jeep Safari
- Udawalawe Jeep Safari
Wildlife in Sri Lanka is one of the main tourist attractions. To visit popular National Parks and get a glimpse of the leopard population and other unique wild animals in South East Asia, you would have to begin your day tour at about 6.30a.m from Colombo. You would reach Yala or Udawalawe by about noon, leaving a good half day to spend in the jungle, enjoying your jeep safari. Departing at sunset would bring you back to Colombo late at night.
Greenery
- Little England
Greenery is at its best in the hill countryside of Sri Lanka. For exploring the hill country, Kandy would be a good location to base yourself. The 2-3 hour drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, also known as “Little England” will take you through exceptionally beautiful views of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations.
Adventure
- Kitulgala white water rafting
From Colombo, Kitulgala is about two and a half hours drive and is a good option for an adventure kind of day outing. Have a good breakfast and depart at about 8.00 a.m. Upon reaching Kitulgala, your tour agency will stop at a partnered rafting service provider who will brief you in on the Do’s and Don’ts. Your package includes the rafting experience, the equipment needed and also a delicious authentic Sri Lankan lunch meal at the end of your adventure. You can return to Colombo by about 8.00p.m latest.
History & Culture
- Tour of Kandy
- Sigiriya and Dambulla
- Galle
An abundance of history and culture prevails in these cities. While Sigiriya and Dambulla are closer from Kandy, Galle is easier to access from Colombo.
A day tour of Kandy entails a visit to the popular Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic where you can learn about the traditions of Buddhism. In Sigiriya, there is the Lion’s Rock, a palace built at the top of a rock by an ancient Sri Lankan King. By climbing the carefully laid out stairway on the Sigiriya Rock, everyone can access the top and visit the fortress as well as indulge in the breathtaking view. Dambulla is very close to Sigiriya and here you have to visit the Cave Temples, the best preserved of its kind. Galle, located in the southern coast, boasts of beautiful beaches and a rich Dutch atmosphere. The Galle Fort is the main attraction here, along with the museum as well as other religious places of worship.
Beaches
- Negombo
- Hikkaduwa
- Unawatuna
For day tours in Sri Lanka, the best and most accessible beaches are on the western and south western coastline. It is best to base yourself in Colombo to visit these beaches easily during day tours. Negombo is about a couple of hours up north along the western coastline from Colombo, while Hikkaduwa (one hour) and Unawatuna (two hours) are located south from Colombo along the coastline. These beaches boast golden sands, a challenging swim trying to beat the waves, and unmatchable views of the sunset. Water sports such as jet skiing, wind surfing, banana boat rides and so on are available at each of these beach destinations.