Day 1: Airport to Kandy
Three hours inland and uphill to the old royal capital. If the timing works, go straight to the evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
On this day
- Evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Classic trip · 8 days
Tea, Trains and a Beach Finish
Eight days in the hills, ending with your feet in the sea
At a glance
- 8 days · Classic trip
- Hill Country · Wilderness & National Parks · South Coast
- Dec–Apr
- About 17h 55m
- Mid-range per person
For travellers who would rather walk in tea country than queue at a ruin. Kandy, the high estates around Nuwara Eliya, World's End at dawn, the train down to Ella, and then a fast drop to the south coast for two nights of doing nothing.
Day by day
Driving times are door-to-door estimates for typical road conditions, not routing output. Days over five hours on the road are flagged.
Day 2: Kandy
Peradeniya's botanic gardens in the cool of the morning, then the lake circuit, the covered market and the climb to the Bahiravakanda Buddha for the view.
On this day
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Day 3: Up to the tea country
Nearly three hours of switchbacks to 1,868 metres, stopping at Ramboda Falls. An afternoon walking a working estate and following the leaf through the factory to the tasting table.
On this day
- Tea estate and working factory tour
Day 4: World's End before the cloud
A 5am start for Horton Plains and the 9 km loop across the montane grassland to a 900-metre drop, returning by Baker's Falls. Back in Nuwara Eliya by early afternoon.
On this day
- Horton Plains and World's End
Day 5: The train to Ella
Board at Nanu Oya for the best three hours of the hill-country line — Pattipola, the Idalgashinna ridge and the drop into the Uva basin. Luggage follows by road.
On this day
- The Kandy to Ella train
Day 6: Ella
Sunrise yoga on a deck over the gap, then Little Adam's Peak and the walk down to the Nine Arch Bridge. Ella Rock instead if you want the harder day.
On this day
- Sunrise yoga above the Ella gap
- Little Adam's Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge
Day 7: Elephants, then the sea
Down the escarpment to Udawalawe for a morning among wild elephants on the open grassland, then two more hours to the south coast and a room facing the water.
On this day
- Udawalawe elephant safari
Day 8: Mirissa to the airport
A swim, a long breakfast, and three hours up the expressway to the airport.
Transfers & vehicle
Tell us if you want to be met at the airport or dropped back, and which vehicle suits your group.
What’s included
Included
- Included: Private vehicle and English-speaking driver throughout
- Included: Seven nights' accommodation, including two in a tea-estate bungalow
- Included: Daily breakfast
- Included: Reserved train seats from Nanu Oya to Ella, luggage forwarded by road
- Included: Tea estate and factory tour with tasting
- Included: Horton Plains guided loop with packed breakfast
- Included: Udawalawe jeep safari
Not included
- Not included: International flights and visa
- Not included: National park and site entrance fees
- Not included: Lunches and dinners
- Not included: Drinks
- Not included: Travel insurance
- Not included: Tips
Where this trip goes
6 destinations, in route order.
Enquire about Tea, Trains and a Beach Finish
Send us your dates and party size and we will come back with availability, a firm price and anything we would change about the route for your month. It is an enquiry, not a booking — nothing is charged and nothing is committed.