Two-Day Sri Lanka Tour: Ella, Sigiriya and Elephants at Pinnawala
Guest reviews
100+
Guide
Rus
Format
Group
Two days among mountains, waterfalls and tea plantations in Sri Lanka: Ella, Little Adam’s Peak, Nine Arch Bridge, Sigiriya and meeting elephants at Pinnawala.
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“Ella, Sigiriya and Elephants in Pinnawala”
Key route locations:
- Ella
- Ravana Falls
- Little Adam's Peak
- Nine Arch Bridge
- Train ride
- Old Post Office
- Tea factory and tea plantation
- Ambuluwawa Tower
🌿 Ella and Ravana Falls
Day one of the tour starts in Ella, one of the most scenic highland areas of Sri Lanka. Your first stop is Ravana Falls, surrounded by lush tropical greenery. Powerful streams of water rush down the rocks, and you may often spot curious monkeys nearby.
⛰️ Little Adam's Peak
Next, an easy walk up Little Adam's Peak. The trail passes through tea plantations and green hills, and from the top you get wonderful views of mountains, valleys and endless tea fields. The climb takes about 30 minutes and needs no special preparation.
🌉 Nine Arch Bridge
After the walk, you head to the famous Nine Arch Bridge, one of Ella's most recognisable sights. This stone bridge, hidden among dense greenery, is a true symbol of the island's hill country and a great spot for photos.
🚂 Train ride to Nuwara Eliya
One of the most atmospheric parts of the route is the train ride to Nuwara Eliya. The journey runs through misty gorges, hill villages and tea plantations, and new views of Sri Lanka's central highlands open up from the windows all the way.
🍃 Tea factory and Nuwara Eliya
In Nuwara Eliya you will see the old English post office, visit a tea factory and plantations, and learn how the famous Ceylon tea is grown and produced. The town's colonial atmosphere is especially strong here.
🗼 Ambuluwawa Tower
The final highlight of the day is Ambuluwawa Tower. From the top, you get impressive views of mountains, valleys and the central part of the island, a great end to a full day.
🐘 Overnight by the river
After the tour programme, you head to Elephant Bay or Elephant Park. The hotel sits beside a river, where you can watch elephants while enjoying a peaceful setting and the nature of Sri Lanka.
Key route locations:
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Meeting elephants
- Elephant riding and bathing
- Golden Temple of Dambulla (exterior visit)
- Spice Garden
- Sigiriya or Pidurangala
🐘 Breakfast with a view of elephants
Your second day starts with breakfast on the hotel terrace, overlooking the river, where you can watch elephants. It's one of the most atmospheric parts of the trip: a calm morning surrounded by nature and animals.
🌊 Elephant riding and bathing
After breakfast, you can choose an optional activity: elephant riding and bathing. It's a chance to spend more time with the animals and take some vivid photos to remember the day.
🛕 Golden Temple of Dambulla
Next, the route continues to the Golden Temple of Dambulla. It includes an exterior visit, after which the group heads to the next stop on the programme.
🌿 Spice Garden
The next stop is the Spice Garden, where you'll learn how Sri Lankan spices and oils are grown. You can discover local aromas, plants and traditional products of the island.
🪨 Sigiriya or Pidurangala
The final part of the route is a climb to Sigiriya or Pidurangala. From the top, you'll enjoy impressive panoramic views of the jungle, plains and surrounding rocks. The climb takes about 45–60 minutes and makes a great finish to the two-day trip.
Tour price: Ella, Sigiriya and Elephants at Pinnawala
| Tour option | Price per adult | ||
|---|---|---|---|
With Sigiriya climb | Guide Transfer Meals Hotel Entrance tickets Climb the famous Lion Rock: about 1,200 steps, an ancient citadel and panoramic views from the top. | 170 $ | Sigiriya ticket: included |
With Pidurangala climb | Guide Transfer Meals Hotel Entrance tickets A more active climb along a rocky trail. From the top, you'll get one of the best views of Sigiriya and the surroundings. | 140 $ |
Climb the famous Lion Rock: about 1,200 steps, an ancient citadel and panoramic views from the top.
A more active climb along a rocky trail. From the top, you'll get one of the best views of Sigiriya and the surroundings.
Pickup, timing and practical details
Free for children under 3
Little guests travel free of charge.
No hidden fees!
The main costs are already included in the tour price.
Children aged 4–11: 50% off
50% off the adult rate.
Private tours
Choose your route with a guide or an experienced driver.
English-speaking guides
Our guides know the island well and speak English fluently.
Safety first
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Real guest reviews
Hundreds of positive reviews.
24/7 support
Our team is always on hand via messaging apps.
Small groups
Up to 18 people per tour, for comfort and personal attention.
Comfortable buses
All transfers go in modern vehicles.
Guest reviews
Overall Rating
15 reviews
Maksim
05/28/2026
Hi everyone! I took a 2-day tour with guide Ishar and his trainee Rashen, and I really enjoyed it. It was a packed tour, and we visited some beautiful places! On day 1 we saw the Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, a tea plantation and much more. On day 2, Sigiriya and the elephant hotel stood out most. There were an incredible number of elephants, around 40. I've never seen so many. You could write a whole story about Sigiriya, it's the 8th wonder of the world! Everything went smoothly, without a single hitch. Great job, guys! We also had a superb driver who got us to every place quickly and comfortably. I recommend seeing all this beauty. You won't regret it!
Anna
05/28/2026
We took a 2-day tour with our child to Ella, Sigiriya, Ravana Pool and Pinnawala. Our guide was Dilan and our driver was Chamara. We were lucky with them. The tour felt relaxed and they took all our wishes into account. Dilan did his best to bring us to every location first, with as few other tourists as possible. He is also an interesting person to talk to. We learned a lot and had fun. Oh, and our child adores Dilan and says he will miss him :) That says a lot. Thank you to the driver for the great driving. We got through all the winding mountain roads comfortably and without any problems, even our 5-year-old. Thank you, it was fantastic!
Yuliya
05/28/2026
My friend and I took the two-day Ella + Pinnawala + Sigiriya tour. Huge thanks for the tour! The route is out of this world: Sigiriya, ancient history with an incredible view; the Pinnawala nursery, a sea of joy from the elephants; a great hotel, tasty breakfast and dinner, plus live music in the evening! Ella is home to the famous Nine Arches Bridge and the train. Nuwara Eliya has fairytale tea plantations and clean mountain air. Everything was perfectly organized, punctual and very full. Our guide Ishara is wonderful, a person with mega positive energy. His stories are a pleasure to listen to! Thanks also to Rashan for the photos and interesting stories! Special thanks to the driver for comfort and safety on the winding mountain roads. Sri Lanka made us fall in love with it for good! I recommend this tour to everyone. It's worth it! ❤️
Irina
05/28/2026
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the tour you organized for me! Everything was organized really well: the transfer, the hotel, the flight tickets. Everything was clear. It was very nice that everyone I dealt with was so friendly. I hope this wasn't my last time in Vietnam, and if I come back, I'll contact only you! You are wonderful professionals! Thank you once again! Special thanks to your colleagues who organized all the transfers! Guys, well done!! All the drivers were great! I wish you all prosperity!! Irina Mulaleva
Ruslan
05/25/2026
My son and I went on a 2-day private tour with our guide, Dylan! Two days is physically tough, of course, but oh my goodness(!!!), so many impressions!! Dylan adapted the tour to our needs. We skipped a temple and had a simple but very pleasant introduction to village life, with a boat ride on a beautiful lake, and my son happily paddled a catamaran ;) Overall, the effort and the price of the trip paid off completely! Without trips like this, our feeling of Sri Lanka would have been very different! We're delighted!
Elena
05/25/2026
...Two days with the best guide in Sri Lanka 🙏... I'd like to share our impressions of the two-day tour and say a special thank-you to the person who made these two days truly unforgettable 💔 ....Our guide was Ishara Vipul... 🔥💪💯 You know, there are guides, and then there are "guides sent from above". That's exactly Ishara! ... Two days on tour with Ishara flew by in a moment! This is a case where a guide becomes a friend. Warm, attentive and a really great guy. He tells stories in an engaging way, looks after his guests and truly loves his job. ....Very open, positive and incredibly thoughtful....👍👋😎 .... Ishara!!! didn't just run through the program. He immersed us in the life and culture of the country. He is also incredibly attentive to tourists... he always tells you where and how to stand for a photo, answers any question and makes sure you're comfortable. You can feel he doesn't work just to tick a box, he puts his soul into it. He is truly in the right place! 👍 Thank you so much for these two days, for your hard work and kindness. 🙏 And a special request to the company's director... 🌹 Please recognize Ishara and thank him for his professionalism! 🙏🔥👍 Employees like this are a real treasure and the face of your company. If we come back to Sri Lanka and book a tour, it will only be with Ishara!🙏😎👋
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Pack a swimsuit, towel and spare clothes if you plan activities with elephants or stops by the water.
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Sri Lanka is a tropical country, so sunglasses and a cap will protect you from the strong sun.
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Popular questions about the 2-day Ella, Sigiriya and Pinnawala Elephants tour
What's included in the two-day Sri Lanka tour?
Visits to all stops on the route, all entrance tickets, English-speaking guide, hotel stay, transfers, 1 breakfast and 1 dinner
What activities are available with elephants?
The programme includes watching bathing elephants in the morning, and you can add elephant riding and bathing as an option, so you can interact with the animals and take unique photos.
How long does the tour take, and how are the days split?
The tour lasts two days. Day one is about the nature of Ella and Nuwara Eliya, including waterfalls, Little Adam's Peak and tea plantations. Day two covers the culture and history of Sri Lanka, including the Golden Temple of Dambulla, a spice garden and the climb up Sigiriya.
What can you expect from the Sigiriya climb?
Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, offers stunning panoramic views over the jungle, tea plantations and the ruins of the royal gardens. The climb takes 45–60 minutes and suits travelers with a moderate level of fitness.
Can you buy souvenirs and spices during the tour?
Yes, the visit to the spice garden shows how Sri Lankan spices and oils are grown. You can also buy them as souvenirs and enjoy the scents and colour of the island.