Sri Lanka Tours 2026: Prices, Hotel Pickup and Guest Reviews
Pickup
from your hotel
Guide
English-speaking
Planning
from $65
Sigiriya, Ella, Yala safari, whale watching in Mirissa: 15 group tours with an English-speaking guide. We pick you up from your hotel and bring you back, with tickets included in the price. Below you'll find 2026 prices, what's included, and how to choose a route for kids and your budget.
Which tour to choose: 4 common situations
Traveling with kids
🐘 Elephants at Udawalawe, monkeys and a waterfall in one day. Children aged 6–12 pay half price, and under 6 travel free. The journey is by air-conditioned bus.
Want mountains and tea?
⛰ Ella, the Nine Arch Bridge, Nuwara Eliya and Sigiriya in 2 days with an overnight hotel stay. Accommodation, dinner and breakfast are included.
Travelling as a group
🐋 Blue whales and dolphins from November to April. Early morning departure, 3–4 hours. For a large group, book the whole yacht.
Don't like long drives?
🏰 Galle Fort, turtles and a river safari close to the south coast resorts. No long transfers, lunch included.
Our Sri Lanka tours with English-speaking guides
Jeep safari in Yala Park
Heart of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Golden Circle
Ella, Sigiriya and Elephants Combo Tour
Ella and Udawalawe Elephant Sanctuary
Ella and Yala National Park Jeep Safari
Galle Fort and River Safari
Ella and Ravana Pool Club
Whale watching
What's included: hotel pickup, guide and tickets
Transfer
included
Children 6–12
−50%
Under 6
free
🚐 We pick you up from your hotel on the coast and take you back, so there's no need to find a taxi or arrange a driver. Our travel advisor will confirm the pickup time for your hotel.
🎫 On group tours, entrance tickets to attractions are already included, and the guide speaks English. Children aged 6–12 pay 50% less, and children under 6 go free.
'Heart of Sri Lanka' in 2 days: how the route works
Key stops on the route
- Ravana Falls
- Little Adam's Peak
- Nine Arch Bridge
- Nuwara Eliya
- Ambuluwawa Tower
- Sigiriya Rock
Day 1 — Ella. Early hotel pickup, Ravana Falls and monkeys (bananas for them are already included), then a climb to Little Adam's Peak with a view over the valley.
Nine Arch Bridge — we wait for the train for the trip's signature photo. Then the tea hills of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka's 'little England'.
Evening — dinner and a night at your hotel with a view of Ramboda Falls.
Day 2 — the heart of the island. The spiral tower of Ambuluwawa, a Hindu temple, an elephant encounter and Sigiriya Rock. In the evening, we drive back to your hotel.
How much does a tour in Sri Lanka cost in 2026?
| Format | Price per person | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Group, 1 day | Hotel pickup Tickets included English-speaking guide Ella, Galle, Yala, whales, Sigiriya, Kandy. The most popular format — you travel in a small group. | from 65 $ | |
Group, 2–3 days | Overnight stay Dinner and breakfast Mountains and Sigiriya Heart of Sri Lanka and Golden Circle: all the highlights in one trip with no self-planned logistics. | from 135 $ | |
Private | Private car Flexible schedule Family-friendly The same route, but just for your family or group: pickup when it suits you, with stops as you wish. | from 300 $ |
Ella, Galle, Yala, whales, Sigiriya, Kandy. The most popular format — you travel in a small group.
Heart of Sri Lanka and Golden Circle: all the highlights in one trip with no self-planned logistics.
The same route, but just for your family or group: pickup when it suits you, with stops as you wish.
Before you book: what to know
Early starts are normal
🌙 For Sigiriya, Ella and Adam's Peak, pickups happen before dawn so you arrive before the heat and crowds. Ask your hotel for a packed breakfast to take on the road.
Season matters
🐋 Whales: November to April. In Yala, blocks 1 and 2 are closed from 14 September to 15 October 2026 due to drought, while other zones stay open. Your travel advisor can tell you what's open on your dates.
Easy travel with kids
👶 Children aged 6–12 get 50% off, and under 6s travel free. Little ones usually enjoy the elephants, turtles and Galle most. Adam's Peak and Sigiriya are better for older children.
Temple dress code
🙏 At temples, cover your shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes at the entrance. Bring a light scarf and socks, as the stone gets hot during the day.
Where we go: every tour stop on one map
8 tips you'll only learn once you're there
Book 1–2 days ahead
📅 In season (December–April), group places for Sigiriya and whale watching sell out early. Chat with us at least a day before your trip.
Cash in rupees
💵 For tips to your guide, coconuts by the road and souvenirs, carry small rupee notes. Cards are not accepted everywhere, especially in the hills.
Closed-heel shoes
👟 Sigiriya has about 1,200 steps, and Little Adam's Peak is a steep trail. Leave flip-flops for the beach.
Pack a warm layer
🧥 In Nuwara Eliya and Ella, evenings are cool, around +15 °C. A warm layer helps even in the hot season.
Don't feed the monkeys yourself
🐒 Monkeys can snatch bags and phones. Food is only through your guide, and keep your belongings closed.
Prone to car sickness?
🚐 Mountain roads have long, winding bends. Take a motion sickness tablet and ask for a seat at the front.
The sun is stronger than it looks
☀️ Close to the equator: SPF 50, a cap and water are essential, even on a cloudy day.
Elephant photos: no flash
📸 On safaris and at elephant sanctuaries, flash scares the animals. Take photos with the flash off and stay inside the jeep.
Sri Lanka Entrance Tickets 2026: How Much They Cost
🏛 Ancient cities: Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura
Sigiriya Rock: $35 for foreign visitors ($20 for SAARC countries).
Dambulla Cave Temple: 3,000 rupees.
Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura: $30 each.
🐆 National parks: Yala, Udawalawe, Minneriya, Horton Plains
Yala and Minneriya: $25, Udawalawe: $15, Horton Plains: $25 entry.
The jeep with a driver is paid separately. On our Yala safari, the jeep and tickets are already included.
🙏 Temples and gardens: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Peradeniya
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy: 2,000 rupees.
Peradeniya Botanical Garden: about 3,540 rupees.
🎫 Do I need to buy tickets myself?
On Big Travel group tours, attraction tickets are included in the price, so there's nothing to pay on site. Entrance fees are based on 2026 data and may change on site, so please check with your travel advisor.
Our guests on tour
More guides to Sri Lanka tours
Tours from Unawatuna 2026
Where to go for the day, how long the drive is from your hotel, and prices.
Top 9 Sri Lanka Tours: Routes and Prices
A detailed look at nine of the most popular routes, with hour-by-hour schedules.
Top 7 Day Tours in Sri Lanka
Where to go in a single day if you'd rather not spend nights on the road.
How to Choose a Tour and Find Out the Real Cost
Know what to look for in the programme so you don't overpay on the spot.
Private tours in Sri Lanka
Your own car, your own guide and your own schedule, for families and groups.
Guest reviews
Overall Rating
75 reviews
Ekaterina
19.09.2025
We came back yesterday from a two-day tour with an overnight stay at Elephant Bay hotel and a climb to Sigiriya (choose this rock for the climb). It was AMAZING!!!! WONDERFUL!!! The best tour!!! Our guide Denis (Dinesh) was a genius. He kept us laughing the whole way, told us the history of Sri Lanka, answered all our questions, shared lots of interesting facts and helped us with photos and videos! All the stops on the tour were chosen very well, and everything felt warm and personal! Special thanks to our driver Shalinda, who drove us safely and with a bit of speed! Memories for a year ahead, maybe for life! These two days felt like we had travelled for a week through different countries, with different climates, nature and architecture, all in one place on a small island, Sri Lanka.
Sofia
11.09.2025
We loved the Heart of Sri Lanka tour! It was a beautifully organised trip. We saw an incredible number of sights and really felt the atmosphere of an amazing country. Special thanks for helping us with the most important moment of our trip: a marriage proposal at the top of Sigiriya. Your help choosing the perfect moment and place among the wonders of the world made the day truly unforgettable. A separate highlight was the night at Mountain Heavens hotel. In the morning, stepping onto the balcony and seeing elephants walking below was wonderful! The thing that made the trip perfect was our guide Yasir, the soul of the tour. He told us about every sight with great charm and knew the best angles for photos. He anticipated our wishes before we even voiced them. His care, attentiveness and great sense of humour created a truly friendly and comfortable atmosphere. We felt completely safe, as if we were travelling with an old friend. Thank you to Yasir and the whole team! We will definitely recommend you to our friends!
Liza
02.09.2025
We're sharing our impressions on the way home from the wonderful two-day Heart of Sri Lanka tour! Other reviews have already said everything about the tour itself, so we'd like to describe the impressions we got thanks to our guide Yasir and driver Usama. A few words about the road: the car was comfortable and new, and the air conditioning saved us the whole way. Despite the winding mountain roads, the driver drove by all the rules, like a European driver. But a special thank you goes to Yasir. He helped us with every little question along the way. He is a very caring and attentive person. When someone tried to sell us something expensive, he took us to another place where the same thing cost less. At the tea factory, the tasting was supposed to offer just one type of tea. Yasir stood up for us, and in the end we got to try all the varieties. On the way he showed us many inexpensive places to get tasty food and fruit. Yasir also turned out to be a very interesting person. We chatted for both days about the culture of his country and compared it with ours. His English is excellent, and he is a deeply knowledgeable person and a polyglot too. He even gets our memes! To our surprise, Yasir changed our programme. At the end of the second day we visited a village where we were shown traditional life and customs, and we were fed traditional food and sweets. We even got to break a coconut 🥥 And we must mention that Yasir is a professional photographer. The photos you see in this message are his. We're just arriving at our villa to rest after such a full and emotional programme. Big thanks to the organisers, Yasir, Usama and the local people of Sri Lanka!
Vlad
09.08.2025
We are simply thrilled with the one-day SAFARI YALA + ELLA tour! It was an incredible adventure that left a lot of vivid memories. We especially want to mention our guide Ishar. He was simply wonderful! Ishar is a true professional. He speaks excellent English and has deep knowledge of the history, culture and nature of Sri Lanka. Thanks to him, the tour was not just a sightseeing trip but an exciting journey into the world of this amazing country. The Yala National Park safari impressed me most of all. Four hours flew by in an instant! We saw a huge number of wild animals: majestic elephants, a leopard (it was truly incredible!), deer, buffalo, monkeys, crocodiles, monitor lizards and many beautiful birds. Ishar and the safari driver skilfully found the most interesting spots and told us about the animals' habits, making the safari even more exciting. Ravana Falls, Little Adam's Peak, the Nine Arch Bridge, the train ride and the tea plantation were all lovely, but the Yala safari was the real highlight of the tour. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see the real Sri Lanka and have unforgettable experiences. And be sure to ask for Ishar as your guide (by the way, he is from Belarus)! You won't regret it. Thank you for a wonderful day!
Yulia
05.07.2025
We've just come back from the 🗿Galle Fort + 🛶 River Safari tour! It was wonderful! I recommend it to everyone! Of course, a lot depends on the guide in a tour. Ours was beyond praise! His name is MANO. He speaks excellent English, knows the history of Sri Lanka very well, answers all questions, makes subtle, well-timed jokes and takes professional photos. In short, we are very happy with both the organisation of the tour and how it was run! Special thanks to the driver too! The tour itself is fire! 🔥🔥🔥! We liked absolutely everything!!! THANK YOU!
Alyona
21.06.2025
Hello! We chose the one-day Kandy tour. It was a very interesting and full day, led by a professional English-speaking guide, Denish. Denish is a very friendly, knowledgeable and conscientious guide with a great sense of humour. If you want unforgettable travel and lots of knowledge and impressions about Sri Lanka, we are sure you should definitely contact this company! You won't be bored for a second.
Reham
16.06.2025
Hello, I had an amazing 3-day tour in Sri Lanka, thanks to our fantastic tour guide and driver. Our tour guide, Mr Deshan, was incredibly knowledgeable, kind and caring. He did everything to make sure every part of the trip was enjoyable, informative and perfectly organised. The driver, Mr Jagath, was equally wonderful, always punctual and professional, and made us feel comfortable throughout the journey. Together, they made this trip truly unforgettable. I highly recommend them to anyone visiting Sri Lanka. You'll be in great hands.
More Big Travel services in Sri Lanka
Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka tours
Group day tours cost from $65 to $150 per person, and 2–3 day tours cost from $135 to $280. Private tours start at $300 per route.
Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the price of group tours. Our travel advisor will confirm the pickup time for your hotel.
Yes, with an English-speaking guide. You can also book a private guide.
Elephants at Udawalawe and Pinnawala, Galle with its turtles, the Yala safari and whales. Children aged 6–12 pay 50% of the price, and children under 6 travel free.
From November to April, departure from Mirissa port early in the morning, and the trip lasts 3–4 hours. Price: $90 per person.
Blocks 1 and 2 are closed from 14 September to 15 October 2026 due to drought, while other zones of the park remain open. Check with a travel advisor before booking.
Group tours are 3–5 times cheaper. A private tour is more convenient with young children, elderly parents, or if you want to change the route along the way.
Chat with us using the button on this page. Tell us your dates, hotel and number of people. We will confirm your pickup place and time.