10 2-Day Experiences in Colombo to Plan a Day Around

1.Discover the Best of Sri Lanka in 2 Days

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 32 reviews · 2 days · from $180Our pick

In two days, travel from Ella’s Ravana Falls and Nine Arches Bridge to tea country, then visit Ambuluwawa, Dambulla’s cave temple, and Sigiriya. The $180 price includes shared air-conditioned transport, a driver-guide, a hotel night, breakfast, and dinner. Guides have included Ranga, Rangar, and Kris; entrance fees and other meals cost extra.

“We had an amazing 2 days. Despite some bad weather and changes, Ranga made sure that we were taken care of in every way. Very professional, patient and an amazing guide! We only had 2 full days in SL so this worked out perfectly. We had forgotten something in the vehicle and he made sure that we got it promptly. lots of driving around but the landscape is beautiful! Highly recommend!”

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2.Sri Lanka Private 2-day Tour:Train Trip, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · from $275

This private two-day tour links Kandy and Nuwara Eliya with a roughly three-hour hill-country train ride, temple and garden visits, a cultural show, and a tea factory stop. English-language guiding is offered; Sunny is one guide praised for adding interesting roadside stops, though the guide assigned to your tour may differ.

“I got a completely different experience than almost every other review here. My guide wasn’t really a guide at all but more like a private driver. He didn’t really say a word the entire 2 days to me as he didn’t speak english well. But he was a great driver, always on time, and dropped me off and picked me up everywhere like clockwork. I accepted that I basically paid for a private chauffeur for two days which is fine. Still had a good time seeing all the sights, and as promised, they took care of all train tickets, hotel, etc.”

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3.Sri Lanka: 2-Day wildlife tour; rainforest and National park

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 7 reviews · 2 days · from $350

Travel from Sri Lanka’s west coast to Sinharaja rainforest, Udawalawe National Park and the hill country, with a guided forest trek, a four-hour jeep safari and a scenic train ride. The small-group tour costs $350 per person and includes one night’s lodging. Drivers named Jaya, Sameera, Jayweera and Nushry have been praised, but the driver is not guaranteed.

“We are very happy with our choise of booking those two days . All we did was great and we had the best driver we could wish for . He was polite , careful and very informative . We give him top rating . The activity was as we hoped for and more and the stay in beautiful Ella was super . The staff was very service minded . All in all, excellent.”

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4.2 Days Tour of Double Safari (Yala & Udawalawe) – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $375Top rated

Spend two days with a private English-speaking driver-guide, a Yala evening safari, and a morning safari in Udawalawe, known for its wild elephants. The package includes a three-star hotel, meals, park fees, safari jeep, and pickup and drop-off across a wide stretch of Sri Lanka’s west and south coasts. An elephant facility and a hilltop temple add two different stops.

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5.2-Day Whale Watching & Southern Sri Lanka Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 6 reviews · 2 days · from $292

Travel from Colombo to Mirissa with stops at Bentota, Galle, Hikkaduwa, and a turtle conservation centre. The next day brings a whale-watching trip off Mirissa, where blue and humpback whales may be seen. Expect a full schedule, a night in a 3-star-compatible hotel, and extra charges for both boat trips.

“Tour delle balene come immaginavamo bellissimo anche se non abbiamo avuto la fortuna di vederle in maniera plateale. Abbiamo visto anche i delfini… Consigliatissima la spiaggia di hikkaruwa dove abbiamo interagito con delle tartarughe giganti selvatiche.. visto anche piccoli squaletti… spiaggia molto bella. Autista top e per nulla invadente. Piacevole la gita sul fiume, abbiamo visto scimmie, coccodrilli, e uccelli. Noi abbiamo evitato il tempio di Buddha perché abbiamo preferito fare un bagno a mare visto il poco tempo a disposizione, era l’unica tappa sacrificabile.”

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6.Sri Lanka Green Bless- 2-day Private Trip To Enjoy Nature

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 5 reviews · 2 days · from $298

Travel from western Sri Lanka to Sinharaja rainforest, Udawalawe and Yala, then return via south-coast beaches and Galle Fort. You get a guided forest walk, two jeep safaris, one hotel night and an air-conditioned vehicle. Park and forest entry fees, plus safari jeeps, cost extra. Guides speak English or German.

“Overall I enjoyed the two days tour, however, it is a lot of program for two days. I would recommend doing the activities in three days. The hike at Sinharaja is unfortunately only 2 hours and to truly get a feel for the place, one needs at least 5-6 hours. Udawalawe jeep safari is a must do! The jeep driver was passionate and kept his eyes open for wildlife. The hotel in Yala would be good, unfortunately it is very loud at nighttime with a monk praying and chanting on microphone all night long. Yala is too crowded but if lucky a good place to see the wild cats. In…”

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7.2 Day Tour of Yala & Ella with Hill Country Scenic Train Ride – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $340

Bentota Travel Mart’s private two-day tour pairs a four-hour morning safari in Yala with Ravana Falls, Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak, an overnight stay in Ella, a 60 to 70 minute hill-country train ride, and a tea factory visit. Private transport, meals, tickets, and a driver-guide are included.

“This was one of the best tours I’ve ever been on! Our driver Ishan was an expert and super friendly and helpful. They even got me a cake for my birthday! Every experience from the safari to the train ride was excellent. The communication and coordination of the tour agency was perfect. I can’t wait to come back to Sri Lanka, thank you so much!”

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8.From Western Province: 2-Day Hill Country Highlights Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 4 reviews · 2 days · from $299

Travel from the Western Province through Hikkaduwa, Galle Fort and Udawalawe, then sleep in Ella before taking the scenic train to Nanu Oya. A driver-guide handles the private transport, safari, fort walk and tea-country stops. The guide’s name is not provided. Sea turtles and the train ride can be affected by conditions.

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9.Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Hotspots 2-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 2 days · from $297

Travel from Colombo to Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla with an English- or German-speaking guide in a group of up to 10. You get one hotel night with breakfast and air-conditioned transport. Jayaweera is one named guide praised for adapting a packed schedule. Entry fees are extra, and Minneriya safari costs need clarifying before you book.

“I managed to fit 5 historical/cultural sites, 2 activities and 3 shops into my 36 hour tour - probably assisted by the fact that I ended up being the only one on the tour. There is a lot to do in this part of Sri Lanka - I had a wonderful time. I found Jayaweera a really great guide – very helpful and willing to pack everything into a very short time. I would definitely recommend him. Just so you know - if you want the guide to show you around Sigiriya, you need to pay for their entrance fee as well as your own. Might not be worth it.”

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10.Kandy & Nuwara Eliya | 2 Days Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews

Travel by private air-conditioned car or van from Colombo or Bandaranaike International Airport to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. Visit a spice garden, Peradeniya’s botanical gardens, the Temple of the Tooth and a Kandyan dance show, then head into tea country. The tour includes an English-speaking chauffeur; one past trip named driver Mohammed, but your driver may differ.

“We have just come back from this trip and would recommend our driver Mohammed who was excellent. The roads & traffic conditions are very difficult and he remained calm and safe throughout. Our first stop was to wash and feed elephants - this was the highlight for mRead more”

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