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15 Best Places To Visit on Sri Lanka Itinerary 8 Days

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)
watching sigirirya fresco, Sri Lanka budget trips

One of the world’s greatest vacation spots is Sri Lanka, a country rich in culture and history. Sri Lanka is a country full of year-round attractions, including the beautiful island’s cultural triangle, the pristine waters surrounding it, the hill country with its verdant highlands, and the amazing wildlife found in its national parks. Leading Sri Lankan travel agency, Seerendipity Tours provides a well planned Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days that takes you to the heart of Sri Lanka. Your 8 days in Sri Lanka will be memorable with this tour package. This eight-day trip package in Sri Lanka offers an intriguing fusion of man-made and natural tourist sites in the majority of the country. 

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Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

Simply Sri Lanka 8 Days Private Tour with Luxury Accommodation- This eight-day private tour takes you to the most important tourist places on the island such as Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla golden temple, and the tooth relic temple of Kandy, the national park of Udawalawe. Towards the end of the trip, you will be anchoring on the empty beaches of Mirissa.

Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

Deeply rooted in history and culture, Sri Lanka makes for one of the best holiday destinations in the world. From the splendor of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle to the torque waters around the island, Sri Lanka’s hill country with green-capped mountains, and fascinating wildlife in the national parks, Sri Lanka is a country of year-long delights. Seerendipity Tours, a leading Sri Lankan holiday specialist, offers a specially curated Sri Lanka 8-day tour itinerary that takes you on a journey to the heart of Sri Lanka.

8 Days in Sri Lanka and 15 best Places to visit

“What are the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 8 days?” “What is the best Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days?” “What are the best places to see in Sri Lanka in 8 days?” These are some of the frequent questions we receive from our readers. Sri Lanka 8-day tours are very popular among foreign travelers, and Seerendipity Tours organizes a dozen Sri Lanka 8-day tours every month. Almost everyone who books these Sri Lanka 8-day tours is a foreign traveler.

There are two reasons why I decided to write this blog post under the heading “Best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 8 days.” One reason is the emails that I receive from customers inquiring about the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 8 days. And the second reason is the Sri Lanka 8-day tour itinerary that we recently launched, featuring the below-mentioned 15 places to visit in Sri Lanka in 8 days.  

The whole idea of launching this Sri Lanka 8-day tour is to serve the increasing number of travelers who plan to invest their time on a trip to see important places on the island. This Sri Lanka tour takes travelers through cultural sites, historical monuments, Buddhist temples, forts, beautiful countryside, tea gardens, and many other interesting places. However, in this article, I’m highlighting only 15 places that I feel you should not miss.

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How do I travel for 8 days in Sri Lanka?

A private vehicle with a local driver or guide is considered the best way to travel on a Sri Lankan 8-day trip. The Sri Lanka 8-day trip is a private tour, like most of Seerendipity’s other tour packages. All ground transportation and sightseeing tours are private, with a local driver-guide.

Sri Lanka grand tour, a 14-day private Sri Lanka tour offers the perfect introduction for visitors to Sri Lanka. Your customizable 14 days tour itinerary includes the cultural triangle, Sri Lanka hill country, wildlife safari, south coast and west coast beaches. From US$ 895 per person.

What are the 15 best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 8 days?

1. Places to visit in Sri Lanka in 8 days: Sigiriya Rock

Sigiriya Rock Fortress is one of the main tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important historical sites on the island. This is the first stop on the trip on the first day of the 8-day Sri Lanka tour.

2. Visiting Dambulla Golden Cave Temple on Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

The Dambulla Golden Cave Temple is one of the most historical Buddhist temples in the world, dating back to the 1st century BC. Dambulla Golden Cave Temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dambulla Golden Cave Temple hides more than 150 statues and most Sri Lanka trip packages include Dambulla Golden Cave Temple, as do day outing trips to the Sri Lanka cultural triangle.to the Sri Lankan cultural triangle.

3. Sri Lanka 8 days trip: visiting Tooth Relic Temple

The tooth relic temple of Kandy is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The temple is not only a popular religious site in Sri Lanka, but it is also popular throughout the Buddhist world. Every day, thousands of Buddhist devotees visit the temple.

4. Watching Kandyan Cultural Show on Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

The cultural show features traditional dance and music performances from Sri Lanka. The cultural show can be witnessed in a few places in Kandy and lasts about an hour.

5. Places to visit in Sri Lanka in 8 days-Botanical Garden

The Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya is the most popular and one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. The botanical garden of Peradeniya is located near Kandy and is part of every trip there.

6. Downtown Kandy tour on Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

The tourists are visiting the busy downtown Kandy during the Kandy sightseeing tour. The city tour takes you through the busy quarter of the city, which lasts around 2 hours and guests can visit shops, a cafeteria, souvenir shops, jewelry shops, clothing shops, and many more.

7. Tea plantations/factory tour on Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

Visiting a tea factory and a tea plantation is an essential part of every trip to Sri Lanka. There are many tea plantations from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, where you can make a stop and witness the typical tea manufacturing process.

Tea, one of Sri Lanka’s most important export products, earns many millions of dollars for the island. Sri Lanka is a tea-drinking country, and the island produces “CEYLON TEA,” the world’s best tea brand.

On this 7-day Sri Lanka private trip you will be visiting ancient monuments in the cultural triangle, tea country, Spice and herbal garden, wildlife reserve, botanic gardens, Idyllic west coast beaches, plus enjoy a breath-taking view on the hill country rail journey from Peradeniya to Nanuoya, learn to cook a Sri Lanka meal and many more. Towards the end of the trip, you will have time to relax on the pristine beaches of Sri Lanka’s west coast.

7. Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days visiting Ramboda waterfall

One of the island’s most scenic waterfalls cascades through the Ramdoa plateau. Every day, hundreds of visitors flock to the 90-meter-high waterfall. The visitors need to take a downhill walk in order to have a close look at the waterfalls. The waterfalls are most spectacular during the rainy season in the mountains from May to November, when torrential rain feeds them.

8. Nuwara Eliya City tour on Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

The healing climate of Nuwara Eliya is the most striking fact about this mountain resort. It has a striking contrast against the lowland beach resorts such as Colombo and Bentota, with green-capped mountains, tea gardens, waterfalls, rivers, and patches of forests.

9. Sri Lanka trip Itinerary: visiting Gregory Lake

Perennial waterways that originate in the Pidurutalagala mountains feed Gregory’s lake. Gregory Lake and the surrounding area are well maintained and designed to serve kids, families, and picnic lovers who come to Nuwara Eliya. The surrounding area of Gregory Lake has kids’ playgrounds, walking paths, and large empty areas for social gatherings. Boating, speed boating, horseback riding, and fishing are some of the popular activities here.

10. Visit Seetha Amman Temple on Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

The Hindu temple, Seetha Amman Temple, honors Seetha, the wife of God Rama. The temple attracts a large number of Hindu devotees not only from Sri Lanka but also from all parts of the world, particularly from India.

11. Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days Visiting Victoria Park

The beautiful garden’s origins date back to the early 18th century, during the British colonial era. The garden is relatively small but very spectacular due to its large collection of flowering plants and trees. During the flowering season in the mountains, from April to June, the garden is very beautiful, as it is colored in many different colors.

This 10-day private Colombo package includes 6 UNESCO World Heritage sites: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Golden Temple of Dambulla, Galle Fort, and Temple of the tooth relic with Sri Lanka mountain resorts, southern national parks, and western and southern beach resorts.

12. Udawalawe National Park for wildlife watching in Sri Lanka 8-day tour

Udawalawee National is on the radar of most travellers due to the wildlife-rich national park and the elephant transit camp. Udawalawe national park is one of the best places for elephant safari on the island and large gatherings of wild elephants are common sights here. The elephant transit camp is located bordering Udawalawe National Park and acts as a foster home for orphan elephants that were found abandoned in the jungles elsewhere on the island.

13. Places to visit in Sri Lanka in Galle on a Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

Galle Fort is the most popular tourist attraction in southern Sri Lanka and attracts a large number of foreign travellers every day. Galle Fort is the best-preserved Dutch fort in Asia, dating back to the 16th century. It had been the living quarter of Dutch administrators with all facilities and amenities during the Ditch rule in Sri Lanka (from 1656 AD to 1796 AD).

The entire Fort is still in very good shape, and the building that originated more than 200 years ago are still being used as hotels, cafes, museums, shops, galleries, and religious places. A trip to southern Sri Lanka is not complete without a walking tour of the Fort. A walk on the labyrinthine cobbled streets would make it feel like being in a 16th-century old European city.

14. Enjoy natural beauty of Madu River Estuary on Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

Madu River estuary is a Ramsar wetland and it is one of the best places to see the rich riverine Fauna and Flora of Sri Lanka. Things to be seen during the boat trip are crocodiles, monkeys, monitors, many avian fauna species, a mangrove forest,s, and Buddhist temples.

15. Bentota Beach holiday on Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

Bentota is one of the most attractive beaches on the island and a large number of beach holiday lovers take refuge here. Bentota beach is not only suitable for sun-worshipping but also for many other interesting activities such as snorkelling, diving, surfing, kayaking, boating, and any other interesting watersports activities.

Overview of Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

Mainly, there are 2 variations of Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days:

Choosing the most suitable travel route is very important for the success of your Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days . If you choose the wrong travel route, you may end up with a soaked-up Sri Lanka trip. The weather pattern and the travel route have a direct correlation. For more information on Sri Lanka holiday and weather pattern, please read my article on “When is the best time for Sri Lanka holiday?“.

This  Sri Lanka itinerary of 8 days is a unique opportunity to experience the rich historical past of the island by visiting many UNESCO world heritage sites that feature rich architectural buildings, giant Stupas, beautiful paintings, stone carvings, and wood carvings.

You will spend 3 days in the cultural triangle and will be awestruck by the amazing historical monuments in Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy, You have plenty of opportunities to meet ordinary folk, get a glimpse into rural life, and take part in a village cooking class in order to learn Sri Lankan cooking.

When is the best time for Sri Lanka 8 days tour on the southern route?

Sri Lanka 8-day tour on the southern route is by far the most popular Sri Lanka 8-day tour among travellers, especially among foreign travellers. If you are wondering when the best time is for this Sri Lanka 8-day tour, it is from November to April. According to Sri Lanka’s weather pattern, the southern part and the west coast of Sri Lanka have fairly dry and sunny weather from November to April. During this period, the temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celcius, while only casual rainfall is experienced throughout the south and western parts of the island.

Map of Sri Lanka 8 Days Tour, southern route

Map of Sri Lanka 8 Days Tour

What is the Sri Lanka 8 days tour itinerary?

Traveling to Sri Lanka opens a new world to you; you will see a beautiful country dominated by extensive green cover and experience wonder in a new way on this enchanting island. The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka (The route Kandy-Polonnaruwa-Anuradhapura) is popular due to the historical monuments, while the mountains of Sri Lanka showcase cascading waterfalls and great vistas. Towards the end of the tour, it offers a unique perspective with its pristine beaches. Apart from encountering all these historical monuments, Buddhist temples, mountains, and beaches, you will visit local communities and an elephant rescue centre in Udawalawe.

This is a private tour package and the tour can be booked throughout the year. Even though the Sri Lanka itinerary of 8 days is a pre-planned tour package, it can be customized to meet the specific requirements of the participants. Making it a private tour enables us to make whatever changes are required by our customers.

The tour can also be combined with any other tour packages, such as the Yala safari tour, Udawalawe wildlife tour, whitewater rafting Kitulgala or beach holiday packages. The tour is primarily conducted in English language and tour guides speaking other languages can be provided upon request.

Spend five memorable days on a tour of Sri Lanka with a variety of sightseeing activities. Visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla, bicycle around the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, tour Sigiriya Rock Fortress, and see the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) — all UNESCO World Heritage sites.

What are the main highlights of the Sri Lanka itinerary for 8 days?

Day 1 of Sri Lanka 8 days tour: Explore Dambulla golden cave temple

You will be met and greeted by a Seerendipity Tours representative and proceed to the hotel in Sigiriya, you can start this Sri Lanka itinerary for 8 days either at the airport or in a hotel of your choice. En route, you will make the first stop of the Sri Lanka itinerary for 8 days at the Dambulla golden cave temple.

Golden temple Dambulla

Dambulla golden cave temple is one of the biggest and most ancient Buddhist temples in the world, dating back to the 1st century BC.

The temple sits in the city of Dambulla, which is one of the most vibrant cities in the central province and is certainly a city of contrasts. Rapid development has been seen in the city in the recent past and today it has become one of the biggest and busiest cities in the region.

Trek to the Cave Temple Dambulla

After lunch, you take a hike to the cave temple of Dambulla with your guide; you will be guided through the five caves that feature more than 150 Buddha statues, god figures, and statues of the kings. At the same time, take a look at thousands of wall paintings and ceiling paintings that date back to many centuries, however, some of the paintings have been destroyed over the last several decades due to the humidity in the caves.

Later in the day, check-in, at the hotel and have leisure or take a leisurely walk to see the natural beauty of Sigiriya and the surrounding area. This dry-zone locality has a large extent of green cover and many lakes, while the rocky outcrop is turned into rice paddies that have jagged mountains in the backdrop. This dry zone forested area is a popular bird-watching spot on the island and visitors can spot many indigenous avian and fauna species without any difficulty.

Our educated guide will help you to explore the traditions, monuments, flavours, and history of this neighbourhood, which has a delicate mix of old and new, modern houses, and ancient monuments. Most foreign travellers flock to Sigiriya or Habarana as they make a tour of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya/Habarana is centrally located in the cultural triangle and provides easy access to most attractions in the cultural triangle.

Remarks: please take the temple rules and regulations into consideration and dress suitably to visit a temple.

Day 2 of Sri Lanka 8 days tour: Morning visiting Sigiriya rock fortress

Today you have the 2nd hike of this Sri Lanka itinerary of 8 days, at the Sigiriya rock fortress. The hike at Dambulla cave temple was a rehearsal for the adventurous hike at the Sigiriya rock fortress, which is much more strenuous than the hike at Dambulla. The guide will arrange the pick-up a little bit early today and you will set off at around 7 a.m.

The Sigiriya hike should be started as early as possible in order to avoid the scorching heat in the area.  High humidity in the areas results in high sweating as you make the upward journey, making you take a large amount of fluid into the system.

Sigiriya is one of the most popular tourist icons on the island and attracts many thousands of travellers every day, perhaps this is the most important tourist attraction in the cultural triangle. Sigiriya rock fortress dates back to the 5th century AD and features well planned and landscaped garden, a highly developed water management system, knowledge of building techniques, and mastered artistic capabilities.

Remarks: The upward journey and the downward journey last around 3 hours. A pair of shoes that are suitable for a hike is very advisable, and attire can be a cotton t-shirt and cotton shorts. It is best to take a bottle of water with you as you climb the rock. Please take into consideration that there are no toilets on the site.

Remarks: The 2-hour hike in Sigiriya can last between 2-3 hours. not recommended for pregnant women or people with knee and back problems. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended to climb the 2000 narrow steps.

Afternoon: Visiting Polonnaruwa, an ancient city:

The journey from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa historical city takes around 1 hour. The half-day trip to Polonnaruwa culminates with a visit to Polonnaruwa’s historical city. The city tour of the ancient city takes around 2 hours. During the Polonnaruwa city tour, the guests are visiting many interesting places such as palaces, temples, audience halls, pleasure gardens, lakes, and many other historical structures.

Sigiriya Village tour:

A village tour in this Sri Lanka itinerary of 5 days is a highlight for most travelers, and it is an unforgettable, unique experience that you encounter only in Sigiriya. You can take part in cooking classes in many places on the island; however, this Hiriwadunna cooking class stands out from the crowd, because it gives you the typical local experience.

Hiriwadunna village tour lasts around 1 hour and features a boat tour, Bullock cart ride, and cooking class.  You will be escorted to a village house and farmlands, where you will encounter a village family. You will learn to cook with the female cook and ultimately taste what you cook. As you return to the hotel in Sigiriya, visit a village temple.

Day 3 of Sri Lanka 8 days tour: Morning visit to a Spice garden

After breakfast, leave for the hotel in Kandy, en route, visit the spice garden. A walking tour of the Spice Garden is an interesting activity that allows guests to see a large number of trees and plants that produce various spices, condiments, and herbs. The 2-hour walking trip in the open garden also gives you the opportunity to learn the indigenous healing system of Ayurveda.

Day 3 Afternoon: Tooth relic temple, Kandy city tour, and Kandyan cultural show

After breakfast, leave for the hotel in Kandy. En route, make a stop at the spice garden in Matale. Matale is just a few minutes away from Sigiriya and Dambulla, however, Matale belongs to the wet zone of Sri Lanka, where very high rainfall is reported every year. Matale is a city with a large Tamil community and you will be able to see a number of Hindu temples as you pass Matale.

Visiting spice garden on your Sri Lanka 8-day tour

Matale is most popular for its spice gardens, which are open to visitors to take a closer look at various spices and herbs.  Matale is the main spice-grown area of Sri Lanka, where a large number of farmers actively engage in cultivating spices. Spices are one of the main foreign exchange earners of Sri Lanka. After learning about the various spices and their economic usage, which grows on the island, you proceed to a hotel in Kandy.

Kandy city tour

Before noon, you will check in at the hotel in Kandy and enjoy a brief interval before proceeding with the Kandy city tour. On the city tour, you will visit downtown Kandy, a silk garden, a gem museum, and a Gem lapidary. After the city tour, witness the Kandyan cultural show.

Kandyan cultural show

After the city tour, proceed to the Kandyan Lake Club to witness the Kandyan cultural show, where the troupes of dancers and the tune drummers and flautists perform. The Kandyan cultural show is attended by a large number of spectators and lasts 1 hour.  The Kandyan cultural show is a perfect opportunity to witness traditional Sri Lankan dance performances and traditional music.

Temple of the tooth relic tour

The beginning of the evening ceremony at the tooth relic temple coincides with the end of the Kandyan cultural show. As soon as the Kandyan cultural show ends, the visitors leave for the tooth relic temple that sits next to Lake Club, They take a walk that takes about 3 minutes from the lake club.

Every day, thousands of devotees and foreign visitors alike visit the island’s most revered Buddhist temple, the Tooth Relic Temple. The evening ceremony, which starts at 06.30, lasts about an hour and is the best time to visit the temple. Former Sri Lankan kings once resided in the lovely temple, which is now proudly sheltering the left eyetooth of Buddha.

A scene captured in Ramboda

Day 4 morning: Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

After the leisurely breakfast, leave for the hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is just 100km from Kandy and the journey without any stops takes around 2 hours. However, the journey today will take around 5 hours due to the 2 stops at Ranboda waterfall and tea factory.

In the afternoon, take a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya and visit downtown Nuwareliya, Gregory Lake, Victoria park, Golf Course, and a racecourse.

Visiting Tea factory

The first stop of the day will be a Tea factory in Ramboda, where you can check on the manufacturing process of Tea. The mountains of Sri Lanka are dominated by this valuable crop and a large extent of land is covered by Tea. The visitors are able to try a freshly brewed teacup at a tea party hosted by the tea factory and ultimately you have the opportunity to buy a sample of the best Ceylon tea.

Visiting Ramboda waterfall

The Ramboda waterfalls followed by the Tea factory visit, you make a trek to the Ramboda fall, which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the mountains of Sri Lanka. You will encounter Sita Amman temple and Gregory Lake after the Ramboda Falls where your guide makes a stop, in order to have a closer look at those tourist attractions.

In the evening visit the elephant transit camp of Udawalawe, where you see a large herd of the baby that was struggling to survive in the jungle. Now they are healthy and safe in the hands of caretakers. The small jumbos visit the elephant transit camp every day during the feeding hours while the rest of the day they are learning to live in the natural habitat. When the babies are grown up they are free from the park administration and carry their own life in the jungle.

Day 5 of Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days: Visiting Udawalawe and beaches

After breakfast leaves for Mirissa beach via Udawalawe and Ella. The journey takes around 2 hours, check-in at the hotel, and leisure. Afterwards, safari at Udawalwe national park and later visit the elephant transit camp.

Elephant feed

Day 6 of Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days: whale watching tour

The day starts early (at 06.00 am) from your beach hotel in Mirissa, as you drive to Mirissa harbour with your chauffeur guide. You will board the specially designed whale-watching boat and set sail with an experienced crew and a nature guide on board. The whale-watching tour lasts between 2-5 hours, however, in some cases, it can be a bit longer than that.

Due to the uncertainty of the duration of the whale watching boat tour, we do not plan any other important activity for today’s programs. Therefore, the guests are free to have leisure on the beach after the whale-watching trip.

Day 7 of Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days: Mirissa-Bentota

After breakfast leaves for a sightseeing tour of Galle and later proceeds to the beach hotel in Bentota. En route a walking tour of Galle Fort, and make a visit to the sea turtle conservation project. In the afternoon leisure in the beach resort.

Day 8 of Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days: Bentota-Colombo

After breakfast leave for Colombo airport. On the last day of this 8 days Sri Lanka tour, we usually do not plan any major activity. We intend to bring you to the airport for an onward flight or take you to the beach resort of your choice. We even do not plan the departure time from the hotel today, because the departure time is highly dependent on your flight details. However, if you travelling to a beach resort your departure from the hotel is after breakfast.

End of the Sri Lanka itinerary 8 days

Why you should book Sri Lanka 8 days tour with Seerendipity Tours?

Serendipity Tour is an entirely locally owned travel company with a head office in Colombo. The highly experienced local staff is a key strength of Serendipity Tours, and they can plan your dream holiday to Sri Lanka.

The best price guaranteed for your Sri Lanka trip

When you book a tour with Serendipity Tours, you directly book the tour with the local company, which means there are no middlemen and therefore you can guarantee the best price. Simply get in touch with us and let us know when you travel and what you like to see.

Plan your best Sri Lanka trip with-expert

Our staff makes a personalised program for you, which you can change until you find the best Sri Lanka trip package for you. Visit www.sirilaktours.com to browse our existing tour packages, which you can customise to meet all your expectations. Write to us at admin@seerendipitytours.com, tel. 0094-77-440977, WhatsApp 0094-77-4440977.

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