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What Are The Best Places To Visit on Sri Lanka Travel Itinerary 7 days?

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Venturing on a Sri Lanka travel itinerary such as a 7 days trip is the best way to see what this fascinating island bring to the table. Sri Lanka is a small country, but that does not mean the island lacks interesting places and activities. With so many interesting places packed into the island, you will be able to cover only a few areas on your Sri Lanka itinerary for 7 days because this 7-day tour involved a lot of travelling, multiple stops every day, and spending some time at leisure. With proper planning of your 7-day Sri Lanka itinerary, you will be able to see top sites in the cultural triangle, the Sri Lanka hill country, southern Sri Lanka, and the west coast of Sri Lanka. This blog post is about the 38 best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 7 days. On this 7-day tour in Sri Lanka, you will be travelling about 1300km.

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Places To Visit In Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days

Sri Lanka is a small country, however, you will be able to cover only a few places on your Sri Lanka itinerary for 7 days, because this 7 days tour involved a lot of travelling, visiting tourist places, and leisure. With proper planning of your 7 days Sri Lanka itinerary, you will be able to see top sites in the cultural triangle, Sri Lanka hill country, southern Sri Lanka, and the west coast of Sri Lanka. This blog post is about the 38 best places to visit in Sri Lanka in 7 days. On this 7 days tour in Sri Lanka, you will be travelling about 1500km.

The article includes 38 tourist attractions that you encounter during the Sri Lanka trip. The tourists are able to visit most of them during the trip. However, the tourist should be prepared to leave out some of them from the tour itinerary due to time constraints.

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.

Six unique features of the Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days

1. Colombo-Anuradhapura-Sigiriya-Polonnaruwa-Kandy-Nuwara Eliya-Yala-Galle-Bentota

This is the most popular route for 7 days tour in Sri Lanka. The trip includes a fascinating blend of the historical site, cultural site, mountain scenery, nature, wildlife, and beaches. The best time of the year to venture on this Sri Lanka trip is from November to April, due to the absence of rain on the south and west coast.

2. Colombo-Bentota-Galle-Yala-Nuwar Eliya-Kitulgala-Colombo

This program for a 7 days tour in Sri Lanka mainly includes natural attractions as well as adventure activities. The tour is very suitable for adventure lovers and nature enthusiasts. The best time of the year to venture on this trip is from November to April, due to the absence of rain on the south and west coast.

3. Colombo-Anuradhapura-Sigiriya-Trincomalee-Kandy-Colombo

The best time to undertake this Sri Lanka 7-day tour is from April to November. During this time the east coast beaches are dry and free of wet weather. The sea is also very suitable for diving, snorkelling, swimming, and other water sports.

What activities are included in the Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days?

What is included in Sri Lanka 7-day tour largely depends on the interest of the participants. Therefore, it can be available in many forms, such as 7 day Sri Lanka beach tour package, 7 day Sri Lanka cultural tour, a 7-day Sri Lankan adventure tour, 7 day Sri Lankan nature tour, etc. However, the 7-day tour package that we discuss in this article gives you a mixed experience as it covers most parts of the country and the majority of tourist attractions. Here is a list of activities included in this Sri Lanka 7-day trip:

    What are the 39 places to visit in Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days?

    Even though we line up 39 popular tourist attractions below, you may probably not be able to pack all of them in your Sri Lanka tour, because you plan only a 7-day Sri Lanka trip. Therefore, you have to choose the most suitable tourist attractions to include in your trip. Your local tour operator will be able to help you to choose the most appropriate sites for your trip based on your travel route and your individual taste.

    What is the best Sri Lanka 7 days tour itinerary?

    The below-mentioned tour itinerary is taking place on the Sri Lanka southern route. This is the most popular travel route on the island. If you plan a Sri Lanka tour from November through April choose the southern route and experience the best weather.

    1. Day 1: Colombo>>Anuradhapura>>Sigiriya
    2. Day 2: Sigiriya>>Polonnaruwa
    3. Day 3: Sigiriya>>Kandy
    4. Day 4: Kandy>>Nuwara Eliya
    5. Day 5: Nuwara Eliya>>Yala
    6. Day 6: Yala>>Galle>>Bentota
    7. Day 7: Bentota>>Colombo>>Airport

    What are the places to visit in Colombo on Sri Lanka 7 days package?

    Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and is located west coast of Sri Lanka. Colombo is a popular one-day trip location for travellers, who stay in beach resorts. Most Sri Lanka tours start in Colombo as most tourists of Sri Lanka land at the Colombo international airport. Here is a list of the most important 6 places that include in most Colombo city tours.

    1. Old Parliament

    2. Pettah

    3. BMICH

    4. Wolvendaal Church

    5. Independent Square

    6. Viharamahadevi

    Jetawanrama temple is a sacred Buddhist temple and visitors need to stick to the proper dress code.

    What are the places to visit in Anuradhapura on Sri Lanka 7 days itinerary?

    Anuradhapura is the most ancient capital of Sri Lanka and dates back to the 3rd century BC. Anuradhapura is one of the most important sites on the 7 days tour in Sri Lanka. Today Anuradhapura is a UNESCO world heritage site with thousands of historical monuments. Here is a list of 6 places included in most Anuradhapura city tours.

    7. Srimaha Bodhi

    8. Ruwanweliseya Dagoba

    9. Jetawanarama Dagoba

    10. Abhayagiri Dagoba

    11. Twin Pond

    12. Samadhi Buddha

    What are the places to visit in Polonnaruwa on the Sri Lanka itinerary for 7 days?

    Polonnaruwa is one of the important historical cities of Sri Lanka that is included in the 7 days tour of Sri Lanka. It was the capital of, Sri Lanka, from the 10th century AD to the 11th century AD. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa hides many hundreds of well-preserved historical monuments. The city tour of Polonnaruwa lasts around 4 hours and includes the below-mentioned places and many others.

    13. Archeological Museum

    14. King Parkramabahu Palace

    15. Audience Halla

    16. Galviharaya

    17. Hatadage/Vatadage/Thuparama

    18. Rankoth Vehera

    Visiting Galvihara on Sri Lanak 7 days tour itinerary

    Galvihara is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Galvihara is the most visited Buddhist temple in Polonnaruwa. The seven days Sri Lanka tour includes a city tour of Polonnaruwa, therefore, if you venture on a 7 day Sri Lanka trip you have the opportunity to visit this magical temple.

    Polonnaruwa is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city with historical, religious and artistic value. The temple was built during teh reign of king Parakramabahu and it was also called Uttararama. The remaining ancient Buddhist temple is the Granite rock-hewn 4 Buddha statues. These 4 Buddha statues have been carved into the face of a large natural granite rock. The temple showcases two seated Buddha statues, reclining Buddha statues and a standing Buddha statue. The Buddha statues in the Gal Viharaya are considered some of the best examples of ancient Sinhalese sculpting and carving arts.

    Sigiriya rock fortress is a popular Sri Lanka 2-day trip location in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka.

    What are the places to visit in Sigiriya on Sri Lanka 7 days package?

    The iconic tourist attraction of Sigiriya is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Sri Lanka and a popular UNESCO world heritage site. Sigiriya rock climb is the most important activity here and every tourist undertakes the adventure. It is a trip to the 5th century AD to see ancient paintings, historical construction, and one of the oldest landscaped gardens. Below is a list of 3 other important places to visit along with Sigiriya rock.

    19. Sigiriya Rock Fortress

    20. Pidurangala Temple

    Pidurangala Temple

    Pidutangla ancient temple is quite an unpopular historical site in Sri Lanka. Pidurangal rock cave temple has a lot of similarities to Sigiriya rock fortress. According to geologists, the formation of Pidurangala rock is closely connected to a volcanic eruption. The ancient temple is located a few kilometres from Sigiriya rock toward the northern entrance of the Sigiriya rock fortress. The ancient temple is believed to be inhabited by monks since about 2500 ago. However, the temple came into prominence, when King Kashaya build the Sigiriya rock fortress (477-495 AD). The king refurbished and enlarged the Pidurangala temple and moved all the monks who lived at Sigiriya to Pidurangala temple in order to make room for his palace complex.

    21. Sigiriya Museum

    22. Minneriya National Park

    Dambulla golden cave temple, which can be visited on a one-day trip from Colombo is a popular historical site in Sri Lanka.

    What are the places to visit in Dambulla on the Sri Lanka itinerary for 7 days?

    One of the oldest Buddhist temples in the world dates back to the 1st century BC and is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The Golden cave temple of Dambulla hides more than 150 states. Most of the statues are Buddha statues while some others belong to kings and Gods. The inner wall and the ceiling of the caves are hidden with murals, most of them depicting scenery from Buddha’s life.

    22. Dambulla Golden Cave Temple

    Tooth relic temple Kandy

    What are the places to visit in Kandy on Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days?

    Kandy is the cultural hub of Sri Lanka and the city has a fascinating blend of history, culture, nature, and colonial heritage. The tooth relic temple is the most important tourist attraction in the city, which attracts many thousands of travellers every day from all around the world. There are many other tourist attraction in Kandy along with the tooth relic temple, below is some of these important places.

    23. Tooth Relic Temple

    24. Royal Botanical Garden

    25. Kandyan Cultural Show

    26. Udawattekele Sanctuary

    What are the places to visit in Nuwara Eliya on Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days?

    Nuwara Eliya is the capital of Sri Lanka hill country, which is also popular as little England. Nuwara Eliya has a unique healing climate which shows a big contrast against the low-land hot weather.

    Nuwara Eliya sits 1800 meters above sea level and is surrounded by picturesque green-capped mountains, tea plantations, and patches of forests. Nuwara Eliya is best described as a holiday destination with a healing climate to see nature while engaging in adventure activities such as trekking, hiking and mountain climbing.

    27. Tea Factory/Tea Plantation

    28. Gregory Lake

    29. Ramboda Falls

    30. Victoria Park

    31. Seetha Amman Temple

    Yala wildlife tour on Sri Lanka 7 days trip?

    Yala is the most popular wildlife holiday destination on the island and sits in the southern corner of Sri Lanka. Yala is ranked among the best places to spot leopards. The visitors to Yala can see a large number of animals during the Yala safari such as leopard, crocodile, jackal, bear, elephant, mungo and many other animals.

    32. Yala National Park

    Sri Lanka’s west coast beaches

    What are the places to visit in Bentota on Sri Lanka tour itinerary for 7 days?

    Bentota, also known as the golden mile of Sri Lanka’s west coast is by far the most popular beach holiday destination on the island. A large number of sun-worshippers of Sri Lanka (foreign and local) take refuge in the beaches of Bentota. Here is a list of places to visit during your beach holiday in Bentota.

    33. Visiting Galle fortress

    34. Mask Museum

    35. Sea Turtle Conservation Project

    36. Hikkaduwa Beach

    37. Bentota Beach

    38. Madu River Estuary Boat trip

    Visiting Cultural and historical places on Sri Lanka 7 days tour itinerary

    You may think that it is difficult to have a holiday in Sri Lanka, but with little respect for the culture and tradition of Sri Lankan people, you will be enchanted.  You will be surprised by the guest treatment of Sri Lankan people. You will take by surprise by the majestic history of the island and the engineering marvels of the ancient Sinhalese civilization. 

    Some of the buildings and monuments such as Jetawanarama (5th century), and Abhayagiriya (1st century BC) are great engineering feats even for modern civilization.

    You can cover most of the important attractions in the cultural triangle within three days of time. But if you wish to spend more time, still you will be able to find many other attractions within the borders of the cultural triangle. The cultural triangle is packed with thousands of lesser-known historical attractions.

    Travelling in Sri Lanka is very simple for people, who can speak English. All the signboards and roads are written in the English language. Apart from the easiness to find the proper direction, Sri Lanka has a well-developed road network and transport system. You will get plenty of trains, buses, taxis, and inland flights to reach any destination in the country. Driver options and guiding personnel are readily available to have a hassle-free tour in the country.

    Introduction to Sri Lanka 7-day tour itinerary

    Sri Lanka being a small country, you will be able to see a large number of top sights in the cultural triangle, Sri Lanka mountains, southern Sri Lanka, and coastal belt during Sri Lanka 7 day tour. Tourists will be travelling about 1300km in one of our comfortable modern vehicles during this one week in Sri Lanka.

    This Sri Lanka 7 day tour is organized by Seerendipity tours and all the activities are on a private basis. If you need more information or like to book the trip please write to us at admin@seerendipitytpurs.com.

    When is the best time for the Sri Lanka 7 days tour itinerary?

    We discuss on Sri Lanka 8 days tour based on Sri Lanka’s southern route. As we discussed on the Sri Lanak 8 days trip package, Sri Lanka’s southern route is the most popular travel route in Sri Lanka. November to April is the best period to travel on this route. During these 6 months, most places on this route have warm sunny weather and rainfall is at its lowest ebb.

    Route of Sri Lanka 7 days tour itinerary

    Sri Lanka 7 days tour follows 2 major routes, Sri Lanak southern route and Sri Lanka’s northern route. Sri Lanka 7 days tour package on the southern route is the most popular among travellers. However, the best time to travel on the southern route is from November to April, when the monsoon is absent from the south and west coast of the island. If you plan a 7-day Sri Lanka trip package from April to October try to have it on the northern route, as the southern route experience the monsoon and frequent rain during this period of the year.

    How to travel on Sri Lanka 7 days trip?

    Choosing the proper transport mode is highly important for the success of your trip. There are many options available with regard to travelling in Sri Lanka. Taxis, buses, and trains are the most popular, however, for a trip of 7 days, we recommend travel by taxi with a local tourist driver. The travellers need to travel more than 1100 on the 7 days tour and the same time and the tour also involved visiting many places. The tour itinerary mentioned in this article can’t be completed with time-wasting transport modes such as trains and public buses.

    Where can I Book a Sri Lanka 7 days tour itinerary?

    The local tour operators for Sri Lanka offer a wide range of 7 days tour packages to Sri Lanka. In this article, we discuss only 1 of them and all these 3 tour packages can be booked with Seerendipity tours.

    What is the itinerary for 7 days trip?

    Map of Sri Lanka 7-day tour itinerary

    Map of Sri Lanka tour

    This one week in Sri Lanka is memorable for most travellers, who ventured on this holiday package with us. This is a private tour, therefore you can have maximum privacy during this one week in Sri Lanka, there will be no intruders in your vehicle.

    According to our experience as a local tour operator, who organizes Sri Lanka tour packages, one week in Sri Lanka is quite enough to plan a leisurely and memorable Sri Lanka tour, of course with proper planning.

    During this one week in Sri Lanka, you also can have a bit of rest while visiting the sights. You will be able to get a lifetime of memories and experiences by visiting places such as the temple of the tooth, Sigiriya rock fortress, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa historical cities.

    Itinerary for One Week in Sri Lanka

    This 7-day Sri Lanka tour starts in Colombo and ends in Colombo, like most Sri Lanka tour packages. This is a private trip and therefore the itinerary can be customized to meet the particular requirements. The tour takes on the Sri Lanka southern route and covers the most beaten path popular tourist places such as Sri Lank coasts, Yala national park, the tea country of Sri Lanka, and cultural sites and monuments in the central province.

    Day 1 Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days

    Usually, most travellers start the Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days from the airport, however, there are some other travellers, who request a pick-up from beach hotels on the west coast and southern Sri Lanka.

    Most importantly, this one-week tour is a private tour and therefore there is no hard and fast rule with regards to the starting location or pick-up time, they are highly flexible and can be adjusted to the requirement of the participants.

    According to the plan, the first event of the week in the Sri Lanka package is to get familiar with Colombo in the Colombo city tour, Colombo is the commercial capital and is a bustling metropolis. However, there are many important places to visit in the city that carry historical, cultural, and religious importance. 

    Colombo is an ethnic melting point with many numbers of religions, languages, and ethnic identities. Enjoy the historical and cultural sites in the city while indulging yourself in some shopping. At the end of the city tour, you will move to the hotel in Colombo for dinner and an overnight stay.

    Day 2 Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days

    After breakfast at the hotel, set off for Anuradhapura and arrive in the most historical city on the island. You will cross the climate zone borders from the wet zone and enter the dry zone by early noon. You will be in a middle-class hotel for the lunch break.

    Visit the historical city in the afternoon and see the enchanting palaces, temples, reservoirs, and many other attractions. After the sightseeing tour of Anuradhapura, you leave for the hotel in Sigiriya/Habarana, and you will be staying 2 nights in the hotel.

    Sigiriya/Habarana is centrally located within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka and provides easy access to the most important tourist hot spots in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka.

    You will be visiting Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla cave Tempel, and Polonnaruwa historical city from your hotel in Habarana, all three places are UNESCO world heritage sites including Anuradhapura. The drive from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya takes about one hour, during which you have dinner and an overnight stay.

    Day 3 of 7 days tour in Sri Lanka

    On Day 3 of the Sri Lanka tour, you start after breakfast at about 7 o’clock. First visit Sigiriya rock fortress, which is only a few minutes away from the hotel. The hike at Sigiriya will be strenuous and it is highly recommended to start the hike early morning to escape from the scorching heat. The mid-day hike would be very difficult due to the steep hike amidst the heat.

    The round-trip hike at Sigiriya will last around 2 hours for most travellers, however, it could be more than 2 hours or less sometimes, all depending on the age and physical fitness. It is highly recorded to wear a light cotton t-shirt and a short as you visit Sigiriya, same time don’t forget to have a pair of shoes suitable for the hike.

    After the hike at Sigiriya, it is time to have free time, you can ask our guide to stop at a restaurant in order to have lunch or a drink, before proceeding to Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO world heritage site and an important site this week in the Sri Lanka holiday package. There are many palaces, temples, and stupas to visit in Polonnaruwa featuring the rich architectural and engineering skills of ancient engineers, and artisans of Sri Lanka.

    After visiting Polonnaruwa, return to the hotel in Sigiriya/Habarana, and en-route safari at Minneriya national park. Minneriya is one of the most popular wildlife reserves on the island and a place to spot a large number of animals such as elephants, wild buffalo, crocodiles, jackals, and many other animals along with many species of birds, vertebrates, and insects. However, the safari is an optional activity and is also highly subject to the availability of time. Overnight stay in Hotel Sigiriya

    Day 4 of Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days

    On day 4 of the Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days, you will visit a tourist attraction in Kandy, which is the cultural centre of Sri Lanka. This beautiful city is situated about 500 meters above sea level and is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. You will definitely enjoy the trek in the spice gardens, Udawattakele forest reserve, and botanical gardens.

    In the afternoon you will visit the Tooth relic temple which is the most sacred Buddhist temple on the island, the temple is visited by thousands of devotees and a large number of foreign travellers. The visit to the tooth relic temple is a highlight for most travellers, where the visitors see a large number of statues, paintings, and many other artefacts.

    After the tooth relic temple, you have the opportunity to witness the Kandyan cultural show, where many young male and female dancers perform to the tune of drummers and flautists. The fire walking, and the walk on the burning coal is a highlight for most travellers, who visit the Kandyan cultural show and the Kandyan cultural show is a rare opportunity to see the typical Sri Lankan dance performances. Overnight stay in a hotel in Kandy

    Kandyan Cultural show is also a part of the One-week Sri Lanka tour itinerary and you will be witnessing the authentic Sri Lankan dance forms and music performances.

    Day 5 of Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days

    After breakfast back in the car for a scenic drive through the mountains. There are frequent stops to take photos of beautiful vistas, waterfalls, and plantations along the way. Today you come across the tea country and sip a cup of typical Ceylon Tea.

    Make a visit to a well-maintained and beautiful tea plantation. You will see Nuwara Eliya, which lies at an elevation of 1800 meters above sea level. Nuwara Eliya is a small town, which is enchanting and one of the traveller’s favourites on this route. Afternoon visit to Victoria Park and Nuwara Eliya town.

    Visiting Yala national park is one of the highlights of the one-week Sri Lanka itinerary and you will be doing a Yala jeep safari on day 7 of the tour. Your safari will last around 3 hours and there is a chance to spot leopards, bears, elephants, and many other interesting creatures during your safari.

    Day 6 of 7 days tour in Sri Lanka

    Today you drive to the southern coast of Sri Lanka, another beautiful corner of the island, which is surrounded by lush green forest. The journey will take about 4 hours to reach Tissamaharama, where you have lunch and check in at the hotel. The guests will be staying in a hotel in Tissmaharam and spending one night in Tissamaharama.

    In the afternoon set off on a jeep safari at Yala national park. The Safari of Yala national park is one of the most popular activities that allow the guests to see a large number of animals and bird species.

    Today the guests drive through the Yala national park and enjoy the scenery along the way. There is a high possibility of witnessing wild elephants on the safari.

    There is a good chance of spotting leopards as well, and Yala national park is one of the best wildlife reserves to spot leopards in the world, due to the large number of leopards that are concentrated in Yala. After the safari return to the hotel in Bentota for dinner and an overnight stay.

    Galle is a UNESCO world heritage site and is the best-preserved Durch fort in Asia. Upon entering the 16th-century-built Fort, you will feel like being in an old European city.

    Last of Sri Lanka itinerary 7 days

    After a leisurely breakfast departure transfer to your hotel in Colombo or to the airport to take the onward flight. You will drive along the southern and western coastal belt, which means that there are many opportunities to catch nice scenery and experiences along the way, such as Hikkaduwa beach, Galle fortress, Bentota beach, and Madu river estuary.

    You will encounter another unpopular natural attraction of Sri Lanka, which is located is located along the way, known as Hummanaya or blowhole, which is the second biggest natural fountain in the world.

    End of 7 days tour in Sri Lanka

    Why you should book a Sri Lanka itinerary for 7 days 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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