7 Nights / 8 Days
This eight-day round trip covers the hill country, the south-west coast and Galle Fort, with hotels chosen for Muslim travellers. We use properties rated by CrescentRating, the Singapore-based halal travel rating, and others that do not serve pork and source halal meat, subject to our own inspection. Even so, we always suggest you use your own judgement when choosing what to eat.
Days 1 to 2: Pinnawala and Kandy
You are picked up from the airport or your address in Colombo or Negombo and driven to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, then on to Kandy for an evening cultural show of Kandyan dancing. On day 2 you see the city from the viewpoint above the lake, tour the market and gem museum, and spend the afternoon in the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. Both nights are at Cinnamon Citadel, which is Crescent-rated.
Days 3 to 4: Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains
Day 3 is planned as a train ride into the hills to Nanu Oya, the station for Nuwara Eliya. That section of line was damaged by Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025, so if it is not running when you travel, the journey is by road through the tea country, about three and a half hours. In Nuwara Eliya you take a city tour and visit a tea plantation and factory. You stay at the Grand Hotel, also Crescent-rated.
On day 4 you leave early for Horton Plains National Park, a high plateau of grassland and cloud forest. The circular walk passes Baker's Falls and World's End, where the land drops away hundreds of metres. Go early, before the mist closes in.
Days 5 to 6: Kalutara and Galle
A long drive takes you down to the beach at Kalutara for two nights at Avani or Turyaa Kalutara, both Crescent-rated. On day 6 you walk Galle Fort, including the lighthouse and the Meeran Mosque, the largest mosque in the fort, and take a boat on the Madu River with a fish spa.
Days 7 to 8: Colombo
Back in Colombo you take a city tour of Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, the Old Parliament, the Fort and Independence Square, with time to shop. The tour includes a visit to the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque in Pettah, the Red Mosque, one of the city's best-known landmarks. On day 8 you transfer to the airport, or the tour ends in Colombo or Negombo.
What is included
The package includes lunch and dinner on days 1 to 7, the excursions and entrance tickets listed day by day, private air-conditioned transport and guiding services. Prayer times can be built into the daily schedule; just tell us when you book.
Day 1: Airport to Kandy via Pinnawala (120 km, about 4 hours by road)
You are collected from the airport or your address in Colombo or Negombo and driven to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to see the elephants at feeding and bathing time. Continue to Kandy and watch a Kandyan dance show in the evening.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Cinnamon Citadel (Crescent rated) or similar
Entrance tickets and excursions included: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Kandyan dance show
Other inclusions: Transport in an air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Day 2: Kandy
Drive up to the viewpoint above Kandy Lake for a view over the city, then tour the lake, market and gem museum. After lunch, stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, about 60 hectares once reserved for the Kandyan kings.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Cinnamon Citadel (Crescent rated) or similar
Entrance tickets and excursions included: Kandy viewpoint and city tour, Royal Botanical Gardens
Other inclusions: Transport in an air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Day 3: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (77 km, about 3.5 hours by road)
Drive up through the tea country to Nuwara Eliya, often called Little England for its cool climate and colonial buildings. Visit a tea estate and factory to see how Ceylon tea is made and taste a fresh cup, then tour the town's lake, parks and market.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: The Grand Hotel (Crescent rated) or similar
Entrance tickets and excursions included: Nuwara Eliya town tour, tea estate and factory visit
Other inclusions: Transport in an air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Train note: the line between Kandy and Nanu Oya was damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, so that section is driven if trains are not running when you travel.
Day 4: Nuwara Eliya to Horton Plains and back (about 70 km round trip, 1.5 hours each way)
Leave early with a packed breakfast for Horton Plains National Park, a high plateau of grassland and cloud forest. The 9 km loop walk passes Baker's Falls and World's End, where the cliff drops hundreds of metres. Go early, before the mist rolls in.
Meals: Packed breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: The Grand Hotel (Crescent rated) or similar
Entrance tickets and excursions included: Horton Plains entry
Other inclusions: Transport in an air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Day 5: Nuwara Eliya to Kalutara (200 km, about 5 to 6 hours by road)
A long drive down from the hills to Kalutara on the south west coast. The rest of the day is for the beach.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Avani Kalutara Resort or Turyaa Kalutara (Crescent rated) or similar
Entrance tickets and excursions included: None
Other inclusions: Transport in an air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Day 6: Kalutara to Galle and back (about 160 km round trip, 1.5 hours each way)
Drive down the coast to Galle and walk the Dutch fort, a World Heritage Site of old streets, shops and cafes. Visit the Meeran Mosque, the largest in the fort, with its tiled floors and stained glass, opposite the lighthouse.
On the way back, take a boat on the Madu river through the mangroves and dip your feet in a fish spa.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Avani Kalutara Resort or Turyaa Kalutara (Crescent rated) or similar
Entrance tickets and excursions included: Galle Fort walk, Madu river boat trip and fish spa
Other inclusions: Transport in an air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Day 7: Kalutara to Colombo (50 km, about 1.5 hours by road)
Drive to Colombo for a city tour of Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, the old Parliament, Colombo Fort and Independence Square, with time to shop. Visit the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque in Pettah, the Red Mosque, with its striped red and white brickwork. Dinner is at a halal restaurant in the city.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Mandarina Colombo or similar
Entrance tickets and excursions included: Colombo City Tour, Red Mosque
Other inclusions: Transport in an air conditioned vehicle, guiding services
Day 8: Colombo to the airport (35 km, about 45 minutes by road)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport, or the tour can end in Colombo or Negombo in the morning.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
Entrance tickets and excursions included: None
Other inclusions: Private air conditioned transport throughout, English speaking guide, entrance tickets for the excursions listed, meet and assist on arrival, two 500 ml bottles of water per person per day in the vehicle and two in each room, 24 hour emergency support