Sri Lanka Tour Schedule 2026–2027
Season
2026–2027
Guide
English
Planning
from $65
Find out when group tours in Sri Lanka run: Ella and elephants, Yala, Sigiriya, Golden Circle, Galle, whale watching and deep-sea fishing. Hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. Check available seats with our travel advisor before booking.
Tour schedule by day of the week
Monday
🐘 Ella + Udawalawe. Daily: whale watching and deep-sea fishing. Golden Circle runs with 10 or more guests.
Tuesday
🦁 Ella + Yala, Ella + Sigiriya (2 days), Golden Circle, Yala safari. Daily: whale watching and deep-sea fishing.
Wednesday
🐋 Whale watching and deep-sea fishing. Golden Circle runs with 10 or more guests.
Thursday
⚠️ Other group tours are temporarily not running. From 15 October, Ella + Yala runs on Thursdays. Daily: whale watching and fishing.
Friday
🐘 Ella + Udawalawe. Daily: whale watching and deep-sea fishing. Golden Circle runs with 10 or more guests.
Saturday
🏯 Ella + Yala, Ella + Sigiriya (2 days), Golden Circle, Yala safari. Daily: whale watching and deep-sea fishing.
Sunday
🏰 Fort Galle + river safari. Daily: whale watching and sea fishing.
Tours in the schedule: itineraries and prices
Ella and Udawalawe elephant sanctuary
Ella and Yala Jeep Safari
Ella, Sigiriya and Elephants Combo Tour
Sri Lanka Golden Circle
Yala National Park Jeep Safari
Whale watching
Deep-sea fishing
Galle and river safari
What's included: hotel transfer, guide and tickets
Transfer
Included
Children 6–12
−50%
Under 6
Free
🚐 We pick you up from your hotel on the coast and bring you back. No need to find a taxi or agree on a price with a driver. Your travel advisor will confirm the pickup time for your hotel.
🎫 On group tours, entrance tickets to the sights are already included, and the guide speaks English. Children aged 6–12 get −50%, and under 6 travel free.
Before you book: what to know
Early pickups are normal
🌙 Tours to Sigiriya, Ella and Pidurangala start before dawn so you beat the heat and the crowds. Ask your hotel for a packed breakfast to take on the road.
Season matters
🐋 Whale watching runs November to April. In Yala National Park, blocks 1 and 2 are closed from 14 September to 15 October 2026 due to drought, while the other zones remain open. Your travel advisor will tell you what is open on your dates.
Travelling with kids, stress-free
👶 Children aged 6–12 get 50% off, and children under 6 travel free. Little ones enjoy the elephants, turtles and Galle most; Little Adam’s Peak and Sigiriya are best left for older kids.
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
Before you book: what to know
Thursday: no group tours
⚠️ Group tours are temporarily not running on Thursdays. The exception is Ella + Yala, which runs on Thursdays from 15 October.
Golden Circle on other days
🏯 The Golden Circle runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with a group of 10 or more guests.
Whales and fishing: every day
🐋 Whale watching trips from Unawatuna, Weligama and Mirissa, plus sea fishing, run daily, except on stormy days.
Confirm your seats in advance
📅 Before you book, chat with us. Our travel advisor will confirm your seats and hotel pickup time.
Sri Lanka entrance tickets in 2026: how much they cost
🏛 Ancient cities: Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura
Sigiriya Rock: $35 for foreign visitors (SAARC countries: $20).
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 driver is paid separately. In 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, entrance tickets are included in the price, so you don't need to pay on site. Entry prices are current for 2026 and may change on site, so please check with your travel advisor.
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Guest reviews
Overall Rating
27 reviews
Maksim
05/28/2026
Hi everyone! I took a 2-day tour with guide Ishar and his trainee Rashen, and I really enjoyed it. It was a packed tour, and we visited some beautiful places! On day 1 we saw the Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, a tea plantation and much more. On day 2, Sigiriya and the elephant hotel stood out most. There were an incredible number of elephants, around 40. I've never seen so many. You could write a whole story about Sigiriya, it's the 8th wonder of the world! Everything went smoothly, without a single hitch. Great job, guys! We also had a superb driver who got us to every place quickly and comfortably. I recommend seeing all this beauty. You won't regret it!
Anna
05/28/2026
We took a 2-day tour with our child to Ella, Sigiriya, Ravana Pool and Pinnawala. Our guide was Dilan and our driver was Chamara. We were lucky with them. The tour felt relaxed and they took all our wishes into account. Dilan did his best to bring us to every location first, with as few other tourists as possible. He is also an interesting person to talk to. We learned a lot and had fun. Oh, and our child adores Dilan and says he will miss him :) That says a lot. Thank you to the driver for the great driving. We got through all the winding mountain roads comfortably and without any problems, even our 5-year-old. Thank you, it was fantastic!
Yuliya
05/28/2026
My friend and I took the two-day Ella + Pinnawala + Sigiriya tour. Huge thanks for the tour! The route is out of this world: Sigiriya, ancient history with an incredible view; the Pinnawala nursery, a sea of joy from the elephants; a great hotel, tasty breakfast and dinner, plus live music in the evening! Ella is home to the famous Nine Arches Bridge and the train. Nuwara Eliya has fairytale tea plantations and clean mountain air. Everything was perfectly organized, punctual and very full. Our guide Ishara is wonderful, a person with mega positive energy. His stories are a pleasure to listen to! Thanks also to Rashan for the photos and interesting stories! Special thanks to the driver for comfort and safety on the winding mountain roads. Sri Lanka made us fall in love with it for good! I recommend this tour to everyone. It's worth it! ❤️
Andrey
05/28/2026
We took the Golden Ring tour with the coolest guide in Sri Lanka 🔥 yes, yes, Oshan, that's you) Thank you so much for a productive and packed trip around the island. We saw everything, made it everywhere, and most importantly, in good company and with a positive mood.
Irina
05/28/2026
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the tour you organized for me! Everything was organized really well: the transfer, the hotel, the flight tickets. Everything was clear. It was very nice that everyone I dealt with was so friendly. I hope this wasn't my last time in Vietnam, and if I come back, I'll contact only you! You are wonderful professionals! Thank you once again! Special thanks to your colleagues who organized all the transfers! Guys, well done!! All the drivers were great! I wish you all prosperity!! Irina Mulaleva
Anna
05/25/2026
Good afternoon! Yesterday we went on a tour to Galle and a river safari. We were lucky, because our guide was Dilanchik again :) It was interesting and exciting. Thank you, Dilan, for your attention and care, and for the relaxed atmosphere. The bus was also good and comfortable :) I will definitely recommend you to my friends and acquaintances. Sri Lanka is wonderful and has truly stolen my heart ❤️
More Big Travel services in Sri Lanka
Questions about the Sri Lanka tour schedule
Ella + Udawalawe: Mondays and Fridays. Ella + Yala, Ella + Sigiriya, the Golden Circle and the Yala safari: Tuesdays and Saturdays. Galle Fort + river safari: Sundays. Whale watching and deep-sea fishing run daily.
On Thursdays, group tours are temporarily unavailable. From 15 October, only Ella + Yala runs on Thursdays, plus daily whale watching and fishing trips.
Yes, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, if the group has 10 or more guests. If you need a different day, book a private tour.
Whale watching: Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa. Deep-sea fishing: Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Mirissa and Matara.
Day tours are from $65 to $125 per person, Ella + Sigiriya for 2 days is $140, and the Golden Circle for 3 days is $280. Deep-sea fishing is from $350 per boat.
Chat with us and tell us the date, your hotel and the number of guests. We will confirm available places and the hotel pickup time before you book.