South Sailing Tour in Sri Lanka (12 Days)
Book this Package now, just for FREE, and be pampered with the fascination of the island with Next Travel Sri Lanka. We assure you of the perfect exploration, with the comforts you desire. Need more additions? Yes, you can even plan your holiday to suit your true favours with our Tailor-Made Tour Packages! We are always here to assist you in planning the best holiday. Simply contact us, if you have any doubts about this package, tailor-made tour packages, or the bookings.
Book With Flexibility Number of Days: 12
From Colombo to Colombo
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Max Group Size 20 |
Private Tour Available |
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Physical Rating Active |
Age Range 18 to 65 |
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Operated In English |
Tour ID NTD2032 |
From $890, Price varies by group size
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Places and Experiences
Weligama
Surfing at Weligama
Visiting the Mirissa Fishing Harbor
Fishing Boats at the Mirissa Fishing Harbor
Visiting a Turtle Hatchery
Releasing Turtles at a Turtle Hatchery
The Nine Arched Bridge
The Nine Arches Bridge
Temple of the Tooth Relic
The Wall Paintings at the Temple of the Tooth Relic
Relaxing at Negombo
The Negombo Beach
Ravana Falls
The Ravana Falls
Jungle Beach
The Jungle Beach
Hiking Horton Plains
Hiking Horton Plains
Galle
The Majestic City of Galle
Enjoying a Scenic Train Ride
A Train Ride in Sri Lanka
Yala National Park
A Leopard at the Yala National Park
Map
Highlights
Relaxing at Negombo
Visiting a Turtle hatchery
Visiting the Mirissa Fishing Harbour
Going on a Boat Ride
Snorkeling
Going on a Whale Watching Tour
Visiting Snake Island in Weligama Bay
Relaxing at Jungle Beach
Enjoying at Unawatuna Beach
Exploring the Galle City
Enjoying a Jeep Safari at Yala
Visiting Ravana Waterfalls
Visiting Nine Arch Bridge
Visiting Ella Gap
Enjoying a Scenic Train Ride
Relaxing at Nuwara Eliya
Hiking Horton Plains
Visiting the Temple of the T
Itinerary
When you arrive in Sri Lanka, you will be able to find one of our representatives from Next Travel Sri Lanka at the Arriving Lounge of the Colombo Airport paging your name. Once your identity is confirmed, you will be guided to your hotel at Negombo. This ride is not that long. Though this is just a minute thing, you will get to experience the best coastlines in Sri Lanka along with their charms. In fact, this journey will map your stay for the coming days creating high expectations in your mind. The wonderful atmosphere, the crowded yet pleasant city area, and the coasts with fishing shores will draw a splendid picture in front of your eyes. The fresh breeze coming from the ocean will make your tired mood vanish and arouse your excitement for the stay. However, the first is all about relaxing and enjoying. Hence, after your arrival at the beach hotel, you can spend your time at either beach or pool in order to get yourself relaxed, lively, and acclimatized to the environment in Negombo. Then you can enjoy a delicious welcome dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
The second day of the tour will start with a splendid view of the sea and the sky at your hotel room, opening up to a traveling day to Mirissa Fishing Harbour. The day will be lined up with different aspects of the marine world along with sightseeing. After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be heading to the first destination of the tour, Mirissa. The destination will be reached through a scenic drive along the West and South coast adding unforgettable memories to your mind. En route, you will get the opportunity to visit a turtle hatchery where you will witness the life cycle and the conservation of turtles with a lot of knowledge. Then the most interesting part of the day would start with a boat journey to Mirissa beach. The journey will be starting at Mirissa Fishing Harbour on a sailing catamaran where a maximum of 8 people can get on board and set sail to Tallala beach. The catamaran ride will open up the doors to the ocean world, where you will witness varieties of colorful fish swarms through the crystal clear water of the unspoiled beach. To explore and have a good look at the fish, you will be provided with snorkeling equipment as well. The day would end with the sunset dinner provided on board.
Having quite a splendid night at the Catamaran, you will wake up to an onboard breakfast with golden sunrise on one side and rustling water on the other side. Then the crew will set the sails for the mission of searching for Sperm whales which is a very unique part of this tour. This whale watching tour will also create the opportunity of sighting blue whales amidst the sea waves as well. However, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance where you will get to see these rare creatures very close in the Sri Lankan sea. Besides, this is an area where around 26 species of different whales traverse along with the well-loved dolphins. Hence, this is the only place where we guarantee you such a sight in Sri Lanka. After watching these amazing creatures in the marine world, we will be heading to Snake Island in Weligama Bay to have lunch and the day ends with sunset dinner on-board.
Holding the mesmerizing memories in mind, the third day on the Catemoron will start with breakfast on board and the crew will set the sails to the next destination, Unawatuna. The sails will be held at Jungle beach en route. Further, on the way to Jungle beach, there will be a pretty good chance of whale sighting once again. After reaching the beach, you will have time to get relaxed and enjoy the beach in order to get rid of the sea motion for a moment. There, you can have a me-time or a fun time enjoying sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, or stand-up paddling while living in the moment. The overnight will be spent near Jungle beach after the onboard dinner.
The fifth day of this tour marks the end of the three-day journey on Catamaran. The day will start with breakfast on board as usual and you will get the time until lunch to enjoy the beach for one last time. Adding up to the memories you have had so far, you can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, or stand-up boarding to make your tour more worthy and to feel the Island seawater thoroughly. After having a well-prepared lunch on board, the sailing cruise will end at 1 pm. Holding all the incredible cruise memories in mind, you will be transferred to another amazing land stay in Taprobane Beach House in Unawatuna. The afternoon will be dedicated to strolling around and feeling the environment. You can witness the Unawatuna villages and their beaches while studying a little about the ambiance. Unlike the past few days, the dinner and overnight stay will be in a house at Unawatuna.
This day starts with a delicious breakfast at the scenic Unawatuna Beach House with an inviting climate to engage in watersports. After breakfast, you will have some time for yourself to snorkel at Unawatuna and make some more memories with the beach. Thereafter, the day’s journey will start as you head to Galle, the capital city of southern Sri Lanka. The afternoon will be dedicated to exploring the colonial-era remains in Galle, which is a major part of Galle’s visit. The historical Dutch Fort, which is one of the few forts in Sri Lanka, yet the most famous one would be a major attraction for you. This gives a unique beauty to the whole city and this is an essential landmark of the tourists. The next spot would be the street markets which overflow with high piled fruit and vegetables, seafood, colorful fabrics, and deliciously fragrant spices. The street market will give you an idea about the Sri Lankan small-scale trade system as well. Towards the latter part of the day, you will be visiting the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay after quite a tiring day.
The seventh day of this tour will be a free day for you where you will get another full day to enjoy the liveliness of Unawatuna beach. In fact, you have ample time to enjoy your time peacefully mostly at scenic beach areas that we have selected for the tour. You can sunbathe when the sun rises while snorkeling and diving throughout the day. Further, you can explore the surrounding, the beach as well as the sea itself and find natural souvenirs to take back to your country. After having a well-spent day, you can have dinner at the hotel as usual following a peaceful sleep reminiscing the moments of the day.
This day is dedicated to a different experience from the whole tour so far. After having breakfast we will be checking out from the hotel and heading towards Yala. Once again through a scenic drive, we will be approaching Yala with the anticipation of having a safari tour in the afternoon. Getting away from the marine life with marine environment and creatures, hereafter, you will be directed more into land explorations along with nature visits. In the afternoon, you will be taking a safari tour in Yala National Park, one of the two major national parks in Sri Lanka. When it comes to a safari, it is either morning or afternoon that gives a better experience since the animals tend to come out to the open spaces from their hideouts. You will get to witness very rare creatures unique to Sri Lanka along with the endemic birds, migratory birds, and insect species. Overnight stay would be at a hotel in Yala.
The ninth day of this tour will take you to a new environment away from the crowded, urban, and coastal environment. In fact, starting the day from the coast and emerging into the country towards the hills, we will be approaching Ella enjoying the surrounding greenery. Though you have spent more than enough time with the ocean and water, starting from today you will get the chance to live with the inland beauty along with its water bodies which gives you a different experience with a different set of memories. As for the day, we will be visiting one of the wonderful waterfalls, the historical Rawana waterfall, the famous Nine Arch Bridge, and the Ella gap, which are essentials when it comes to Ella visits. Overnight stay would be at a hotel in Ella.
After having breakfast at the resort, you will be heading to explore more in the scenic town, Ella. The first would be a hike which leads to sightseeing at the heights of Ella hills. Then the most amazing beauty factor of the hill country, the tea estates will be visited anticipating to taste the Ceylon tea from freshly innovated tea leaves. You will be privileged to have a cup since the original taste and the odor of Ceylon tea can only be found in these areas. After that, ending the visit at Ella, you will be headed more into the country, Nuwara Eliya through rail tracks. Yes, this is the only train ride included in the tour and that is more than enough as this is considered as one of the most fascinating rail journeys in the world. Hence, enjoying the top-class train ride, you will be entering the coolest city in Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya while thoroughly feeling the climate change. Since it is a long day full of visits and a mesmerizing journey, the day will be dedicated to having a peaceful rest since you are in the best climate for that. For those interested, a visit to the local fruit and vegetable market in Nuwara Eliya is highly recommended. Dinner and overnight stay would be at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya,
The eleventh day of the journey starts amidst the cool climes of Nuwara Eliya. Before leaving this beautiful town, which is also named Little England, we will be taking you on an early morning hike to the Horton Plains National Park, which has one of the scenic routes towards the top. You can either go on a vehicle or on foot, yet the footwork is highly recommended to discover the surroundings more precisely. After having a nice morning walk sort of journey, we will be leaving Nuwara Eliya to reach Kandy which is totally different from climate to the environment. When arriving in Kandy city, you will be getting a religious kind of feeling since this city is more sacred than any other city on the island. Our exploration at Kandy would begin with a visit to the Temple of Tooth Relic, which is one of the frontline religious and cultural attractions in the country holding both historical and sacred importance. After getting blessings from the replica of Lord Buddha, we will be taking you to a cultural show in order to introduce you to Sri Lankan aesthetic heritage. There, you will get the chance to witness the traditional arts to the beats of the traditional drums which is very unique to Sri Lanka. Overnight stay would be at a hotel in Kandy.
As we mark the end of this tour, we will be heading to the Colombo International Airport, or your next destination, following a delicious breakfast.
After all, we believe that this tour package features the best of the island, satisfying the true favors. Besides, if you prefer to make your dream trip in Sri Lanka a reality, in exactly the way your heart desires, we are here to offer you tailor-made tour packages as well. Contact us for more information.
Happy and Safe Travelling!
What is included
Let it be a stay by the golden stretches, a chill amidst the cool breeze or a holiday surrounded by the lush greenery! Whatever your heart desires, the wide array of star-class hotels in Sri Lanka are ready to cater to you. And this tour includes accommodation in selected hotels in double rooms, on a half-board basis, and sailing yacht accommodation helping you enjoy your stay in a way that suits your wishes!
Of course, there is so much on this island to explore, and getting around this country is not an issue at all! Throughout this tour, we would be offering you transportation by A/C limousine or Japanese Mini Van with driver/guide.
Dishes in Sri Lanka are a true delight! Hence, you should never miss a chance to experience the authenticity and the exclusivity of the mouth-watering Sri Lankan tastes. However, this package includes breakfast & dinner at the hotels, and breakfast, lunch & dinner on board. Yet, you have nothing to worry about the rest of the meals because our representatives would help you arrange the meals upon request. Further, any of the Sri Lankan hotels/restaurants would allow you to choose among the below selections, for each of your main meals.
Also, please note that these are the general food items that any of the hotels would offer you, and there may be a wide variety of additional dishes depending on the hotel you dine at. Further, this tour offers Vegetarian and Halal food options on request.
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It is true that one can visit the attractions on this island on their own. Still, let us assure you that having a travel guide makes your journey more wonderful, and stress-free. In fact, they know about this island like the back of their hands. They are capable of enlightening you about each and every place you visit. Going beyond, they would turn out to be a companion of yours, inspired with a passion to fulfill your expectations on this beautiful island. Hence, we make sure to provide you with the service of an experienced, English-speaking driver/guide with the required guiding permit. French, German, Russian, Italian, Japanese speaking guides can be booked for a small surcharge.
The following services are included in this tour package.
Driver Accommodation & Meals
No extra burdens would be bothering you as this package includes accommodation and meals for the driver as well.
24/7 Customer Hotline
Our team members are more than pleased to help you with anything and everything. You can contact our customer support team through a 24/7 hotline at any time that you need!
This package includes full vehicle/passenger insurance by Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd. Still, the medical / travel insurance is the responsibility of the client(s).
You may need to pay an entrance fee to visit some of the attractions in Sri Lanka. However, it is a must note that this package does not include any entrance fee. Also, this package does not offer you the safari vehicle for the game drive at Yala National Park.
Of course, you will be provided with accommodation. Still, it is up to the travelers to bear personal expenses for pre and post-tour accommodation. Further, the travelers should bear their cost for anything that is not mentioned in the Itinerary, such as the rest of the meals, alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, visa fees, tips, and portage, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grabbing out the best essence out of a wonderful holiday destination indeed requires a good plan. Yet, proper planning surely requires a good knowledge about the destination as well. In that case, you will certainly need a helping hand to know more about what to expect, how to get ready, and mostly, to clear out your doubts. However, as an experienced team working close to the hearts of our travelers, we clearly understand what troubles your mind, and your desire to travel with peace of mind. Thus, we have answered the most frequently asked questions, so that you can easily clear out your doubts just in a second. So, why not? Have a look at the section below, and we are sure that we have answered your question!
Abiding by the new normal, Sri Lanka is now open for tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, quarantine measures are different for the vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists.
Completing two weeks upon receiving the recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccinations will make you begin travelling on the island sooner. Apart from that, Sri Lanka requires no mandatory vaccinations before arrival.
The natural marvels of the island nation Sri Lanka, which includes the golden shores, charming cascades, scenic landscapes, and diverse wildlife are indeed capable of attracting any tourist. Besides, its rich cultural heritage, delightful festivals, pleasant climate, exclusive cuisines, and extensive range of facilities for affordable prices, simply make tourists go to Sri Lanka, at any time of the year.
Tourists are only permitted to get to Sri Lanka, by air.
Yes, of course! If you are arriving in Sri Lanka for a holiday, for medical treatments, or to take part in an event, you will require a Tourist Visa.
Any foreigner who plans to arrive in Sri Lanka should obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) through http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/. The website also contains a full guide on obtaining the ETA, along with the payment details.
The Visa is valid for 30 days.
Yes, you can. Still, you have to apply for a visa extension, before your current visa expires. All you have to do is collect the visa extension form from the Head Office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration (You can also download the form from here), and submit the duly filled application, along with the following.
- Return Air Ticket
- Details of the place of accommodation
- The application along with a photograph of the applicant
It is always better to have your National Identity Card, and Passport with you when travelling around the island.
In brief, Sri Lanka is a year-round destination. Thus, it always has something to do and somewhere to visit on this island. Still, it is always better to choose a time where the monsoon rains do not impact the area you plan to visit in Sri Lanka. This complete overview of the weather and climate of Sri Lanka, and the official website of the Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka will help you with regard.
You can either use public transportation which includes the bus and train services. If not, you can even hire a taxi, a tuk-tuk, or hire a vehicle to drive yourself.
Sri Lanka Rupees (SLR) is the currency used in Sri Lanka.
Not really! If you are using public transportation, enjoying meals from budget restaurants, and taking accommodation at budget hotels, you can experience the holiday at your heart’s core, at a low budget. Thus, the cost depends upon your choices. Still, a holiday in Sri Lanka is simply cheaper than many other tourist destinations across the world.
The best is to wear comfortable materials, preferable cotton, linen, or rayon since Sri Lanka is warm most of the time. Besides, if you are visiting a religious place, the best is to wear something light colour that covers from your shoulders to your knees, to blend with the culture there. Besides, having a shawl will help you to cover yourself in instances where your attire is inappropriate to visit such a place.
As long as you are travelling in a populated area it is safe to travel alone in Sri Lanka. Still, if you are a female travelling alone, the best is to wear an attire that covers your body, and also, wearing a fake wedding ring, acting familiar, etc. will help you avoid unnecessary hassles. However, the best is to avoid night rides, and use google location if you are travelling alone!
Most can! Still, some locals would only be familiar with Sinhala and Tamil languages. However, hand signals will help you in instances as such.
- Simply, cultural and religious values run through the veins of Sri Lankans. So, never disrespect any religion. Avoid posing with funny actions at religious sites. Besides, dresses or tattoos with religious slogans or images might pave the way for unnecessary disturbances.
- Avoid public nudity and kissing.
- Never take photographs without permission.
Good to Know
The delight of a Sri Lankan holiday needs no further exaggerations. Its natural splendours, pleasant weather and climate, welcoming smiles of Sri Lankans, and every other bit of this wonderful paradise are surely going to enchant anyone who visits it. Still, in order to witness the true delight of this wonderful destination, knowing a few more things would certainly benefit you. Keep calm, and have a look below. They will help you make the most out of your time on this splendid island nation!
Electricity is not an issue in the present, especially around tourist hotspots. It is true that some extremely rural areas still lack this facility. Still, we can assure you that those areas are out of the tourist zones.
However, Sri Lanka operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50 Hz. Hence, be mindful of bringing compatible devices or voltage converters. Besides, it is always better to have with you a power bank, rechargeable lamp, etc. because emergency power cuts could occur once in a while.
As you might already know, Sri Lankan Rupees is the currency used in Sri Lanka. The best would be to bring USDs with you and then to exchange them for the local currency once you arrive. Doing so will offer you opportunities to get better exchange rates as well. Besides, Mastercards and Visa Cards are widely accepted, while American Express Cards are also often accepted. Still, it is always better to have cash in hand, since most of the local boutiques around tourist attractions do not have the facilities to accept credit cards.
Also, ATMs are available islandwide. Still, not all of them accept international cards. The daily transaction limit usually ranges between SLR 100,000 to SLR 200,000 and a transaction fee is imposed upon every transaction. Moreover, banks are open on weekdays from 9 AM to 3 PM and closed on weekends. Still, some main cities have a few banks that are open 24/7, or either till night hours.
Of course, telecommunication facilities are available almost island-wide, except for the extremely rural areas. If you are planning to stay connected during your trip to Sri Lanka, the best would be to buy a local sim since the mobile service providers here offer perfect tourist plans that would simply save you money. Also, buying a sim in Sri Lanka is not that hard. You can buy one easily from the airport premises, or the outlets islandwide.
As you already know, Sri Lanka holds accommodation facilities that cover an extensive range. Starting with the Home Stays, Guest Houses, Bungalows, to Medium-Scale Hotels, and Super-Luxury Hotels, this paradise island has it all. Of course, the price might vary upon your selections and the facilities they offer. Still, accommodation facilities are indeed cheaper in Sri Lanka, when compared with tourist destinations worldwide.
However, some of the Home-stays, Guesthouses, and Bungalows might not have AC and hot water facilities. Hence, if you are concerned with regard, it is always better to ask about these little things before placing your bookings. Besides, finding accommodation during the off-season might not be that hard. Still, it is always best to hunt for accommodation a few days earlier, just to travel with pace in mind.
Discovering the unique flavours of Sri Lankan Food, seafood, and cultural dishes would simply be a delightful experience that you can ever imagine! Let it be the luxurious hotels that offer you both local and international cuisine, and the small boutiques or the street stalls that amaze you with their mouth-watering tastes, all of them are impressive beyond words. However, local dishes might be a bit spicy. Thus, it is always better to inform the cook earlier, if you prefer less spicy food. Besides, the cost of food in Sri Lanka highly varies depending on the place you choose to dine, and the dishes you select.
Photography and videography are not forbidden in Sri Lanka. Still, make sure you request permission, especially if you are capturing locals, their boutiques, or their houses. Besides, never turn your back to religious statues, or pose with them with funny poses, since Sri Lanka is a country backed with strong cultural values. Also, whenever you visit a religious or a cultural attraction, or a museum, make sure to check for notices. Photography and videography are strictly prohibited in certain places, and using the flasher is strictly prohibited in some sites with historical paintings, and murals. Going beyond, photography and videography in some places require prior permission or payments. Hence, making memories is always fine, yet, it is always better to be mindful of the restrictions. And yes, your travel guide will simply help you with these concerns!
As you might already know, Sri Lanka is a country with a rich cultural heritage. Thus, we encourage you to follow the below ethics when visiting religious places in Sri Lanka.
- Most religious places encourage visitors to wear a light colour attire that covers their body, shoulder to knees. Thus, if you are visiting a religious place, make sure that you do not wear shorts, crop tops, skinnies, etc. Also, having a shawl with you will help you cover your body at such times, in order to blend with the culture there.
- Visitors enter the religious place barefoot and caps, hats, scarfs, etc. are removed before entering the site.
- The tranquillity of the religious places in Sri Lanka is simply impressive. Hence, make sure you mind your behaviour.
Indeed, safety is first! So, it is always better to keep an eye on animals, especially on the stray dogs on the roads. Be mindful when feeding them, or touching them. And by chance, if a stray dog or any other animal bit you, make sure you arrive at the nearest government hospital, and they will make sure to treat you accordingly.
