If India and Sri Lanka are close sisters in the family of South Asia, India could be the graceful elder sister and Sri Lanka could be the lovely little one. From the magnificent ancient forts to the colonial-style churches, from Hinduism to Buddhism, and from Bengal tigers to Asian elephants, this 17-day tour including India and Sri Lanka will take you to the discover the most splendid history, to experience the most colorful culture, to enjoy the most idyllic countryside, to track the most lovely animals, and to meet the most sincere smiles.
This tour is an ideal choice for families visiting India and Sri Lanka for the first time. The itinerary is customizable to align with your interests and schedule.
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Sirin is the BEST!
My recent trip to Chiang Mai was nothing short of magical, and our tour guide played a huge part in making it so memorable. From the moment we met, Sirin welcomed us with warm hospitality and an infectious passion for sharing the beauty, history, and culture of northern Thailand. More
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Excellent Trip Planning by Alisa Liu at Asia Highlights
Alisa did a wonderful job! She was very detail oriented, extremely responsive and answered my questions very promptly. She incorporated all of the places we wanted to visit and was able to book hotels, airline tickets and special event tickets (to the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival which was sold out when I tried booking on my own.) Alisa was great to work with and I recommend that others use her for their trip planning. More
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Excellent experience in Bangkok
Ying was our guide in Bangkok. She was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. She knew exactly how to move us through crowds quickly so that we could see all we wanted to say and made good recommendations for other things we were interested in. I would not hesitate to recommend Ying or anyone that helped us at Asia highlights More
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Tour Highlights
Here are the awesome attractions, the most must-do activities selected by Asia Highlights (AH Hand-Picked), and exclusive cultural experiences offered by Asia Highlights (Only With AH) included in this tour:
Witness a wonder of the ancient world, the Taj Mahal, and feel the true love that sparked its creation.
Break away from the typical tourist routine; visit an Agra village and be touched by the lovely smiles of locals.
Catch a glimpse of the "big cats " in the wild via a jeep safari
Discover a hidden fort in the jungle on a thrilling jeep adventure
Explore Jaipur to experience the colorful culture of the 'Land of the Kings', Rajasthan.
Celebrate a milestone with a special dinner at Amber Fort.
Enjoy a boat ride on the Dutch Canal, observing local life and coastal scenery.
Skip the touristy camp. Touch an adorable baby elephant at the Elephant Transit Home.
Discover the process of creating fragrant Ceylon black tea in a renowned tea factory.
Experience the toy train of Sri Lanka to enjoy fantastic views of the tea plantations.
Explore the lovely town of Galle to discover the modern history of Sri Lanka.
Relax at Cinnimon Bentota Beach at the end, savoring the Indian Ocean breeze and fresh fruit juice.
Suggested Route for a India and Sri Lanka Tour
Suggested Itinerary for Inspiration
Your preferences design the real journey. We're ready to create a wonderful India and Sri Lanka tour for you.
Welcome to India. Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and then escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day will be your free time.
- Start your Delhi tour with the sacred Jama Masjid, which is the biggest mosque in India and a combination of the Islamic and Indian cultures.
- Travel around Chandni Chowk by rickshaw to get a glimpse of the local people's lifestyle in Old Delhi.
- In the afternoon, continue your visit to Qutub Minar and Humayun's tomb. Listen to stories about the splendid dynasties that were created by Indian Muslims.
- Driven to Agra, the erstwhile capital of the Mughal Empire, in the morning.
- Explore a village near Taj Mahal. Get close to the daily life of the ordinary Indian.
- Then you will visit Mehtab Bagh for a sunset view of the Taj Mahal.
- Witness the Taj Mahal in the morning. The closer you walk to this ivory-white marble mausoleum, the more moved you will be by the spectacular architecture and the true love that sparked its creation.
- Get dressed in traditional Indian attire and have a memorable picture in front of this wonder of the world.
- Visit the magnificent Agra Fort, which is located on the Yamuna River. The sunlight in the afternoon makes the red color of the sandstone fort appear to be very bright, just like the glory of the Mughal Empire.
- Dont forget to view the Taj Mahal in the distance in Khas Mahal, feeling the loneliness of Shah Jahan and his missing for his loved one.
- You will be driven from Agra to Ranthambore in the morning.
- Enjoy a private jeep ride to discover a hidden fort in the jungle. You might encounter some monkeys or other lovely animals
- Get up early for the jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park. Go back to your hotel for breakfast then spend the rest of the morning at your leisure, enjoying the various facilities available at your hotel or explore around by yourself.
- Late in the afternoon, you will have another jeep safari in the jungle.
- Drive from Ranthambore to Jaipur in the morning.
- Take a tuk tuk to a local bazaar. Experience the local people's lifestyle and also enjoy some souvenir shopping.
- Stop at the Hawa Mahal on the way back. Take some great pictures of this landmark of the 'Pink City',
- Start your 'Pink City' exploration with the charming Amber Fort. Step back in time to the great dynasty.
- Continue your visit to Jaipur's City Palace. The abundant exhibits will highlight what life was like for the maharajas of Jaipur.
- In the afternoon, Then visit the Jantar Mantar. Be impressed by the wisdom of the ancient Indians.
- Have a special dinner in Amber Fort, which will bring you into an exotic fairy tale.
Fly from Jaipur to Colombo with a layover in Bangalore. When you arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport, your English-speaking chauffeur guide will meet you in the arrivals hall. You will be driven to Negombo to check in to your hotel.
- Enjoy a boat ride on the Dutch Canal to explore this coastal town. Observe local life – villagers fishing, children swimming, and women washing clothes on the riverbanks.
- Drive from Negombo to Kandy in the afternoon.
- Start the day with a visit tothe National Museum of Kandy. Appreciate some relics dating back to the British colonial era. The museum building itself used to be the residence of the royal families and its architectural features show the aesthetic values of the ancient Kandyan Kingdom.
- Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This extensive temple complex was built to house the tooth relic of the Lord Buddha.
- Have a relaxing walk around Kandy Lake and then walk into the Royal Palace of Kandy
- Enjoy the fresh air in the Royal Botanical Gardens. The area was built when King Vickramabahu III ascended the throne in 1371. The garden is divided into different themed sections, and you will visit the Orchid House, Palm Avenue, and the Spice Garden.
- Drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya in the afternoon.
- Visit a tea plantation in the morning. Explore the tea making process from plucking to packaging, enjoy tea tasting sessions, and experience the breathtaking views of the surrounding plantations.
- Take a toy train ride to Ella in the afternoon. Enjoy the landscapes that change dramatically from plains to mountains laced with tea plantations, forests swaying in the breeze, and waterfalls making loud sounds, as well as seeing the lovely local people.
- Drive from Udawalawe National Park from Ella (2-hour drive).
- Have a jeep safari in the early morning. Recommended by the Lonely Planet, Udawalawe National Park is famous for Asian elephants, peacocks, crocodiles, buffalos, monkeys, and birds.
- Visit the Elephant Transit Home. Observe the elephants, particularly during designated feeding times, and learn about elephant conservation.
- Enjoy another jeep safari in the late afternoon.
- Head for Galle in the morning. Explore the old town of Galle to understand the modern history of Sri Lanka. The town itself is small and easy to get around; however, an insightful tour guide will shed an interesting light on every historical building you visit.
- Slow your pace and discover Galle Dutch Fort, the Dutch Reformed Church, Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum, and Community Tsunami Museum, walking you into the old days of Galle.
- Continue to Bentota after the tour in Galle.
Enjoy a free day in Bentota. You can arrange some water sports or swim in the nice pool of the hotel or have a relaxing walk on the beach.
Drive from Bentota to Colombo and then catch your flight home or to your next destination.
Ideas for Making This Trip Uniquely Yours
Special experiences can be added to brighten a honeymoon trip, a family vacation, a birthday, or satisfy personal interests.
Heena Painting on Hands and Feet
For culture fans |
Cooking Class in Jaipur
For foodies |
An Extension to Yala National Park
For families and adventurers |
Have a Boats Ride to See the Whales
For families |
Stay in a Jungle Hut near Yala National Park
For families and couples |
Hand-Picked Hotels
We select hotels with style and local features. Let us know your preferences and we'll find your ideal hotel.
A morden hotel in the city center of New Delhi
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Heritage hotel with a great ambience in Jaipur
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Hotel with a nice garden and a outdoor pool in Agra
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Hotel with a lake and close to the beach in Bentota
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Hotel close to the nature in Kandy
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Our Service Includes:
- Private veichle with drivers and English-speaking tour guide in India.
- Private veichle with English-speaking chauffeur guide in Sri Lanka.
- All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- 4-star accommodations for 16 nights
- Flights and private transfers between cities mentioned in the itinerary
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary
- Governmental taxes
Tour code: ah-in-88
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At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.