All itineraries15 DAYS · Culture, hills, wildlife & coast
Sri Lanka from Hills to Coast — 15 Days / 14 Nights
Visit Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Kandy, travel through the tea fields to Ella, then take a safari and spend time in Mirissa and Galle.
THE JOURNEY
Your days on the island.
Airport → Negombo → Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Mirissa → Galle → Colombo
| Day | Destination | Activities | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival → Negombo | Meet your driver at the airport and check into your hotel. Rest after the flight, with a beach walk if you have time. | Negombo |
| 2 | Negombo → Dambulla → Sigiriya | Travel to Sigiriya, stopping at Dambulla Cave Temple before checking into your hotel. | Sigiriya |
| 3 | Sigiriya | Climb Sigiriya early, then take a break for a local lunch. Keep the afternoon free or ask about a cooking lesson. | Sigiriya |
| 4 | Explore Polonnaruwa | Spend the day visiting the old city of Polonnaruwa. See the temple ruins and carved Buddha figures, with a break for lunch. Return to Sigiriya without fitting a safari into the same afternoon. | Sigiriya |
| 5 | Minneriya Safari | Keep the morning free, then take an afternoon jeep safari to look for elephants and other animals. | Sigiriya |
| 6 | Sigiriya → Kandy | Travel to Kandy, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and take a walk beside the lake. | Kandy |
| 7 | Kandy → Nuwara Eliya | Drive through the hills, stopping at Ramboda Falls and a tea plantation and factory. Spend the evening near Gregory Lake. | Nuwara Eliya |
| 8 | Nuwara Eliya → Ella | Travel to Nanu Oya for the train to Ella if services and seats are available. Otherwise, continue by road. | Ella |
| 9 | Explore Ella | Walk up Little Adam's Peak, visit Nine Arch Bridge and leave some time for the cafes in Ella. | Ella |
| 10 | Ella → Yala area | Stop at Ravana Falls on the way to Tissamaharama. Rest at your hotel before tomorrow morning's safari. | Tissamaharama / Yala area |
| 11 | Yala → Mirissa | Take an early jeep safari in Yala, then travel to Mirissa for a stay by the beach. | Mirissa |
| 12 | Mirissa Beach Day | Spend the day by the sea, visit Coconut Tree Hill or ask about a surfing lesson in nearby Weligama if conditions are suitable. | Mirissa |
| 13 | Mirissa → Galle | After breakfast, travel to Galle and check into your hotel. Walk through the fort streets, stop at a cafe and follow the ramparts for sea views. Stay in Galle tonight rather than continuing straight to Colombo. | Galle |
| 14 | Galle → Colombo | Have a relaxed breakfast before travelling to Colombo. If time allows, visit Galle Face Green or explore the Dutch Hospital area. Keep the evening flexible before your final day. | Colombo |
| 15 | Colombo & Departure | Visit Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square and Galle Face Green if your flight time allows. Your driver will then take you to Bandaranaike International Airport. | — |
Planning notes
This trip includes 14 hotel nights and private road transfers. There is one night in Kandy, with the temple and lake visit on arrival. Polonnaruwa and the Minneriya safari have separate days. The train to Ella depends on services and available seats; the road is an alternative. Animal sightings cannot be promised. Plan beach activities around local conditions and leave plenty of time for the airport transfer on Day 15.
YOUR ISLAND STORY
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