All itineraries18 DAYS · Culture, tea country & coast
Sri Lanka and the Coast — 18 Days / 17 Nights
Visit ancient sites, tea fields and Yala, then stay in Mirissa, Galle and Bentota before your final night in Colombo.
THE JOURNEY
Your days on the island.
Airport → Negombo → Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Mirissa → Galle → Bentota → 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 | Explore Kandy | Walk through Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and visit the local markets. You can also ask about an evening dance performance. | Kandy |
| 8 | 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 |
| 9 | Nuwara Eliya → Ella | Travel to Nanu Oya for the train to Ella if services and seats are available. Otherwise, continue by road. | Ella |
| 10 | Explore Ella | Walk up Little Adam's Peak, visit Nine Arch Bridge and leave some time for the cafes in Ella. | Ella |
| 11 | Ella → Yala area | Stop at Ravana Falls on the way to Tissamaharama. Rest at your hotel before tomorrow morning's safari. | Tissamaharama / Yala area |
| 12 | Yala → Mirissa | Take an early jeep safari in Yala, then travel to Mirissa for a stay by the beach. | Mirissa |
| 13 | 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 |
| 14 | 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 |
| 15 | Galle → Bentota | Travel along the coast to Bentota after breakfast. Check into your hotel and leave the afternoon free. You can take a beach walk or spend time resting at the hotel. | Bentota |
| 16 | Bentota at Leisure | Enjoy a day without a long drive. Stay by the beach or ask about an optional guided trip on the Bentota River. Choose any water activities with local advice about the conditions and confirm the cost before booking. | Bentota |
| 17 | Bentota → Colombo | Travel to Colombo after breakfast. Visit a few city sights or browse the shops if you feel like going out. There is no need to fit everything in before your final night. | Colombo |
| 18 | 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 route includes private road transfers and 17 hotel nights. The beach stops are on the south and west coasts; discuss your travel dates before choosing water activities. Train travel and safaris depend on availability and access, and animal sightings are not guaranteed. Allow enough time to reach the airport on Day 18, especially during busy traffic.
YOUR ISLAND STORY
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