Culture and heritage
Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa are good places to start if you enjoy history. In Kandy, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and walk beside the lake. Galle gives you old streets and fort walls to explore on foot, with the sea close by.
Mountains, tea country and waterfalls
Head to Ella or Nuwara Eliya for tea fields, hill walks and waterfalls. Horton Plains has open grassland and forest paths. Pidurangala and Ambuluwawa offer views from high up, though both involve climbing.
Wildlife and the coast
You can add a safari in Yala, Wilpattu, Udawalawe or Minneriya. For the beach, compare Mirissa, Unawatuna, Bentota, Trincomalee and Arugam Bay. The best choice depends on your dates and whether you prefer somewhere quiet or a busier town.
Choose a route you can enjoy
Choose a few places you really want to see and give yourself enough time at each one. With seven days, it helps to keep the route short. Ten to fourteen days gives you more room. The destination cards and itinerary pages can help you decide.
Official information
Use these sources for further information and current updates.
Destinations and private holiday ideas
Explore our Sri Lanka destination guide to compare culture, hills, wildlife and coast. For a week focused on your preferred stays, see the private luxury itinerary for seven days.
Plan your Sri Lanka journey.
Compare our Sri Lanka itineraries, explore tour packages and experiences, or share your travel dates and interests.
Ask about my trip