The classic Sri Lanka round trip in 14 days
Two weeks is the right length for a first visit. You see the Cultural Triangle, the hills and the south coast without spending every day in the car. Most driving days are under four hours, and you sleep two nights in most places.
Your driver stays with you from the airport to the day you fly home. He knows the roads, the best times to visit each sight and where to stop for lunch.
Route
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrival and a quiet first night in Negombo
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign. Negombo is only 20 minutes from the airport, so you can rest after the long flight, walk on the beach and try your first rice and curry.
- Day 2
Into the Cultural Triangle
A drive through coconut plantations and paddy fields brings you to Sigiriya. The afternoon is free: a swim in the hotel pool, or a short walk through the villages around the rock.
- Day 3
Sigiriya Rock and the Dambulla cave temple
Climb Sigiriya early, before the heat and the tour buses. About 1,200 steps lead past the frescoes and the lion’s paws to the palace ruins on top. In the afternoon you visit the cave temple of Dambulla, with its painted ceilings and more than 150 Buddha statues.
- Day 4
Polonnaruwa and an elephant safari
Explore the medieval royal city of Polonnaruwa, ideally by bicycle. The Gal Vihara rock carvings are the highlight. In the late afternoon a jeep takes you into Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park, where wild elephants come to the water.
- Day 5
Spice garden and the Temple of the Tooth
On the way to Kandy you stop at a spice garden near Matale and see how cinnamon, pepper and cardamom grow. In the evening you visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic during the evening ceremony, when drums sound through the halls.
- Day 6
A day in Kandy
Walk through the Royal Botanic Garden in Peradeniya, with its giant bamboo and avenue of palms. Afterwards: the market, a walk around Kandy Lake, and in the evening a performance of Kandyan dance if you like.
- Day 7
Up into tea country
The road climbs past Ramboda Falls into the tea hills. You visit a tea factory, see how the leaves are withered, rolled and dried, and taste the result. Nuwara Eliya, at about 1,900 metres, is cool in the evenings, so bring a warm layer.
- Day 8
Horton Plains and on to Ella
If you like walking, start before sunrise for Horton Plains National Park and the World’s End cliff (about 9 km loop, park fees extra). Then continue to Ella. The hill-country railway was damaged by Cyclone Ditwah and is being repaired in sections. Trains currently run from Nanu Oya (near Nuwara Eliya) to Ella, one of the most beautiful parts of the line: your driver drops you at the station and meets you in Ella with your luggage. If the line from Kandy has reopened by your travel date, we can plan a longer train ride.
- Day 9
Ella: hikes and the Nine Arches Bridge
Walk up Little Adam’s Peak in the morning (about an hour return from the road) and see the Nine Arches Bridge, ideally when a train crosses. Fit walkers can climb Ella Rock instead. The afternoon is for cafés and the view.
- Day 10
Down to Yala for a leopard safari
The road drops from the hills past Ravana Falls to the dry south-east. In the afternoon you go on a jeep safari in Yala National Park, which has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. You will also see elephants, crocodiles, peacocks and many birds.
- Day 11
To the south coast
The road follows the coast to Mirissa. Time for the beach, a swim and a fresh fish dinner by the sea.
- Day 12
Beach day, or whales at sunrise
A free day. From November to April (best from December to March), boats leave Mirissa early in the morning to look for blue whales and dolphins. Or you simply stay on the beach.
- Day 13
Galle Fort
Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage town inside 17th-century Dutch walls. Walk the ramparts to the lighthouse at sunset, and browse the small shops and cafés in the old streets.
- Day 14
Back to the airport
The Southern Expressway makes the drive to the airport quick. Your driver plans the departure time around your flight.
Included
- Private air-conditioned car (usually a Toyota hybrid) with an experienced English-speaking chauffeur guide
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Good 3-star hotels, double room with breakfast (4-star and 5-star on request)
- Fuel, parking, highway tolls, and your driver’s meals and lodging
- Drinking water in the car
- Support on WhatsApp in English and German throughout your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Entrance tickets to sights and national parks
- Safari jeeps, boat trips and other optional activities
- Lunch and dinner
- Tips for your driver and guides
- Travel insurance
Prices are per person for 2 people sharing a room. They change with season, hotel level and group size. Your personal quote is final.
Make it yours
- Add three or four nights on the beach at the end
- Swap the Yala safari for Udawalawe, which is better for elephants
- Upgrade some or all nights to 4-star or 5-star hotels
- Add an Ayurveda stay of a few days
- Book a German-speaking driver-guide (extra cost, subject to availability)
Questions about this trip
Is 14 days enough for Sri Lanka?
Can we change the route?
How long are the drives?
Make this trip yours
Send us your dates and wishes. You get the route with your hotels and a firm price, usually within 24 hours.
Private round trips from US$700 per person for 7 days
Other round trips
Sri Lanka in 10 days: culture, hills and coast
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Sri Lanka in summer: round trip with the east coast
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