Sri Lanka Hills and Two Coasts — 20 Days / 19 Nights
Spend time on the beaches near Trincomalee, visit Sigiriya and the hill country, then continue to Yala, Mirissa, Galle and Bentota.
Your days on the island.
Airport → Negombo → Sigiriya → Trincomalee → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Mirissa → Galle → Bentota → Colombo
| Day | Destination | Activities | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival → Negombo | Meet your driver at the airport, check in and rest after the flight. | Negombo |
| 2 | Negombo → Dambulla → Sigiriya | Travel to Sigiriya, stopping at Dambulla Cave Temple on the way. | Sigiriya |
| 3 | Explore Sigiriya | Climb Sigiriya early and keep the afternoon free. A cooking lesson can be arranged if you would like one. | Sigiriya |
| 4 | Minneriya Safari | Keep the morning free, then take an afternoon jeep safari to look for elephants and other animals. | Sigiriya |
| 5 | Sigiriya → Trincomalee | Travel to the east coast, check in and spend the rest of the day at your beach hotel. | Trincomalee / Nilaveli |
| 6 | Explore Trincomalee | Visit Koneswaram Temple and the area around Fort Frederick, then spend time at Uppuveli or Nilaveli Beach. | Trincomalee / Nilaveli |
| 7 | Trincomalee Beach Day | Spend the day at the beach. You can ask about snorkelling at Pigeon Island if the sea conditions and park access allow it. | Trincomalee / Nilaveli |
| 8 | Trincomalee → Kandy | Leave after breakfast for the long drive to Kandy. Rest at your hotel when you arrive. | Kandy |
| 9 | Explore Kandy | Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and Kandy Lake. | Kandy |
| 10 | Kandy → Nuwara Eliya | Drive into the hills, with stops at Ramboda Falls and a tea plantation and factory. | Nuwara Eliya |
| 11 | Explore Nuwara Eliya | Choose an early walk at Horton Plains if the weather allows, or stay in town and spend time beside Gregory Lake. | Nuwara Eliya |
| 12 | Nuwara Eliya → Ella | Take the train from Nanu Oya if services and seats are available, or travel by road. | Ella |
| 13 | Explore Ella | Walk up Little Adam's Peak, visit Nine Arch Bridge and stop at a cafe in Ella. | Ella |
| 14 | Ella → Yala area | Stop at Ravana Falls, then travel to your hotel near Yala. | Tissamaharama / Yala area |
| 15 | Yala Safari → Mirissa | Take an early jeep safari, then continue to Mirissa. | Mirissa |
| 16 | Mirissa Beach Day | Spend time by the sea and visit Coconut Tree Hill around sunset. | Mirissa |
| 17 | Mirissa → Galle | Travel to Galle and walk through the fort streets, past cafes and shops, and along the old walls. | Galle / Unawatuna |
| 18 | Galle → Bentota | Continue along the coast to Bentota and keep the afternoon free. | Bentota |
| 19 | Bentota → Colombo | After breakfast, travel to Colombo. Walk around the Dutch Hospital area and Galle Face Green. | Colombo |
| 20 | Colombo & Departure | See a little of Colombo or do some shopping if your flight time allows, then travel to the airport. | — |
Planning notes
This route includes 19 hotel nights and private road transfers. The drive from Trincomalee to Kandy takes much of a day, so keep that evening free. The east and south coasts have different rainy seasons; discuss your dates before choosing water activities. Confirm train services, seats and park access before booking. Animal sightings cannot be promised. Your last night is in Colombo before the airport transfer on Day 20.
Let’s make it yours.
Tell us where you would like to go and what you enjoy. We will help you plan the trip.