All itineraries28 DAYS · The north, ancient cities, tea country, safaris & beaches
Sri Lanka North, Hills and Beaches — 28 Days / 27 Nights
Take four weeks to see Wilpattu, Anuradhapura and Jaffna, then travel through the east coast and hills before finishing on the southern beaches and in Colombo.
THE JOURNEY
Your days on the island.
Airport → Negombo → Wilpattu → Anuradhapura → Jaffna → Trincomalee → Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → 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 → Wilpattu | Travel to your stay near Wilpattu National Park. Check in and spend the afternoon resting. Discuss the next day with your safari guide rather than adding another long outing after the drive. | Wilpattu area |
| 3 | Wilpattu Safari | Spend the day on a guided jeep safari through forest and past the natural lakes. Look for birds, deer and other wildlife, with breaks arranged through your guide. Leopards and sloth bears live here, but a sighting is never certain. | Wilpattu area |
| 4 | Wilpattu → Anuradhapura | Travel from Wilpattu to Anuradhapura and settle into your hotel. Keep the afternoon free or make a short first visit to the old city, leaving the main sightseeing for tomorrow. | Anuradhapura |
| 5 | Explore Anuradhapura | Visit selected parts of the ancient city, including Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanwelisaya. The sites are spread out, so use your vehicle between stops and take breaks in the shade. Dress respectfully for the sacred areas. | Anuradhapura |
| 6 | Anuradhapura → Jaffna | Continue north to Jaffna. Leave the day mainly for the journey and check into your hotel on arrival. If you feel like going out, take a short walk and try a local meal near your stay. | Jaffna |
| 7 | Explore Jaffna | Visit Nallur Kandaswamy Temple and Jaffna Fort, with time for the market streets and local food. Follow temple dress rules and leave space between visits rather than rushing through the city. | Jaffna |
| 8 | Jaffna → Trincomalee | Leave after breakfast for the long drive to the east coast. Plan stops along the way and keep the rest of the day free on arrival. Settle into your hotel near Trincomalee or Nilaveli. | Trincomalee / Nilaveli |
| 9 | Explore Trincomalee | Visit Koneswaram Temple and the area around Fort Frederick, then spend time at Uppuveli or Nilaveli Beach. | Trincomalee / Nilaveli |
| 10 | 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 |
| 11 | Trincomalee → Sigiriya | Travel inland to Sigiriya after breakfast. Check into your hotel and enjoy a quiet afternoon. Save the rock climb for tomorrow so you can start before the day becomes hot. | Sigiriya |
| 12 | Explore Sigiriya | Climb Sigiriya early and keep the afternoon free. A cooking lesson can be arranged if you would like one. | Sigiriya |
| 13 | 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 |
| 14 | Sigiriya → Kandy | Travel to Kandy, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and take a walk beside the lake. | Kandy |
| 15 | Explore Kandy | Walk through Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and visit the local markets. You can also ask about an evening dance performance. | Kandy |
| 16 | Kandy → Nuwara Eliya | Drive into the hills, with stops at Ramboda Falls and a tea plantation and factory. | Nuwara Eliya |
| 17 | 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 |
| 18 | Nuwara Eliya → Ella | Take the train from Nanu Oya if services and seats are available, or travel by road. | Ella |
| 19 | Explore Ella | Walk up Little Adam's Peak, visit Nine Arch Bridge and stop at a cafe in Ella. | Ella |
| 20 | Ella → Yala area | Stop at Ravana Falls, then travel to your hotel near Yala. | Tissamaharama / Yala area |
| 21 | Yala Safari → Mirissa | Take an early jeep safari, then continue to Mirissa. | Mirissa |
| 22 | Mirissa Beach Day | Spend time by the sea and visit Coconut Tree Hill around sunset. | Mirissa |
| 23 | 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 |
| 24 | Galle at Leisure | Spend another day around Galle without changing hotels. Return to the fort for a slower walk, stop at a cafe or visit nearby Unawatuna. Keep the day flexible so you can rest between outings. | Galle |
| 25 | 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 |
| 26 | 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 |
| 27 | 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 |
| 28 | 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 27 hotel nights and private road transfers. There are two nights in Jaffna and two in Ella, with extra beach time near Trincomalee and in Bentota. Jaffna to Trincomalee is a long drive, so allow stops and leave the evening free. Beach plans depend on the season and sea conditions. Check train seats, safari access and optional activity costs before booking. Animal sightings cannot be promised. Leave plenty of time to reach the airport on Day 28.
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