First Taste of Sri Lanka
Rock, temple and beach in under a week
- Sigiriya
- Kandy
- Bentota
From, per person
$37210 nights · 6 places
The Classic Island Loop
All the big sights in ten nights
If this is your first and maybe only visit, this is the one. Ancient cities, tea country, a leopard safari and the south coast, without the rush of a shorter trip.
- Negombo
- Sigiriya
- Kandy
- Ella
- Yala
- Mirissa
From, per person
$589
CultureWildlifeBeachHill country
- Length
- 10 nights
- Places to stay
- 6
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec
- Style
- Culture, Wildlife, Beach, Hill country
Highlights
What makes it special
- Sigiriya Rock
- Scenic train to Ella
- Yala jeep safari
- Whale watching from Mirissa
Your route
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Negombo
A short transfer from the airport to the coast. Rest up after the flight and walk the beach at sunset.
Day 2: Into the Cultural Triangle
Drive to Sigiriya, stopping at the Dambulla Cave Temple along the way.
Day 3: Climb Sigiriya Rock
An early climb to the palace on the summit. The afternoon is yours, and elephant safaris at Minneriya are an easy add-on.
Day 4: On to Kandy
Drive south to Kandy, around two and a half hours. In the evening, see the Kandyan dance show.
Day 5: A day in Kandy
Visit the Temple of the Tooth and enjoy the lake and the market.
Day 6: The train to Ella
Today is the famous one: around seven hours on the train through tea country. Your driver meets you in Ella with your bags.
Day 7: Ella
Walk up Little Adam's Peak at sunrise, then go down to the Nine Arch Bridge to see a train cross.
Day 8: To Tissamaharama
Down from the hills to the plains, around two hours. Settle in near the park for an early start.
Day 9: Yala safari, then the south coast
Head into Yala at dawn. After lunch, drive to Mirissa, around two hours.
Day 10: Mirissa
Go whale watching in the morning, in season, and finish on Coconut Tree Hill at sunset.
Day 11: Fly home
Your driver takes you to the airport, about three hours away on the expressway.
Stays
Where you could stay
Choose a hotel level on the right, or pick each hotel yourself in the designer.
| Stop | Budget | Comfort | Superior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negombo1 night | Hotel Magdalina Lagoon | Swanee Grand | Belmont Boutique Hotel Negombo |
| Sigiriya2 nights | Back Of lake Villa | Lion See Hotel - Sigiriya | La Cloudz Sigiriya |
| Kandy2 nights | Kings Grove | Arambhaya Boutique Hotel | The Golden Crown Hotel |
| Ella2 nights | Ella Thenulya | Mountjoy Ella | The Ledge Ella |
| Tissamaharama (Yala)1 night | Elegant Lake Yala Safari House | Hotel River Front | Mamba Yala |
| Mirissa and Weligama2 nights | Casa Banana | Mirissa Moments Hotel | Kiss Blossom |
Prices through the year
When it costs least
Per person for 10 nights, two people sharing, at budget level. Best months for this route: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec.
- December 2026: Dec$634
- January 2027: Jan$629
- February 2027: Feb$629
- March 2027: Mar$629
- April 2027: Apr$593
- May 2027: May$589
- June 2027: Jun$589
- July 2027: Jul$613
- August 2027: Aug$613
- September 2027: Sep$589
- October 2027: Oct$589
- November 2027: Nov$605
Lowest price Best weather for this route Other months
Included
- Your choice of hotels, with breakfast each morning
- Private air-conditioned car or van with an English-speaking driver
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- The activities listed, including entry fees
Not included
- International flights
- Sri Lanka travel authorisation (ETA) and travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners, unless your hotel plan includes them
- Tips, drinks and personal spending
Keep exploring
You might also like
Tea Trails and the Blue Train
A week in the hills, with beach to finish
- Kandy
- Nuwara Eliya
- Ella
- Bentota
From, per person
$427