The Ultimate Sri Lanka – 21-day private tour of Sri Lanka

Highlights

What you'll remember

• 01Two days of safaris in quiet Wilpattu
• 02Snorkelling at Pigeon Island off Trincomalee
• 03A village tour and bullock cart ride at Hiriwadunna
• 04Village life at Heeloya near Kandy
• 05Morning and afternoon game drives in Yala
• 06Stilt fishing at Ritipanna and Galle Fort

Day by day

The itinerary

1. Day 1 · Arrive → Negombo

   A short transfer to Negombo. If you land early enough, take a boat safari along the old Hamilton Canal and visit the busy fish market.

   Approx. 30 min drive

   
2. Day 2 · Negombo → Wilpattu

   North along the coast to Wilpattu, the island's largest national park, with an afternoon game drive.

   Approx. 3.5 hrs drive

   
3. Day 3 · Wilpattu National Park

   Morning and afternoon jeep safaris around the park's natural lakes, looking for leopards and sloth bears.

   Safaris

   
4. Day 4 · Wilpattu → Anuradhapura → Trincomalee

   A final dawn drive in the park, then the sacred city of Anuradhapura on the way east to Trincomalee, and time to relax on the beach.

   Approx. 3.5–4 hrs drive

   
5. Day 5 · Trincomalee

   A boat out to Pigeon Island to snorkel or dive among the coral and reef fish (best from May to September), then relax on the beach.

   Boat trip

   
6. Day 6 · Trincomalee → Sigiriya

   Across to the Cultural Triangle, with a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park to see wild elephants.

   Approx. 2.5 hrs drive

   
7. Day 7 · Sigiriya

   Climb the rock fortress, then a village tour at Hiriwadunna with a bullock cart ride and a sunset boat trip on the lake. Unwind in the evening with a traditional Ayurvedic massage.

   Local drives

   
8. Day 8 · Polonnaruwa and Pidurangala

   Explore the palaces and great carved Buddhas of the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa, then climb Pidurangala Rock for the view across to Sigiriya.

   Approx. 1 hr drive each way

   
9. Day 9 · Sigiriya → Dambulla → Kandy

   The painted cave temple of Dambulla, then south to Kandy for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and a Kandyan dance performance.

   Approx. 3 hrs drive

   
10. Day 10 · Kandy

    A village tour at Heeloya in the foothills of the Knuckles range, then the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya.

    Local drives

    
11. Day 11 · Kandy → Ella

    Up into tea country by road, past Ramboda Falls and a tea factory, with a stop at Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya, to Nanu Oya. Ride the scenic train from there to Ella, or stay in the car; either way your driver meets you in Ella with the bags.

    Approx. 4.5–5 hrs by road, or 3 hrs drive + 3 hrs train

    
12. Day 12 · Ella

    Nine Arches Bridge and an easy hike up Little Adam's Peak.

    On foot

    
13. Day 13 · Ella and Lipton's Seat

    A tuk-tuk ride up to Lipton's Seat near Haputale for the famous view over the tea estates.

    Local drives

    
14. Day 14 · Ella → Yala

    Down past Ravana Falls to the edge of Yala, and an afternoon to relax at a safari lodge.

    Approx. 2–2.5 hrs drive

    
15. Day 15 · Yala National Park

    Morning and afternoon game drives for leopards, elephants, crocodiles and birds.

    Safaris

    
16. Day 16 · Yala → Mirissa

    West along the coast, with a bird-watching boat safari at the Kalametiya lagoon on the way. In Mirissa, the view from Coconut Tree Hill and time to relax on the beach.

    Approx. 3 hrs drive

    
17. Day 17 · Mirissa whale watching

    An early boat trip to look for blue whales and dolphins, from November to April. Outside that season, a free beach day instead. In the evening, relax on the beach.

    Boat trip 4–5 hrs

    
18. Day 18 · Mirissa → Unawatuna

    The Handunugoda Tea Estate near Ahangama, home of Virgin White Tea, and the traditional stilt fishing at Ritipanna. Then the ramparts and lanes of Galle Fort.

    Approx. 1 hr drive

    
19. Day 19 · Unawatuna → Bentota

    A boat safari on the Madu River and a visit to a turtle hatchery, then relax on the beach in the evening.

    Approx. 1 hr drive

    
20. Day 20 · Bentota → Colombo

    Up the coast to Colombo for the Pettah markets, Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square and sunset on Galle Face Green.

    Approx. 1.5 hrs drive

    
21. Day 21 · Colombo → Airport

    Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

    Approx. 45 min drive

    

What's in the price

The route

Your route at a glance