Sri Lanka Multi-Day Trips: 10-Day Loop

Ten days is enough to loop Sri Lanka without rushing: ancient cities, hill country, then the coast. The route below works best with a car and driver, which typically costs LKR 18,000 to 30,000 a day.

The loop

  1. Days 1 to 2, Negombo or Colombo. Arrive and rest near the airport.
  2. Days 3 to 5, Cultural Triangle. Base near Sigiriya for the rock (US$35), Dambulla’s caves, and Polonnaruwa (US$30). Add Anuradhapura (US$30, issued for the day) if you have a spare day. A Cultural Triangle round ticket is valid for 2 months, but its price changes daily, so ask at the Central Cultural Fund ticket page .
  3. Day 6, Kandy. See the Temple of the Tooth (LKR 3,000) and the lake.
  4. Days 7 to 8, Nuwara Eliya and Ella. Tea country, then walks around Ella.
  5. Days 9 to 10, south coast or Yala. Beach stays at Mirissa or Tangalle, or a safari.

Kandy to the hills

From Kandy, take the road to Nanu Oya, which takes about 3 to 4 hours. From Nanu Oya the scenic train runs through the tea country to Ella and Badulla, with around four trips a day reported. Check Sri Lanka Railways before building a day around it. Reserved seats open 30 days before travel at the railway’s online booking portal , with up to 5 seats per booking. Keep inside the carriage, because leaning out of open doors near tunnels has caused deaths.

Seasons decide the order

The southwest monsoon covers May to September and the northeast monsoon covers October to January. If you travel from October to January, finish on the south coast, which is dry then. If you travel from May to September, the south is wet, so spend the beach days on the east coast near Trincomalee instead.

On foot and by season

  • The Pekoe Trail has 22 stages over 300 km; check per-stage notices at pekoetrail.org.
  • Adam’s Peak is a night climb during its season from December to May.
  • A multi-day driver and guide can be arranged through GetYourGuide.

For a shorter version, see the 5-day itinerary .

Between stops

Short hops are cheap: red government buses cost LKR 30 to 100, tuk-tuks LKR 200 to 500 for a short ride, and the second-class coastal train from Colombo to Galle runs along the sea for LKR 200 to 400. For the long legs the driver is worth the cost, since the Cultural Triangle, Kandy and hill roads are slow and winding. Heavy rain in the hills from October to December can bring landslides, so read the UK government travel advice before you fix dates.

Verdict: use the car for the long legs and the train only for the Nanu Oya to Ella stretch. Book the reserved seat the day the 30-day window opens.