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Sri Lanka 21-Day Complete Island Journey, Coast to Hill Country
21 Days / 20 Nights
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Three weeks is enough time to see almost every side of Sri Lanka, and this route does exactly that without ever rushing you. You’ll start on the breezy west coast, swing up through the quiet northwest for kitesurfing and a wild jungle safari, then move into the ancient cities and the east-coast reefs before climbing into misty tea country and the hill towns travellers love. The final stretch follows the southern coast home, with a leopard park, a whale-watching morning and a string of beaches to finish on. A private driver-guide handles every kilometre, so all you have to do is look out of the window.
Day 01
Negombo
Day 02 - 03
Kalpitiya
Day 04
Wilpattu
Day 05 - 06
Anuradhapura
Day 07 - 08
Trincomalee
Day 09 - 10
Sigiriya
Day 11
Kandy
Day 12
Nuwara Eliya
Day 13 - 14
Ella
Day 15
Yala
Day 16 - 17
Mirissa
Day 20
Bentota
Day 21
Departure
Tour Itinerary
Day 01
Arrival and Relaxation in Negombo
Your driver-guide will be waiting when you land at Colombo airport, and Negombo is only a half-hour up the coast, so there's no long drive to start your trip. It's the perfect spot to shake off the flight, with a long beach to walk and a busy fishing harbour and lagoon nearby whenever you feel like exploring.
Day 01 Activities
Day 02 - 03
Kitesurfing and Quiet Beaches in Kalpitiya
A relaxed drive of around three hours brings you up to the Kalpitiya peninsula, one of the island's last genuinely off-the-radar corners. This is a place for sand between your toes and not much of an agenda, with long empty beaches, a calm lagoon and some of the best kitesurfing conditions in the country.
Day 02 - 03 Activities
Day 04
Wildlife Adventure in Wilpattu
It's a short hop south and east to Wilpattu, the largest national park in Sri Lanka and a far quieter alternative to the southern parks. The landscape here is unusual, dotted with natural sand-rimmed lakes called villus, and an afternoon jeep safari gives you a real chance of spotting leopards, sloth bears and elephants among them.
Day 04 Activities
Day 05 - 06
The Ancient City of Anuradhapura
A short drive of an hour or so takes you on to Anuradhapura, the island's first great capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ruins are spread across a wide, leafy site, so two days and a rented bike or tuk-tuk let you drift between thousand-year-old stupas and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree without feeling hurried.
Day 05 - 06 Activities
Day 07 - 08
Beaches and Blue Water in Trincomalee
It's a relaxed run east to Trincomalee, where the water turns calm and clear and the swimming and snorkelling are some of the best anywhere in Sri Lanka. You have two days to slow right down, splitting your time between the sand, a clifftop temple and a colonial fort. The east coast is at its sunniest from roughly May to September.
Day 07 - 08 Activities
Day 09 - 10
Sigiriya, the Lion Rock
Turning back inland, a couple of hours brings you to Sigiriya, the rock fortress that tops most travellers' Sri Lanka wish list. Two days give you time to climb it in the cool of the morning, explore the water gardens at its base and step into village life nearby for a warmer, slower side of the region.
Day 09 - 10 Activities
Day 11
Dambulla Cave Temple and on to Kandy
On the way south to Kandy you'll stop at the Dambulla Cave Temple, where more than 150 Buddha statues and centuries of cave paintings fill a series of shrines cut into the rock. Kandy itself is the cultural heart of the island, a lakeside city ringed by hills and home to Sri Lanka's most revered temple.
Day 11 Activities
Day 12
Into the Tea Country at Nuwara Eliya
The climb up to Nuwara Eliya is half the experience, winding past waterfalls and endless rows of tea. The town earned its "Little England" nickname for its cool air and colonial bones, and it makes a lovely base for a tea-estate visit and a lazy lakeside afternoon.
Day 12 Activities
Day 13 - 14
Ella, Where the Hills Open Up
A short, scenic drive brings you down to Ella, the laid-back mountain town that has become a favourite for its views and its easy pace. Two days give you time for the famous bridge, a gentle peak and an afternoon or two of doing very little at all.
Day 13 - 14 Activities
Day 15
Safari in Yala
You'll pause at Ravana Falls on the way down from the hills before reaching Yala, home to one of the densest leopard populations in the world. The late-afternoon jeep safari is the highlight, with a genuine chance of leopards alongside elephants, sloth bears and a wealth of birdlife.
Day 15 Activities
Day 16 - 17
Whales and Beach Days in Mirissa
A couple of hours along the coast brings you to Mirissa, the main launch point for whale watching and an easy place to do nothing for a while. An early boat gives you the best chance of blue and sperm whales offshore, best from roughly December to April, and the rest of your time here is for the beach and the headlands.
Day 16 - 17 Activities
Day 20
River Safari and Beach Time at Bentota
A short drive up the coast brings you to Bentota for your last full day. The morning is for wildlife of a gentler kind, a turtle hatchery and a boat safari through the Madu River mangroves, where you'll glide past kingfishers, monitors and the odd crocodile. The rest of the day is yours on the beach, with water sports on hand if you want them.
Day 20 Activities
Day 21
Departure
There's a little free time in the morning, depending on your flight, before your driver takes you back to Colombo airport with plenty of time to spare. After three weeks on the island, you'll most likely already be planning the next trip.
Price Includes
- Airport pick-up, drop-off, and seamless assistance.
- Private luxury vehicle with air conditioning.
- Professional English-speaking driver your journey.
- Entry fees for all listed attractions and sites.
- Guided tours by experienced local guides
- Complimentary water bottles during travel.
- Taxes, service charges, and government fees.
Price Excludes
- International and domestic airfare to/from destination.
- Personal expenses and shopping purchases.
- Travel insurance coverage.
- Tips and gratuities for driver and guides.
- Entry fees and site tickets for attractions.
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Visa fees and passport processing costs.
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Sri Lanka 21-Day Complete Island Journey, Coast to Hill Country
Duration: 21 Days / 20 Nights
