Fifteen days via Trincomalee and Arugam Bay
Almost every Sri Lanka tour runs the western and southern loop. This one goes up the east instead — Trincomalee, Pigeon Island and Arugam Bay — before crossing back into the hills and finishing on the south coast.
The east has its own weather. It is dry and calm from about May to September, exactly when the south and west are being rained on, which makes this the right itinerary for a European summer holiday.
Fifteen days gives it room: two nights in Trinco, two in Arugam Bay, two in Ella, and four working down the coast.
Day 01
Negombo
Met at Bandaranaike airport and driven twenty minutes to Negombo. The beach, the lagoon, or the fish market.
Hotel, Negombo or Colombo
Day 02
Sigiriya
The Dambulla Cave Temple, then on to Sigiriya. An optional evening village tour, or the Minneriya elephant safari.
Hotel, Sigiriya or Dambulla
Day 03
Polonnaruwa
An early climb up Sigiriya Lion Rock, then the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in the afternoon.
Hotel, Sigiriya or Dambulla
Day 04
Trincomalee
Three and a half hours to the east coast. Koneswaram Temple and Fort Frederick, then Uppuveli or Nilaveli beach.
Hotel, Trincomalee
Day 05
Trincomalee
Optional snorkelling at Pigeon Island, seasonal whale watching from May to August, or simply the beach.
Hotel, Trincomalee
Day 06
Arugam Bay
The coastal drive south to Arugam Bay, with an optional stop at Passikudah. The beach for the rest of the day.
Hotel, Arugam Bay
Day 07
Arugam Bay
Surf lessons or board hire, Elephant Rock and Whiskey Point, and an optional half-day safari in Kumana National Park.
Hotel, Arugam Bay
Day 08
Ella
A long, scenic drive up to Ella. Ravana Falls in the afternoon, and a hill-view hotel for the night.
Hotel, Ella
Day 09
Ella
Little Adam’s Peak, the Nine Arch Bridge, and the short scenic train run from Ella to Demodara. Optional ziplining or the Ella Rock hike.
Hotel, Ella
Day 10
Yala
Down out of the hills for a jungle safari in Yala National Park.
Hotel, Yala
Day 11
Mirissa
West along the coast to Mirissa, and a day that is just the beach.
Beach hotel, Mirissa
Day 12
Unawatuna
A short coastal hop to Unawatuna. Swimming, and nothing else scheduled.
Beach hotel, Unawatuna
Day 13
Galle
Galle Fort and the old Dutch quarter, the Yatagala temple, Koggala lake, and the sea turtle hatchery at Koggala.
Hotel, Galle Fort or Unawatuna
Day 14
Colombo
North to the capital. Shopping, and sunset at Galle Face Green.
Hotel, Colombo
Day 15
Colombo
Transfer to Bandaranaike airport for your flight home.
Hotel suggestions at every level from budget to luxury, and we will match them to the stretch of coast rather than the star rating.
Private air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide throughout, plus the Ella to Demodara rail leg.
See more in the full gallery.
Culture & Heritage
Culture, hill country, safari and the south coast in ten days
The full anticlockwise loop at a pace that still leaves room to swim: cave temples, the rock fortress, tea country by train, a Yala safari and the Galle coast.
Culture & Heritage
Culture, tea country, the scenic train, safari and the south coast
Everything most first-time visitors come for, in a single week: the rock fortress, the Temple of the Tooth, the tea train, a Yala safari and Galle Fort.
Beach & Coastal
Six days on the south coast, with just enough culture
Unawatuna, Mirissa and Weligama at walking pace — snorkelling, whales in season, a surf lesson if you want one, and Galle Fort in the cool of the afternoon.
