Ten days is enough for the Sri Lanka most first-time visitors come for: the rock fortress at Sigiriya and the ancient cities, Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth, the tea country and the train to Ella, a wildlife safari, and time on the south coast. This is the route we plan for guests who have ten days. Every stop on it comes from our own tours, and every day can be moved, shortened or stretched.
The route at a glance
| Day | Where you go |
|---|---|
| 1 | Airport to Sigiriya, via the Dambulla Cave Temple |
| 2 | Polonnaruwa, the medieval royal city |
| 3 | Climb Sigiriya, then on to Kandy |
| 4 | Tea country and the train to Ella |
| 5 | Ella, then south to Udawalawe or Tissamaharama |
| 6 | Early safari, then the coast road to Weligama |
| 7 | A day on the beach |
| 8 | Galle Fort, then Hikkaduwa |
| 9 | Madu River, turtles and Colombo |
| 10 | Departure |
Days 1 to 3: the ancient cities and Kandy
Day 1. A member of our team meets you at the airport. You drive north into the Cultural Triangle and stop at the Dambulla Cave Temple on the way to Sigiriya, where you spend the night.
Day 2. Spend the day in Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital, with its palaces, temples and stone Buddhas. You can tour the ruins by bicycle. If you want to see village life, add a village safari in the afternoon.
Day 3. Climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress early, before the heat. Then drive to Kandy, stopping at a herbal and spice garden. In the evening, watch a Kandyan dance show and visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Days 4 and 5: tea country and Ella
Day 4. Leave Kandy early for the hill country. On the way you pass Ramboda Falls and stop at a tea factory, then see Nuwara Eliya. From Nanu Oya, take the train through the tea estates to Ella. If you’d rather go by road, there’s time for Kandy’s Royal Botanical Gardens before you leave.
Day 5. Walk to the Nine Arch Bridge and up Little Adam’s Peak in the morning. In the afternoon, drive south. If you stay at Udawalawe, visit the Elephant Transit Home. If you stay at Tissamaharama, visit the Kataragama Temple.
Days 6 and 7: safari and the south coast
Day 6. Go on an early-morning safari in Yala or Udawalawe National Park, then come back for breakfast. Afterwards, follow the south coast west to Weligama, with stops along the way at Tangalle, Matara or Mirissa.
Day 7. A free day on Weligama beach, with nothing planned.
Days 8 to 10: Galle and the way home
Day 8. Walk the ramparts and streets of the old Dutch fort at Galle, then continue to Hikkaduwa.
Day 9. Take a boat safari through the mangroves of the Madu River and visit the turtle hatchery at Kosgoda. Then drive north for a tour of Colombo and spend your last night near the airport.
Day 10. Your driver takes you to the airport for your flight home.
When to go
The west and south coasts and the hill country are at their best from December to April. The east coast is best from May to September. If you travel in those months, you can swap the south coast for the beaches around Trincomalee, where our Heritage with East Coast tour ends. Our guide to the best time to visit Sri Lanka covers the seasons region by region.
Changing the route
- More time on the beach: leave out Polonnaruwa on Day 2 and spend two days on the coast instead.
- Anuradhapura and Mihintale: the sacred ancient capital adds a day. Our 11-day South Coast Serenity tour includes both.
- Jaffna and the far north: these need more than ten days. Our 14-day Island Odyssey goes there.
- Your own route: if you have already planned your trip, you can hire a private driver for it instead.
Our tours that come closest
South Coast Serenity is this route with one more day, which adds Anuradhapura and Mihintale. Seven Days of Ceylon Wonders is a shorter version of the same loop, without Polonnaruwa or a beach day. Both are private tours: you have your own vehicle and an English-speaking driver (a chauffeur guide is available on request), and we change the itinerary around your dates.
To plan your ten days, send us your travel dates and what you’d like to see. We’ll reply with a day-by-day itinerary and a personal quote.