The classic loop
15 days · 14 nights
Cultural Triangle, Kandy, Hill Country, Yala and the Coastline. The classic loop for a first visit, with two easy days by the sea and a last night in Colombo.
From 38,508 NOK per adult
Sri Lanka package tours · from Norway
Sri Lanka in one loop: ancient cities and temples, tea country, then the coast.
Two set routes, 15 or 21 days. Your own guide and driver, hotels, meals, entry tickets and tips are all in the price, so you can mostly leave your wallet in the hotel safe.
Choose your loop
The long loop
21 days · 20 nights
The same loop plus the north-west, the east coast and Yala: two more safaris, Trincomalee, and an extra day in Ella.
From 45,757 NOK per adult
Prices per adult, for a group of four adults from Stavanger, standard hotels, in the lowest-priced month of the year.
Destinations
Three regions, three different trips
Sigiriya · Dambulla · Polonnaruwa · Kandy
The Cultural Triangle
Ancient capitals, the Sigiriya rock fortress, and Kandy's Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Sunrise from Pidurangala, with Sigiriya rock across the jungle.
Nuwara Eliya 1,889 m · Ella · Horton Plains
Hill Country
Cooler air, tea estates and mountain ridges: Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Horton Plains.
The train from Nanu Oya to Ella, through the tea estates.
Unawatuna · Mirissa · Galle Fort · Trincomalee
The Coastline
Where the pace slows down: beaches on the south and east coasts.
Whales off Mirissa from December to March, or Pigeon Island's reef on the long loop.
The loop
Day by day
© OpenStreetMap contributors
- Where you sleep (number = nights)
- A stop that day
- By road, with your driver
- By train
- Side trip, back the same way
- Option, if you want it
- Flight
Drive times are approximate.
- Where you sleep (number = nights)
- A stop that day
- By road, with your driver
- By train
- Side trip, back the same way
- Option, if you want it
- Flight
Drive times are approximate.
Every day, in the price
- Return flights
- Hotels
- All meals
- Every ticket
- Guide + driver
- Tips + insurance
- Local contact
Day 1Arrival, NegomboArrive
Outrigger sail on Negombo beach Your guide and driver meet you at the airport. A short drive to Negombo, rest, and a walk on the beach before dinner.
Airport to Negombo: about 30 min.
- Met at the airport
Day 2Negombo to AnuradhapuraCultural Triangle
Moonstone, Anuradhapura 
Ruwanweli Seya, Anuradhapura A relaxed start after the flight, then north to the first ancient capital. The afternoon is free to rest.
About 4 h on the road (170 km), with a break halfway.
Day 3Anuradhapura by bicycle, MihintaleCultural Triangle
A white stupa beside a lake under a red dusk sky, from the air 
Mihintale at sunset About four unhurried hours by bicycle with your guide: the sacred Bodhi tree, the great white stupas and the Samadhi Buddha. Rest at midday. In the late afternoon, the long stone stairway up Mihintale (about 1,850 steps).
Bicycles in the sacred city. Mihintale is 16 km away, about 25 min by car.
- Bicycles in the sacred city
- Mihintale
Day 4Dambulla cave temple, elephant safariCultural Triangle
Elephants, Hurulu Eco Park 
Dambulla cave temple The painted cave temple at Dambulla (364 steps; cover shoulders and knees) and the vegetable market, then a Sri Lankan lunch. In the afternoon a jeep safari in one of three elephant parks: Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Park. Your guide picks the park on the day, by where the herds are that month.
Anuradhapura to Dambulla 1 to 1.5 h, then about 35 min to the hotel. The park is 30 to 70 min away, depending on which one.
- Dambulla cave temple
- Jeep safari
Day 5Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa by bicycleCultural Triangle
The ruins on the flat summit of Sigiriya rock, close from the air 
Moonstone, Polonnaruwa If you like, climb Pidurangala at sunrise for the view across to Sigiriya. After breakfast, the Sigiriya rock fortress and its water gardens. Rest at midday. From about 14:30, the ruins of Polonnaruwa by bicycle, back by dusk. A massage or spa is included if you want one.
Sigiriya is about 25 min away. Polonnaruwa is 45 km, about 1 h each way.
- Sigiriya rock fortress
- Bicycles in Polonnaruwa
- Massage or spa, if you want
Day 6Spice garden, KandyKandy
Nutmeg, split open, at a spice garden 
Rice and curries An introduction to Sri Lankan spices with a cooking demonstration. In Kandy, a city tour after check-in.
About 1 h to the spice garden near Matale, then about 1 h 30 to Kandy (100 km in all).
- Spice garden + cooking demo
- Kandy city tour
Day 7Temple of the Tooth, dance, dinner in a homeKandy
A Kandyan dancer mid-spin, a fire breather, and a devil mask in sparks 
Temple of the Tooth, Kandy The Temple of the Tooth in the morning, for the 09:30 ceremony (long trousers or a skirt, shoulders covered). Late morning, a gem workshop: see how stones are cut, with no pressure to buy. Lunch in town and rest. In the evening, Kandyan dancers and fire dancers, then dinner in a local home where you cook together.
No long drives today.
- Temple of the Tooth
- Gem workshop
- Kandyan dance show
- Dinner in a local home
Day 8Peradeniya, tea country, Nuwara EliyaHill Country
Hands plucking the top leaves of tea bushes 
Hill Country The royal botanical gardens at Peradeniya on the way out of Kandy. Lunch at Ramboda, then a tea factory tour and tasting. Nuwara Eliya sits high up; evenings are cool.
75 km of winding hill roads, about 2 h 45 of driving, with stops.
- Peradeniya gardens
- Tea factory + tasting
Day 9Horton Plains, Nuwara Eliya townHill Country
Two walkers on a grassy ridge, green hills behind 
Baker's Falls, Horton Plains An early start for the World’s End walk: 9.3 km, 3 to 4 hours, clearest views before 09:00. Breakfast after the walk. In the afternoon, a tuk-tuk ride around town.
To the Horton Plains gate: 30 to 40 min each way, leaving at 05:15.
- World's End walk, 9.3 km
- Tuk-tuk ride
Day 10Train to Ella, Ravana Falls, on to YalaWildlife
A train coming through an iron bridge in the hills 
Nine Arch Bridge from the tea The hill-country train through the tea estates. Lunch in Ella, a stop at Ravana Falls, and a sugar-cane and jaggery visit if the day runs on time. The longest day of the trip.
15 min to Nanu Oya station, the 09:00 train to Ella (about 2 h 45), then 89 km by road to the Yala area, about 2 to 3 hours. Your luggage goes by car. If the train is sold out, you go by car through the same hills.
- Hill train to Ella
- Ravana Falls
Day 11Yala safariWildlife
A young leopard, Yala 
Elephants, Yala Jeep safaris in Yala National Park, best known for leopards (sightings are never guaranteed). Morning and afternoon drives are both included. If you skip the morning one, Kataragama’s temples are an option.
To the park entrance: about 30 min. Kataragama is about 25 min away.
- Two jeep safaris
Day 12To the south coastThe Coastline
Stilt fishermen on their poles in the surf, rods out 
Unawatuna bay from above West along the coast to your beach. Unawatuna, Weligama or Mirissa: we choose the beach with you, by month, sea conditions and what you like.
About 3 to 4 h to Unawatuna (150 km); less to Mirissa or Weligama.
Day 13Beach day, whales or KoggalaThe Coastline
A whale at the surface of the open sea, seen from the air 
Stilt fishermen at sunset A free day by the sea. Whale-watching from Mirissa in season (roughly December to March), or a boat trip on Koggala lake with a cinnamon visit. Both are included.
Short drives along the coast.
- Whales, in season
- Or Koggala lake by boat
Day 14Galle Fort, then ColomboThe Coastline
Galle Fort from the air: ramparts, red roofs and the lighthouse on the point 
Galle lighthouse on its bastion The ramparts, lighthouse and old streets of Galle Fort in the morning. Colombo in the late afternoon, then a farewell dinner.
Unawatuna to Galle 10 to 15 min; Galle to Colombo about 2 h 15 by expressway (132 km).
- Galle Fort
- Farewell dinner
Day 15DepartureDepart
Breakfast at a time that fits your flight.
Colombo to the airport: 35 to 60 min. We get you there 3 hours before take-off.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
- Where you sleep (number = nights)
- A stop that day
- By road, with your driver
- By train
- Side trip, back the same way
- Option, if you want it
- Flight
Drive times are approximate.
- Where you sleep (number = nights)
- A stop that day
- By road, with your driver
- By train
- Side trip, back the same way
- Option, if you want it
- Flight
Drive times are approximate.
Every day, in the price
- Return flights
- Hotels
- All meals
- Every ticket
- Guide + driver
- Tips + insurance
- Local contact
Day 1Arrival — NegomboArrive
Outrigger sail on Negombo beach Land at Colombo and transfer to Negombo. Rest. A quiet first night by the sea after the long flight.
- Airport transfer
Day 2Wilpattu National Park safari → AnuradhapuraCultural Triangle
Sloth bear, Wilpattu 
Leopard Wilpattu National Park safari, then on to Anuradhapura. A jeep safari at Wilpattu, then on to the ancient city.
- Jeep safari, Wilpattu
Day 3Anuradhapura + MihintaleCultural Triangle
A white stupa beside a lake under a red dusk sky, from the air Mihintale at sunset Anuradhapura and Mihintale. The great stupas of the first capital, and a long stone stairway up to Mihintale.
- Anuradhapura's stupas
- Mihintale
Day 4Polonnaruwa → Dambulla → HabaranaCultural Triangle
A hot-air balloon over green paddy fields and forest 
Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa Polonnaruwa, then Dambulla cave temples, then on to Habarana. Lakeside ruins at Polonnaruwa, then the painted cave temples at Dambulla.
- Polonnaruwa
- Dambulla cave temples
Day 5Sigiriya, Dambulla village tour, Minneriya safariCultural Triangle
Tusker, Minneriya 
Sigiriya from the water gardens Sigiriya rock fortress, a Dambulla village tour, and a Minneriya elephant safari. Sigiriya is climbed early, before the heat; the elephant safari comes later in the day.
- Sigiriya rock fortress
- Village tour
- Jeep safari, Minneriya
Day 6Habarana → TrincomaleeEast Coast
Nilaveli beach, boats on the sand 
Nilaveli beach Habarana to Trincomalee. East to the coast.
Day 7Trincomalee — Pigeon Island (boat trip)East Coast
Pigeon Island, off Nilaveli Pigeon Island by boat: snorkelling and reef. Snorkelling over the reef at Pigeon Island.
- Boat to Pigeon Island
- Snorkelling
Day 8Trincomalee → KandyKandy
Temple of the Tooth over Kandy lake Trincomalee to Kandy. One of the longest drives of the trip, back across the island.
Day 9Kandy — Temple of the Tooth, cultural showKandy
A Kandyan dancer mid-spin, a fire breather, and a devil mask in sparks Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic, a Kandyan dance performance, and the town. Kandyan dancers in the evening.
- Temple of the Tooth
- Kandyan dance show
Day 10Kandy — botanical garden, free afternoonKandy
Peradeniya botanical garden 
A Sri Lankan blue sapphire Peradeniya botanical garden and a free afternoon. The gardens in the morning; the afternoon is yours.
- Peradeniya gardens
Day 11Kandy → Gampola → tea estates → Nuwara EliyaHill Country
Hands plucking the top leaves of tea bushes Hill Country Via Gampola and the tea estates to Nuwara Eliya. Winding roads up into tea country; evenings here are cool.
Day 12Nuwara Eliya — Horton Plains, walkingHill Country
Two walkers on a grassy ridge, green hills behind Baker's Falls, Horton Plains Horton Plains and World’s End. An early start to reach World's End before the clouds come in.
- Horton Plains walk
Days 13–14Train to Ella, Nine Arch Bridge, Flying RavanaHill Country
A blue train crossing the Nine Arch Bridge Nine Arch Bridge from the tea The hill-country train through the tea estates to Ella, then the Nine Arch Bridge, Flying Ravana zipline, walks and landscape. Two nights, so there's time to slow down. Flying Ravana zipline: tell us the ages and we'll check the limits.
15 min to Nanu Oya station, the 09:00 train to Ella (about 2 h 45). Your luggage goes by car. If the train is sold out, you go by car through the same hills.
- Nine Arch Bridge
- Flying Ravana zipline
- Walks
Day 15Ella → Udawalawe wildlife safari → TissaWildlife
Wild elephants, Kaudulla 
Elephants, Udawalawe Ella to an Udawalawe safari, then on to Tissamaharama. Down from the hills to see elephants at Udawalawe.
- Jeep safari, Udawalawe
Day 16Yala National Park safariWildlife
A young leopard, Yala Elephants, Yala Yala National Park safari. Yala is best known for its leopards; sightings are never guaranteed.
- Jeep safari, Yala
Day 17Kataragama → UnawatunaThe Coastline
Unawatuna bay from above Kataragama, then west along the coast to Unawatuna. Along the south coast to the beach.
- Kataragama
Days 18–19Unawatuna beachThe Coastline
A whale at the surface of the open sea, seen from the air 
Unawatuna beach Beach days in Unawatuna’s sheltered bay. Whale-watching from Mirissa is included in season.
- Whales, in season
Day 20Galle FortThe Coastline
Galle Fort from the air: ramparts, red roofs and the lighthouse on the point Galle lighthouse on its bastion Galle Fort: ramparts, the old town and its cafés. Galle Fort is 15 minutes away; the ramparts are best at sunset.
- Galle Fort
Day 21DepartureDepart
About 3 hours to the airport. We get you there 3 hours before take-off.
Price calculator
What would your trip cost?
Flights, hotels, all meals, tickets, tips and your guide are included. The price per person goes down as your group gets bigger. Prices are estimates in NOK, with no obligation.
Your estimate
- 15 days: from 38,508 NOK per adult
- 21 days: from 45,757 NOK per adult
A group of four adults flying from Stavanger, standard hotels, in the lowest-priced month of the year.
- Tour
- 15 days
- Flights
- From Stavanger, October
- Travellers
- 4 adults
- Hotels
- Standard
- Rooms
- 2 double rooms
- Per adult
- 38,508 NOK
- Per child
- 24,540 NOK
- Group total
- 154,032 NOK
This is an estimate, not an offer. We confirm the final price when we reply to you.
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