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 NOKper adult, group of four adults from Stavanger, standard hotels, lowest-priced month of the year
The loop
The island changes a lot over a few hours' drive.
- Day 1Arrive
- Days 2–5Cultural Triangle
Two ancient capitals, Sigiriya and a jeep safari among wild elephants.
- Days 6–7Kandy
- Days 8–9Hill Country
Tea estates, the World's End walk on Horton Plains and the hill-country train.
- Days 10–11Wildlife
- Days 12–14The Coastline
Unhurried days by the sea and the ramparts of Galle Fort.
- Day 15Depart
In the price
- Return flights from Stavanger or Oslo, economy class
- Hotels, standard or upgraded
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day
- Every entry ticket and safari on the route
- Your own guide and driver for the whole trip
- Tips, drinks and snacks on the road, and travel insurance
- A local contact for the whole trip
Up to you
- Souvenirs, gifts and shopping, if you feel like it
Your guide handles the tickets, the tables and the tipping. You won't need to work out what anything costs on the day.
The other loop: 21 days · 20 nights
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.
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.
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.
Before you go
When to go
This loop is at its best from December to March, when the south coast is dry and the sea is calm. In summer the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain to the coast and the hills; the sights still run, but beach days are less certain. If summer is your only window, tell us and we'll talk you through what to expect. The panel under the month chart shows average temperature and rain for each stop.
Getting there
There are no direct flights from Norway. From Stavanger you usually change twice, for example in Copenhagen, Amsterdam or Oslo and then in Doha, Dubai or Istanbul. From Oslo it's one change, with Qatar Airways via Doha or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. You land at Bandaranaike International near Negombo, which is why night one is there.
Visa
You need an ETA (electronic travel authorisation) before you fly. For Norwegian citizens the tourist ETA has been free since 25 May 2026 and covers 30 days. Apply only at eta.gov.lk; payments made on other sites aren't valid. We help you with the application.
Travelling with children
Children under 12 pay half the tour price plus full airfare; from 12 they count as adults. Days marked 'travel day' mean several hours in the car, and the mountain roads in tea country are winding, so bring something for car sickness if your children need it. Child seats in the car: tell us the ages and we'll confirm. Spicy food is easy to avoid: ask for mild dishes, and your guide will help.
Health
Check your vaccines with your GP or a travel clinic well before you go. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) recommends hepatitis A, typhoid and rabies vaccines for most travellers to Sri Lanka, on top of the Norwegian programme, and you pay for travel vaccines yourself. Use mosquito repellent, especially at dusk. Don't drink tap water: bottled water is in the price.
At temples
At temples, cover shoulders and knees, take off shoes and hats, and don't pose for photos in front of or beside Buddha statues. A light scarf or sarong in your day bag covers it. Your guide will tell you at each site.
Money and packing
Meals, tickets and tips are paid, so you only need money for souvenirs. Cards work in most hotels and shops, ATMs are easy to find, and small rupee notes help at markets. Pack light clothes, a warm layer for the evenings in Nuwara Eliya, good walking shoes, sunscreen and repellent.
What you can do now
Reserve your interest. The first 20 or so people on the list get first choice of travel dates when bookings open, before we open to everyone. That's not a discount and not a guaranteed place. It's a place in the queue.