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 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 6–7East Coast
- Days 8–10Kandy
- Days 11–14Hill Country
Tea estates, the World's End walk on Horton Plains and the hill-country train.
- Days 15–16Wildlife
- Days 17–20The Coastline
Unhurried days by the sea and the ramparts of Galle Fort.
- Day 21Depart
In the price
- Return flights from Stavanger or Oslo, economy class
- Hotels, standard or upgraded
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day
- Every entry ticket, safari and boat trip 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: 15 days · 14 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 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
- 21 days
- Flights
- From Stavanger, October
- Travellers
- 4 adults
- Hotels
- Standard
- Rooms
- 2 double rooms
- Per adult
- 45,757 NOK
- Per child
- 28,164 NOK
- Group total
- 183,028 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.