Sri Lanka Trip Itinerary

[sighman]

Feedback appreciated on this itinerary for a first time visit to Sri Lanka intending to book own hotels & flights then use a driver to get us around.

We’re stuck with the number of nights below, adding extra ones isn’t a possibility and also stuck with having to finish the trip before end of December. So currently planning to travel second & third week in December.

Day 1 - arrive am after long haul flight from Europe. Rest & overnight in Negombo

Day 2 - travel to Sigiriya & stay overnight

Day 3- visit Sigiriya (if not done on day 2) & Polonnaruwa. Overnight Sigiriya

Day 4 – to Kandy via Dambulla Caves. Overnight Kandy

Day 5 – Temple of Tooth. Overnight Kandy

Day 6 – Train to Nuwara Eliya & stay overnight.

Day 7 – Horton Plains National Park. Overnight Nurwara Eliya.

Day 8 – to Yala National Park. Overnight Yala.

Day 9 – Full day Safari in Yala. Overnight Yala.

Day 10 – to Udawalawe National Park safari pm. Overnight Udawalawe

Day 11 – Safari am & onto Sinharaja forest reserve. Overnight Sinharaja.

Day 12 – full day Sinharaja & stay overnight.

Day 13 – to Galle & stay overnight.

Day 14 – day in Galle & then onto airport hotel for overnight as early flight following day.

Day 15 – long haul flight to Europe.

Objective is mix of cultural sight, natural sights & safari. Keen to see the unique points of Sri Lanka as probbly won't get to visit aain.

Unsure if two nights in Kandy needed or if better to reduce to one and add a night elsewhere whether. Same query if two nights in Sinjaraja is good use of time or whether to reduce to one.

Thanks

That’s a heck of a lot of travelling! Roads in SL are notoriously bad. It could take you 6 hours to drive from Galle to the airport for example.
You need some down time as SL is an exhausting place. It’s hot, humid, noisy and very busy.
We did 4 nights in Kandy straight from the airport, including a day trip to Sigiriya and Dambulla, then travelled down to Bentota for a week on the beach, travelling to Galle for a day trip. As we only had 10 nights we had to miss out visiting Nurawa Eliya.

We did a trip to Sri Lanka similar time last year.
I can recommend Columbus tours. Jude our driver was amazing. So knowledgeable and tailored our trip to our wishes. Due to landslides we couldn't do the train on the day we had planned but he fixed it for us to go the next day.
We went straight to sigiriya area from the airport. It meant we had the long trip in the car when jet lagged (via an elephant sanctuary) and after an early night were ready for the activities in that area. Sigiriya is apparently fabulous at sunrise but unfortunately the weather wasn't good enough for us to do that.
We didn't really like Nuwara Eliya so I was glad we only had one night but we really liked Ella and we got the train from there back towards Nuwara Elyia.
You have lots of safaris on your list. We went to Yala but didn't really see any leopards. It was good though but had had enough after a sunset and sunrise tour.
We didn't a fantastic elephant safari in the sigiriya area.
Galle was really interesting and I would have liked to stay there a night but we passed through for the afternoon. I think our favourite activities were the cultural visits.
And we finished with a couple of chilled days on the beach to relax after all the travelling around.
It's a beautiful country with beautiful people.

Would agree with PP that what looks like an ok road trip on the map takes much longer. The drivers are crazy.

I would reduce the stays and spend two night in each destination. For example sigiriya I would do the tooth mountain on one day. And the traditional village on the next.
Kandy you only need a day you only really need 1/2 day safari it gets a bit boring after that
A 40 mile journey takes hours. Trust me do not underestimate how long it takes to travel by road.

Kandy and sigirya only need one day. We had 2 in both and there isn’t enough to do. Maybe different if you’re staying somewhere nice though and can relax. I didn’t have the same experiences as the other posters and found the roads fine. I’d also recommend Ella. We had 4 nights there. I’d also go to Mirissa. It’s lovely.

Don’t do both Yala and Udawalawe. Instead, do Minneriya for half a day while you’re at Sigiriya.

I’d also skip Horton Plains in favour of Lipton’s seat from Haputhale. From Haputhale, it’s also possible to do a day trip to Ella. The best bit of the Kandy to Ella train is the section between Nuwara Eliya and Ella, which you’d otherwise miss. Ella is also a stunning little town.

I'd be aware that many drivers will want to organise the hotels for you, based on their experience of the times taken to travel, so you may want to speak to one before you book your own hotels as it may be unrealistic.

We have travelled with Lucky Bolonghe twice, I'm not sure if he's retired now or not.

I’m planning a pretty near identical trip but I’m going for 3 weeks. Am planning on spending a few days in Ella. Waterfalls, hiking, the viaduct, etc.

with your itinerary from days 10 onwards personally I’m not planning on doing that but will maybe hit a beach for a few days.

people say Kandy only needs one night.

if you’re planning on going up Lions rock you’ll maybe want to do it on day 3 as they say it’s better to do it early in the day.

be aware that it could be tricky to get reserved train tickets. I know you can book them direct 30 days in advance but apparently they sell out dead quick. Dd was in Sri Lanka recently and on a tour so her guide got her ticket for her.

so I think I’m going to do.

Day 1 - arrive am after long haul flight from Europe. Rest & overnight in Negombo
day 2 negombo
Day 3 travel to Sigiriya via dambulla cave & stay overnight
Day 4 visit lions rock. Overnight Sigiriya
Day 5– to Kandy . Temple of the tooth Overnight Kandy

Day 6 drive to Nuwara Eliya & stay overnight.
Day 7 train to ella
day 8-11 ella
Day 12 to Yala National Park. Overnight yala
Day 13 morning Safari in Yala. Overnight Yala.
day 14 head to coast, somewhere near Mirissa or hikkaduwa
days 14 - 18 beach. Maybe Galle for a day at some point
day 19 columbo . Overnight
day 20 fly home.