Sri Lanka itinerary: 5, 7 and 10 day plans
Written by Shubham, Cura travel advisor · Checked
Short answer
The best first Sri Lanka itinerary is 7 days: Sigiriya 2 nights, Kandy 1, Ella 2, south coast 1, then fly home from Colombo. Budget ₹97,500 to ₹1,65,000 per person from India with mid-range hotels and a car and driver. With 5 days, skip Ella. With 10, add Yala and a second beach night.
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Sri Lanka looks small on a map, but roads are slow: 50 km can take 2 hours in the hills. The plan below keeps every driving day under 4.5 hours and moves hotels as rarely as possible. New to Sri Lanka? Start with the Sri Lanka trip guide.
The 7-day route at a glance
| Day | Base | What you do | Travel that day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sigiriya | Land in Colombo, drive inland, sunset at Pidurangala | 4 to 4.5 hrs by car |
| 2 | Sigiriya | Sigiriya rock at 7 am, Dambulla cave temple, optional Minneriya safari | Short hops |
| 3 | Kandy | Spice garden on the way, Temple of the Tooth evening ceremony | 2.5 to 3 hrs by car |
| 4 | Ella | Kandy to Ella scenic train | 6 to 7 hrs by train |
| 5 | Ella | Little Adam's Peak, Nine Arch Bridge, tea factory | On foot or tuk-tuk |
| 6 | Mirissa or Weligama | Drive down to the coast, beach afternoon | 3.5 to 4 hrs by car |
| 7 | Fly home | Whale watching (Dec to Apr) or Galle Fort, then the airport | 3 to 3.5 hrs to the airport |
Day by day: the 7-day plan
Day 1: Colombo airport to Sigiriya
Take a morning flight so you land by noon and reach Sigiriya before dark. Your driver meets you at arrivals. Stop for lunch on the way, then climb Pidurangala rock (about 45 minutes) for sunset with Sigiriya in front of you. Sleep in Sigiriya or Habarana.
Day 2: Sigiriya and Dambulla
Be at the Sigiriya gate when it opens at 7 am. By 10 am it is hot and crowded. Afternoon: Dambulla cave temple, 30 minutes away. Between July and October, add an evening jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla for the elephant gathering.
Day 3: Sigiriya to Kandy
Drive to Kandy with a stop at a spice garden in Matale (skip the hard sell). Check in, rest, then go to the Temple of the Tooth for the evening puja. Kandy is the one single-night stop, because the train to Ella leaves in the morning.
Day 4: The Kandy to Ella train
The most famous train ride in Sri Lanka: tea estates, waterfalls, mist. It takes 6 to 7 hours. Book reserved second or first class as early as tickets open; in season they sell out within hours. Your driver takes the bags by road and meets you in Ella.
Day 5: Ella
Little Adam's Peak at sunrise (easy, 1 hour up). Mid-morning, catch a train crossing the Nine Arch Bridge; train timings are posted at the cafes nearby. Afternoon: a tea factory tour or the Ravana falls.
Day 6: Ella to the south coast
Drive down through the hills to Mirissa or Weligama. If you leave early, stop at Udawalawe for an elephant safari on the way (adds 3 hours). Beach by late afternoon.
Day 7: Whales or Galle, then home
December to April, take a 6:30 am whale watching boat from Mirissa. Otherwise, drive to Galle Fort for the morning. Leave for the airport by early afternoon: it is 3 to 3.5 hours on the expressway.
If you only have 5 days
Cut Ella and the train. Do Sigiriya (2 nights), Kandy (1 night), then drive to Bentota or Galle (1 night) and fly home. You keep the highlights and lose about 10 hours on the road.
If you have 10 days
Add these to the 7-day plan:
- Yala (1 night in Tissamaharama): morning leopard safari between Ella and the coast
- A second beach night in Mirissa or Galle
- A night in Colombo or Negombo at the end, so you are not racing to a flight
May to September, swap the south coast for the east: Trincomalee or Arugam Bay are dry then.
How to get between places
| From | To | How | Time | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo airport | Sigiriya | Car with driver | 4 to 4.5 hrs | Part of the driver package |
| Sigiriya | Kandy | Car | 2.5 to 3 hrs | Part of the driver package |
| Kandy | Ella | Train, reserved class | 6 to 7 hrs | About ₹500 to ₹800 |
| Ella | Mirissa | Car | 3.5 to 4 hrs | Part of the driver package |
| Mirissa | Colombo airport | Car, expressway | 3 to 3.5 hrs | Part of the driver package |
A car with driver for the whole trip costs about ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 a day for the car, driver's food and stay included. It is the easiest way to do this route.
What this itinerary costs from India
Per person, two sharing, 7 days, flights from Bengaluru.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | ₹21,000 | ₹27,000 | ₹37,500 |
| Hotels, 6 nights | ₹10,500 | ₹30,000 | ₹90,000+ |
| Transport | ₹18,000 | ₹27,000 | ₹33,000 |
| Food, tickets, safari | ₹19,500 | ₹30,000 | ₹45,000 |
| Total | ₹69,000 | ₹1,14,000 | ₹2,05,500+ |
Mistakes to avoid
- Too many bases. Five hotels in seven days means you live in the car. Four is the maximum.
- Climbing Sigiriya at noon. It is exposed rock in 32 degrees. Go at opening time.
- Assuming you can buy train tickets on the day. In December to March, reserved seats go weeks ahead.
- A late flight on the last day from the south coast. The airport is 3+ hours away. Leave a buffer.
Flights from India
Direct flights to Colombo take 1.5 hours from Chennai, about 1.75 from Bengaluru, 2.5 from Mumbai and 3.5 from Delhi. Morning departures work best for this plan.
FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Sri Lanka?
Yes, for a first trip. Seven days covers Sigiriya, Kandy, the Ella train and the south coast at a comfortable pace.
What is the best 8-day Sri Lanka itinerary for December from Bangalore?
Fly from Bengaluru to Colombo in the morning (about 1.75 hours). Follow the 7-day plan and add a second beach night in Mirissa or Galle. December is dry on the south coast and the hill country, so the classic loop works well.
Should I hire a car with a driver in Sri Lanka?
For this route, yes. It costs about ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 a day and saves hours of bus changes. Take the train only for the Kandy to Ella leg.
Which way should I do the loop?
Start inland and end at the beach. You do the early-morning sightseeing while fresh and finish the trip relaxed.
Can I do Sri Lanka in 5 days?
Yes. Do Sigiriya, Kandy and one beach night, and skip Ella.
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