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🇱🇰Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka : Whistle-stop Tour
14 day travel itinerary

TripMapper
by TripMapper

An undeniably alluring island that has it all!

14 Days
Active
Culture
Food
History
Nature
Outdoor
Relax
Wildlife
Image by Sander Don on Unsplash
Image by gemmmm on Unsplash
Image by Asantha Abeysooriya on Unsplash
Image by Silver Ringvee on Unsplash

With its contrasting landscapes, distinct culture and wildlife-rich jungles, this island truly packs a punch.

In a single trip, you can observe elephants, wander through lush tea estates, discover ancient ruins, take a refreshing dip in the Indian Ocean and finish each day with a Sri Lankan feast. Few places in the world can offer such a remarkable combination of beaches, culture and natural beauty.

The best time of year to visit Sri Lanka depends on where you wish to travel to as there are wide variations in climate depending on the time of year. Generally, a good time to visit the west and south coasts as well as the Cultural Triangle (see our interactive itinerary below) is between December and March.

Use TripMapper to plan your trip and for staying in control of your travel budget. If you are in need of a little inspiration to get you started click 'Customise' to use our interactive Sri Lanka itinerary (below) for the best things to see and do in Sri Lanka - then customise to make your own!

By combining both a trip itinerary app and a travel budget app, TripMapper is the best all-in-one travel itinerary app to help you craft your perfect trip!

* Please check all relevant government guidance prior to, and during, your travels. Please also check any opening & closing times for all establishments contained within our itinerary. Find our Terms of Service here.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Go in search of leopards, elephants, sloth bears, water buffalo, storks, crocodiles at Wilpattu National Park
  • Wander through Sri Lanka's rolling tea plantations
  • Discover ruined palaces and super-sized Buddhas in the old royal capital of Polonnaruwa
  • Make the pilgrimage to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth in World Heritage Listed Kandy
  • View Sigiriya Rock at sunrise, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic landmarks
  • Master the art of Sri Lankan cooking before tucking into your own delicious creations
  • Take a train from Kandy to Ella, considered to be one of the world's most scenic train journeys

Discover the Itinerary

Scroll right to view the days

Layout
  • Day 1

    • TRAVELHome to Bandaranaike International Airport
      Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Canada Friendship Rd, Katunayake, Sri Lanka
    • Taxi to Colombo
  • Day 2

    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Colombo to Kandy (approx. 3.5 hours)
    • ACTIVITYTemple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
      Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYWalk around Kandy Lake
      Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYExplore the market streets of Kandy Old Town. See notes.
      Kandy Clock Tower, AB42, Kandy, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYRoyal Botanic Gardens
      Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYLankathilake Viharaya
      Sri Lankathilake Rajamaha Viharaya, Daulagala, Sri Lanka
  • Day 3

    • TRAVELTrain - Kandy to Ella (approx. 7 hours). See notes.
  • Day 4

    • ACTIVITYExplore Ella town
      Ella, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYNine Arch Bridge
      Nine Arch Bridge, Ella - Passara Road, Ella, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYWatch the sunset from Little Adam's Peak (approx. 2 hour round journey)
      Little Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka
  • Day 5

    • ACTIVITYHike to the top of Ella Rock (approx. 4 hour round journey)
      Ella Rock View Point, Rawanaella, Sri Lanka
    • TRAVELTrain - Ella to Haputale station
    • TRAVELTuk tuk - Haputale station to Lipton's Seat
    • ACTIVITYLipton's Seat viewpoint
      Lipton's Seat, Lipton Seat Road, හපුතලේ, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYDambatenne Tea Factory
      Dambatenne Tea Factory, Sri Lanka
    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Dambatenne Tea Factory to Living Heritage Koslanda
    • ACCOMMODATIONLiving Heritage Koslanda
      Living Heritage Koslanda, Koslanda UVA, Sri Lanka
  • Day 6

    • ACCOMMODATIONLiving Heritage Koslanda
      Living Heritage Koslanda, Koslanda UVA, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYDiyaluma Falls
      Diyaluma Falls, Colombo - Batticaloa Highway, Koslanda, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYSri Lankan cooking course
      Living Heritage Koslanda, Koslanda UVA, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYRelax at Living Heritage Koslanda
      Living Heritage Koslanda, Koslanda UVA, Sri Lanka
  • Day 7

    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Living Heritage Koslanda to Gal Oya Lodge (approx. 2.5 hours)
    • ACTIVITYBicycle tour
      Gal Oya Lodge, B527, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYSafari drive and picnic
      Gal Oya Lodge, B527, Sri Lanka
    • ACCOMMODATIONGal Oya Lodge
      Gal Oya Lodge, B527, Sri Lanka
  • Day 8

    • ACCOMMODATIONGal Oya Lodge
      Gal Oya Lodge, B527, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYMorning trek to the top of monkey mountain
      Gal Oya Lodge, B527, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYBoat safari
      Gal Oya Lodge, B527, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYSri Lankan cooking course
      Gal Oya Lodge, B527, Sri Lanka
  • Day 9

    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Gal Oya Lodge to Kalundewa Retreat (approx. 3.5 hours)
    • ACTIVITYRelax at Kalundewa Retreat
      Kalundewa Retreat, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYDambulla Cave Temple
      Dambulla Cave Temple, Kandy - Jaffna Highway, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
    • ACCOMMODATIONKalundewa Retreat
      Kalundewa Retreat, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
  • Day 10

    • ACCOMMODATIONKalundewa Retreat
      Kalundewa Retreat, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Kalundewa Retreat to Pidurangala Rock (approx. 45 minutes)
    • ACTIVITYHike to the summit of Pidurangala Rock for sunrise
      Pidurangala Rock, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Pidurangala Rock to Polonnaruwa (approx. 1 hour)
    • ACTIVITYRent bicycles to explore the ancient Polonnaruwa complex - see notes
      Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Polonnaruwa to Kalundewa Retreat (approx. 1.5 hours)
  • Day 11

    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Kalundewa Retreat to Wilpattu National Park (approx. 2.5 hours)
    • ACTIVITYAfternoon safari
      Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka
  • Day 12

    • ACTIVITYMorning safari
      Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka
    • TRAVELPrivate driver - Wilpattu National Park to Colombo (approx. 3.5 hours)
  • Day 13

    • ACTIVITYViharamahadevi Park
      Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYGangaramaya Temple
      Gangaramaya Temple, Sri Jinarathana Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYSeema Malaka Temple
      Seema Malakaya, Sir James Pieris Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYWalking Tour (Fort/ Pettah Bazaar)
      Dutch Hospital - Shopping Precinct, Hospital Street, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    • ACTIVITYWander around Galle Face Green
      Galle Face Green, Colombo - Galle Main Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • Day 14

    • TRAVELBandaranaike International Airport to Home
      Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Canada Friendship Rd, Katunayake, Sri Lanka