14 days
The island, unhurried
Tea country, a night in Ella, the wild, and a last day by the sea.
A starting journey
A fortnight is the same opening — Negombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya — with room to stay. After Horton Plains or a free highland day, the train ends in Ella for a night among the bridges and peaks, then Yala or Bundala, Mirissa, and Colombo if the flight allows.
Choose the leopard drive or the bird morning, surfing or a quiet beach, and how much of Colombo you want before the airport. Fourteen days is a canvas — we paint it around you.
The spine
Sigiriya & Cultural Triangle — Kandy — Nuwara Eliya — Ella — Yala — Mirissa — Colombo
Day by day
How the days might unfold.
01
A first night by the coast
Negombo
Meet at the airport and settle in Negombo, close enough that the first evening does not become a long drive.
02
Inland to Sigiriya
SigiriyaTravel from Negombo to the Cultural Triangle. Night in Sigiriya, with Lion Rock on the skyline.
03
Sunrise, then the elephants
SigiriyaClimb Sigiriya Rock in the early morning for sunrise. In the evening, an elephant safari in Minneriya National Park. A second night in Sigiriya.
04
The ancient city
PolonnaruwaA day among the ruins of Polonnaruwa. Return to Sigiriya for the night.
05
Caves, spice, and Kandy
KandyTravel to Kandy, stopping at Dambulla Cave Temple and a spice garden. The first of two nights in Kandy.
06
Temple, gardens, and dance
KandyThe Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and a cultural dance show in the evening. A second night in Kandy.
07
Tea and waterfalls
Nuwara EliyaContinue to Nuwara Eliya, visiting a tea factory and waterfalls on the way. Night in the highlands.
08
The highlands, unplanned
Nuwara EliyaA free day in Nuwara Eliya, or a visit to Horton Plains. A second night in the hills.
09
The train into Ella
EllaLeave Nuwara Eliya by train, from Nanu Oya to Ella. Night in Ella.
10
Bridges, a peak, a waterfall
EllaA day in Ella: the Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak, and Ravana Falls.
11
South to Tissamaharama
TissamaharamaTravel from Ella to Tissamaharama, the base for the parks. Night near Yala.
12
Leopards, or birds
YalaYala National Park, with time given to looking for leopards — or Bundala National Park if you would rather watch birds.
13
A day by the sea
MirissaTravel to Mirissa for the beach, or for surfing if the swell is in.
14
The city, if the flight allows
ColomboTransfer to Colombo Airport. If the departure is later, there is time to see something of the city first.
Other starting journeys
07Stone, tea, and the wild
Sigiriya at sunrise, the hill-country train, a day in Yala, and Galle Fort on the way to the airport.
10Wild and coast
A first night in Negombo, the ancient cities, tea country, and a safari before the flight home.
12Time in the hills
The ten-day route, with a free day in the highlands and a night on the south coast.
Ready to make this
yours?
Choose the leopard drive or the bird morning, surfing or a quiet beach, and how much of Colombo you want before the airport. Fourteen days is a canvas — we paint it around you.