Incredible Jaffna (7 Days)

About this experience

This seven-day tour is built around Jaffna, Sri Lanka's northern peninsula city, travelling there from Colombo by overnight train and returning south by road via Negombo. It combines a city tour of Jaffna by bicycle with visits to Hindu temples, a freshwater spring, an offshore island shrine and one of the peninsula's beaches, before heading back towards the airport.

Travellers get a close look at the north's distinct culture and history: the fort, library and old palace remains of the former Jaffna kingdom, the Keerimalai Naguleswaram temple with its spring, the bottomless Nilavarai well, and Nagadeepa Island with its Nagapooshani Amman temple and Buddhist vihara. There is also time to sample local products such as Jaffna wine, nelli cordials and palmyrah goods, and to try the region's Rio ice cream.

The tour runs with a private chauffeur guide throughout, starting and ending with airport transfers in Colombo and Negombo.

Your service advisor

Mewan Manager

Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Mewan directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.

Email WhatsApp

What’s included

Included

Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all chauffeur accommodation.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.
All prevailing taxes and service charges.

Not included

Hotel Accommodation and Meals.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.
Chauffeur Guide's Accommodation.
Expenses of personal nature.
Visa and Related Expenses.

Tour route

Day-by-day waypoints across Sri Lanka. Each marker is where you spend the night; lines trace the daily drive.

Day-by-day itinerary

Download itinerary (PDF)

1 Colombo

Day 1 — Airport → Colombo

On arrival at Colombo International Airport you are met by your chauffeur guide and driven to Colombo, with a brief city tour along the way before checking in to your hotel.

Colombo city tour

En route to the hotel you take in a brief tour of Colombo.

Gihanud2001 · CC0

2 Jaffna

Day 2 — Colombo → Jaffna

After lunch you check out of the hotel and head to Colombo railway station for the overnight train to Jaffna.

Jaffna train

You catch the train at Colombo railway station and travel overnight to Jaffna.

3 Jaffna

Day 3 — Jaffna

After an early transfer to the hotel and breakfast, the afternoon is given over to a cycling tour of Jaffna city, timed to finish around sunset.

Jaffna city cycle tour

The cycle tour takes in most of Jaffna's attractions, including the fort, the public library, Supramaniyam park, the old park, coastal villages, Nallur temple, St James' Church, St Mary's Cathedral, a Buddhist dagoba, the statue of the last king of the Jaffna kingdom, the arch of the last kingdom's palace and the last king's minister's house.

Local products

Along the way you have the chance to buy Jaffna wine and nelli cordials made by Catholic nuns, as well as palmyrah products made by local women, and to taste Rio ice cream.

Sunset viewing

If the sky is clear, the tour includes a stop to view or photograph the sunset before returning to the hotel.

4 Jaffna

Day 4 — Jaffna

After breakfast, the day is spent visiting two of the peninsula's notable natural and religious sites.

Keerimalai Naguleswaram temple

This is one of the oldest Hindu shrines in the region and the northernmost of the island's Pancha Ishwarams of Lord Shiva. Its adjacent Keerimalai Springs are believed by Hindus to have curative properties, attributed to their mineral content.

Indi Samarajiva · CC BY 2.0

Nilavarai Bottomless Well

This natural well is noted for its aquamarine colour and is said to be bottomless, with salt water at depth linking it to the sea. Legend holds that it was created when Rama struck the ground with an arrow in search of water.

Anton Croos · CC BY-SA 3.0

5 Jaffna

Day 5 — Jaffna

The day combines a visit to an island shrine with time at one of the peninsula's beaches.

Nagadeepa Island

Also known as Nayinathivu or, in ancient times, Manipallavam, this island north of Jaffna is linked to the Naga people who worshipped snakes. It is home to the Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple and the Nagadeepa Purana Vihara, both tied to this history.

Wikinamaste · CC BY-SA 3.0

Casuarina Beach

Found at Karainagar, this is considered the best beach on the Jaffna peninsula, with white sand and the casuarina trees that give it its name.

Aathavan jaffna · CC BY-SA 4.0

6 Negombo

Day 6 — Jaffna → Negombo

After breakfast you check out and drive to Negombo, stopping on the way to visit a regional Hindu temple complex.

Munneswaram Kovil

Located in Chilaw, this temple complex has existed since at least 1000 CE and is one of five ancient temples in the region dedicated to Shiva, with legends linking it to the epic hero-king Rama.

Leon Meerson · CC BY-SA 2.0

7 Airport

Day 7 — Negombo → Airport

After a relaxed morning and breakfast, you check out and are driven to the airport for your departure flight.

Please note

Public transportation nearby
Infant seats available

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
Bandaranaike International Airport

Cancellation policy

More than 24 hours notice: full refund
Less than 24 hours notice: no refund

To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation email or message us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The tour is private to your group: your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking chauffeur guide for all 7 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo airport (CMB) and day 7 ends at Colombo airport (CMB). Every stop in between is reached by road in the same vehicle, so there is no other transport to arrange.

Are hotels included?

The base price covers the vehicle and chauffeur guide. In the booking box you can add hotels for all 6 nights at Budget (3★), Standard (4★) or Luxury (5★ and boutique) level, on half board. Hotels we hold contracts with for your dates are named in the price; for any other night our team books a hotel of the same class after you pay.

What vehicle will we travel in?

It depends on your group: a car for 1–2 guests, a van for 3–5, a large van for 6–8 and a bus for 9–15. Choose the number of guests in the booking box and the price updates to match.

Are entrance fees included?

Not in the base price. Set Tickets to Included in the booking box to add the entrance fees and safari jeeps for the sights on this itinerary; the booking box lists exactly which ones are covered.

Can we have a national guide?

Yes. A chauffeur guide is always included, and you can add a government-licensed national guide who travels with you for the whole tour. Choose it under Guide in the booking box; the vehicle is sized for the extra seat.

Can we change the itinerary or the dates?

Yes. Every tour is private, so it can start on any date you choose. To change stops, add nights or combine it with another tour, write to us in the booking notes or plan your own trip at lakpura.com/plan-your-trip.