Trail Around Ceylon (13 Days)

About this experience

This 13-day tour traces a full loop of Sri Lanka, from the west coast through the ancient cities of the cultural triangle, up into the hill country around Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, down through Ella's hills, and on to the wildlife plains and southern coast at Galle. It moves at an easy pace, with most regions given two or more days so travellers arrive and settle in rather than rushing through.

Highlights include the cave temples of Dambulla, the rock fortress of Sigiriya, the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa, safaris in Minneriya and Udawalawe National Parks, tea estates and waterfalls around Nuwara Eliya, the Nine Arches Bridge and viewpoints of Ella, and the fort town of Galle, finishing with beach time on the south coast.

Lakpura runs the tour with a private vehicle and an English-speaking chauffeur guide throughout, covering fuel, parking and highway tolls, and the pace and stops at each site are set by the traveller's own group. Hotel accommodation, entrance fees, domestic airfare and personal expenses are arranged separately, so travellers can choose stays and activities to suit their own budget.

Your service advisor

Chathum Executive

Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Chathum 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, cost of fuel, parking & highway tolls.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.
All prevailing taxes and service charges (Except for Credit Card Charges).

Not included

Hotel Accommodation.
International / Domestic Airfare.
Any expenses of personal nature.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.

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 Negombo

Day 1 — Airport → Negombo

The tour begins with arrival and a relaxed first stop on the west coast.

Negombo Beach

Enjoy the sun on the sandy beaches of Negombo on the western coast of Sri Lanka.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

2 Sigiriya

Day 2 — Negombo → Dambulla → Sigiriya

The day moves inland to the cultural triangle, taking in a cave temple and an elephant sanctuary en route to Sigiriya.

Golden Temple of Dambulla

Enter the historic cave temples of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC.

Lankapic · CC BY 2.5

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, in the Sabaragamuwa province, is home to young elephants displaced or lost from their natural habitat. With around 70 elephants, it is the largest captive herd of elephants in the world, offering a close encounter with the animals.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

3 Sigiriya

Day 3 — Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → Minneriya → Sigiriya

A day exploring the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa followed by a safari in Minneriya National Park, returning to Sigiriya.

Polonnaruwa

Visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, the second major capital of Sri Lanka.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Minneriya National Park

A safari ride through Minneriya National Park.

Stuart Pinkney · CC BY 2.0

4 Kandy

Day 4 — Sigiriya → Matale → Kandy

The morning is spent climbing Sigiriya rock before heading via a spice garden to Kandy, where the evening features a cultural show.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Climb the 5th-century AD rock fortress of Sigiriya, where King Kasyapa once ruled.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Spice Garden

A guided tour of a spice and herbal garden in Matale, learning about spices such as coriander, chilli, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg and their uses.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Kandyan Cultural Show

An hour-long show of traditional Sri Lankan art forms, including fire dancers, sword dancers, and Kandyan dancers performing to drumming.

Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0

5 Kandy

Day 5 — Kandy

A full day in Kandy taking in its botanical gardens, its most sacred temple, and a traditional dance performance.

Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, formed in the early 19th century.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Temple of the Tooth Relic

A UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century, this temple houses and protects Lord Buddha's sacred tooth relic.

A.Savin · FAL

Kandyan Cultural Show

An opportunity to experience traditional Sri Lankan art forms through a cultural dance performance.

Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0

6 Nuwara Eliya

Day 6 — Kandy → Nuwara Eliya

The route climbs into tea country, stopping at a waterfall and a tea estate before reaching the former British hill station of Nuwara Eliya.

Ramboda Falls

Visit Ramboda Falls, the 11th tallest waterfall in the country.

A.Savin · FAL

Tea Estate

A guided tour through a tea estate, learning about the varieties, processing methods and qualities of tea.

Adbar · CC BY-SA 3.0

Nuwara Eliya

Visit the highland city that was the premier holiday resort town of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Abdul malik77 · CC BY-SA 4.0

7 Ella

Day 7 — Nuwara Eliya → Ella

The day heads to Ella via the high-altitude grasslands of Horton Plains.

Horton Plains National Park

Visit Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya, known for its montane grasslands and cloud forests.

Faslan at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

8 Ella

Day 8 — Ella

A full day exploring Ella's best-known landmarks, from a historic railway bridge to a viewpoint and a waterfall.

Nine Arches Bridge

Walk over the Nine Arches Bridge and hear the story of its construction.

Deitel55 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ella Rock

Early morning views of the surrounding landscape from the top of the rock.

Ravana Falls

Ravana Falls is a popular sightseeing attraction, ranking as one of the widest waterfalls in the country.

A.Savin · FAL

9 Udawalawe

Day 9 — Ella → Udawalawe

The journey continues south to Udawalawe for a wildlife safari.

Udawalawe National Park

A safari exploring Udawalawe National Park.

AntanO · CC BY-SA 4.0

10 Galle

Day 10 — Udawalawe → Galle

The tour reaches the south coast at Galle, with its colonial-era fort.

Galle Fort

Explore Galle, where the Portuguese and Dutch made their headquarters, and visit Galle Fort, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia.

Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0

11 Galle

Day 11 — Galle (days 11–12)

Two days are left free for relaxing on the south coast.

Galle Beaches

Tan in the golden sun relaxing under the palms, with the ocean breeze for company.

Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0

13 BIA

Day 13 — Galle → BIA

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport, ending the tour.

Please note

Infant seats available

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
No public transportation nearby
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

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 13 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo airport (CMB) and day 13 ends at BIA. 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 12 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.