The short answer
- Minimum
- 7 days
- Ideal first trip
- 10 to 14 days
- Best way around
- Car with a driver, plus the Ella train
- Fly into
- Colombo airport, near Negombo
The classic Sri Lanka loop runs north from the airport to the Cultural Triangle, south through Kandy and the tea country to Ella, then down to the safari parks and the south coast. Distances look small, but roads are slow: plan on 3 to 5 hours of driving between most stops.
One thing has changed: the famous Kandy to Ella train has not run end to end since Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025. The plans below use the road to Nanu Oya and the train from there to Ella, which is the most scenic stretch anyway. See the latest in our [train guide](/guides/sri-lanka/kandy-to-ella-train).
7 days: Sigiriya, Kandy and Ella
Best for: A first look at culture, tea country and the hills
| Day | Plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive and drive to Sigiriya (about 3.5 hours) | Sigiriya |
| 2 | Sunrise on Pidurangala or Sigiriya Rock; afternoon at Polonnaruwa or a Minneriya safari | Sigiriya |
| 3 | Dambulla cave temple, a spice garden, then Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth | Kandy |
| 4 | Drive into tea country; train from Nanu Oya to Ella | Ella |
| 5 | Little Adam's Peak and the Nine Arches Bridge | Ella |
| 6 | Ravana Falls, then the long drive towards the airport, or stay near Colombo | Negombo or Colombo |
| 7 | Fly home |
Tip: Seven days is rushed. If you can, add a day in Ella or swap Day 6 for a night at Yala and leave from the south via the expressway.
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10 days: add Yala and the south coast
Best for: The classic loop, December to April
| Days | Plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Sigiriya, Pidurangala and Polonnaruwa or Minneriya | Sigiriya |
| 3 to 4 | Dambulla, Kandy, the Temple of the Tooth and the Peradeniya gardens | Kandy |
| 5 | Tea factory, then the train from Nanu Oya to Ella | Ella |
| 6 | Little Adam's Peak, Nine Arches Bridge | Ella |
| 7 | Drive to Yala for an afternoon leopard safari | Yala |
| 8 to 9 | Mirissa: beach, whale watching in season, Galle Fort day trip | Mirissa |
| 10 | Expressway to the airport |
Want this 10 day route as a private tour?
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14 days: the full loop at a gentler pace
Best for: Seeing everything without long days
| Days | Plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Sigiriya, Pidurangala, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and a Minneriya or Kaudulla safari | Sigiriya |
| 4 to 5 | Kandy: the Temple of the Tooth, gardens and a cultural show | Kandy |
| 6 | Tea country and Nuwara Eliya | Nuwara Eliya |
| 7 to 8 | Horton Plains at dawn, then the train from Nanu Oya to Ella | Ella |
| 9 | Yala safari | Yala |
| 10 to 11 | Mirissa beach and whale watching in season | Mirissa |
| 12 to 13 | Galle Fort and Unawatuna | Galle |
| 14 | Expressway to the airport |
Tip: Travelling between May and September? Swap Days 9 to 13 for Trincomalee or Pasikudah on the east coast, about 2.5 hours from Sigiriya, where the weather is dry then.
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Driving times between the main stops
Use this grid to check how long each day on the road will really be.
Swipe sideways to see every place →
| Airport | Colombo | Sigiriya | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Ella | Yala | Mirissa | Galle | Trincomalee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | 45 min | 3.5 h | 2.5 h | 5 h | 6.5 h | 5 h | 3 h | 2.5 h | 5 h | |
| Colombo | 45 min | 4 h | 3 h | 5 h | 6 h | 4.5 h | 2.5 h | 2 h | 5.5 h | |
| Sigiriya | 3.5 h | 4 h | 2.5 h | 5 h | 6 h | 6.5 h | 6.5 h | 6 h | 2.5 h | |
| Kandy | 2.5 h | 3 h | 2.5 h | 3 h | 5 h | 6 h | 5.5 h | 5 h | 4.5 h | |
| Nuwara Eliya | 5 h | 5 h | 5 h | 3 h | 2.5 h | 4.5 h | 5.5 h | 6 h | 7 h | |
| Ella | 6.5 h | 6 h | 6 h | 5 h | 2.5 h | 2.5 h | 4 h | 4.5 h | 7 h | |
| Yala | 5 h | 4.5 h | 6.5 h | 6 h | 4.5 h | 2.5 h | 2.5 h | 3 h | 7.5 h | |
| Mirissa | 3 h | 2.5 h | 6.5 h | 5.5 h | 5.5 h | 4 h | 2.5 h | 1 h | 8.5 h | |
| Galle | 2.5 h | 2 h | 6 h | 5 h | 6 h | 4.5 h | 3 h | 1 h | 8 h | |
| Trincomalee | 5 h | 5.5 h | 2.5 h | 4.5 h | 7 h | 7 h | 7.5 h | 8.5 h | 8 h |
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Sri Lanka?
Ten to fourteen days covers the Cultural Triangle, the hill country, a safari and the beach without rushing. Seven days is enough for the culture and the hills, but not the coast.
Can I still take the train from Kandy to Ella?
Not end to end at the moment. Since Cyclone Ditwah, the usual approach is to drive to Nanu Oya and take the train from there to Ella, the most scenic section. Check our train guide for updates.
Which way round should I travel?
Most routes start with the Cultural Triangle and finish on the beach, so you relax at the end. In the May to September season, finish on the east coast instead.
Sri Lanka month by month
More Sri Lanka guides
Best time to visit Sri Lanka: the two monsoons explained
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so somewhere is always dry. December to March is best for the south and west coasts and the hill country; May to September for the east coast and the north.
Updated 15 October 2026
Kandy to Ella train: what is running now, tickets and seats
Since Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025 the hill country line has reopened in stages. Nanu Oya to Ella is running again, but trains cannot yet run from Kandy. Here is what is open, and how to still ride the best part.
Updated 15 October 2026
Sri Lanka entrance fees for 2026 and 2027, with a cost calculator
Entry fees for foreigners add up fast: Sigiriya alone is about US$35, and the Cultural Triangle sites together cost around US$100. Tick the places on your list to see your total.
Updated 15 October 2026
Getting around Sri Lanka: driver, train, bus or tour?
Most visitors hire a car with a driver, which costs about US$50 to 70 a day for a car and covers fuel and the driver's food and lodging. Trains are scenic but slow; buses are cheap and crowded.
Updated 15 October 2026