10 daysFirst time in Sri Lanka
The Classic Island Loop
Negombo → Sigiriya → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala → Galle
Best: Dec–Apr
from$1,390 pp
Tailor-made Sri Lanka · private car & chauffeur-guide
© dronepicr · CC BY 2.0An island you can cross in a day. And never finish.
Leopards at dawn, a blue train through the tea, a 1,500-year-old palace on a rock, and a beach to end on. We plan it around you, with a local guide at your side the whole way.
Licensed by SLTDALicence no. placeholder
Your own chauffeur-guidePrivate car, English-speaking, the whole trip
24/7 local supportA real person in Colombo, day or night
Flexible bookingLow deposit, free date changes terms tbc
Signature journeys
Start from a route we love. Make it yours.
Every journey is private and fully adjustable: add a night, swap a hotel, skip the safari. Prices are per person, 2 sharing, in 4★ boutique hotels.
8 journeys
10 days
8 daysFollowing the wild
Leopards, Elephants & Whales
Negombo → Sigiriya → Udawalawe → Yala → Mirissa
Best: Feb–Apr (Minneriya herds Jul–Oct)
from$1,290 pp
6 days
5 daysAuthentic Ceylon
Ancient Kingdoms
Anuradhapura → Polonnaruwa → Sigiriya → Dambulla → Kandy
Best: Year-round (driest Jan–Sep)
from$720 pp
9 daysRomantic serendipity
Hills to the Sea
Kandy → Ella → Tangalle → Mirissa → Galle
Best: Dec–Apr
from$1,890 pp
8 daysEverlasting summer
East Coast Summer
Negombo → Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → Trincomalee → Pasikudah → Arugam Bay
Best: May–Sep
from$1,080 pp
7 days
9 daysFamily fun
Family Island Adventure
Negombo → Sigiriya → Kandy → Ella → Udawalawe → Hikkaduwa
Best: Dec–Apr · Jul–Aug
from$1,190 pp
Destinations
Small island, very different worlds.
Tap a place to see why it's worth the drive, how long the drive is, and when to go.
● Destination┄ Hill-country railwayTimes are by road from the airport (CMB)
Cultural Triangle
Sigiriya
A 5th-century palace on top of a 200 m rock. Climb past the frescoes and the giant Lion's Paws, ideally by 7 am.
From airport4–4.5 h
Best timeYear-round
In journeys5
Features in: The Classic Island Loop, Leopards, Elephants & Whales, Ancient Kingdoms, East Coast Summer, Family Island Adventure
Experiences
What kind of trip are you dreaming about?
Pick a theme and we'll show the journeys built around it.
When to go
Two monsoons, opposite coasts. There's always sun somewhere.
The south-west monsoon (May–Sep) wets the west, south and hills while the east coast shines. The north-east monsoon (Nov–Feb) does the reverse. Pick your month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West & South coast | ||||||||||||
| Hill Country | ||||||||||||
| Cultural Triangle | ||||||||||||
| East coast | ||||||||||||
| North (Jaffna) |
BestMixed: showers, still goodWettest
January: where to go
West & South coast, Hill Country, Cultural Triangle
Wettest: East coast. Journeys that fit: The Classic Island Loop, Tea Trails & the Blue Train, Ancient Kingdoms, Hills to the Sea, Ayurveda & the Slow Coast, Family Island Adventure.
Wildlife in Jan
- Blue whales off Mirissa
- Elephants in Udawalawe
- Surf on the south coast
- Migratory birds, Kumana & Bundala
- Adam's Peak pilgrimage season
Festivals & events
- Duruthu Perahera, Kelaniya (full moon)
- Thai Pongal harvest festival
Signature moment
The blue train through the tea country
Doors open, legs dangling, mist on the hills. The line from Kandy climbs to Pattipola, the highest station on the network, then winds down past Demodara to the Nine Arches Bridge near Ella. Reserved seats sell out weeks ahead in high season. We book them for you.
Sri Lanka Railways · Main Line · Reserved
KandyElla
Journey6–7 h
Summit~1,898 m
Short versionNanu Oya → Ella, ~3 h
SEAT2AWindow · left
Tailor-made planner
Five questions. A route, a price, and a real person to refine it.
No sign-up. We'll match you to a journey, check it against the season of your travel month, and estimate a price in your currency.
Nimal, your travel designer sample profileBorn in Kandy, 12 years guiding. Replies within 24 h on email or WhatsApp.
Question 1 of 5
Who's travelling?
Traveller reviews
Layout sample · replace with real, linked reviewsWhat travellers tell us after they get home
★★★★★
Our guide knew which side of the train to sit on, which time to climb Sigiriya, and where the leopard had been that morning. We never felt like tourists.Sample review · Couple from the UK · Classic Island Loop
★★★★★
We travelled in August and they moved our beach days to the east coast. Flat sea, empty sand, and whales off Trincomalee.Sample review · Family from Germany · East Coast Summer
★★★★★
The kids still talk about the elephants at Udawalawe. Every hotel had a pool, every drive had a stop. Perfectly paced.Sample review · Family from Australia · Family Island Adventure
TripAdvisor ratingYour real score + review count, linked
Google reviewsYour real score + review count, linked
Awards & membershipsOnly real ones (e.g. SLTDA, Travelife)
Travel essentials
The practical bits, answered
VisaETA before you flyApply only at eta.gov.lk · 30 days
Time zoneUTC +5:30No daylight saving
MoneySri Lankan Rupee (LKR)Cards in hotels, cash in villages
Power230 V · Type D & GBring a universal adapter
Arrive atColombo (CMB)Katunayake, ~35 km north of Colombo
Trip length10–14 daysCovers the highlights unhurried
Is Sri Lanka safe for tourists?
Yes. It's one of South Asia's most welcoming destinations. Your chauffeur-guide is with you throughout, and our Colombo team is on call 24/7.
When is the best time to visit?
Any month, if you pick the right coast. December to April suits the south, west and hills; May to September suits the east coast and the Cultural Triangle. See the month-by-month calendar.
How many days do I need?
10–14 days covers the highlights without rushing. A week works well for one or two regions, e.g. the Cultural Triangle and the hills.
Do I need a visa?
Most nationalities need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly. Use only the official site, eta.gov.lk. Fees and exemptions change; we'll check yours.
What's included in the price?
Private car and English-speaking chauffeur-guide, hotels with breakfast, listed entrance fees and safaris, airport transfers and 24/7 support. International flights are not included.
Can we change the itinerary?
Always. Every journey here is a starting point; your travel designer adjusts the route, pace and hotels until it's right.
Do you offer elephant rides?
No. We only work with responsible wildlife experiences: jeep safaris in national parks and the Elephant Transit Home, which rehabilitates and releases orphaned elephants.
Start planning
Tell us a little. We'll send a route and a price.
A travel designer in Colombo replies within 24 hours with a day-by-day plan and a clear quote. No obligation, no payment until you're happy.
- Free, unlimited changes to your plan before you book
- Quote in your currency, all-inclusive of guide, car, hotels and entrances listed
- Talk on email, WhatsApp or a video call: your choice