Day 1: Arrive Negombo
Twenty-five minutes from the airport, a night by the lagoon, and a long way north tomorrow.
Grand tour · 13 days
East Coast and the North
Thirteen days on the other side of the monsoon
At a glance
- 13 days · Grand tour
- West Coast · Cultural Triangle · North · East Coast · Hill Country
- May–Sep
- About 24h 35m
- Mid-range per person
Built for June, July and August, when the south-west is wet and the east and north are at their best. Anuradhapura, the Jaffna peninsula, Pigeon Island's coral, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, finishing in Kandy. The Sri Lanka that returning travellers come back for.
Day by day
Driving times are door-to-door estimates for typical road conditions, not routing output. Days over five hours on the road are flagged.
Day 2: To Anuradhapura
Three and a half hours north, arriving in time to walk the sacred precinct at dusk with the evening pilgrims.
Day 3: The sacred city
A full day among the stupas, monasteries and bathing ponds of a capital that lasted a millennium, ending at the Sri Maha Bodhi.
On this day
- Anuradhapura sacred city
Day 4: North to Jaffna
Three and a half hours up the A9 through the Vanni to the peninsula. The landscape, the language and the food all change on the way.
Day 5: The peninsula and the islands
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, the Dutch fort, the rebuilt library and the causeways out to the islands, with a Jaffna crab curry in the middle of it.
On this day
- Jaffna peninsula and islands
Day 6: Across to Trincomalee
Four hours east and south along the coast road to one of the world's great natural harbours. Sunset from Swami Rock below the Koneswaram temple.
On this day
- Koneswaram temple and Swami Rock
Day 7: Pigeon Island
On the first boat out to the reef for the best accessible coral in the country, blacktip reef sharks in the shallows, and back to Nilaveli for the afternoon.
On this day
- Pigeon Island snorkelling
Day 8: Nilaveli
A day with nothing in it: flat, shallow, warm water, a long beach, and the hot wells at Kanniya if you want an hour of purpose.
Day 9: Polonnaruwa, then Sigiriya
Two hours inland to the medieval capital and a morning on a bicycle among its ruins, then on to Sigiriya village for the night.
On this day
- Polonnaruwa by bicycle
Day 10: Sigiriya
At the gate for 7am and up to the summit palace, then an afternoon jeep drive at Minneriya, which is at its best in exactly these months.
On this day
- Sigiriya rock at opening time
- Minneriya and Kaudulla elephant safari
Day 11: Down to Kandy
Two and a half hours south into the hills, arriving for the evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
On this day
- Evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Day 12: Kandy
Peradeniya's botanic gardens, the lake, the market, and a last dinner looking down over the town.
On this day
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
Day 13: Kandy to the airport
Three hours down out of the hills to the airport, with a spice garden stop at Matale if the flight is late.
Transfers & vehicle
Tell us if you want to be met at the airport or dropped back, and which vehicle suits your group.
What’s included
Included
- Included: Private vehicle and English-speaking driver throughout
- Included: Twelve nights' accommodation
- Included: Daily breakfast
- Included: Guided day across the Jaffna peninsula with lunch
- Included: Pigeon Island boat and snorkelling equipment
- Included: Minneriya jeep safari
- Included: Licensed guides at Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Kandy
Not included
- Not included: International flights and visa
- Not included: Site and national park entrance fees
- Not included: Most lunches and all dinners
- Not included: Drinks
- Not included: Travel insurance
- Not included: Tips
Where this trip goes
7 destinations, in route order.
Enquire about East Coast and the North
Send us your dates and party size and we will come back with availability, a firm price and anything we would change about the route for your month. It is an enquiry, not a booking — nothing is charged and nothing is committed.