Arrive and head north
From the airport, drive about 4 hours to Sigiriya and sleep there for two nights. If you land in the morning and still have energy, climb Pidurangala in the late afternoon for the view of Lion Rock at sunset; the last part is a scramble over boulders. Otherwise, rest and save the climbing for tomorrow.
Tip: Change a small amount of money at the airport for the first day, then use ATMs in town.
Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa
Sigiriya · Ancient City of Polonnaruwa · Gal Vihara
Climb Sigiriya, the 5th-century rock fortress of King Kashyapa, as early as you can, before the heat and the crowds build. After lunch, drive about 1–1.5 hours to Polonnaruwa, hire a bicycle and ride through the ruins of the medieval capital, ending at the carved Buddhas of Gal Vihara. Drive back to Sigiriya to sleep.
Tip: Sigiriya’s foreign adult ticket is listed at USD 35 and Polonnaruwa’s at USD 30. Check before you go.
Cave temple and Kandy
Dambulla Cave Temple · Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic · Kandy Lake
Dambulla Cave Temple is about 30 minutes from Sigiriya: see its five painted caves in the morning. Drive on about 2–2.5 hours to Kandy and visit the Temple of the Tooth in the evening for one of the daily ceremonies. Walk part of the way around Kandy Lake afterwards and sleep in Kandy.
Tip: Book your Kandy to Ella train seats as soon as your dates are fixed; reserved seats sell out days ahead.
The train to Ella
Take a morning train from Kandy to Ella, about 6–7 hours past tea estates, waterfalls and small hill stations. Bring water and snacks, though vendors walk the carriages. Arrive in Ella in the late afternoon and sleep there for two nights.
Tip: If reserved seats are gone, ride second class unreserved for a shorter stretch, such as Nanu Oya to Ella, and cover the rest by road.
Ella on foot
Little Adam’s Peak · Nine Arches Bridge
Walk up Little Adam’s Peak early, about 45 minutes through tea gardens, for wide views before the clouds come in. Then walk to Nine Arches Bridge, a colonial-era railway viaduct, and wait for a train to cross. Spend the afternoon in Ella’s cafes, or hike Ella Rock if you want a longer walk of about 3–4 hours there and back.
Tip: Save an offline map of the walking routes before you go; signal can drop deep in the hill country.
Down to Yala
Ravana Falls · Yala National Park
Leave Ella on the Wellawaya road and stop at Ravana Falls after about 15 minutes. Tissamaharama, the base for Yala, is about 2.5 hours on. Take an afternoon jeep safari for a chance of leopards, elephants and sloth bears, and sleep in Tissamaharama.
Tip: If you would rather see elephants than search for leopards, Udawalawe National Park is an easy swap on the road south.
To the south coast
Drive west along the coast to Hiriketiya, about 1.5–2 hours, for a swim or a surf lesson in its small horseshoe bay. Carry on about 40 minutes to Mirissa and sleep there for two nights.
Tip: Book tomorrow’s whale-watching boat when you arrive in Mirissa; boats leave early.
Whales and Weligama
Whale-watching boats leave Mirissa harbour early, from roughly November to April, and take most of the morning. In the afternoon, take a tuk-tuk about 10 minutes to Weligama for a surf lesson in its gentle bay. Come back for sunset on Coconut Tree Hill and sleep in Mirissa.
Tip: Pick a whale-watching operator that keeps its distance from the whales, and take seasickness tablets if you need them.
Jungle Beach and Galle Fort
Jungle Beach and Rumassala · Galle Fort
Drive about 1 hour west towards Galle and stop at Jungle Beach, below Rumassala hill near Unawatuna, for a morning swim. Check into a guesthouse in or near Galle Fort, then walk the old streets and the 17th-century ramparts at sunset. Sleep in Galle.
Tip: There is little shade on the ramparts, so carry water and a hat and walk them late in the day.
Back to Colombo
Galle to Colombo is about 2 hours on the Southern Expressway, and the airport is about an hour further. With an evening flight, stop at Galle Face Green, Colombo’s seafront promenade, for a last walk and some street food. Leave plenty of time for traffic on the way to the airport.
Tip: Keep some rupees for the last day; cash still rules outside hotels and city restaurants.
Who is this 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary for?
This is the classic first trip: ancient cities, the hill country train, a safari and the south coast in ten days. It suits travellers who want variety and do not mind changing beds every night or two.
It is busy. For more beach time, drop Polonnaruwa and the Yala safari and give the south coast two extra nights. You can plan your own version free in the Srilor app: Suggest a plan drafts the towns to sleep in and the nights in each, with honest drive times between them.
How do I get around on a 10-day trip?
Most people hire a car and driver for the road days and take the train between Kandy and Ella. A driver can carry your bags to Ella while you ride the train, which makes that day much easier. Agree the full price, and what it includes, before you start.
Without a driver, buses and tuk-tuks will get you everywhere on this route. Allow more time for each leg, travel light, and book reserved Kandy to Ella seats early.
When is the best time for this 10-day route?
December to April is best: the south and west coasts are dry, the hill country is at its clearest and the cultural triangle is hot and mostly dry. Whales are off Mirissa until April, and December is peak season, so book beds ahead.
From May to September the south coast is in its monsoon. In those months, swap the last four days for the east coast, such as Trincomalee or Arugam Bay, which is dry and calm then.
Questions people ask
Is 10 days enough for Sri Lanka?
Ten days is enough for the cultural triangle, the hill country and the south coast at a steady pace. You will not reach the east coast or Jaffna; for those, allow 14 days or more.
Should I hire a driver for 10 days in Sri Lanka?
It makes this route much easier, especially the long road days to Sigiriya, Yala and the coast. Agree the full price and what it includes before you start.
Can I do this 10-day route in reverse?
Yes. Start on the south coast and finish in the cultural triangle, about 4 hours from the airport by road. Book the Ella to Kandy train seats early.
What should I skip if I am short of time?
Polonnaruwa and the Yala safari are the easiest to drop. Keep Sigiriya, Kandy, the train to Ella and Galle.