Ready-made itinerary · 9 days
A trip few visitors make. Anuradhapura on the way north, three nights in Jaffna for its temples, islands and food, then the long drive down to the beaches and temples of Trincomalee.
2 adults · Balanced · Mid-range
4 stops · 856 km · about 21 hr driving
Lines join overnight stops in order. They are not road paths.
Land at Bandaranaike International Airport, pick up your SIM card and meet your driver.
A long sea-front lawn and promenade, busy with families, kite flyers and street-food stalls from late afternoon.
Day 2 has about 5 hr on the road, longer than your chosen pace usually allows.
The ruins of two vast monastery complexes, with the huge brick domes of Abhayagiri and Jetavanaramaya, guardstones, moonstones and bathing ponds such as the Twin Ponds.
The sacred fig tree grown from a cutting brought from India in the 3rd century BC, among the oldest documented trees in the world, surrounded by terraces and offerings.
A great white stupa built by King Dutugamunu in the 2nd century BC and ringed by a wall of carved elephants. Beautiful in the late afternoon light.
Day 4 has about 5 hr 30 min on the road, longer than your chosen pace usually allows.
The white library, burned in 1981 with tens of thousands of books and rebuilt in its original style, a powerful symbol for the city.
A star-shaped fort, first built by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch in the 17th century, with a moat and ramparts over the lagoon.
The great golden-towered Hindu temple of Jaffna, dedicated to Murugan. Visit for one of the daily pujas, with drums and the ringing of bells.
Freshwater springs by the sea on the north coast, with separate bathing pools, next to the ancient Naguleswaram Shiva temple.
A boat trip to Nainativu, home to the Nagapooshani Amman temple and the Buddhist shrine of Nagadeepa. The ferry leaves from Kurikadduwan jetty, about an hour's drive from the city.
Night in Trincomalee
Koneswaram temple on the cliff and a snorkel at Pigeon Island.
Day 7 has about 6 hr 15 min on the road, longer than your chosen pace usually allows.
A Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva on a cliff above the sea, reached through Fort Frederick.
A free day with nothing booked. Rest, swim, or wander at your own pace.
Flight home from CMB
Check out and drive to the airport. Aim to arrive three hours before your flight.
Mid-range · 2 adults · February
Estimated ranges, not quotes. Based on published 2026 prices, reviewed 22 Oct 2026. Excludes flights and visas. Tickets are counted where a price is known.