- Land
Land at Bandaranaike International Airport, pick up your SIM card and meet your driver.
- Drive to Negombo15 minup to 30 min in traffic · 7 km
- 16:30
A wide stretch of sand north of the town; good for an evening walk after a long flight.
Ready-made itinerary · 12 days
Twelve days for two
Sigiriya at sunrise, a night in the hills, the tea country at Ella and a long stay on a quiet beach at Tangalle.
Ready-made itinerary
The trip, day by day
2 adults · Relaxed · Mid-range
- 1Negombo1n
- 2Sigiriya2n
- 3Kandy1n
- 4Nuwara Eliya1n
- 5Ella2n
- 6Tangalle3n
- 7Galle1n
per personLKR 182k–346k
Your route
7 stops · 746 km · about 19 hr driving
- 1NegomboWest coast1 night
- 2SigiriyaCultural Triangle2 nights
- 3KandyHill country1 night
- 4Nuwara EliyaHill country1 night
- 5EllaHill country2 nights
- 6TangalleSouth coast3 nights
- 7GalleSouth coast1 night
Lines join overnight stops in order. They are not road paths.
- 08:30Drive to Sigiriya3 hr 45 minup to 4 hr 30 min in traffic · 147 km
Long day on the roadDay 2 has about 4 hr 30 min on the road, longer than your chosen pace usually allows.
- 08:30
- 07:30
The palace-fortress on the rock, with water gardens, frescoes, the Mirror Wall and the lion staircase. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 14:30
Five painted caves under one rock overhang, with Buddha statues and ceiling murals spanning many centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 07:30
- 08:30Drive to Kandy2 hr 30 minup to 3 hr in traffic · 89 km
- 11:55
Sri Lanka's largest botanic garden, on a bend of the Mahaweli river, known for its avenues of royal palms, orchid house and giant Javan fig tree.
- 08:30
- 08:30Drive to Nuwara Eliya2 hr 30 minup to 3 hr 15 min in traffic · 72 km
- 11:30
A working tea factory a few minutes from town, with a short tour of the processing floor and tea tasting with views over the estate.
Long day on the roadDay 5 has about 3 hr 15 min on the road, longer than your chosen pace usually allows.
- 08:30
- 08:30Drive to Ella2 hrup to 2 hr 30 min in traffic · 57 km
- 11:00
The stone railway viaduct at Demodara, in a valley of tea and forest. Check the timetable if you want to see a train cross.
- 08:30
- 09:00
An easy, well-trodden walk of about 45 minutes each way through a tea estate to a grassy summit with views across Ella Gap.
- All day
A free day with nothing booked. Rest, swim, or wander at your own pace.
- 09:00
- 08:30Drive to Tangalle3 hr 30 minup to 4 hr 30 min in traffic · 139 km
Long day on the roadDay 8 has about 4 hr 30 min on the road, longer than your chosen pace usually allows.
- 08:30
- 07:30
The horseshoe bay itself, with a beginner-friendly beach break, a reef break for experienced surfers and calm water for swimming on small days.
- 14:30
A small, sheltered cove of golden sand between rocky headlands, one of the safer swimming spots near Tangalle in season.
- 07:30
- 14:30
A temple with one of the island's largest seated Buddha statues, about 50 metres tall, and a tunnel of painted scenes of the afterlife.
- All day
A free day with nothing booked. Rest, swim, or wander at your own pace.
- 14:30
- 08:30Drive to Galle1 hr 30 minup to 1 hr 45 min in traffic · 75 km
- 14:30
A curved bay with calm water in season, sheltered by a reef and lined with cafes.
- 08:30
- Departure
Galle to the airport
Flight home from CMB
Check out and drive to the airport. Aim to arrive three hours before your flight.
- Drive to the airport2 hr 45 minup to 3 hr 15 min in traffic · 160 km
Budget estimate
Mid-range · 2 adults · January
LKR 182,000 – 346,000per person · whole trip LKR 364k–692k for two
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.
Why this route
- Day 7 is left free so the trip does not become a rush.
- Day 10 is left free so the trip does not become a rush.
Good to know
- Ask for the room, not just the hotel. Views, balconies and pools vary a great deal inside the same property.
- Keep the beach nights for the end, so the long drives are behind you.