Ready-made routes

🍃 Sri Lanka: Tea Hills and the Coast

Tea plantations, ancient cities, safari and tropical shores on a single island. The legendary train route descending from the mountains to the sea; economical.

14Days
5Stops
$40Per day
$560On the ground

Visa status for this route

The itinerary below is the same for everyone. What changes is how your passport enters these countries.

Pick your passport to see your visa status

The route, night by night (13 nights)

  1. 01

    Kandy

    2 nights

    The Temple of the Tooth, the lake, the cultural capital.

  2. 02

    Ella & the tea country

    3 nights

    The Nine Arches bridge, tea fields, the world's most beautiful train ride.

  3. 03

    Yala/Udawalawe

    2 nights

    Leopard and elephant safari.

  4. 04

    Mirissa & the south coast

    4 nights

    Whale watching, surfing, tropical beaches.

  5. 05

    Sigiriya

    2 nights

    Lion Rock, the ancient palace, the cultural triangle.

Best season

December–March (south/west), May–September (east)

Getting around

The famous hill train (Kandy–Ella) + tuk-tuks + a private driver.

What to know before you go

  • —Buy the Kandy–Ella train ticket (2nd class reserved) in advance; the window seat is legendary.
  • —Get the ETA only from the official site; middleman sites overcharge.
  • —The tuk-tuk app PickMe ends the haggling.

Important: this content is general information

Visa rules can change without notice. Always confirm your situation with an official source before you travel: Also check with the embassy or consulate of your destination country in your own country. The information on this page is guidance, not legal advice.