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Rated 4.7(3)
Sri Lanka Hills and South Coast
- Sri Lanka
- 10N/11D
- International
The tea train, then ten days that slow down
- 1Hotel
- 9Activities
- 2Transfers
- 0Leisure
From₹86,500
per person
Indian Ocean
Sri Lanka
Tea hills, ruined cities and an empty south coast
- Best time
- December to March
- Flight
- 1h 30m from Chennai
- Trips
- 4 trips available
About Sri Lanka
An island small enough to cross in a day and varied enough that most people try to, which is the one mistake worth avoiding.
The classic loop runs Colombo, the cultural triangle, the hill country and the south coast. Done properly it needs twelve nights; done in seven it is mostly a car. The train from Kandy to Ella is worth planning the trip around, and reserved seats sell out weeks ahead.
Worth building a day around
- The Kandy to Ella train through the tea estates
- Sigiriya at opening, before the rock heats up
- Whale watching off Mirissa between December and April
When to go
Dry on the south and west coasts, which is where the beaches are.
Dec-Mar
Best
Apr-Jun
Good
Jul-Nov
Quiet
What our designers tell people
Book the Ella train early
Reserved second class sells out well ahead. Unreserved means standing for six hours.
Do not try to see all of it
Two regions in ten nights beats four in the same time by a distance.
Entry and visas
Electronic travel authorisation required before departure.
Questions people ask
Is one week enough?
For the south coast and one inland base, yes. For the full loop, no.
Is it good for a first trip abroad?
Very. Short flight, easy driving, English widely spoken.
4 trips in Sri Lanka
Filter these
Sri Lanka South Coast Short Break
- Sri Lanka
- 5N/6D
- International
Galle, Mirissa and no inland driving
- 1Hotel
- 4Activities
- 2Transfers
- 0Leisure
From₹44,500
per person
Activity
Yala Dawn Leopard Safari
- Sri Lanka
- Day trip
- International
First jeep in the park
- 0Hotels
- 1Activity
- 0Transfers
- 0Leisure
From₹9,800
per group
Stay
Galle Fort Courtyard House
- Sri Lanka
- 1N/2D
- International
Inside the ramparts
- 1Hotel
- 0Activities
- 0Transfers
- 0Leisure
From₹18,000
per couple