Build your own Sri Lanka trip

This page prices your own private trip as you build it: the classic below is $866 per person for two, 7 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included. Change anything and the full price updates.

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Without JavaScript the plan below is always our classic trip, even when the link you followed named another plan, and it cannot be changed. A plan linked from one of our guides is priced on that guide. The ready-made trips further down show their prices, or you can message us on WhatsApp.

2. Your route

7 days, 6 nights, 5 stops

Start: Airport · Day 1
About 3 h 45 min, 145 km to Sigiriya
Sigiriya
Day 1 to 3
Nights in SigiriyaUsual stay 2 to 3
Nights in Sigiriya: 2
About 2 h 45 min, 90 km to Kandy
Kandy
Day 3 to 4
Nights in KandyUsual stay 1 to 2
Nights in Kandy: 1
About 2 h 45 min, 76 km to Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
Day 4 to 5
Nights in Nuwara EliyaUsual stay 1 to 2
Nights in Nuwara Eliya: 1
About 2 h, 54 km to Ella
Ella
Day 5 to 6
Nights in EllaUsual stay 2 to 3
Nights in Ella: 1
About 2 h 15 min, 88 km to Yala
Yala
Day 6 to 7
Nights in YalaUsual stay 2
Nights in Yala: 1
About 4 h 15 min, 278 km to Airport
End: Airport · Day 7

3. Things to do

Prices are for your whole group: 2 adults. Tick what you want. Anything ticked is in the price.

Sigiriya

5 chosen, $310.93Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Pidurangala Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple, Minneriya or Kaudulla elephant safari (private jeep), Hiriwadunna village tour with lunch

SightsSigiriya Rock FortressA 5th-century palace built on top of a rock, with the frescoes, the mirror wall and the lion's paws on the way up, and water gardens at the base.$70Pidurangala RockThe rock opposite Sigiriya, with the classic view of the fortress from its flat summit.$6.02Dambulla Cave TempleFive painted caves under an overhanging rock, with about 150 Buddha images and ceilings covered in murals.$18.05Dambulla MuseumA small Central Cultural Fund museum near the cave temple about the wall paintings of Sri Lanka, with reproductions and explanations of how the murals were made.$6Ibbankatuwa Megalithic TombsA prehistoric burial ground a few kilometres from Dambulla, with stone-slab cists from before the Anuradhapura period. It is quiet and rarely visited.$6Namal Uyana Rose Quartz MountainAn ironwood (na) forest and a pink quartz ridge north of Dambulla, looked after by a monk.$12

ActivitiesMinneriya or Kaudulla elephant safari (private jeep)An afternoon drive to see wild elephants on the reservoir grassland near Habarana.$146.86Hiriwadunna village tour with lunchA bullock-cart ride, a catamaran crossing of the Hiriwadunna tank, a walk through chena farmland and a rice-and-curry lunch cooked over a wood fire.$70

Kandy

3 chosen, $51.37Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Kandyan dance show

SightsTemple of the Sacred Tooth RelicThe temple that holds the tooth relic of the Buddha, inside the old royal palace complex on Kandy Lake, and a UNESCO site.$18.05Royal Botanic Gardens, PeradeniyaA large garden in a bend of the Mahaweli river on the Colombo side of Kandy, laid out in the 19th century.$21.29Ambuluwawa TowerA multi-faith complex on a hilltop above Gampola, 35 to 45 minutes from Kandy, with a tower whose spiral stairway narrows to a single person's width near the top.$16.54Aluvihare Rock TempleA cave temple at Matale, between Kandy and Dambulla, where the Buddhist scriptures are said to have been first written down on palm leaves in the 1st century BC.$1.80

ActivitiesKandyan dance showAn hour of Kandyan and low-country dance and drumming at one of the halls near the lake, ending with fire-walking.$12.03Wasgamuwa safari (private jeep)A little-visited park between Polonnaruwa and the Knuckles foothills, with elephants, sloth bears and many birds.$107.18

Not on this list: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. A captive herd with chained animals and scheduled shows. We include it only if you ask.

Nuwara Eliya

Suggested: Gregory Lake

1 chosen, $18.05Tea factory tour and tasting

SightsGregory LakeA colonial-era reservoir on the edge of Nuwara Eliya town, now ringed by a park with a walking path, boat hire, pony rides and food stalls.$1.20Hakgala Botanic GardensA cool-climate garden on the slope of Hakgala rock, south of Nuwara Eliya on the Badulla road, with roses, ferns, conifers and a cedar-lined terrace.$21.29Seetha Amman TempleA small, brightly painted Hindu temple beside a stream at Seetha Eliya, near Hakgala, on the site where Sita is said to have been held by Ravana in the Ramayana.$0.60

ActivitiesTea factory tour and tastingA guided walk through a working factory to see withering, rolling, fermenting and firing, followed by a tasting.$18.05Horton Plains and World's End walkA 9 km loop across high grassland to the World's End cliff and Baker's Falls, on foot.$71.86Pekoe Trail guided stageOne stage of the 300 km, 22-stage Pekoe Trail through tea estates, villages and forest, walked with a local guide.$180

Ella

3 chosen, $30Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, Hill-country train, Nanu Oya to Ella (reserved seat)

SightsNine Arch BridgeA nine-arched stone and brick railway viaduct in the tea and jungle between Ella and Demodara.Free entryLittle Adam's PeakAn easy hill walk of 1 to 1.5 hours return from the Passara road, through tea to a ridge with views of Ella Gap and Ella Rock.Free entryElla RockA four-hour return hike from Ella along the railway line and up through tea and eucalyptus to a rock with a wide view over the Ella valley.No fee budgetedRavana FallsA waterfall right beside the Ella to Wellawaya road, a short drive below Ella.Free entryBuduruwagala Rock CarvingsSeven figures carved into a rock face near Wellawaya, with a tall standing Buddha in the centre.$6

ActivitiesHill-country train, Nanu Oya to Ella (reserved seat)A scenic section of the Main Line: about 2 hours 30 minutes from Nanu Oya (the station for Nuwara Eliya) through tea and tunnels to Ella.$30

Yala

2 chosen, $321.72Yala afternoon safari (private jeep), Yala morning safari (private jeep)

SightsLunugamvehera National ParkA park around the Lunugamvehera reservoir north-west of Yala, a corridor for elephants between Yala and Udawalawe.$71.86

ActivitiesYala afternoon safari (private jeep)Pickup at about 14:00, in the park until it closes at 18:00. Leopards are seen on some drives, not all.$160.86Yala morning safari (private jeep)A private jeep picks you up at about 05:30 and drives Block 1 until mid-morning. Leopards are seen on some drives, not all; elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and many birds are more reliable.$160.86Yala full-day safari (private jeep)In the park from opening to closing, with a packed lunch eaten at a designated spot.$240.86Bundala bird safari (private jeep)A wetland park of lagoons and salt pans south of Tissamaharama, known for water birds and migrants rather than big animals. Flamingos are present in some years, not every year.$120.18Naturalist guide for your safariAn English-speaking naturalist rides in your jeep and explains what you see: tracks, calls, birds, behaviour.$25

Example for 2, no date chosen

$866per person, rounded up$1,731.07 total

for 2 adults, 7 days, comfort hotels, car, shoulder season

Choose your date Send on WhatsApp

Nothing to pay now. You pay your driver in cash when the trip starts. Plans change? Cancel free up to 24 hours before pickup. Replies within 30 minutes, 07:00 to 21:00 Sri Lanka time.

What is in the price

Itemised price in US dollars
Item	Amount
Vehicle and driver
Car with English-speaking driver, 7 days7 × $75; fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's meals and lodging included; 150 km a day pooled across the trip	$525

Hotels
Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana): 2 nights, comfort (3-star or good boutique)1 double, bed and breakfast, $65 a night per double room, taxes and service included	$130
Kandy: 1 night, comfort (3-star or good boutique)1 double, bed and breakfast, $60 a night per double room, taxes and service included	$60
Nuwara Eliya: 1 night, comfort (3-star or good boutique)1 double, bed and breakfast, $70 a night per double room, taxes and service included	$70
Ella: 1 night, comfort (3-star or good boutique)1 double, bed and breakfast, $80 a night per double room, taxes and service included	$80
Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama): 1 night, comfort (3-star or good boutique)1 double, bed and breakfast, $60 a night per double room, taxes and service included	$60
Subtotal	$400
Entrance tickets
Sigiriya Rock Fortress entrance2 × $35	$70
Pidurangala Rock entrance2 × LKR 1,000	$6.02
Dambulla Cave Temple entrance2 × LKR 3,000	$18.05
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic entrance2 × LKR 3,000	$18.05
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya entrance2 × LKR 3,540	$21.29
Nine Arch Bridge (Ella)free entry	free
Little Adam's Peak (Ella)free entry	free
Subtotal	$133.41
Activities
Hiriwadunna village tour with lunch2 × $35	$70
Minneriya or Kaudulla elephant safari (private jeep)1 × $75 per jeep, park tickets 2 × $25 + $10 service charge and LKR 300 per vehicle, plus 18% VAT	$146.86
Kandyan dance show2 × LKR 2,000	$12.03
Tea factory tour and tasting2 × LKR 3,000	$18.05
Hill-country train, Nanu Oya to Ella (reserved seat)2 × $15	$30
Yala afternoon safari (private jeep)1 × $89 per jeep, park tickets 2 × $25 + $10 service charge and LKR 300 per vehicle, plus 18% VAT	$160.86
Yala morning safari (private jeep)1 × $89 per jeep, park tickets 2 × $25 + $10 service charge and LKR 300 per vehicle, plus 18% VAT	$160.86
Subtotal	$598.66
Extras
Trip planning and support8% of vehicle and hotels: planning, booking every hotel and ticket, and our team on WhatsApp, 07:00 to 21:00 Sri Lanka time, throughout the trip. Sights and activities are at their listed price, except Hill-country train, Nanu Oya to Ella (reserved seat), which includes our booking charge.	$74

Totalfor 2 people, 6 nights, shoulder season: $1,731.07
Per personrounded up to the dollar: $866

No date yet, so hotels are priced at shoulder-season rates. Peak season (10 Jan to 31 Mar), Christmas and the busy weeks at some stops cost more.

Where the figures come from

Our rate, checked 7 Nov 2026
Planning rate, checked 7 Nov 2026
Central Cultural Fund price list, checked 7 Nov 2026
Passport and Stamps, Pidurangala guide, checked 7 Nov 2026
TravelTriangle, Dambulla entry fees, checked 7 Nov 2026
GetYourGuide, Habarana Hiriwadunna village tour with lunch, checked 7 Nov 2026
safa.lk (sister brand) retail price, checked 7 Nov 2026
Sri Dalada Maligawa, checked 7 Nov 2026
Department of National Botanic Gardens, checked 7 Nov 2026
TukTuk Rental and MySLTravel entrance-fee lists (secondary), checked 7 Nov 2026
Halpewatte (Halpé) Tea, tour page, checked 7 Nov 2026
The Man in Seat 61, Sri Lanka (fares and booking window), checked 7 Nov 2026

Entrance fees checked 7 Nov 2026. Hotel rates checked 7 Nov 2026. Rupee fees converted at LKR 332.5 to USD 1 (XE mid-market rate, 6 Nov 2026).

$866each, rounded up$1,731.07 totalfor 2, Comfort

Choose your date

Ready-made starting points

Each one opens in the builder, ready to change. Prices are for two adults sharing, with every ticket on the plan included.

Classic Sri Lanka, 7 days
7 days: Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama)
$866
per person for two, 7 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included
Start from this plan See the tour
Grand tour of Sri Lanka, 10 days
10 days: Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama), Galle (with Unawatuna)
$1,230
per person for two, 10 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included
Start from this plan See the tour
Complete island, 14 days
14 days: Negombo, Wilpattu National Park, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Hatton (Adam's Peak and tea country), Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Udawalawe National Park, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama), Galle (with Unawatuna)
$1,716
per person for two, 14 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included, temple-run sites paid there
Start from this plan See the tour
Classic Sri Lanka and beach, 8 days
8 days: Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama), Mirissa (with Weligama)
$1,010
per person for two, 8 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included
Start from this plan See the tour
Sri Lanka highlights, 5 days
5 days: Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
$534
per person for two, 5 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included
Start from this plan See the tour
Wildlife Sri Lanka, 8 days
8 days: Wilpattu National Park, Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Udawalawe National Park, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama)
$1,102
per person for two, 8 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included
Start from this plan See the tour

How pricing works

The price is built from parts, and each part is listed on your receipt. It changes with your date, your group and your hotels.

Step 1: Vehicle and driver
A rate per day for your own vehicle and English-speaking driver, with fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's meals and lodging included. Extra distance beyond the daily allowance is shown as its own line.
Step 2: Hotels
Planning rates by area, standard and season, for bed and breakfast with taxes and service. Hotels are named as examples of the standard you will get. If a named hotel is full we book one of the same standard in the same area and tell you which.
Step 3: Tickets and activities
Only what you tick, priced for your group. Tickets and activities carry no planning fee.
Step 4: Trip planning and support
8% of the vehicle and hotels. It covers planning, booking every hotel and ticket, and our team on WhatsApp, 07:00 to 21:00 Sri Lanka time, throughout the trip. It is printed as its own line.

Entrance fees last checked 7 Nov 2026. Hotel rates last checked 7 Nov 2026. Transport rates last checked 7 Nov 2026. Rupee fees converted at LKR 332.5 to USD 1 (XE mid-market rate, 6 Nov 2026).

Nothing to pay now. You pay in cash when the trip starts: to your driver when the booking includes our vehicle, otherwise to the person we name with the meeting point. No deposit, no card details online. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.

Included

Private vehicle with English-speaking driver for all 7 days
Fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's meals and lodging
6 nights in comfort hotels, bed and breakfast, taxes and service included
Entrance tickets: Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Pidurangala Rock, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, Dambulla Cave Temple
Activities: Hiriwadunna village tour with lunch, Minneriya or Kaudulla elephant safari (private jeep), Kandyan dance show, Tea factory tour and tasting, Hill-country train, Nanu Oya to Ella (reserved seat), Yala afternoon safari (private jeep), Yala morning safari (private jeep)
Trip planning and support: booking every hotel and ticket, and our team on WhatsApp, 07:00 to 21:00 Sri Lanka time, throughout the trip

Not included

Flights
Visa
Lunches and dinners, unless you add half board
Tips, at your discretion
Travel insurance
Optional extras listed under each day
Drinks, snacks and personal spending

See how all our prices are built

Build your own Sri Lanka trip

1. Your trip