The full loop: four parks, rafting, a tea bungalow
Complete island, 14 days is a private Sri Lanka tour by Majeste. It costs $1,716 per person for two at shoulder-season rates (for the hotels on this route, 21 to 30 April and 1 November to 20 December), with comfort hotels, entrance tickets and your own car and English-speaking driver included, and temple-run sites paid there. Prices checked 7 Nov 2026. In its best months, Feb to Apr, it costs $1,677 to $1,856 per person for two, depending on the start date. It stops at 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), in that order. The longest drive is on day 2, from Negombo to Wilpattu National Park, about 3 h 15 min. Nothing to pay now.
Two weeks round the classic loop with everything the shorter versions leave out: Wilpattu and Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa by bicycle, white-water rafting at Kitulgala on the way to a tea-estate night at Hatton, Horton Plains, Lipton's Seat, Udawalawe and Yala, and Galle at the end. Thirteen nights and no drive over about 3 hours 15 minutes. It is the itinerary we would plan for someone with two weeks who wants to see most of the island once. From June to September the south coast is rough; the price shown ends at Galle in every month, and the planner can price an east-coast ending instead.
A 25-minute transfer to Negombo and a rest after the flight: beach walk, lagoon sunset, seafood dinner. The beach is average; this is a soft start, not a highlight.
About 3 hours 15 minutes north to Wilpattu's gate, then a private jeep safari from early afternoon until dusk. Simple, comfort and superior hotels here are in or near Anuradhapura, about an hour from the gate; the one lodge we name at the gate is the luxury choice. The park is forest and natural lakes, with few jeeps; leopards and sloth bears are seen on some drives, not all.
Under an hour to Anuradhapura. The sacred city in the afternoon by car, socks on for the hot stone at the dagobas, then Mihintale's 1,840 steps at sunset.
About 1 hour 40 minutes to Sigiriya via the forest monastery of Ritigala, a quiet hour of ruins on a wooded hill. Pidurangala Rock in the late afternoon for the view of Sigiriya at sunset.
A long day with three parts. Two of them make a comfortable day, and we plan that with you. Sigiriya Rock at the 07:00 counter opening (2 to 3 hours); Polonnaruwa by bicycle, 1 hour 25 minutes each way, 3 hours on site; and a 15:00 elephant safari at Minneriya or Kaudulla.
Dambulla's painted caves, then 2 hours 45 minutes to Kandy via Matale. The dance show at 17:00 and the Temple of the Tooth puja at 18:30.
Peradeniya gardens in the morning, then 2 hours 15 minutes on hill roads to Kitulgala for about 90 minutes of grade 2 to 3 white-water rafting on the Kelani with helmets and life jackets; the flow depends on dam releases. Another 1 hour 10 minutes to Hatton and a tea-estate bungalow above the reservoir, with a factory tour and tasting. About 3 hours 30 minutes of driving in all.
A morning walk through the estate and along Castlereagh reservoir, then 1 hour 25 minutes to Nuwara Eliya. In the pilgrimage season (expected 23 December 2026 to 19 May 2027) fit guests can swap the night for the Adam's Peak climb, starting at about 02:00. Early to bed for Horton Plains.
Leave at 05:00 for the 9 km Horton Plains loop; the view from World's End is usually gone by 09:00 and often hidden outside January to April. The 12:30 to 13:00 train from Nanu Oya to Ella, about 2 hours 30 minutes, luggage by car.
Little Adam's Peak at sunrise and the Nine Arch Bridge early. Then 50 minutes to Haputale and up to Lipton's Seat for the view over the Dambatenne estate; go before late morning, when cloud fills the valleys.
About 2 hours 15 minutes to Udawalawe and a 15:30 jeep safari of about 3 hours across open scrub around the reservoir. Elephants are usually seen, though sightings are not guaranteed; leopards live here but are almost never seen.
Feeding time at the Elephant Transit Home, watched from a platform with no contact. Drive 1 hour 40 minutes to Tissamaharama and a 14:30 Yala Block 1 safari: leopards on some drives, not all, and jeep jams at sightings.
A 05:30 Yala drive of about 3 hours, then 2 hours 45 minutes by expressway to Galle. A guided walk of the fort in the late afternoon, ending on the ramparts at sunset.
A free morning in the fort or on Unawatuna beach, or a 06:30 whale boat from Mirissa between November and April. About 2 hours 15 minutes to the airport.
| Stop | Simple | Comfort (this tour) | Superior | Luxury |
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| Negombo1 night |
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| Wilpattu National Park1 night |
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| Anuradhapura1 night |
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| Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana)2 nights |
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| Kandy1 night |
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| Hatton (Adam's Peak and tea country)1 night |
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| Nuwara Eliya1 night |
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| Ella2 nights |
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| Udawalawe National Park1 night |
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| Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama)1 night |
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| Galle (with Unawatuna)1 night |
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| Per person for two | $1,481 | $1,716 | $2,107 | $2,890 |
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. Bed and breakfast unless the itinerary says otherwise.
| When | Per person | Compared |
|---|---|---|
| June (low season) | $1,673 | Lowest |
| November (shoulder season) | $1,716 | $43 more than the lowest |
| February (peak season) | $1,856 | $183 more than the lowest |
| Christmas and New Year | $1,994 | Highest, $321 more than the lowest |
Priced for a start date in each period. Your dates may fall across two seasons, so check them in the price box. Some stops here cost more in their own busy weeks, such as mid-July to August. The Christmas and New Year price includes our estimate of any compulsory gala dinner on 24 or 31 December.
| Group | Per person | Total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | $2,820 | $2,820 | Car |
| 2 adults | $1,716 | $3,431 | Car |
| 3 adults | $1,654 | $4,959 | Van |
| 4 adults | $1,393 | $5,570 | Van |
| 6 adults | $1,275 | $7,650 | Large van |
| 8 adults | $1,242 | $9,934 | Large van |
Two adults share each room, and an odd adult has a single room at 80% of the double rate. We pick the smallest vehicle that seats the group in comfort. Per-person figures are rounded up to the dollar.
No drive over about 3 hours 15 minutes; day 5 is long if you do all three parts; dawn starts on days 5, 9, 10 and 13.
The south coast is rough then, and the price shown still ends at Galle. The east-coast version goes, after Kandy, to Nuwara Eliya, the train to Ella, Arugam Bay for surf and Kumana, Pasikudah and Trincomalee, then back via Sigiriya, with a longer last drive. To build it, use Change the route or add days beside the price: the planner prices that route before you book.
The Kelani run is grade 2 to 3 and operators set their own age limits, typically 10 and over. Standards vary between operators, so ask to see helmets and life jackets first. The stretch was shortened by a hydropower project and the flow depends on dam releases.
Yes, in the pilgrimage season from December to May, as a swap for the Hatton to Nuwara Eliya day: a 02:00 start, 5,000 to 5,500 steps and a cold summit. On Poya days and weekends the queue can stop you reaching the top by sunrise.
Four at about 05:00 to 06:30 (Sigiriya Rock, Horton Plains, Little Adam's Peak and the Yala dawn drive), plus the turtle or Adam's Peak extras if you add them.
Majeste's Classic Sri Lanka 7-day tour is USD 866 per person for two in 3-star hotels, shoulder season, with car, driver, tickets and safaris. 7 Nov 2026.
Seven days: the centre, hills and a park; ten adds Polonnaruwa and Horton Plains; fourteen, the whole island. USD 828 to 1,709 each for two, Nov 2026.
Fourteen days covers ancient cities, the hills, two parks and the south coast, no day over 4h30 in the car. About USD 1,709 each with Majeste, 7 Nov 2026.
January to March is driest on the west and south coasts, in the hills and the Cultural Triangle; May to September suits the east. Checked 7 Nov 2026.
12 days · Comfort hotels
Negombo, Wilpattu National Park, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama), Tangalle (Rekawa and Hiriketiya)
Three parks, two ancient cities, the hills and a beach
$1,368
per person for two, 12 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included, temple-run sites and one activity paid there
10 days · Comfort hotels
Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama), Galle (with Unawatuna)
The classic loop with room to breathe
$1,230
per person for two, 10 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included
10 days · Comfort hotels
Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Udawalawe National Park, Hikkaduwa
Pool hotels, bicycles, elephants and a shallow sea
$1,053
per person for two, 10 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included
Fees last checked 7 Nov 2026. Hotel rates last checked 7 Nov 2026. Transport rates last checked 7 Nov 2026. Activity prices last checked 7 Nov 2026. Rupee fees converted at LKR 332.5 to USD 1 (XE mid-market rate, 6 Nov 2026).
Where the figures come from
More about our photos on the credits page.
Example for 2, no date chosen
$1,716per person, rounded up$3,430.88 total
for 2 adults, 14 days, comfort hotels, car, shoulder season
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.
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