Sigiriya, Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay, Yala
East coast summer, 9 days is a private Sri Lanka tour by Majeste. It costs $1,111 per person for two at May rates, with comfort hotels, entrance tickets and your own car and English-speaking driver included. Prices checked 7 Nov 2026. In its best months, May to Aug, it costs $1,111 to $1,151 per person for two, depending on the start date. It stops at Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Trincomalee (Nilaveli and Uppuveli), Pasikudah (Kalkudah and Batticaloa), Arugam Bay, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama), in that order. The longest drive is on day 9, from Yala to the airport, about 4 h 15 min. Nothing to pay now.
The summer alternative to the south coast, for May to August when the east is dry and calm: Sigiriya and an elephant safari, Trincomalee for Pigeon Island, Pasikudah's shallow bay, Arugam Bay for surf and a Kumana safari, then down to Yala for two drives before the expressway home. The south-west beaches are excluded on purpose; the sea there is rough in these months. The drives along the east coast are 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes each, through slow towns. Yala's main blocks usually close for part of September and October, on dates that vary, so the tour is sold for May to August only.
About 3 hours 45 minutes from the airport. Pidurangala Rock at sunset if you arrive in time, otherwise tomorrow evening.
Sigiriya Rock at the 07:00 counter opening, 2 to 3 hours. At 15:00 a private jeep to Minneriya or Kaudulla; from July to September this is the Gathering, when herds of a hundred or more are on the lake bed. In May and June the groups are smaller.
About 2 hours 15 minutes via Habarana to the beaches at Nilaveli or Uppuveli; elephants cross the A6 at dusk. Koneswaram temple on Swami Rock and the deer of Fort Frederick for sunset.
A boat to Pigeon Island at 08:00 to snorkel, with blacktip reef sharks and turtles on some mornings, not all; the reef is crowded by 10:00 and the near-shore coral is damaged. The afternoon on the beach, or a whale and dolphin boat (sightings vary) or Marble Beach.
About 2 hours 45 minutes on the A15 coast road through Kinniya, Muttur and Vakarai. Pasikudah is a wide, very shallow bay lined with resort hotels and little else; you can wade far out, though the water near the shore can be murky.
A morning in the shallows, then about 3 hours 15 minutes south via Batticaloa, with a stop at the Dutch fort and the lagoon, and through the slow towns of Kalmunai and Akkaraipattu. Arugam Bay is a surf village of simple guesthouses and cafes; sunset at the point.
A 06:00 private jeep into Kumana National Park: birds, crocodiles and leopards on some drives, with very few other jeeps. In the afternoon a 90-minute surf lesson at Baby Point; Main Point is for experienced surfers and the line-ups are crowded in July and August.
About 3 hours 15 minutes via Monaragala and Kataragama to Tissamaharama; the road skirts Yala's Block 5 and elephants are on it at dusk. A 14:30 safari in Block 1, where leopards are seen on some drives, not all, and jeeps bunch at sightings.
A 05:30 Yala drive of about 3 hours, then about 4 hours 15 minutes by the Southern Expressway to the airport. This suits flights from about 16:00.
| Stop | Simple | Comfort (this tour) | Superior | Luxury |
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| Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana)2 nights |
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| Trincomalee (Nilaveli and Uppuveli)2 nights |
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| Pasikudah (Kalkudah and Batticaloa)1 night |
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| Arugam Bay2 nights |
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| Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama)1 night |
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| Per person for two | $951 | $1,111 | $1,429 | $1,969 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| May | $1,111 | Lowest |
| June | $1,111 | Lowest |
| July | $1,124 | $13 more than the lowest |
| August | $1,151 | Highest, $40 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. East-coast hotels follow their own calendar: their busy months are May to September. Some stops here cost more in their own busy weeks, such as mid-July to August. This tour is sold in these months only.
| Group | Per person | Total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | $1,894 | $1,894 | Car |
| 2 adults | $1,111 | $2,221 | Car |
| 3 adults | $1,055 | $3,162 | Van |
| 4 adults | $873 | $3,489 | Van |
| 6 adults | $787 | $4,718 | Large van |
| 8 adults | $777 | $6,209 | 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.
Three coast drives of 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes (days 5, 6 and 8) and a 4 hour 15 minute final run after the dawn safari.
Arugam Bay to the airport is 7 to 8 hours. Yala breaks it into 3 hours 15 minutes and 4 hours 15 minutes and adds two safaris. Ella is the other option, but it leaves a 6-hour last day.
Not as this tour. It is sold for May to August only, because Yala's main blocks usually close for part of September and October (14 September to 15 October in 2026) and the dates vary. For your own plan without Yala, use Change the route or add days beside the price: the planner prices that route before you book.
No. Many close or run a skeleton service from November to March, and Arugam Bay largely shuts from November. That is why this tour is sold for May to August only.
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.
From May to September the east coast is the right beach: June averages 25 mm of rain at Trincomalee against 205 mm at Colombo. Checked 7 November 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.
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.
8 days · Comfort hotels
Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala (Tissamaharama and Kataragama), Mirissa (with Weligama)
The classic loop with a night on the south coast
$1,010
per person for two, 8 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included
8 days · Comfort hotels
Mirissa (with Weligama), Tangalle (Rekawa and Hiriketiya), Hikkaduwa
Weligama lessons, whales, Hiriketiya, Hikkaduwa
$824
per person for two, 8 days, comfort hotels, November rates, tickets included, one activity paid there
6 days · Comfort hotels
Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Wilpattu National Park
Anuradhapura, three nights in Jaffna, Wilpattu
$666
per person for two, 6 days, comfort hotels, shoulder season, tickets included, temple-run sites paid there
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
$1,111per person, rounded up$2,220.57 total
for 2 adults, 9 days, comfort hotels, car, May rates
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.
