Sri Lanka East Coast Escape: Nature & Cultural Trails 14-Day Tour

14 Days / 13 Nights
Turquoise lagoon and white sand at Pigeon Island near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

This 14 day tour combines Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle and hill country with a finish on the quieter east coast, at a relaxed pace with a private driver throughout.

What this Sri Lanka east coast tour covers

The route heads from Negombo to the beach at Bentota and a safari near Thissamaharama, through the hill country at Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy, on to Sigiriya, Dambulla and Anuradhapura, before ending with several days on the coast at Trincomalee. It suits travellers who want to pair the usual Sri Lanka cultural highlights with time on the less-visited east coast.

Highlights

  • Bentota river safari & turtle hatchery
  • Yala National Park safari
  • Nine Arch Bridge, Ella
  • Horton Plains & World’s End
  • Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy
  • Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Anuradhapura
  • 3 beach days at Trincomalee

Day-by-day itinerary

1st Day –Airport/ Negombo

Pick up from the airport and drive to Negombo (30 Minutes’ Drive). Stay in a Hotel at Negombo.

[Negombo is a major city in Sri Lanka closer to the airport, situated on the west coast, in the Western Province, 38 km (24 mi) from Colombo. Even though the airport is called as Colombo airport it is really not in the middle of Colombo, it is 35 km away from Colombo city. But Negombo is 12 km and 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. Negombo is a popular tourist attraction with many of world class hotels and the perfect place to stay and relax after arriving to Sri Lanka]

2nd Day – Negombo / Bentota

Visit Negombo Traditional dry fish processing area and the fish market. Drive to Bentota (2 Hours’ Drive). Boat Safari in Bentota River. Visit a sea turtle hatchery. Stay in a hotel at Bentota.

[Bentota is a coastal town in Sri Lanka, located in the Galle District of the Southern Province. It is approximately 65 kilometers (40 mi) south of Colombo and 56 kilometers (35 mi) north of Galle. Bentota is situated on the southern band of the Bentota River mouth. Bentota is a tourist attraction, with a handful of world-class hotels. It is a destination for watersports. Bentota also delivers an ancient art of healing called Ayurveda.]

3rd Bentota/ Thissamaharama (Yala)

Drive to Thissamaharama and afternoon jeep Safari to Yala National Park. Stay overnight in a hotel at Thissamaharama. (3 Hours’ Drive)

[Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is situated in the southeast region of the country. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals and aquatic birds. Including Sri Lankan elephant, 44 species of mammals are resident in Yala National Park, and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world]

4th Day- Thissamaharama/Ella

Drive to Ella. Climb mini Adam’s peak, visit Nine Arches Bridge. Stay in a hotel at Ella. (2 Hours 15 Minutes’ Drive)

[Ellais approximately 200 kilometers (120 mi) east of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1,041 meters (3,415 ft.) above sea level. The area has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than surrounding lowlands, due to its elevation. The Ella Gap allows views across the southern plains of Sri Lanka.]

5th Day – Ella / Nuwaraeliya

Have a train ride from Ella to Nanuoya. Explore Nuwaraeliya and stay in a hotel at Nuwaraeliya. (2 Hours 30 Minutes’ Drive)

[Nuwaraeliya is a city, in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft.) and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka. Nuwaraeliya is the coolest area in Sri Lanka having the annual temperature of 16 ⁰C (61 ⁰F). In the winter months, there can be frost at night, but it warms up rapidly during the day because of the high sun angle.]

6th Day –Nuwaraeliya/ Kandy

Early in the morning (5.30 AM) drive and visit Horton Plains National park (1 Hour 30 Minutes’ Drive). Explore the beauty of Horton Plains, Worlds End and Bakers Waterfall. (9 km walking in a nature trail). Drive to Kandy on the way visit a tea factory and a tea state. Stay in a hotel at Kandy. (3 Hours’ Drive)

7th Day – Kandy

Visit the botanical garden. Explore the Kandy city. Visit The Temple of Tooth Relic, watch the evening cultural Dancing show.

[Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka, located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is the second largest city in the country after Colombo. It was the last capital of the ancient king’s era of Sri Lanka. Kandy is the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988]

8th Day – Kandy/Dambulla

Drive to Dambulla, on the way visit Dambulla Cave Temple. In the afternoon elephant watching Jeep Safari to a National Park. (One of Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Parks). Stay in a hotel at Habarana. (2 Hours 15 Minutes’ Drive)

[Minneriya National Park is in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The park is situated 182 kilometers (113 mi) from Colombo. Large numbers of Sri Lankan elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. The Minneriya tank contributes to sustain a large group of elephants gathered here is numbering around 150-200.]

9th Day – Dambulla/Sigiriya

Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress (UNESCO world heritage). Drive back and spend the night in the same hotel at Sigiriya. (30 Minutes’ Drive)

[Sigiriya Rock is nearly 200 meters (660 ft.) high. According to the Sri Lankan history, this site was selected by king Kasyapa (477-495 CE) for his new capital. He built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king’s death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed world heritage site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.]

10th Day – Dambulla/Anuradhapura

Drive to Anuradhapura and visit first ancient capital city of Sri Lanka. (UNESCO world heritage). Stay in a hotel at Anuradhapura. (2 Hours 30 Minutes’ Drive Up/down)

[Anuradhapura is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. The city lies 205 kilometers (127 mi) north of the current capital of Colombo. Anuradhapura is the best representation of the beginnings of pre-modern urbanization in Sri Lanka. It was the longest-servings Sinhalese capital of Sri Lanka from the 5th century BCE (437 BCE) until the 11th century CE (1017 CE) flourishing for around 1,500 years.]

11th Day – Anuradhapura/Trincomalee

Drive to Trincomalee. Stay in a beach hotel at Trincomalee for 3 days. (2 Hours’ Drive)

12th, 13th, Days – Trincomalee

Spend the days relaxing while enjoying the beach in the same hotel at Trincomalee and doing some water sports, excursions as your choice. (Relaxing days at the beach can be extended as your choice)

[Trincomalee is the major port city of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka Located on the east coast of the island. Trincomalee has some of the most picturesque and scenic beaches found in Sri Lanka. The area is famous for bathing and swimming, owing to the relative shallowness of the sea, allowing one to walk out over a hundred meters into the sea without the water reaching the chest. Trincomalee which is a natural deep-water harbor has attractive seafarers, trader and pilgrims from Europe, Middle East, Africa, Chine, East Asia and Australasia since ancient times]

14th Day- Trincomalee/Negombo

Drive to Colombo Airport / Relax in a transfer hotel for few hours and leave for the departure. (These plans can be changed according to your departure timings) (4 Hours’ Drive) End of the Tour.

Above Tour Package Include

  • Hotel Accommodation for 13 Nights.
  • 14 Breakfast and 13 Dinners.
  • Transport by a Car/Van (Air conditioned) from Airport pickup to the departure drop for the 14 days with the English speaking Tourist Driver.
  • Safari Jeeps (4×4) with a driver for the 2 Safaris.
  • Entrance tickets to all places mentioned in the tour itinerary including the 2 Safaris and Activities.
  • Train Tickets.
  • Unlimited Drinking water while traveling.

Sri Lanka East Cost Escape with Nature & Cultural Trails 14 – Day Tour Map

Map of the Sri Lanka East Coast Escape: Nature & Cultural Trails 14-Day Tour route

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What’s included

  • Hotel Accommodation for 13 Nights.
  • 14 Breakfast and 13 Dinners.
  • Transport by a Car/Van (Air conditioned) from Airport pickup to the departure drop for the 14 days with the English speaking Tourist Driver.
  • Safari Jeeps (4×4) with a driver for the 2 Safaris.
  • Entrance tickets to all places mentioned in the tour itinerary including the 2 Safaris and Activities.
  • Train Tickets.
  • Unlimited Drinking water while traveling.

Interested in this tour?

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