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Private Tour · 3★ & 2★ hotels 13 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Trincomalee, Kandy, Ella & WadduwaBeach days on two coasts frame a route through ancient cities, the Kandy temples, a scenic train down to Ella and a jeep safari in Yala. Private Tour · 3★ & 2★ hotelsModerate intensityEnglish-speaking guide Tour priceFromUSD 951per person This 13 day Sri Lanka tour with Trincomalee and Ella is built for travellers who want more than the usual loop through the middle of the island. It reaches the quiet east coast for a swim over a coral reef, then climbs through the ancient cities, the Kandy temples and the tea hills before it drops down to the south-west shore for a long, slow finish by the sea. You travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide who stays with you from the airport hall to your last evening in Colombo. Who the 13 day Sri Lanka tour with Trincomalee and Ella suitsAlmost two weeks is a generous amount of time, and this itinerary uses it to avoid rushing. Twelve nights are spread across eight places, with two beach stops of two nights each and a pair of nights in Kandy. Couples, families with older children and friends travelling together all fit the rhythm. The pace is steady rather than gentle: the busiest days are the one that links Polonnaruwa with the Sigiriya climb, and the train day to Ella. Everything else leaves room for a long lunch, a swim or a nap in the afternoon. The route, night by nightYou begin with a night at Dambulla after the airport pick-up and a stop at the elephant orphanage at Pinnawala. Two nights follow on the east coast at Trincomalee, with a boat trip to Pigeon Island and a full free day by the water. A second night near Dambulla ties in Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, then comes Kandy for two nights, one night in cool Nuwara Eliya, one in Ella, one in Tissamaharama for Yala, and two at Wadduwa on the coast. The tour ends with an evening in Colombo and a short transfer to the airport. What you will rememberOn the east coast the first highlight is Koneswaram, a Shiva temple that sits on a rocky headland above the Indian Ocean, followed by a boat out to Pigeon Island, where the shallows are clear enough to float over reef fish without going far from the sand. Inland, Polonnaruwa shows you a medieval capital laid out around a great reservoir, and the late-day climb of Sigiriya gives you the lion-gate stairway and the open summit while the plains turn gold. In the hills, a morning train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella is the centrepiece: tea slopes, small stations, tunnels and waterfalls pass slowly outside the window. In the far south, a jeep safari in Yala gives you a good chance of elephants, crocodiles, peacocks and, with luck and a sharp-eyed tracker, a leopard. Comfort, meals and your driver-guideHotels are chosen for their setting as much as their facilities: a lakeside base near Dambulla, a beach hotel in Trincomalee, a hill property in Kandy, a cool-climate stay in Nuwara Eliya, and seafront rooms in Wadduwa. Breakfast is included at every stay, while lunch and dinner are paid by you, which lets you eat where and when you like after long days; your driver-guide is happy to suggest good local restaurants. Your driver-guide explains what you are looking at, manages timing at the busy sites, adjusts the plan if the weather changes and is happy to stop for a fruit stall or a viewpoint along the way. Entrance fees and jeep costs are paid separately on the day. When to travelSri Lanka has two monsoon systems, which is why this route works best in the shoulder of each. The east coast and the Cultural Triangle are driest from roughly April to September, and the sea off Trincomalee is calmest in that period. The hills and the south-west coast are driest from about December to March, and still pleasant into April. April and the weeks around it therefore suit almost the whole route. Whatever the month, the hill country is cool in the evening, so pack a warm layer for Nuwara Eliya. Make it your ownEvery part of this programme can be changed. Some guests add a night in Ella to walk Little Adam's Peak, others swap a beach day for the Minneriya elephant gathering or a Kandy cooking class. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and how active you like to be, and we will adjust the days, the hotels and the transfers before you book. Tour highlights
Day-by-day itinerary You are met in the arrivals hall by your Volata Travels driver, who carries a name board and helps with the bags. The tour begins straight away, heading inland towards Dambulla. Allow a long first day: the whole route takes about three and a half to four hours of driving, and stops stretch it further, so it helps to sleep a little on the plane. The first halt is Pinnawala, roughly an hour and a half from Colombo on the road to Kandy. The orphanage was set up in 1975 by the wildlife department on a coconut estate beside the Maha Oya river, as a refuge for young elephants found without their mothers in the forests. Today a large herd lives here. The calves under three years old are still fed from bottles by the keepers, and twice a day the whole herd lumbers down the lane to the river for a bath, which is the moment worth planning around. Wear sandals you can walk in and bring a hat. From Pinnawala the road continues north through the hills and into the dry-zone plains. At Dambulla, the cave temple is the highlight. A short climb up stone steps brings you under a huge overhanging rock, about 160 metres above the surrounding land, where five caves have been decorated for more than two thousand years. Inside are 153 Buddha statues, three royal figures and four gods, while the ceilings are covered with painted scenes of the Buddha's life. UNESCO listed the site in 1991. Shoes and hats come off at the entrance, shoulders and knees are covered, and the stone can be hot, so socks are useful. If you arrive late or tired, the temple can be moved to a later day, since you will pass Dambulla again before Kandy. You then check in to your lakeside hotel, where the restaurant is a convenient place for dinner. Nothing is planned for the evening, apart from a quiet walk in the grounds and an early night. Accommodation Wewa Addara Hotel - Hotel by the lake or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Breakfast is unhurried, because the drive east to Trincomalee takes about three hours and the real attractions are in the second half of the day. The road leaves the Cultural Triangle behind and the landscape changes: paddy gives way to scrub forest, then to a sudden strip of sea. Trincomalee sits on one of the great natural harbours of the Indian Ocean and has a calmer, less commercialised mood than the south coast. Your first visit is Koneswaram, a Hindu temple inside the Fort Frederick grounds that sits on the very tip of a cliff. It belongs to the old Tamil tradition of Shiva worship and is counted among the five ancient abodes of Shiva on the subcontinent. The sanctuary is colourful, the architecture is Dravidian, and the view from the railings, with the water dropping away on three sides, explains why people have been praying here for so long. Remove your shoes at the gate and dress modestly. A sea breeze usually makes the cliff the most comfortable place in town at midday. The second part of the day is about the sea. A short drive north along the coast leads to Nilaveli, from where a small boat crosses to the protected park around Pigeon Island. It is made up of two little islands, with rocks, pale sand and a fringe of coral that comes right to the shore. The island is named for the rock pigeons that nest here, and in the calmer months the shallow water is a gentle place to snorkel, with colourful reef fish and, often, a small shark or turtle passing by. Masks can be hired on the spot, and you may snorkel straight from the beach. Trips are weather-dependent, so your driver-guide will check the sea state first. By evening you are back at your beach hotel in Trincomalee for a swim and a cold drink as the light goes, with dinner wherever you fancy along the beach. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Trincomalee Beach Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today is yours, and nothing is planned. Your hotel sits right on one of the finest beaches on the island, so the most natural programme is sun, sea, a long breakfast and an afternoon by the pool. The east-coast water is calm and warm in the dry season, and the shore is a wide, pale curve with plenty of room to walk. If you feel like doing something, your driver-guide can suggest options that need no more than a few hours. A walk along nearby Uppuveli beach with a stop for fresh seafood is easy, and a second snorkelling trip to the reef is an option if you loved the first, weather permitting. Others prefer a visit to the old Dutch-era fort or the harbour front at sunset, and a tuk-tuk makes that simple. These are optional extras, paid for on the day. Most travellers use the day to catch up on sleep, wash clothes and prepare for the next run of sightseeing, because the following morning starts early and the days ahead are fuller. Dinner is your own choice, and the hotel restaurant is the easy option. A few practical notes help the day work. Sun is strong on the east coast, so reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a light shirt for the water are worth having. The sea can be rougher in the wetter months, so check the flags before you swim, and ask the hotel staff about the safest stretch of beach. If you have a camera, the early morning and late afternoon give the softest light over the water, and sunrise on this coast is easy to catch from your own balcony or from the sand outside the hotel. Take the day slowly and enjoy the pause. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Trincomalee Beach Resort & Spa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 This is the longest day of the tour, and it is also one of the best. After an early breakfast you drive inland from Trincomalee, a trip of roughly three hours towards the Habarana and Dambulla area, with Polonnaruwa on the way. Sigiriya lies about an hour to an hour and a half beyond. Bring water, a hat and good shoes, and keep a light layer for the evening. Polonnaruwa came first, and it is easy to read as a place. The city became the capital after King Vijayabahu defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 and reunited the island under a local ruler. His descendant Parakramabahu, who reigned from 1153 to 1186, is remembered for the irrigation works that fed the fields, so well that the island was later called the Granary of the Orient. The ruins sit among trees beside his huge reservoir, which looks like an inland sea. You walk or ride between the council chamber, the royal palace remains, the circular relic house of the Vatadage and the quiet Buddhas carved into granite at Gal Vihara. Most visitors spend about two hours here. After lunch the road returns toward Habarana and then to Sigiriya, the rock fortress of the fifth-century king Kashyapa. The route to the top passes the water gardens, the Mirror Wall, the painted maidens in a rock pocket and the huge lion paws that once framed a gateway. Roughly 1,200 steps lead to the flat summit, where the foundations of the palace spread out. Going up in the later afternoon means softer light and fewer people, though the climb is tiring in the heat. Take your time and rest at the landings. You finish the day at your lakeside hotel near Dambulla, where the restaurant is handy for dinner. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Wewa Addara Hotel - Hotel by the lake or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast you leave Dambulla and drive towards Sigiriya for the first part of the day, a countryside visit that suits a slower mood than yesterday. Your hosts live in a village that sits among paddy fields and small lakes. You begin on a bullock cart, which rolls gently along a farm track, then you climb into a traditional outrigger canoe and paddle across the water. A local farmer shows you the chena plot, the small patch where vegetables and grains are grown by traditional methods, and then the family kitchen opens up. You watch a rice-and-curry meal being prepared over a clay hearth and sit down to eat it. Expect plenty of food, mild to medium spice, and a vegetable-heavy menu. From Sigiriya, the road continues south to Matale, a market town in the hills about 25 km from Kandy. The spice garden here is a short, informative stop. A guide walks you around the plants and explains how cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla grow, how they are dried or processed and what each is used for in the kitchen or in Ayurvedic remedies. The garden is run with a farmers' cooperative, and you can buy spices or oils if you want to, but there is no pressure. The final stretch winds up into the hills to Kandy, about two and a half to three hours from Dambulla in total, including the climb. You reach your hotel in the late afternoon, with time to rest, walk by the lake if you like and settle in. Dinner is up to you, and your driver can suggest a good place in Kandy. Tomorrow is a full day in the hill capital, and the pace slows down to enjoy it. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Devon Hotel, Kandy or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Kandy gets a full day, and the best order is the one your guide suggests on the morning. The usual plan begins at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the most revered shrine in the country. According to the story, the Buddha's tooth reached the island in the fourth century, hidden in the hair of a princess from Orissa, and it has been guarded ever since by the kings and later the temple monks. The relic lies inside a golden casket and is shown at set times, when drummers play and queues of pilgrims offer lotus flowers. Dress in white or light colours, cover your shoulders and knees and take off your shoes. A gem museum and workshop comes next, and it is a lively stop even if you are not buying. A model gem mine shows how miners work in narrow pits, and a short film follows the stones from rough pebble to cut jewel, then to a setting in gold, silver or platinum. Craftsmen cut and polish at their benches, and the showroom is there if you are interested. Sapphires have been the island's most famous export for centuries. In the later afternoon, drive to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, about 5 km west of the centre. The gardens sit in a loop of the Mahaweli river, cover 147 acres and hold more than 4,000 plant species, including a famed orchid house, spice trees, tall palms and long avenues of shade trees. The roots go back to the royal court of 1371, while the layout dates to 1821. Allow about two hours and wear comfortable shoes. You then return to town for the cultural dance show at around five in the evening. Drummers, torch-bearers, acrobatic dancers and brightly beaded costumes fill an hour, and fire-walking closes the programme. Afterwards you can eat in your hotel restaurant or wander into town for something different. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Devon Hotel, Kandy or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today you climb into the tea country. After breakfast the drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya takes about three to four hours with stops, so the day is about the road as much as the destination, and the road is beautiful: terraces step up the hillsides, small shrines sit at the bends and the air gets cooler with each hairpin. The central hills are where Ceylon tea began. British planters turned large areas of the uplands into estates in the nineteenth century, and the first tea plant on the island was brought from China and set in the botanic garden at Peradeniya. Tea then spread through Hatton, Bandarawela and beyond, and it is still the country's biggest farm export. You visit a working estate and factory to follow the leaf from plucking to withering, rolling, drying and grading. The smell inside is sweet and grassy, and the tour finishes in a tasting room, where you sip a freshly made cup and look over the terraces. Dress for cool weather, since the factory floor is draughty. A short way up the road comes Ramboda Falls, a high waterfall that tumbles in tiers beside the road. It is an easy photo stop, and a small Hindu temple dedicated to Hanuman stands nearby. Then the last climb leads you into Nuwara Eliya, a hill station at about 1,900 metres where colonial-era cottages, tidy lawns and flower beds earned it the nickname Little England. You can spend the late afternoon exploring the town. A walk through the busy market, a stroll by the lake or a drive to the Hakgala Botanical Gardens and the nearby Seetha Amman temple are all possible, depending on the weather and your energy. The temperature drops quickly after sunset, so have a jumper handy. Dinner is your choice tonight, and the hotel restaurant is the easy option on a cool evening. Meals Breakfast Accommodation London Eye Hotel Nuwara Eliya or similar Included Activities
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 This is the scenic day of the tour. After breakfast you drive a short way to Nanu Oya, the railway station for Nuwara Eliya, and board the train for Ella. The ride lasts three to four hours and is one of the best-loved rail trips in Asia. The line runs through tea estates, past rocky outcrops, over viaducts and through short tunnels, with waterfalls flashing by in the wet season and station platforms full of snack sellers and schoolchildren. Your driver-guide meets you at Ella with the vehicle and the bags, so you only need a day bag. Train carriages can be busy, and doors and windows are often open, so keep your camera strap on and your valuables close. Standing at an open door is part of the fun, but hold on and be careful. Once you are in Ella, check in to the hotel and rest, because the next stops are best seen in the afternoon. The Nine Arch Bridge is a slender viaduct built in 1921 from stone blocks and cement, with no steel reinforcement, and its nine arches curve through the jungle between the hills. A short forest path leads to the viewpoints, and the best moment is when a blue train crosses, which your guide will time for you if possible. Afterwards you stop at Ravana Falls, a wide, 82-foot waterfall that spills from a rounded rock right beside the road. It is fullest after rain and thinner in dry months. Local legend ties the area to King Ravana of the Ramayana. In the evening, Ella village has cafés and small restaurants, so you can choose between a relaxed meal in the village and the hotel restaurant. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Ivory Canopy Resort - Ella or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast you leave the hill country behind and drive down to Tissamaharama, which takes about two hours. The air gets warmer, the greens turn to dry-zone scrub and the scenery opens out into flat land with lakes and paddy. Tissamaharama is the base for safaris in the south-east, a small lakeside town with an ancient reservoir and a gleaming white stupa at its centre. You check in to the hotel, rest, have lunch and prepare for the main event, the jeep safari in Yala. In the early afternoon you set off in a 4x4 with a driver and a tracker who knows the park. Yala is the most visited wildlife reserve in the country and has one of the highest known densities of leopards anywhere, though no sighting can be promised. The more common reward is a steady procession of animals: elephants at waterholes, buffalo wallowing in pools, crocodiles on the lagoon banks, spotted deer, peacocks, wild boar and a long list of birds. The trackers talk to each other by radio, and the pace is quiet and patient. Wear neutral colours, bring a hat, sunscreen, a light jacket for the ride back and binoculars if you have them. The park closes for part of the year, so your dates are always checked in advance. Jeeps move through scrub, open grass, rocky outcrops and sandy shore, and the late light is the best of the day. After the drive you return to your hotel in Tissamaharama, shower and have dinner. Park entry and jeep fees are paid separately, and your guide handles the booking. If you want a dawn safari instead, ask us to rearrange the day. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Magampura Eco Village Resort or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today you head west, along the coast, towards your final beach stay. It is a long drive, about four to five hours to the Bentota area, so you leave after a relaxed breakfast and the plan is built around two short outings that break up the journey. The road runs through the south coast, past stilt fishermen, surf beaches and small towns, and at times the sea is right beside you. The first stop is the Madu River, a wetland of mangrove islands and narrow channels north of Galle. The estuary holds sixty-four islands, some of them inhabited, and the wetland covers 915 hectares fed by seven tributaries. A small boat takes you through the mangrove tunnels, with kingfishers and herons overhead. You stop at a cinnamon-peeling demonstration, where the bark is stripped, rolled and dried, and at a small temple island. A fish-spa platform lets tiny fish nibble at your feet, which tickles more than it hurts and is optional. Bring a hat and sunscreen, as the boat has little shade. Further up the coast comes Kosgoda and its turtle hatchery. Five species of sea turtle nest on this shore, and the hatchery protects eggs, cares for injured turtles and releases hatchlings into the sea. You will see tanks with turtles of different ages, some of them rescued, and hear how the project works. Ask your guide about the ethics of such places and how to support them. Late in the afternoon you arrive at Wadduwa, a quiet beach town where your hotel stands by the sand. After the long drive, a swim in the sea or the pool is a very welcome ending. Dinner is your choice, and the hotel can point you to a good place nearby. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Comfortable 3-star hotel in Wadduwa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 There is nothing on the programme today, which is by design. Wadduwa is a calm stretch of coast with a long beach, a gentle surf and very little traffic, so you can swim, read, nap and eat without looking at the clock. The hotel has a pool and a spa, and the evening sky over the Indian Ocean is often a fine show. If you would like a short outing, your driver-guide can take you to Kalutara, a short drive south, where a white hollow stupa stands beside the river and visitors can step inside. Roadside stalls sell fruit in season, and mangosteen is a local favourite. A beachside Ayurveda treatment is another popular option. Both are optional and arranged on the day. Otherwise, use the time to sort out your photographs, wash clothes and pack the souvenirs. Dinner is up to you tonight, with the hotel restaurant an easy option, and tomorrow brings a short drive to Colombo. Wadduwa is a good place to do very little well. The town has a few local cafés and small shops along the main road, a quiet fishing community on the beach and a lot of coconut palms, and you can walk the shoreline at either end of the day without meeting many people. Swim where the lifeguards or hotel staff say it is safe, since the surf on this coast can carry a strong current. Early evening is the moment to watch the fishermen pull in their nets, and the sunset over the Indian Ocean is usually worth a seat on the sand. If you prefer shade, the hotel pool and spa are close at hand, and a massage after two weeks on the road is a fair reward. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Comfortable 3-star hotel in Wadduwa or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After a late breakfast you leave the coast and drive to Colombo, about an hour and a half away, depending on traffic. Check-in is in the afternoon, so you have time for lunch and a rest before the city tour, which is designed as a gentle evening drive rather than a rush. Colombo is the commercial capital of the island and a mix of colonial buildings, modern towers and busy markets. The route usually starts in the Fort district, where old banks and the former parliament stand on broad streets, then moves to Independence Square with its memorial hall, and to the Viharamahadevi Park and the Colombo museum. The twin towers of the World Trade Centre dominate the skyline. Colombo also has places of worship for each of the main faiths, including Buddhist temples such as Gangaramaya, Hindu kovils, the red-and-white striped Jami Ul-Alfar mosque and Catholic churches. The Pettah bazaar is lively and crowded, and your guide may suggest a quick look from the car or a short walk. The day ends at Galle Face Green, the long seafront lawn where families fly kites and eat street snacks as the sun sets. Walk along the promenade, pick up a snack from a street seller or just watch the waves. Then it is back to the hotel for dinner. Pack your bags tonight, because tomorrow is departure day. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Best Western Elyon Colombo or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Your last breakfast is at the hotel, and your driver-guide then takes you to the airport at Katunayake, which is roughly an hour from Colombo. Leave plenty of time for check-in and security. If your flight is late in the day, ask the hotel about a late check-out or tell us in advance, and we can arrange a short city walk or a last stop for souvenirs. Your guide helps with bags at the terminal and says goodbye. Thank you for travelling with Volata Travels, and we hope to welcome you back. Meals Breakfast Included Activities
Landmarks
Route mapWhere you'll stayThese are the hotels we plan to use. If one of them is full on your dates, we book another hotel of the same standard (“or similar”) and tell you its name before you travel. Wewa Addara Hotel - Hotel by the lake or similarDambulla 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel Trincomalee Beach Resort & Spa or similarTrincomalee 2 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel Wewa Addara Hotel - Hotel by the lake or similarDambulla 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel Devon Hotel, Kandy or similarKandy 2 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel London Eye Hotel Nuwara Eliya or similarNuwara Eliya 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel Ivory Canopy Resort - Ella or similarElla 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel Magampura Eco Village Resort or similarTissamaharama 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel Comfortable 3-star hotel in Wadduwa or similarWadduwa 2 nights · Bed and breakfast · exact hotel confirmed at booking Best Western Elyon Colombo or similarColombo 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel What's included
What's not included
Pickup & drop-offPickup: Your Volata Travels driver-guide meets you in the arrivals hall at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Katunayake, with a name board. Pick-up from a hotel in Colombo or Negombo can also be arranged. Drop-off: Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) for your departure flight, with the timing planned around your flight. Important informationItinerary order and overnight stops can be adjusted to fit your dates and pace — this is a private tour built around you, not a fixed departure. Cancellation policyAll cancellations must be received in writing by your Volata Tour Consultant. 19.1 Unless otherwise specified in your quotation, the following cancellation terms will apply to your booking: 19.1.1 Cancellations received between the date of booking and 61 days prior to departure will result in the loss of the deposit. 19.1.2 Cancellations received 60 – 46 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 25% of the tour price. 19.1.3 Cancellations received 45 – 29 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 50% of the tour price. 19.1.4 Cancellations received 28 – 15 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 75% of the tour price. 19.1.5 Cancellations received 14 days or less prior to departure will be subject to a forfeiture of the entire tour price. 19.2 Cancellation of airline tickets will be subject to the refund policy of each individual airline and may be greater than the percentages above particularly when low cost/net-based fares are used. 19.3 The purchase of special event tickets is subject to the refund policy of each individual event. Please refer to the specific event policy for details. 19.4 Volata reserve the right to charge for financial penalties, fees and losses incurred in excess of your cancellation fee as a result of cancellation.... What travellers say4.8 average from 6 customer reviews N Nekoly, Austria The team was friendly and helpful from the start. They replied quickly and made it easy to change our itinerary. We had a very good experience. AC Ava Collins, United States The hill country was a highlight of our holiday. Great organization and a very friendly guide. RS Rachel Stein, United States The tour was comfortable, well paced, and full of lovely views. Ella was a highlight of our trip. GW Grace Wilson, Canada We enjoyed every day of this tour. The views were stunning, and the stops were varied and interesting. EC Emma Carter, Australia We loved the whole experience, especially the views around Ella. Our guide was helpful and full of local knowledge. CM Clara Martin, France A great introduction to the area. We enjoyed the variety of experiences and the comfortable transport. You might also like       Ready to plan your Sri Lanka trip?Tell us your dates and interests — we'll put together a private itinerary within a day. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 13 days enough to see Trincomalee, Kandy, Ella and the south?
Yes, if you accept that some days involve a lot of driving. The route avoids backtracking, uses two beach stays to rest, and spends two nights each in Trincomalee, Kandy and Wadduwa. You will not see every corner of the island, but the main historic sites, the hill country, one safari and two coasts all fit comfortably. If you want more time in Ella or Nuwara Eliya, we can extend the programme by a night or two.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
The east coast and the Cultural Triangle are driest from roughly April to September, while the hills and the south-west coast are best from about December to March. April and the weeks around it come closest to suiting everything. You can travel in other months too, but expect some rain somewhere on the route, and the sea off Trincomalee is rougher outside the calm season.
How long is the drive between Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa or Sigiriya?
From Trincomalee to the Habarana and Dambulla area the road takes roughly three hours, and Sigiriya is a little further on. Polonnaruwa lies on the way, so the day is built as a loop: a morning drive, ruins at midday, the Sigiriya climb later and a return to your hotel near Dambulla. It is a long day, so we start early and keep stops efficient.
Can I snorkel at Pigeon Island, and is it included?
The boat trip to the Pigeon Island park is part of the programme, and the water around the island is shallow and clear in the calmer months, with coral and reef fish close to the beach. Masks can be hired locally. The sea can be rough outside roughly May to September, in which case the trip may be shortened or replaced. Park and boat fees are paid separately.
How hard is the Sigiriya climb after a day at Polonnaruwa?
It is the toughest physical moment of the tour. The route has about 1,200 steps, some of them steep and exposed, and the heat adds to the effort. Going up in the later part of the day is cooler, and you can rest at several landings. You do not have to reach the summit, since the water gardens and lower terraces are worthwhile on their own.
What should I know about the train from Nanu Oya to Ella?
The journey takes about three to four hours and is one of the most scenic in the country. Seats are in demand, so we reserve them in advance, and your driver takes the luggage by road to Ella. Carry a small bag, water and a camera with a strap, and hold on when you stand near the open doors. Delays are possible, so we keep the afternoon flexible.
Will the Yala safari definitely show a leopard?
No, and any guide who promises one is not being honest. Yala has one of the highest known leopard densities, so there is a fair chance, but sightings depend on luck and time. Elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, deer and many birds are far more common. The park closes for part of the year, so we check availability before fixing the day.
Is this tour suitable for children and older travellers?
Children aged about eight and over, and fit older travellers, generally manage well. The Sigiriya steps, the early starts and the long drives are the main demands, and the train and safari seats are simple. Nothing is compulsory, and the two beach stays give everyone time to recover. Tell us ages and mobility when you enquire, and we will adjust the pace.
What's included in the 13-day tour price?
Meet and greet at Bandaranaike International Airport; 12 nights in 3-star and 2-star hotels (or similar), double or twin room sharing; a single room if you travel alone; Daily breakfast at your hotels (bed and breakfast); All transfers and sightseeing in a private air-conditioned vehicle; English-speaking driver-guide throughout the tour; Fuel, parking, driver accommodation and highway fees. The tour costs USD 951 per person when two adults share a room, or USD 1789 for one traveller in a single room, for 12 nights / 13 days. These prices are valid for travel from 8 October 2026 to 30 November 2027.
What's not included?
International flights and the Sri Lanka ETA visa fee; Lunches, dinners and drinks (breakfast is included); Entrance fees and activity fees (Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Dambulla Cave Temple, Pigeon Island boat trip, Polonnaruwa ancient city, Sigiriya Rock, village experience, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and cultural show, Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens and more); Optional tours and optional activities; Train tickets (if you choose the scenic train); Hotel supplements when you travel on 24 December and 31 December (New Year), and the Christmas supplement on 24 December; Tips, porterage and personal expenses; Early check-in and late check-out at hotels; Travel insurance and bank charges.
Is the price the same on 24 and 31 December?
Not quite. Hotels charge a compulsory supplement for the nights of 24 December (Christmas Eve) and 31 December (New Year's Eve), and these supplements are not included in the tour price. If your dates include either night, tell us when you enquire and we will confirm the supplement for the hotels on your route before you book.
Can I customize this tour?
Yes. The order of stops, the number of nights in each place, the hotels and the activities can all be adjusted to your dates, pace and budget — this is a private tour built around you, not a fixed group departure. Tell us what you would like to change and we will send a revised quote.
What is the cancellation policy?
All cancellations must be received in writing by your Volata Tour Consultant. Cancellations received up to 61 days before departure result in the loss of the deposit. Between 60 and 46 days before departure a charge of 25% of the tour price applies; between 45 and 29 days, 50%; between 28 and 15 days, 75%; and 14 days or less before departure the entire tour price is forfeited. Airline tickets follow the refund policy of each airline, and special event tickets follow the policy of each event. The full Terms & Conditions are at www.volatatravels.com/terms-and-conditions.