Sri Lanka: Colombo, Kandy & Galle in 9 Days
Sri Lanka
Overview
This route runs Sri Lanka's classic diagonal: a short stop in Colombo, then up into the hill country around Kandy for temples, tea estates and cooler air, before dropping to the south coast's Dutch colonial fort town of Galle to finish with beach time. The scenic train between hill-country towns is one of the trip's highlights on its own.
- Duration
- 9 days
- Pace
- Balanced
- Transport
- Mixed
- Estimated budget (comfortable)
- US$950–US$1,300
Route
1. Colombo2. Kandy3. Galle4. Colombo
Highlights
- The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy
- A tea estate tour in the hill country
- Walking the ramparts of Galle's 17th-century Dutch fort
- Sri Lankan curry-and-rice spreads throughout
Worth knowing
- Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons affecting different coasts at different times — check timing for your route
- Roads can be slow going even for short distances — build in buffer time
- Kandy to Galle isn't a direct rail link — expect a transfer through Colombo
Day by day
Day 1
ColomboMain activities
- Arrive, settle in
- Galle Face Green at sunset
Overnight: Colombo
Day 2
Colombo → KandyMain activities
- Drive or train (~3h)
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
~3 hoursOvernight: Kandy
Day 3
KandyMain activities
- Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Optional additions
- Kandy Lake walk
Overnight: Kandy
Day 4
Kandy areaMain activities
- Tea estate tour and tasting in the surrounding hills
Optional additions
- Scenic train ride partway toward Nuwara Eliya
Overnight: Kandy
Day 5
Kandy → GalleMain activities
- Transfer via Colombo (~5-6h total)
~5-6 hoursOvernight: Galle
Day 6
GalleMain activities
- Galle Fort ramparts and lighthouse
- Dutch colonial old town
Overnight: Galle
Day 7
Galle areaMain activities
- Beach day
Optional additions
- Whale watching from nearby Mirissa, in season
Overnight: Galle
Day 8
Galle areaMain activities
- Free beach day
Optional additions
- Turtle hatchery visit
Overnight: Galle
Day 9
Galle → ColomboMain activities
- Transfer to the airport (~2.5h)
- Departure
~2.5 hoursOvernight: Colombo
Alternatives
Shorter version · 6 days
Drop the extra Galle beach day and one Kandy day.
Longer extension · 13 days
Add Sigiriya's rock fortress and Yala National Park for a safari before the coast.