Sri Lanka Round Tour 12 Days | With Trincomalee & East Coast

Overview

Sri Lanka round tour 12 days overview

This private Sri Lanka round tour in 12 days adds the east coast to the classic loop. Start in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, spend two nights by the clear water of Trincomalee, then follow the Cultural Triangle, the hill country, a Yala safari and the south coast beaches back to the airport.

The east coast is at its best from about May to September, when the south and west coasts are wetter, so this route works well for a summer holiday. See every route on our Sri Lanka round tours page.

Your 12 day / 11 night round tour

Ancient cities, two coasts and the hill country

The full loop of the island: the north-central plains, the east coast, the hills and the south.

Airport to AnuradhapuraFirst evening at the sacred city

Overnight: Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura to TrincomaleeSacred city · Mihintale

Overnight: Trincomalee

TrincomaleeSnorkelling · Koneswaram Temple

Overnight: Trincomalee

Trincomalee to SigiriyaPolonnaruwa ancient city

Overnight: Sigiriya

Sigiriya and DambullaRock climb · cave temple · safari

Overnight: Sigiriya

Sigiriya to KandySpice garden · Temple of the Tooth

Overnight: Kandy

Kandy to Nuwara EliyaTea factory · Gregory Lake

Overnight: Nuwara Eliya

Train to EllaScenic hill-country railway

Overnight: Ella

Ella to YalaLittle Adam’s Peak · safari

Overnight: Yala

Yala to MirissaBeach afternoon

Overnight: Mirissa

MirissaWhale watching or beach day

Overnight: Mirissa

Galle and homeGalle Fort · airport

No overnight stay

Pickup and return

Start: Bandaranaike International Airport, or your hotel in Colombo or Negombo.

Finish: the airport for your flight home, or your hotel in Colombo or Negombo.

Send us your flight times and we plan the first and last days around them.

Where you will stay

Night 1: Anuradhapura.
Nights 2–3: Trincomalee, by the beach.
Nights 4–5: Sigiriya.
Night 6: Kandy.
Night 7: Nuwara Eliya.
Night 8: Ella.
Night 9: Yala (Tissamaharama).
Nights 10–11: Mirissa, by the beach.

Eleven nights with breakfast in hotels of your choice, from comfortable 3 star to boutique and luxury, confirmed in your quote.

Before you book

What is the price of this 12 day round tour?

We send a personalised quote, because the price depends on your hotels, the vehicle and the number of travellers. Your private car, driver and eleven nights with breakfast are included; the Ella train, jeep safaris, boat trips and entrance tickets are quoted separately.

When is the best time for this round tour?

Both coasts are on this route, so it works most of the year. Trincomalee is best from about May to September, Mirissa and the south from December to April. We adjust the beach nights to the season.

Can we snorkel at Pigeon Island?

Yes, the national park is a short boat ride from Nilaveli beach, with reef fish, turtles and sometimes small reef sharks. Boat and park tickets are quoted with your itinerary.

Is the route tiring?

Most drives are three to four hours, and the longest days are broken up with sights. Two nights in Trincomalee, Sigiriya and Mirissa give you time to rest.

Can we change the route?

Yes. Every round tour is private: add Jaffna, skip the train, or spend longer on the beach. Tell us what you’d like.

Compare all our Sri Lanka round tours, the shorter Sri Lanka itinerary 10 days or the Sri Lanka round tour 14 days with Jaffna. More about Trincomalee and Pigeon Island.

Highlights

A 12 day Sri Lanka round tour with the east coast
Anuradhapura, Mihintale and Polonnaruwa, the ancient capitals
Two nights in Trincomalee, with snorkelling at Pigeon Island
Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla and an elephant safari
Kandy, a tea factory and the train ride to Ella
A Yala safari and two beach nights in Mirissa

Day 1 :

Airport → Anuradhapura

Ruwanwelisaya stupa in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Your driver meets you at the airport. Drive north to Anuradhapura (about four hours), the first capital of Sri Lanka. In the evening, see the great white Ruwanwelisaya stupa lit up.

Overnight: Anuradhapura.

Day 2 :

Anuradhapura → Mihintale → Trincomalee

Mihintale rock near Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Morning at the sacred city: the Sri Maha Bodhi tree, Jetavanaramaya and Isurumuniya rock temple. Climb Mihintale, where Buddhism came to Sri Lanka, then drive to Trincomalee on the east coast (about two and a half hours).

Overnight: Trincomalee.

Day 3 :

Trincomalee

Beach and rocky hill on Pigeon Island near Nilaveli

A boat trip to Pigeon Island National Park for snorkelling over the coral reef. In the afternoon, visit Koneswaram Temple on Swami Rock and Fort Frederick, with views over the bay. From about March to August, whale and dolphin watching is also possible.

Overnight: Trincomalee.

Day 4 :

Trincomalee → Polonnaruwa → Sigiriya

Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Drive to Polonnaruwa (about two hours) and explore the medieval capital by car or bicycle: the Royal Palace, the Vatadage and the great rock-cut Buddhas of Gal Vihara. Continue to Sigiriya (about one hour).

Overnight: Sigiriya.

Day 5 :

Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla and Minneriya

Safari jeep with wild elephant herds in Minneriya National Park

Climb Sigiriya Rock early in the cool morning, then visit the Dambulla Cave Temple. In the afternoon, an optional jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla to see elephant herds.

Overnight: Sigiriya.

Day 6 :

Spice garden → Kandy

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy

Kandyan cultural dance show, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Drive to Kandy with a stop at a spice garden near Matale. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, walk around Kandy Lake and watch a Kandyan dance show in the evening.

Overnight: Kandy.

Day 7 :

Kandy → Nuwara Eliya

Tea pluckers in a tea plantation near Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Drive up into the tea country past Ramboda Falls. Visit a working tea factory and taste fresh Ceylon tea, then explore Nuwara Eliya, with its colonial buildings and Gregory Lake.

Overnight: Nuwara Eliya.

Day 8 :

Train to Ella

Blue train crossing the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka

Kandy to Ella train ride, Ella, Sri Lanka

Take the blue train from Nanu Oya to Ella, one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world, through tea estates and tunnels. Your driver meets you at Ella station with the luggage. In the evening, the Nine Arch Bridge.

Overnight: Ella.

Day 9 :

Ella → Yala

Leopard resting in a tree on a Yala safari in Sri Lanka

An early walk up Little Adam’s Peak, then drive down past Ravana Falls to Yala (about two and a half hours). Afternoon jeep safari in Yala National Park, looking for leopards, elephants and sloth bears.

Overnight: Yala (Tissamaharama).

Day 10 :

Yala → Mirissa

Drive along the south coast to Mirissa (about two and a half hours) for an afternoon on the beach and the sunset from Coconut Tree Hill.

Overnight: Mirissa.

Day 11 :

Mirissa

From about December to April, an early boat trip to see blue whales and dolphins. Or simply a beach day, with snorkelling and seafood by the sea.

Overnight: Mirissa.

Day 12 :

Galle → airport

Galle Fort ramparts walk, Galle, Sri Lanka

Koggala stilt fishermen, Galle, Sri Lanka

Walk the ramparts of Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see the stilt fishermen at Koggala. Then drive to the airport on the expressway (about two and a half hours).

Sri Lanka Round Tour – 12 Days

Overview

Sri Lanka round tour 12 days overview

Ancient cities, two coasts and the hill country

Pickup and return

Where you will stay

Before you book

Highlights

Itinerary

What’s included

Cost Includes

Cost Excludes

FAQs

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Plan this tour with us