Sri Lanka in 4 or 5 Days: Two Short Itineraries

A short trip to Sri Lanka can be very rewarding. The island is small, and four or five days is enough to see a rock fortress, a sacred city and tea country, or to combine a colonial fort, a safari and a beach. What you can't do is all of these at once. Roads are slow, and the biggest mistake on a short trip is spending it in a car.

The answer is to choose one direction. Below are two itineraries that work in four days, each with a fifth-day extension.

Before you start

• Arrive and leave through Colombo airport, which is at Katunayake, north of the city. Both routes begin there.
• Hire a car and driver. With so little time, public transport costs you too many hours. See hiring a driver.
• Check the season. Route 1 works all year. Route 2 is best from December to April. See the best time to visit.
• Sort out your visa before you fly. Our ETA guide explains how.

Route 1: Culture and the hills

Best for first-time visitors who want history, scenery and a little wildlife.

Day 1: Airport to Sigiriya

Drive from the airport to the Cultural Triangle, about 3.5 to 4 hours. If you land in the morning, stop at Dambulla Cave Temple on the way. Check in near Sigiriya, and climb Pidurangala for sunset if you have the energy.

Day 2: Sigiriya and an elephant safari

Be at the gates of Sigiriya when it opens, to climb before the heat and the crowds. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours. After lunch and a rest, take an afternoon jeep safari at Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Park, whichever has the herds that week.

Day 3: To Kandy

Drive south to Kandy, about 2.5 to 3 hours, stopping at Aluvihare or a spice garden in Matale. In the afternoon, walk around Kandy Lake, and visit the Temple of the Tooth for the evening puja.

Day 4: Kandy and return

Spend the morning at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, or take a short ride on the hill-country railway. Drive back to the airport, about 3 hours, or to Colombo for your last night.

With a fifth day

Add a night in tea country. From Kandy, take the train or drive to Nuwara Eliya, visit a tea factory, and return to Colombo the next day by way of Kitulgala. Alternatively, spend the extra day in Colombo. See one day in Colombo.

Route 2: The south coast and wildlife

Best from December to April, for travellers who want beaches, a safari and a slower pace.

Day 1: Airport to Galle

Take the expressway south, about 2.5 hours to Galle. Spend the afternoon inside the fort: walk the ramparts, visit the lighthouse and watch the sunset from the walls. Stay in the fort or at nearby Unawatuna.

Day 2: Galle to Mirissa

A short drive along the coast. Stop at Dalawella Beach for the rope swing and a swim, see the stilt fishermen near Koggala, and reach Mirissa for lunch. Walk to Coconut Tree Hill at sunset.

Day 3: Whales or beach, then Udawalawe

Early risers can go whale watching, which takes most of the morning. Otherwise, enjoy the beach. After lunch, drive 2 hours inland to Udawalawe for an afternoon elephant safari. Stay nearby.

Day 4: Transit Home and return

Watch the morning feeding at the Elephant Transit Home, and then drive back to Colombo or the airport on the expressway, about 3.5 hours.

With a fifth day

Add a night at Tangalle or Hiriketiya for a quieter beach, or swap Udawalawe for Yala if seeing a leopard matters most. Our south coast itinerary has more ideas.

Which route should you choose?

• Route 1 if this is your only visit and you want the classic sights.
• Route 2 if you want to relax, you're travelling in the northern winter, or you have young children.
• Neither is right for combining Sigiriya and the south coast in four days. It can be done, and you'd spend most of the trip on the road.

Tips for short trips

• Book your first and last nights close to the airport if your flights are at awkward hours. Negombo is 20 minutes away.
• Start early every day. Sites are cooler and quieter, and you'll avoid afternoon traffic.
• Don't over-plan. One main activity in the morning and one in the afternoon is plenty.
• Buy a local SIM at the airport for maps and messages. See our SIM card guide.

Have a little longer? Our 7-day itinerary shows what an extra few days make possible.