Classic Sri Lanka - Suggested Car & Driver Itinerary 

Take a delightfully leisurely journey from the Cultural Triangle through Hill Country to the balmy south coast shores.

After a few days exploring Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, a driver will take you on a scenic journey south. You’ll stop overnight at lovely hotels in the Hill Country amid mist-clad scenery and historic tea plantations en route to Yala, where you’ll search for elephants. The trip finishes with a few blissful days on Sri Lanka’s sandy south coast.

Read more
12 nights
Habarana, Kandy, Nuwara Ellya, Ella, Yala, Bentota

Recommended itinerary

Days 1-4

Kandalama

After touching down in Colombo, a driver will meet you and take you to Heritance Kandalama, an 85-mile journey northeast of the city. Your driver will be at your disposal for the next eight days, taking you to the locations and sights you’ll visit over the first part of your trip. You’ll have four nights in Kandalama, the perfect base for visiting caves at Dambulla, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, and searching for Sri Lankan elephants in Minneriya National Park.

Days 3-4

Kandy

You’ll head south to Kandy, a cultural hub of Sri Lanka in the misty Hill Country. A stay at Earl’s Regency Kandy breaks up the journey to Nuwara Eliya, where you can enjoy a leisurely supper in the Royal Pavilion restaurant with a menu inspired by global cuisines.

Temple of the Tooth, Kandy

Day 6

Nuwara Eliya

The colonial bungalows and Tudor-style buildings lend an English countryside feel to this area. Stay in a former tea factory where there’s a sense of history amid the luxury.

Nuwara Eliya

Day 7

Ella

A comparatively short journey brings you to a Hill Country village where you’ll stay on the grounds of a tea plantation at 98 Acres Resort & Spa. The chalets are striking, constructed from reclaimed materials with prime views of the Ella Gap.

Days 8-9

Yala

Your driver will take you to the south coast, where you’ll check into the Jetwing Safari Camp in Yala. Here, you can venture into the world-famous Yala National Park searching for elephants, then return to relax by the pool or on the beach.

Days 10-12

Bentota

A private transfer takes you from Yala to Bentota to finish your trip on a relaxing note at Cinnamon Beach Bentota. You’ve got three nights to enjoy this luxury resort on the Gold Coast before returning to Colombo for your flight home.

Bentota